ASUS P4C800?

[Bruce Fletcher <befletch@yahoo.com>]

I'm putting together a new x86 OpenBSD webserver, and I want to
optimize CPU/memory performance.  Floating point doesn't matter much,
and I don't need large or fast disks.  I may run RAID-1 via RAIDframe
for reliability; definitely so if I go with non-SCSI disk(s).

I'd be greatful for any advice on what hardware to get or avoid.

My whitebox builder is recommending the ASUS P4C800-E motherboard:

http://usa.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=P4C800-E%20Deluxe&langs=09

It is a P4 board.  I don't suppose anyone has used it?  Or not been
able to use it?

It certainly looks like it has good memory bandwidth, and it supports
ECC RAM.  Comparing its specs to the x86 FAQ, I see the following
good/bad points:

Intel 875P MCH chipset - no mention in FAQ
Intel ICH5R chipset - IDE support in FAQ
Promise 20378 SATA RAID - probably unsupported
Intel CSA 82547EI Gigabit Ethernet - no mention in FAQ

>From that, here are a few more specific questions:

I assume the 875P would handle memory access etc. and be OS
transparent, right?

Would the Promise show up as a regular ATA controller so I could use
SATA drives, or should I stick with the real ATA support through the
ICH5R?

Is that ethernet controller likely to work?  I would probably drive it
at 100Mbit, but Gbit could be useful later.

Thanks for any advice,
- Bruce


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