Need help understanding installation (CPU and Memory) for SUPERMICRO MBD-X12STH-LN4F-O

[jbonifacejr]

I currently have an MSI Z790 Gaming Edge Wifi running Windows Server 2019 and I've run into lots of issues with drivers. Needless to say that most things don't work well. To get by the NIC driver not working I bought a Startech USB NIC. Worked great (plug and play) and it got me online.

So, I decided that I will just go buy a motherboard that is really for servers and looked at the SUPERMICRO MBD-X12STH-LN4F-O as an option.

I have some questions, and I apologize if they are really newbie questions. I haven't hosted a server in my home since around the year 2000.

If I buy that SUPERMICRO board, should I be OK putting in an LGA 1200 processor (I have one of these...Intel Core i9-11900K Desktop Processor 8 Cores up to 5.3 GHz Unlocked LGA1200 (Intel 500 Series & Select 400 Series Chipset) 125W) or should I look to the E2300? If I use an E2300, am I required to use ECC memory, or will any PC3200 work, such as Corsair VENGEANCE LPX DDR4 RAM 32GB (2x16GB) 3200MHz CL16 Intel XMP 2.0 Computer Memory - Black (CMK32GX4M2E3200C16).

My biggest concern is all the errors I am getting related to certificates and drivers. I did some research and it appears that the certificate issues are well known (Error code 86). The errors really started showing up more often after I ran all the latest Microsoft updates. Then I installed SQL Server Express and SQL Server Management Studio, and now I get errors much more often. I left the PC unattended for a couple hours once and was not able to wake it up. Had to power off and restart.

I'm going to host a very low usage web server (IIS) in my home, mainly for teaching classes. The majority will be web pages that pull data out of the database to populate content in an XML or JSON file, and then display the data for the student. I also want them to be able to download slide decks and other small files. This will serve around 10 students a month, at most. Very low usage.

I could use some guidance here. Really sorry for the newbie-ish question, but I have to start somewhere.

 

[j_h_o]

Can you attach screenshots of all the errors or specific error messages (ideally copy/pasted)?

 

[jbonifacejr]

Can you attach screenshots of all the errors or specific error messages (ideally copy/pasted)?

I'm not trying to get rid of the errors any longer. I guess what I really want is just a recommendation for a home build. The main reason I don't want to fix the errors is because the bluetooth, NIC, and other drivers are incompatible with Windows Server 2019, so I want a good board that supports it out of the box.

 

[j_h_o]

Sorry, I misunderstood your post while reading it on my phone

Per the specsheet, that CPU won't work since it's 11th generation, and the board you posted is 10th generation. (If there are others on here that have ways to get this to work, I'll let them share their experience.)
You can use any 10th generation desktop CPU, or the Xeon E-2300 series.
It's not the same board, but it uses the same chipset: https://www.asrockrack.com/general/productdetail.asp?Model=E3C256D4U-2L2T#CPU and here you can see a tested list of CPUs for a similar board.

You can peek at Intel® Xeon® E-2388G Processor (16M Cache, 3.20 GHz) Product Specifications (at one of the CPUs) and see what other features the CPU supports.

Since this board supports ECC and non-ECC memory, then the CPU will determine if you can use ECC memory or not.

RAM: If the CPU supports it, you can use either ECC UDIMM or non-ECC UDIMM, but you cannot mix the types. (You can also use the above ASRockRack page and look at the memory page to see what sticks they've tested)
Do you already own this Corsair memory?

What chassis are you using? It may be worth looking for a used board on eBay in a 1U or 2U chassis. How concerned are you about noise? What form factor are you aiming for?

 

[jbonifacejr]

First, I really appreciate the time you are taking to help me.

Noise is not that much of a concern. I don't mind hearing a fan running. As for form factor, I'm not sure if I know what you mean. I would prefer to use one of my mid-tower or full-tower cases. It doesn't have to be a micro-ATX. Regular size ATX is fine. I really don't want a 1U or 2U because I will be working my regular day job from one desk and teaching classes from another desk. I have 3 43" monitors on my main desk. I have room, but prefer to have the PC sitting on the floor.

With that said, if I came across a nice 1U or 2U unit on eBay that I could install Server 2019 on, out of the box, and get SQL Express 2019 and SQL Server Management Studio installed, as well as getting IIS up and running, I will be OK. I just don't know what to look for.

Eventually, I will use this as my dev and test box, and deploy everything to a website hosted on Azure. That is a long way off.

I used to have a couple nice websites running but life got in the way. Wife, kids, college, etc. Now, technology has passed me by. I want to try to catch up. I know it is up hill from here.

 

[j_h_o]

Some options:

1. Get a used rackmount system from eBay. You'd have a Supermicro chassis, connected to a Supermicro board, with a suitable power supply. Would have 4x hotswap 3.5" bays for you to drop drives in. No fussing with adapters to get the case buttons connected to the board, and stuff would "work" as designed.
   Example: Server X10DRW-i 2x Xeon E5-2620 V3 BAREBONE 1U 10 SFF Bay Supermicro NO RAM HDD | eBay or CSE-819U SUPERMICRO 6018U 1U BAREBONE SERVER 4LFF 2x HS 2x PSU X10DRU-I+ | eBay
   I do this option because sometimes it's cheaper -- and it'll work with the Supermicro boards without fuss. If you're in the US then this is affordable.
   But this is more than "a fan running" -- these can be loud. Check the noise levels before you decide to do this.
2. Get a used enterprise desktop "Tiny"
   
   https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/lenovo-thinkcentre-thinkstation-tiny-project-tinyminimicro-reference-thread.34925/
   There are lots of little machines this size that would probably be suitable too.
3. Do what you're doing, get a board in an existing chassis. You'll have some compat issues, PSU cables will be weird length, and you won't have great ways to connect all your drives without more pieces, potentially. I have some systems like this, you just need to be aware that it won't all fit 100% of the time, the first time.

Xeon E5v4 are getting "older" now, but DDR5 memory is expensive.
Use Intel Xeon E5-2650 v4 @ 2.20GHz vs Intel Core i9-11900K @ 3.50GHz vs AMD Ryzen 7 5700G vs Intel Xeon E-2336 @ 2.90GHz [cpubenchmark.net] by PassMark Software to compare a) single-threaded, and b) multithreaded performance for these CPUs, and build a spreadsheet with total cost of build with RAM, disks, CPU, board, chassis, PSU, etc.

EDIT:
You probably want to set up Hyper-V and spin up VMs. Don't install SQL Server or even IIS on bare metal; install a VM and install IIS and SQL on separate VMs. Put DCs, DNS, DHCP, etc in a VM as well, don't install anything on bare metal except Hyper-V.

Example hardware:

1. I have some 1U E5v4 systems with E5-2680v4, 4x32GB RAM, and 4x3.5" spinners. Supermicro chassis, Supermicro board, and everything fits nicely.
2. I've used https://www.asrockrack.com/general/productdetail.asp?Model=X570D4I-2T#Specifications with a Ryzen 5700G in a mini-ITX chassis like SC721TQ-350B2 | Compact Mini-Tower | Chassis | Products | Supermicro . So I have room for 4x3.5" spinners (NAS) and the CPU has more than enough power for lots of VMs. I'm limited to only 4x32GB=128GB RAM, but there's 10G Ethernet onboard.
   I'm using one of these as a Hyper-V node with a pile of VMs for IIS, SQL, DC/DHCP/DNS, as well as Debian VMs for various workloads.
3. The Xeon D-1541 systems like X10SDV-TLN4F | Motherboards | Products | Super Micro Computer, Inc. are pretty old now, but popular for low powered NAS systems. You might be able to your your IIS or SQL workloads in VMs on a system like this.
   and then add a Tiny (above) if you want more compute power in the future.

Maybe if you post some options you're considering (with what CPU, RAM, board) we can comment, or give you suggestions?

 

[jbonifacejr]

Do you think this would work? It looks like it's the
same board and configuration and it comes with 128GB RAM

 

[j_h_o]

Yup, that will work. Not the best price.

1. Noise. Check that you're OK with the noise levels. And check the dimensions of the chassis to make sure you're OK with the size/you have a place to put it.
2. Intel Xeon E5-2620 v3 @ 2.40GHz vs AMD Ryzen 7 5700G vs Intel Core i9-11900K @ 3.50GHz vs Intel Xeon E5-2680 v4 @ 2.40GHz [cpubenchmark.net] by PassMark Software says the CPUs are quite slow. You could drop in 2x Genuine Intel Xeon E5-2680V4 2.40Ghz 14-Core 35MB LGA2011 CPU P/N: SR2N7 | eBay or Intel Xeon E5-2680 V4 2.4GHz 35MB 14-Core Processor SR2N7 *km | eBay to bump the numbers up.

 

[jbonifacejr]

How easy is it to replace the CPUs? Is it as easy as replacing the CPU on a desktop processor?

 

[nexox]

How easy is it to replace the CPUs? Is it as easy as replacing the CPU on a desktop processor?

It's pretty easy, unscrew the cooler, lift the lever, open the socket cover, remove the CPU, then do the same steps in reverse. I'm sure you can find a video or twenty, look for LGA2011, doesn't matter what specific generation, the sockets all work the same.

 

[jbonifacejr]

I've sent two messages asking if this includes the CPUs or not. Still waiting to hear back from the seller. If it includes the two CPUs I will buy it.

 

[jbonifacejr]

Then, I guess I start looking for some 2.5" SAS or SATA drives. The SAS drives aren't that expensive.

 

[jbonifacejr]

I bought this. Now off to find RAM and HDDs.

 

[nexox]

Then, I guess I start looking for some 2.5" SAS or SATA drives. The SAS drives aren't that expensive.

From the motherboard specs and the photo of the wiring on that system you bought, it doesn't look like it supports SAS in the current configuration, you'd need to add a SAS HBA and install new cables to the backplane.

 

[jbonifacejr]

I guess I'm confused then because in the listing it says...

• 10x Hot-swap 2.5" SAS/SATA HDD bays

I guess if it supports SATA I will use that instead. I really don't care either way. I will read up and determine what kind of RAM I need. I will get 32GB if the RAM is too expensive. If I can afford it, I'll get 64GB. I'm not doing anything intense but prefer to have more than enough.

 

[nexox]

I guess I'm confused then because in the listing it says...

• 10x Hot-swap 2.5" SAS/SATA HDD bays

The bays and backplane support SAS, but they're connected to SATA ports on the board.

As far as RAM goes, you have a total of 8 channels, and 4GB sticks are barely cheaper than 8GB, so 32GB is not a great option. If I were you I'd look at either 8x8GB or fill half the channels with 16GB, then keep an eye open for good deals on another four 16GB dimms later. A reputable ebay seller has that last option handled for you at the moment: Samsung 16GB 1Rx4 PC4-2400T ECC REG Server Memory M393A2K40BB1-CRC0Q | eBay

 

[jbonifacejr]

Memory was so much easier to understand 20 years ago. I don't mind spending a little more to get something rather quickly. Can you tell me if these will work?

HPE 752369-081 16gb Pc4-2133p Ddr4 ECC Reg Server Memory for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for HPE 752369-081 16gb Pc4-2133p Ddr4 ECC Reg Server Memory at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

And, I'm guessing that any 2.5" SATA drives will work. I don't need anything special, do I?

 

[nexox]

You really need to look up the motherboard manual from Supermicro, then cross-reference the specific CPU, because not all models support the same speeds (but faster RAM will clock down just fine to the maximum speed that the CPU can handle.)

At a glance, I would expect that memory would work, but it's a bit slow (that board should do up to 2400MHz with the right CPU,) and kinda expensive - you could get 128GB (4x32GB 2133MHz) for that price.

 

[jbonifacejr]

Thanks.
I'll keep looking.

That barebones system I bought comes with two CPUs already on the board.
* Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2620 v3 family
* Dual Socket R3 (LGA 2011)

It also say it supports 2133/1866/1600MHz ECC DDR4 SDRAM 72-bit memory.

I haven't done any of this for awhile, so I want to keep it really simple and within the board specs. I don't really want to try to get different CPUs, different memory, etc., until I am at least a little more comfortable with getting it all set up, connected, configured, and running.

I will look for a better deal on the 2133 memory.

 

[nexox]

The current CPUs top out at 2133, but they're rather low-range, you should probably plan for an upgrade to a v4 CPU that runs 2400 MHz, because they're quite inexpensive, way higher performance, and usually more power efficient.