Socket 1366 Proc with Vt-d

[__McB__]

I am planning on building an ESXi storage server utilizing passthrough. As I understand it, in order to have passthrough with ESXi using an Intel proc you need a Vt-d capable one. There are a couple Supermicro Socket 1366 boards I'm considering but after spending hours searching Intel's site, it doesn't appear any Socket 1366 procs actually have Vt-d.

Do any Socket 1366 procs with Vt-d exist?

Thanks!

Mick

 

[nitrobass24]

Which board?

 

[__McB__]

Supermicro X8ST3-F

 

[Patrick]

Intel 5500/ 5520 Series Specifications
Intel's VT-d is a chip set supported feature

Hope that helps. Remember, Lynnfield/ Sandy Bridge are a lot different than the LGA 1366 platform.

Edit: Not applicable since OP is not on the 55xx series platform.

From the X8ST3-F manual:

Intel VT-d
Select Enabled to enable Intel's Virtualization Technology support for Direct I/O VT-d by reporting the I/O device assignments to VMM through the DMAR ACPI Tables. This feature offers fully-protected I/O resource-sharing across the Intel platforms, providing the user with greater reliability, security and availability in networking and data-sharing. The settings are Enabled and Disabled.

 

[__McB__]

Patrick,

Thanks for the info but I think I'm still missing something. It is my understanding that both the chipset and the processor must be Vt-d enabled. The 5500/5520 are chipsets with Vt-d, but what about processors? I was unable to find any listed on Intel's site.

 

[Patrick]

Sorry McB, look at the second link (I edited that since you posted while I was linking the original post).

There is a big difference between a block diagram of a Xeon E3 series or X34xx series CPU and that of the LGA 1366 chips which probably causes confusion at this point.

 

[nitrobass24]

All the lga1366 support VT-x

 

[__McB__]

Patrick,

Thank you!! That was a source of constant frustration. I've read on several other sites that both the CPU and the chipset must support VT-d. This misconception was made worse by the way that Intel itself lists VT-d technologies on their processors. The Xeon X3440 for instance shows Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) as included on this processor.. Not sure why they do this if all that is required is for the chipset to have it. Oh well.

Thanks again Patrick!

 

[nitrobass24]

The x3440 uses a different architecture thus the requirements are different.

 

[__McB__]

Nitro,

Do you mean that not all lga1156 support VT-d so they list it individually for each processor whereas all lga1366 support it so they don't bother listing it for each processor?

 

[Patrick]

So the biggest "innovation" with LGA 1156 was that what had previously resided in a X58 northbridge moved on-die. That is a big reason overall Tylersberg power consumption is a bit better. It also explains how some chip set functions can become part of the CPU architecture. If someone has a better explanation please chime in as that may be overly simplistic.

 

[nitrobass24]

Well vt-d is all about DMA remapping which has to deal with the IMC which is implemented on x58 just as it is on the SB platform. It just seems that intel has decided to restrict it by the CPU on these two platforms because they want you to buy x58/5500/5520.

 

[__McB__]

Thanks guys. This has been very informational and was exactly what I was looking for. I'll report in as my build progresses. Thanks again!

 

[XZed]

Thank you very much, for this thread ! Indeed, i also was believing about VT-d depending on chipset AND cpu !

However, i'm being a little confused about some cautions (last nitrobass24 post)...

Btw, here is a link that revealed (read comments) some mistakes on Intel website and that lead me to forget P67 platform for my VT-d needs...

 

[nitrobass24]

Edit: Im going to research this fully and find out an exact answer

 

[nitrobass24]

Regarding that link, maybe Patrick can clear that up since he has a few Consumer SB systems.

 

[XZed]

Thank you very much to clear and confirm your previous point !

In fact, i'm currently searching/filtering so much information because of Intel policies (VT-d not on K series, etc...) and got a little annoyed by Intel way...

 

[nitrobass24]

OK Well this gets more and more interesting.

Heres a link to the Chipset Compare from Intel's website.
http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=36783,52812,52807,52810,36784,52805,52804,52803,36785

Heres a link t othe CPU Compare from Intel's Website
http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=47933,37147,37150,41316,52214,52213,52271

As you can see only the "Server/Workstation(Q67 & X58)" chipsets support VT-d.
Also VT-d seems to be enabled/disabled on Lynnfield/Sandy Bridge CPUs depending on the SKU
VT-d is not applicable for Bloomfield/Gulftown CPUs

This is really interesting though because Intel has marketed non-K SB chips as supporting VT-d (And i cannot imagine them encouraging people to use "consumer CPUs" in Server/Workstation boards opposed to Xeons)
Also the Mobo Manufacturers have marketed VT-d support in their documentation on P67/H67 boards where clearly the chipset does not support VT-d.


Summary of what we know:

VT-d is function of the chipset
VT-d is also a fucntion?(enabled/disabled) on Lynnfield/Sandy Bridge CPUs
VT-d is not applicable for Bloomfield/Gulftown CPUs

 

[XZed]

As you certainly read, Intel has changed, these times, some contents about wrong statements (VT-d support chipsets list)...

By the way : thank you very much for the quick breakdown about VT-d.

Finally, are we declaring that no one has clear information about VT-d feature ???

Well, a big search adventure seems started ...

Thank you.

 

[nitrobass24]

Finally, are we declaring that no one has clear information about VT-d feature ???

Yeah, basically