Just a quick comment on the CPU - for not all that much more cash you can get a hyperthreaded model, effectively doubling the threads in your machine from 8 to 16, and also getting 50% more cache (15MB vs. 10MB). Even in Australia the cost difference between the 2609 and 2620 is down to $120, which I feel is well worth it considering the overall cost of the investment and how long you expect it to last. I think for 5x VMs (potentially more/different ones in the future) the additional threads will be more beneficial than the slight clockspeed advantage of the cheaper processor.
take my money and build it!
- Thread starter wookienz
- Start date
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Just a quick comment on the CPU - for not all that much more cash you can get a hex-core, hyperthreaded model rather than a 4 core, 4 thread model - effectively tripling the threads in your machine from 8 to 24 and also getting 50% more cache (15MB vs. 10MB). Even in Australia the cost difference between the 2609 and 2620 is down to $120, which I feel is well worth it considering the overall cost of the investment and how long you expect it to last.
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Apps that use few Threads can benefit from CPU with few cores and high clock speed.
Apps that can use multiple threads (ie Virtual Machines) benefit from more cores and speed is not as critical.
But getting a Dual CPU Mobo chances are you are after more Core/threads than a single CPU can deliver.
As our Aussie friend just said the 2620 will be a better choice than the 2609 mainly due to the extra threads with HT enabled and more cache is always better.
And also very important is RAM with 5x VMs and the boot OS, you're looking at 32GB as a starter to give them all room to do their thing.
Apps that can use multiple threads (ie Virtual Machines) benefit from more cores and speed is not as critical.
But getting a Dual CPU Mobo chances are you are after more Core/threads than a single CPU can deliver.
As our Aussie friend just said the 2620 will be a better choice than the 2609 mainly due to the extra threads with HT enabled and more cache is always better.
And also very important is RAM with 5x VMs and the boot OS, you're looking at 32GB as a starter to give them all room to do their thing.
Updated Build to date:
The dual cpu board i had in mind wont fit in the norco 4224, i needed to cut costs so i will stay with single cpu.
Case: norco4224
Mobo: SUPERMICRO X9SRA ATX Server Motherboard LGA 2011 DDR3 1600
CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2620 Sandy Bridge-EP 2.0GHz 15MB L3 Cache LGA 2011 95W Six-Core Server Processor BX80621E52620
Fans: Corsair H100
PSU: SeaSonic X750 Gold 750W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply
RAM: 8x4Gb ECC of some brand (suggestions?)
HDD: HGST Deskstar 7K3000 HDS723020BLA642 (0f12115) 2TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
HDD OS: RAID 1 SSD (unsure which yet)
RAID: IBM Serveraid x3 (one will be in a x4 slot)
So... what holes have i missed?
cheers.
The dual cpu board i had in mind wont fit in the norco 4224, i needed to cut costs so i will stay with single cpu.
Case: norco4224
Mobo: SUPERMICRO X9SRA ATX Server Motherboard LGA 2011 DDR3 1600
CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2620 Sandy Bridge-EP 2.0GHz 15MB L3 Cache LGA 2011 95W Six-Core Server Processor BX80621E52620
Fans: Corsair H100
PSU: SeaSonic X750 Gold 750W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply
RAM: 8x4Gb ECC of some brand (suggestions?)
HDD: HGST Deskstar 7K3000 HDS723020BLA642 (0f12115) 2TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
HDD OS: RAID 1 SSD (unsure which yet)
RAID: IBM Serveraid x3 (one will be in a x4 slot)
So... what holes have i missed?
cheers.
I'm sure you've got this down but just in case - you'll need a third fan for the fan wall (and don't forget to buy the 120mm fan wall itself). I have good success with Kingston RAM and they have 1600mhz ECC out now - I've no experience with their compatibility (or otherwise) with Supermicro boards, though. Depending on how much extra it is for you locally you might also consider the Platinum 860w PSU for higher efficiency.
Crucial or Intel are good choices for the SSDs, imho. We have had good experiences with both brands over a large number of SSDs.
Crucial or Intel are good choices for the SSDs, imho. We have had good experiences with both brands over a large number of SSDs.
still trying to nail down the specs...
anything wrong with his: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816117207
will it work in any rig?
anything wrong with his: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816117207
will it work in any rig?
Oh awesome - they're finally out in the US. The last time wookienz posted specs up only the E5-1660 was available... the 1650 looks like a very good choice here for a single-S2011 setup.
Sadly Aus distributors only have the 1660 still for $1300 and no others
ASRock Fatal1ty X79 Professional
Supports:
Same CPU support as the professional above, different PCIe slot layout
Supports the E5-1660 so next BIOS upgrade should have newest 1600s added
Supports:
Slots:
ASRock Fatal1ty X79 Champion
Same CPU support as the professional above, different PCIe slot layout
ASUS P9X79 WS
Supports the E5-1660 so next BIOS upgrade should have newest 1600s added
I see the 1600's have an upgraded stepping now, must have been issues dogging their release.
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Asus' workstation boards seem to perform well in server roles; we have had a P8B WS that was a fileserver/VM box for ~12 months and the chap we sold it on to once we upgraded is still using it in the same capacity - uptime of months wasn't an issue and with ECC RAM support they seem pretty well up to spec.
You lose IPMI and an onboard graphics chip, most notably to my mind - IPMI I can live with but I do wish I wasn't sacrificing a x4 PCI-E slot to graphics. Given how few other single-CPU S2011 options are available in AU, though, that's a sacrifice I'm more than willing to make for the expansion slots/8DIMM slots/etc.
To be honest I would have gone with something that's more typically "server-grade" if it were available originally; given my good experiences with 4 of the Asus workstation boards now, though, I've relaxed a little about that and happily put together customer builds with the Asus boards without worrying if their needs dictate that.
ASRock mainstream boards officially support Xeon processors, one of the few vendors that do.
My Z77 board will be my second ASRock build, first with a Xeon and new one with a Ivy Bridge Core i5 supporting ECC
I'm very impressed with ASRock, the new mobo uses top notch components (review to follow)
You'll be hard pressed to find a Server Mobo with 4x PCIe 8x slots
You could wait for the ASRock Extreme11 motherboard as this is going to be a true beauty.
My Z77 board will be my second ASRock build, first with a Xeon and new one with a Ivy Bridge Core i5 supporting ECC
I'm very impressed with ASRock, the new mobo uses top notch components (review to follow)
You'll be hard pressed to find a Server Mobo with 4x PCIe 8x slots
You could wait for the ASRock Extreme11 motherboard as this is going to be a true beauty.
UPDATED LIST:
CPU: Intel E 1650 CPU or similar
MOBO: Asus P9X79 WS
RAM: 32 Gb (4x8gb ) ECC DIMM 1600 (not sure what brand)
Data: Caviar green Seagate 2TB x 12 initially.
VMS: Intel 330 series 120Gb SSD x 2
Case: Norco 4224
RAID: M1015 x3
Cooling: Corsair H100 cooling, 120mm fan bracket, 1x Noctua 120MM fan, 2x Noctua 80mm fans
1m Cables
Will run ESXi 5 with Vm's on SSD's (Raid1)
Thoughts..
CPU: Intel E 1650 CPU or similar
MOBO: Asus P9X79 WS
RAM: 32 Gb (4x8gb ) ECC DIMM 1600 (not sure what brand)
Data: Caviar green Seagate 2TB x 12 initially.
VMS: Intel 330 series 120Gb SSD x 2
Case: Norco 4224
RAID: M1015 x3
Cooling: Corsair H100 cooling, 120mm fan bracket, 1x Noctua 120MM fan, 2x Noctua 80mm fans
1m Cables
Will run ESXi 5 with Vm's on SSD's (Raid1)
Thoughts..
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Might be a typo - 3x 80mm fans for that chassis? What's the plan for the third?
Which controller are you going to use to raid the ESXi datastore? With two M1015s and the onboard controller available I would guess one of the M1015s in raid1, the other in IT mode and using a 4-1 reverse breakout for the other 4 of the 12 drives on the onboard controller?
Looks very close to our setup - which we have zero complaints about.
Which controller are you going to use to raid the ESXi datastore? With two M1015s and the onboard controller available I would guess one of the M1015s in raid1, the other in IT mode and using a 4-1 reverse breakout for the other 4 of the 12 drives on the onboard controller?
Looks very close to our setup - which we have zero complaints about.