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i7 Build -- Thoughts?

P

priley

Weaksauce
Joined
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Messages
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priley said:
Working on a data processing node for work -- going for a lower price but good power. What's [H]'s thoughts on my build considerations thus far?


This will be running Windows Server 2003 x64.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Sorry, but the LGA 1155 platform does not support registered RAM at all. (The Kingston RAM that you linked to is registered ECC RAM.) The i7-3770S supports only unbuffered non-ECC RAM; it supports neither ECC nor registered/buffered RAM at all. And if a system doesn't support registered RAM, the system will almost certainly refuse to even POST at all when registered RAM is installed.

In addition, none of Intel's desktop chipsets (as opposed to server chipsets) support registered RAM at all even if the CPU does. The Z77 is a desktop chipset, not a server chipset.

Put the two together, and the only current Intel platform that supports registered ECC RAM is the Socket LGA 2011 Xeon E5 CPUs on a workstation/server chipset (not X79) based motherboard.

Third, Windows Server 2003 is now outdated: It is now very close to being EOSL'd (End Of Support Life'd), with the target date being March 2014. As such, it will likely not be properly supported by any platform that's newer than the first-generation Nehalem/Lynnfield/Bloomfield/Westmere group of CPUs, most of which are now EOL'd.
 
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E4g1e said:
Sorry, but the LGA 1155 platform does not support registered RAM at all. (The Kingston RAM that you linked to is registered ECC RAM.) The i7-3770S supports only unbuffered non-ECC RAM; it supports neither ECC nor registered/buffered RAM at all. And if a system doesn't support registered RAM, the system will almost certainly refuse to even POST at all when registered RAM is installed.
Click to expand...
From what I've noted in other posts (since I've never tried this myself) it seems that ECC memory would work in non-ECC supporting systems. I'll likely end up getting another stick of RAM in that case.

E4g1e said:
In addition, none of Intel's desktop chipsets (as opposed to server chipsets) support registered RAM at all even if the CPU does. The Z77 is a desktop chipset, not a server chipset.
Click to expand...
Not too worried about it not being a server chipset - is there a reason I should be? The only reason I'd think would be to keep the remote management support which is offered through most server mobos.

E4g1e said:
Third, Windows Server 2003 is now outdated.
Click to expand...
Installable is the question there -- the software needed for this servers' purpose requires XP or server 2003, mostly due to the drivers. The newer drivers for the tape libraries (Qualstar legacy libraries) do not have the capabilities to access the formats we need.
 
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Tape drive migration machine. This system will need to be able to access legacy SCSI-based tape libraries while also being able to keep up with the rest of the servers in the system.
2) What's your budget?
Tops 2k
3) Which country do you live in?
Business: Terre Haute, IN
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget?
Case, MOBO, CPU, possibly memory. The HDD and tape drives are already bought.
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply.
Power Supply
6) Will you be overclocking?
No, but capability is nice
7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
1440x900
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC? ASAP
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? UEFI? etc.
Remote management, RAID, SCSI, SATA 6GB/s, onboard 1000baseT networking
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Yes, 32bit WinSrv '03. Also have 64 but not planned to use the 64-bit license.
 
I think you'll have better luck here. Thread moved to SSD & Data Storage.
 
CPU and mobo wise, I recommend server parts for your usage. Especially considering that a server mobo + slightly faster CPU will cost you $25 less:
$420 - Intel Xeon E3-1230 V2 + Supermicro MBD-X9SCM-F-O Intel C204 mATX Motherboard Combo

The above seutp also have Server 2K3 drivers available unlike the consumer board you chose.

Like E4g1e said, I don't think the PC will boot with registered ECC RAM. So I recommend this RAM as a replacement:
$60 - Kingston 2 x 4GB KVR1333D3E9SK2/8G ECC Unbuffered DDR3 1333 RAM

As for the controller, I don't see that controller mentioned too often here in this subforum. So can't vouch for it. Hopefully someone else can help you here. With that said, make absolutely sure that that the drives you chose will actually work with that controller as many hardware RAID manufacturers stopped supporting many consumer grade drives with their controllers. From what I've read here in the forum, Hitachi and Samsung drives (even the consumer ones) seems to have the greater rate of support among hardware RAID controllers.
 
priley said:
From what I've noted in other posts (since I've never tried this myself) it seems that ECC memory would work in non-ECC supporting systems. I'll likely end up getting another stick of RAM in that case.


Not too worried about it not being a server chipset - is there a reason I should be? The only reason I'd think would be to keep the remote management support which is offered through most server mobos.


Installable is the question there -- the software needed for this servers' purpose requires XP or server 2003, mostly due to the drivers. The newer drivers for the tape libraries (Qualstar legacy libraries) do not have the capabilities to access the formats we need.
Click to expand...

ECC RAM and registered RAM are two different things. Like E4g1e said, if you try to out registered RAM into an Intel non-server board, it will not work. Furthermore, don't buy ECC RAM unless you're using a Xeon and a motherboard that supports it. Why did you select ECC RAM at all? Do you want ECC?
 
Danny Bui said:
CPU and mobo wise, I recommend server parts for your usage. Especially considering that a server mobo + slightly faster CPU will cost you $25 less:
$420 - Intel Xeon E3-1230 V2 + Supermicro MBD-X9SCM-F-O Intel C204 mATX Motherboard Combo

The above seutp also have Server 2K3 drivers available unlike the consumer board you chose.
Click to expand...

I hadn't noticed the server combos. That would be nifty for certain, and seems as though I could go with a shorter enclosure for the server this way. Also right on the dot as far as the amount of on-board SATA connections. (1CD drive, 1 HDD for OS, 2 hotswap). Which brings up another question -- how do I set up a drive to be able to be hot-swappable?


As for the controller, I don't see that controller mentioned too often here in this subforum. So can't vouch for it. Hopefully someone else can help you here. With that said, make absolutely sure that that the drives you chose will actually work with that controller as many hardware RAID manufacturers stopped supporting many consumer grade drives with their controllers. From what I've read here in the forum, Hitachi and Samsung drives (even the consumer ones) seems to have the greater rate of support among hardware RAID controllers.
Click to expand...

I've used this raid controller with the drives mentioned quite often :) It'll run. However, I am curious if I could end up placing the drives into an SAS enclosure, place the server into a 1U, and then use a single controller instead of two. Seems like the way to go?

AgentQ said:
ECC RAM and registered RAM are two different things. Like E4g1e said, if you try to out registered RAM into an Intel non-server board, it will not work. Furthermore, don't buy ECC RAM unless you're using a Xeon and a motherboard that supports it. Why did you select ECC RAM at all? Do you want ECC?
Click to expand...
Always assumed they were the same -- I'll have to read up a bit it seems. But yeah, I already had that RAM on my desk, pulled from a dead system and tested.
 
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