Westmere-EP Build Suggestions

W

WarlordBB

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 10, 2004
Messages
390
I'm trying to spec out a dual Westmere-EP DIY build for some test dev servers and I'm really having a hard time finding parts at my normal DIY places. I'm not locked in to dual Westmere-EP based but I've got to build 2 servers at about $4,000 each (only need 2 SATA boot drives and 64GB+ mem), it's just that that is what seems to be the best proc I can get for the money I can spend (i.e. I can't afford to go Westmere-EX, not that I could find the parts if I could).

Any ideas?
 
Newegg sell the stuff.

For MB, case and PSU i'd suggest picking up a supermicro barebones. Dual socket boards often have weird form factors and/or PSU requirements, so buying from a single vendor makes sure everything fits. Make sure you get one with 12 ram slots (one with 18 slots would also be ok but those are more expensive and fillling all 18 slots limits you to DDR3-800)

If the machines will be located remotely from their admins I would try to get a board with IMPI+KVM support, the one included in this barebones has that feature. Something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816101242

For ram you would want 8GB modules of registered ECC DDR3. Something like 12 x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139378 for 96GB (96GB being the next "natural" size for that platform over 64GB).

Note that for a dual processor build you need 55xx/56xx series processors. The much cheaper 36xx processors are single socket only. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117255 is probablly the best within your budget.
 
Last edited:
I was focusing on 2U chassis for some reason. Seems to be more options in the 1U category. Thanks.
 
You know, the biggest gripe I have to listen to when I go DIY over something like Dell is, polish. For example, rack rails. I can't for the life of me find rails for the Supermicro 6016.
 
WarlordBB said:
You know, the biggest gripe I have to listen to when I go DIY over something like Dell is, polish. For example, rack rails. I can't for the life of me find rails for the Supermicro 6016.
Click to expand...
Supermicro barebones come with rails (sans towers). It's even in the pictures on newegg.
 
I wound up getting this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816101350

But I'm completely confused about the memory options. Apparently, there's 3 triple channel banks per CPU for a total of 6 banks. If you use Quad Ranked you'll only get 1066 speed and (like is mentioned above), if you fill the 2nd bank, it will clock down to 800. But then it says if you use Quad Ranked in the 2nd bank, the 3rd bank must be unpopulated...

So in what world does this system have a max memory spec of 288GB? At least I can't find any 16GB sticks that aren't Quad Ranked. Anyway, I was thinking of buying 6 of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139273

which are dual ranked so I should be fine, I think. For processor I'm probably going with these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117256

which seem to be the best bang for the buck. At least I don't think there's anything gained other than the .13 GHz by the E5649 is there? If not, doesn't seem worth the extra $220 per processor when I'm going to be buying six of them (equal's an extra $1,320).

Any thoughts on whether I'm headed in the right direction?
 
For whatever reason, Supermicro doesn't list any of the required 16gb DIMMs. When you go to look, they only have 32gb 8 rank sticks listed, and I believe only the quad 1567 boards support that many ranks per DIMM.
 
Got everything ordered. I'll report back on how it goes. I went with all the above in my last post. The 6026T-6RFT+ has 10GBe built-in and we just replaced our switch stack with several DELL PowerConnect 5500's that are 10GBe capable so I'm going to test that out with this server.

Thanks for all the help.
 
Blue Fox said:
For whatever reason, Supermicro doesn't list any of the required 16gb DIMMs. When you go to look, they only have 32gb 8 rank sticks listed, and I believe only the quad 1567 boards support that many ranks per DIMM.
Click to expand...

That is my understanding... 1567 systems are rather picky as to minimum ram requirements as well...

I am interested to see this build as well...

on a somewhat related topic... I did not know this sub-forum existed... (sorry) and have gained much multi socketed system wisdom from the DC section... I'll keep my head in both areas...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top