32 GB RAM SFF Computer

[TRCDROM]

I know this is a longshot but I am tyring to build a lab computer that I can carry around (like a Shuttle) that can accomodate 32GB RAM. I do not think I will find it because of physical space on the motherboards (e.g. 32 GB will require 2x16 which is possible but 16x2 or 8x4 is not possible) and the heat issue.

Right now I use a 2U server but the thing is heavy, big/bulky, loud and ugly.

Please let me know if you are familiar with a systems (complete or barebones) that can accomodate this.

Thank you

 

[CurseTheSky]

It's another longshot, but the NZXT Rogue case is made for mATX motherboards, but has enough room inside to accommodate regular ATX motherboards. While it is fairly heavy and somewhat bulky (though it comes with a carrying strap), it might be a decent middle ground.

 

[mxnerd]

SUpermicro has several Micro-ATX server boards that supoort >= 32GB memory. You can find them in Newegg or Supermicro.com

 

[Zap]

SUpermicro has several Micro-ATX server boards that supoort >= 32GB memory.

Don't Sandy Bridge with 4x RAM slots support 32GB (if you can find 8GB DIMMs)?

My suggestion would be to find a micro ATX motherboard that can handle the RAM, and then get a slim case. A few are out there, that use either SFX or TFX PSUs. They would be lighter than a 2U because consumer cases use thinner metals, and a bit thicker but smaller in other dimensions.

 

[mxnerd]

Don't Sandy Bridge with 4x RAM slots support 32GB (if you can find 8GB DIMMs)?

Well, it seems DDR3 8GB RAM without ECC is not available yet.

 

[Emulex]

rock a xeon on an x58 and run ecc ram. 8gb ecc rdimms are exactly 2x the cost of 4gb ecc rdimms and have superior protection over udimms against errors (both address and data protection).

 

[Skott]

I know the SB mATX mobos can do 24GB. Not sure about 32GB. 8GB modules are hard to find. Curious what you need 32GB of RAM for. Animation software?

 

[TRCDROM]

I will be running Hyper-V on it and need to demonstrate several running virtual machines. The bottle neck will be the Memory (before the CPU, network and storage). This will be a demo machine that I need to drag around.

Currently i have a machine with 16GB of RAM and I need more but the machine will not support more.

 

[Skott]

Well, the SFF case won't be the problem. Any one of them will do. The problem is in finding a mATX mobo that supports 32GB RAM. The P67 mobos like the P8P67M-Pro will support 32GB RAM but due to the P6 chipset recall currently going on thats not an option till they get the new mobos out. Two maybe three months before we see plenty of supply again. I think all the older P55 mATX mobos are limited to 16GB so thats not going to work. The new AM3 mobos will support 32GB I hear but I dont know if any are out yet. I don't follow the AMD side of things that much. You may want to research that. If I hear or see anything I'll post back here.

 

[Massive Overkill]

I've got 24Gigs of RAM on my Asus Rampage II Gene. It will run a Gulftown if need be, but right now I've only got a lowly E5520 Xeon in there now.

Ditch Hyper-V and go with VMware workstation (what I'm running on my portable rig) or even make an ESXi whitebox (you'll only need a cheap $30 Intel NIC), and console in with a laptop. Hyper-V sucks on memory utilization and any money you're trying to save on the costs of Hyper-V is going to be wasted on buying expensive memory.

My 24 gigs only cost $300, and if you want to go with non-performance RAM, you could probably half that price. Throw that money saved at a Gulftown, and now you have a kick-butt demo machine. Don't forget disk speed either, that currently is my bottleneck, even with using RAID0 to run the VM's on (backed up often). Current budget doesn't permit for SSD's, although that's what we used a couple of years ago before the economy hit rock-bottom.

 

[dac7nco]

Intel's most recent X58 board revision supports 48GB, and there are some pretty small & light ATX minitowers... That said, 6x 8GB of ECC memory may have you in Top Ramen forever territory.

Daimon

 

[Chapbass]

Maybe I missed it, but why not something like this board?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813182158

Throw a bunch of ram into it, then put it into something like this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811108178

Dual socket xeon system, 6 slots for 48gb max ram, dual nics, bunch of usb ports. one more HDD spot would be nice, but no big deal.


Sure, its not Mini-ITX, but it would beat the hell out of a 2u server...


Okay, just looked at that MB again, looks like its 10x10, dunno if theyre rounding or whatever..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813182211

Heres one thats 9.6x9.6, should be alright.

Or am I totally thinking about this the wrong way? (been a long day at work, so that wouldn't surprise me )

 

[Emulex]

shuttle sx58j3 supports 4 8gb but non-ecc. i don't think using non-ecc for vm's is wise. the shuttle also boots esxi 4.1 flawlessly off sdhc but you should put an intel network card in since marvell junk isn't supported with esx/i

 

[fire400]

They have companies that build very high-end laptops with server/workstation technology.

The company was featured in PC magazines, if I find it, I'll post it.

It's industrial level, non-consumer standard, military grade.

 

[Chapbass]

Dell has the M6500 workstation laptop, 17" screen, 32gb ram, quad core. Thatd be perfect! too bad its 10 grand :O.

 

[Emulex]

8740w with dreamcolor2 display but not on the esxi hcl.

best to stick to X58 - its the non-xeon esx chispet of choice.

if you need xeon and ecc (you do for production) then there's alot of options but a good used DL380 G5/G6/G7 might be a wise acquisition.

 

[Chapbass]

8740w with dreamcolor2 display but not on the esxi hcl.

best to stick to X58 - its the non-xeon esx chispet of choice.

if you need xeon and ecc (you do for production) then there's alot of options but a good used DL380 G5/G6/G7 might be a wise acquisition.

"I will be running Hyper-V on it".


I dont think hes planning on using vmware..

 

[Emulex]

everyone uses esxi after they realize microsoft needs a voluminous footprint to do what esxi does in what 60K? just give him some time to realize how craptastic hyper-v is.

 

[Chapbass]

everyone uses esxi after they realize microsoft needs a voluminous footprint to do what esxi does in what 60K? just give him some time to realize how craptastic hyper-v is.

Oh trust me I hear you, I use vsphere every day. But he said hyper v, so I'm just basing it off that

 

[Fox5]

You can find ATX cases that are about the size of matx cases. Check out HTPC cases.

You could also get one of those cube cases to hold an matx, and some may have 4-6 ram slots.

Or just find the smallest server board you can with the smallest case. AMD multi socket stuff is fairly cheap.

 

[Massive Overkill]

Well SP1 was released today which allows dynamic memory allocation for Hyper V VM's, which makes Hyper V less-sucky and more realistic for what you want to do.

 

[Emulex]

how's the cheap backup software for CSV (clustered storage volume) coming? how much ram can you over-provision now? that was my biggest beef. and the 1gb overhead hyper-v inflicted upon you.