Question Affordable HEDT platform?

[JRF68]

I’m in need of at least 48 PCIe lanes, what are my options? Presently, I’m utilizing the X299 platform with a 10980xe. Looking for an affordable option. Its very discouraging as I research the options to replacing my system, cost benefit analysis is outrageous. Is Zen3 Threadripper, say 5945wx or 5955wx, an option that will be affordable and sustainable for at least 3 more years? Is a Zen2 Threadripper suitable, or is it long in the tooth also? Compute CFD simulations are stressing my X299 platform, money is tight for a replacement. Whether Intel or AMD, motherboard options for quad channel memory and 40+ PCIe lanes are expensive in the used marketplace. Any ideas out there?

 

[zir_blazer]

"affordable" and "HEDT" are not compatible. From a price perspective, is more likely that you can get an usable server from a few generations ago (EPYC Rome/Milan I suppose, Xeon Sapphire Rapids platform is still too new) than anything HEDT due to server tending to have much higher volumes, but they're not completely viable as total desktop replacements. You may enjoy 128 PCIe Lanes and 8 RAM Channels at the cost of much lower single core speed.

 

[JRF68]

"affordable" and "HEDT" are not compatible. From a price perspective, is more likely that you can get an usable server from a few generations ago (EPYC Rome/Milan I suppose, Xeon Sapphire Rapids platform is still too new) than anything HEDT due to server tending to have much higher volumes, but they're not completely viable as total desktop replacements. You may enjoy 128 PCIe Lanes and 8 RAM Channels at the cost of much lower single core speed.

Yes, I’d rather steer away from server platforms. The thing I liked about my X299 platform was the ease with which it all came together. I just assembled it, installed the OS and software, and voila it just worked.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Yes, I’d rather steer away from server platforms. The thing I liked about my X299 platform was the ease with which it all came together. I just assembled it, installed the OS and software, and voila it just worked.

I have a Zen 2 128 thread engineering sample. I was afraid that it being a server platform, there would be unique challenges but thankfully, it works almost exactly like a desktop platform. Running it with Windows for Workstation OS (forget if it's 10 or 11).

Have a look here:

Installing Windows updates on it here:

The same seller has another system for sale here: https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...-with-384-gig-ram-1800-or-best-offer.2622923/

Another thread: https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...d-and-7742-added-edit2-7950x3d-added.2607772/

Also this: https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...e-floe-dx-rgb-360-tt-premium-edition.2620091/

My advice: do not be afraid to try out a server mobo and miss out on a rock stable computing experience.

 

[JRF68]

I have a Zen 2 128 thread engineering sample. I was afraid that it being a server platform, there would be unique challenges but thankfully, it works almost exactly like a desktop platform. Running it with Windows for Workstation OS (forget if it's 10 or 11).

Have a look here:

Installing Windows updates on it here:

The same seller has another system for sale here: https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...-with-384-gig-ram-1800-or-best-offer.2622923/

Another thread: https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...d-and-7742-added-edit2-7950x3d-added.2607772/

Also this: https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...e-floe-dx-rgb-360-tt-premium-edition.2620091/

My advice: do not be afraid to try out a server mobo and miss out on a rock stable computing experience.

Hey thanks for that. I will reconsider and investigate from a different approach. Very interesting.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Yes, I’d rather steer away from server platforms. The thing I liked about my X299 platform was the ease with which it all came together. I just assembled it, installed the OS and software, and voila it just worked.

I mean… that’s generally how a system build goes, even for a server platform. The main issue with rackmount servers is that they tend to be very loud, and they often use custom motherboard form factors. But if you can find a motherboard that fits in an E-ATX desktop chassis you’ll be good to go.

Curious what your actual budget is w/r/t “affordable.” SuperMicro sells some very nice server/workstation class desktops for $5-10k.

 

[JRF68]

Just need mb, cpu, ram and cooling. Hope to keep it under 1500USD. Don’t need a high core count CPU, so whether Threadripper or Xeon I see 14 or 16 cores for around $500 or less. Motherboards are 800-1000. That’s just looking on eBay and fb marketplace. Still working on a spreadsheet, will update soon with a more accurate estimated costs.

 

[aigomorla]

Hope to keep it under 1500USD.

NOPE... not going to work with HEDT at that price range...

HEDT is something like threadripper, or a Intel W3400/3500 series.
The CPU alone starts at around 1500, for the ones you can find on the market.

The newer stuff is significantly faster... for example, a Zen4 will do circles around a Zen2, so if your looking at Zen2, i think your pobably better off with a Ryzen 9 9950X over a Zen2 Threadripper, unless you need the PCI-E Lanes.

This is the only advantage a HEDT has over a desktop, the PCI-E Lanes.

If you need the PCI-E lanes, I would go with a server setup like a EPYC.
They are not that much difficult to setup then a HEDT in most cases, and you can probably pick them up cheap.

 

[StefanR5R]

Compute CFD simulations are stressing my X299 platform,

I had similar requirements a bunch of years ago, except…

money is tight for a replacement.

…that my budget was not as constrained. At that time I went with dual 14-core Broadwell-EPs (E5-2690 v4 specifically, for comparably high core clocks in the BDW-EP range) in dual-socket workstation boards from Supermicro, giving me 8 RAM channels per host back in the day.

I’d rather steer away from server platforms. The thing I liked about my X299 platform was the ease with which it all came together. I just assembled it, installed the OS and software, and voila it just worked.

I had Linux on these hosts, never had a NUMA computer with Windows myself. I am not sure though how much of a deal this is with more recent Windows versions.

For CFD, you obviously want as many RAM channels as you can fit into your budget. Or more generally speaking, as much RAM bandwidth as can be afforded. But e.g. dual-socket Milan (SP4, EPYC 7003 series) would likely be way over budget. Single-socket Milan maybe?

 

[Micrornd]

Hopefully by the beginning of the year, all my parts for my new workstation will finally be here.
Old stuff - 2-8260L Platinum (ES, but latest production revision, all core at 3.1ghz), Asus WS C621E SAGE, 2-Dynatron B-14, 48gb ECC 2933DDR4 6 channel, XFX RX 7900 XTX (will be reused)
Lepa G1600 MA (will be reused), 9-1tb SK Hynix Gold G31(haven't decided where to put these)

New stuff - W7-2475x (hoping for all core at 4.5ghz), Asrock W790 WS w/VROC, Noctua NH-D9 DX-4677, 64gb ECC 5600DDR5 4 channel, 4-Crucial 1TB T705.