single socket, AMD, >4 dimm motherboard wanted !

[t4k-il]

Hello,

I'm looking to setup a new workstation ( I mainly do code programming ) with the following requirements :
- single, 6/8 multicore cpu.
- at least 6 dimm slots.
- *preferably* an AM3/AM3+ cpu socket as I'd like to run an AMD processor on the machine.
- preferably dual gigabit lan

I'm currently shifting all of my work to be ram based, with a UPS backup to minimize the chance of lost work. The dimm requirement is also important as this box will probable be turned into a web server in ~3-4 years. I do plan to drive multiple displays with this board but I'm more than happy with a single graphics card with dual DVI outputs.

Browsing single CPU motherboards with >4 dimm slots on NewEgg if found that:
- there are *no* such AMD boards.
- there are over 50! such Intel board offerings.
- most of the motherboards seem gamer oriented, which is as far as possible from what I need, ie. many PCIe slots, etc.

So... I'm stuck with the following questions:
1. do my requirements force me into the dual server-style motherboard section ?
2. is it such a quirk to run a server-style motherboard with a single desktop CPU ?
3. is it just a NewEgg thing that there are no such AMD board offerings ?
4. is everyone basically happy with 4 dimm boards ?

Any help would be most appreciated !

Yotam

 

[ikachu]

Maybe you're better off w/ socket c32 instead of AM3? It supports more RAM, RDIMMs, and you still have a BD upgrade path if you want it (although the clock speeds are likely lower than the desktop counterpart). You could even get a 2P version if you wanted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_C32

 

[Ratman6161]

Hello,

I'm looking to setup a new workstation ( I mainly do code programming ) with the following requirements :
- single, 6/8 multicore cpu.
- at least 6 dimm slots.
- *preferably* an AM3/AM3+ cpu socket as I'd like to run an AMD processor on the machine.
- preferably dual gigabit lan

I'm currently shifting all of my work to be ram based, with a UPS backup to minimize the chance of lost work. The dimm requirement is also important as this box will probable be turned into a web server in ~3-4 years. I do plan to drive multiple displays with this board but I'm more than happy with a single graphics card with dual DVI outputs.

Browsing single CPU motherboards with >4 dimm slots on NewEgg if found that:
- there are *no* such AMD boards.
- there are over 50! such Intel board offerings.
- most of the motherboards seem gamer oriented, which is as far as possible from what I need, ie. many PCIe slots, etc.

So... I'm stuck with the following questions:
1. do my requirements force me into the dual server-style motherboard section ?
2. is it such a quirk to run a server-style motherboard with a single desktop CPU ?
3. is it just a NewEgg thing that there are no such AMD board offerings ?
4. is everyone basically happy with 4 dimm boards ?

Any help would be most appreciated !

Yotam

If you are just trying to cram a lot of RAM into the box, you don't necessarily need more than 4 dims. It used to be that 4 GB and greater DIMMS were very , very expensive. 2 GB modules were much cheaper so 8 GB (4x2) was about the most you could do without breaking the bank. Now a days the bar has been raised to 4 GB modules being pretty cheap. So in my system I have 4 G-Skill Ripjaws DDR-3 modules that I paid about $160 but you could buy today on NewEgg for $128 for a total of 16 GB RAM. Its so cheap you almost can't afford NOT to go with 16 GB! Now my motherboard supports up to 32 GB but that would require 8 GB modules and would cost around $700. So 16 GB is about the dividing line for what you can do without spending that much.

Unless you need more than 16GB? Or have some other reason for wanting more than 4 slots?

Edit: I just noticed you mentioned finding a lot of Intel boards that had six slots. These are probably socket 1366 systems. Socket 1366 CPU's can use three channel ram so you need to install modules 3 at a time to take advantage of that. That's why there are six slots. AM3 CPU's as well as intel CPU's other than 1366 use dual channel and so don't need the extra slots to reach their maximum memory performance.

 

[paperwastage]

i don't think anyone (consumers) have any valid reason for more than 16GB(4x4)...

if your application needs more than that, then you would have enough money to go server side

you could get 2 computers/builds, and use Synergy to use only 1 kb/mouse. What you ask for (especially "dual gigabit lan") usually aren't found in consumer builds

 

[t4k-il]

Hey guys, First, thanks for the feedback. Some comments:

@ikachu: thank for the c32 socket suggestion - found this tyan single socket board which may well fit my needs [1].

@Ratman6161: when this box turns into a full fledged server a couple years down the line it would be nice to have it run some VMs. Having more ram for these through more dimms will be cheaper. For development I do expect 12G to suffice ( ie. 3x4GB ). The 8 GB modules is what i'm trying to avoid. Also thanks for the Socket 1366 comment, I wasn't aware of that.

@paperwastage: already using synergy, just wish it was a bit less buggy ;]

Thanks again, looks like i'm heading the c32 way, though I'll probable take another look at dual socket boards.
[1] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813151250

 

[greenhawk]

So... I'm stuck with the following questions:
1. do my requirements force me into the dual server-style motherboard section ?
2. is it such a quirk to run a server-style motherboard with a single desktop CPU ?
3. is it just a NewEgg thing that there are no such AMD board offerings ?
4. is everyone basically happy with 4 dimm boards ?

1) while not a 100% need, it is where the hardware exists to support a large amount of memory.

2) now. some people user server cpus in their desktop units for other reasons. It is just the need for a lot of memory is a feature that is a server style one.

To maintain timings and stability, 2 ram sticks per memory channel is about it. To get timings and a large number of ram sticks, you have to use Registered memory (at least, but generally this can come with ECC as well). This adds costs and needs the supporting server grade hardware.

Back several years you could use upto 4 memory sticks in a single memory channel, but since that time, memory speed has increased greatly.

3) might be more to do with the search features as if you specify the desktop cpu socket, you would be ignoring the AMD server range.

4) not everyone is happy, otherwise the market would not have options for having more. Unfortunitly, the ones that need it generally have the money (businesses) and also prices are higher (smaller market).

For the average user, 4GB is still more than enough.