Workstation/Server MB/CPU/Memory queries

[Adderr]

I'm putting together a list of parts for a friend's rendering workstation, a dual-socket LGA 2011 (hopefully), but I've never built a server/workstation before so I'm not sure on several points.

1: Do both CPU sockets have to be occupied for the system to run?

2: If a dual-socket system has two CPUs can they both access a single bank of memory or do they both need their own memory banks?

3: Memory; The motherboard I have marked out is an ASUS Z9PE-D16, the Asus site appears to say that regular (Non-ECC, Unregistered) memory will work in it. Am I reading that right?
http://www.asus.com/Server_Workstation/Server_Motherboards/Z9PED16/#specifications

4: Case size; The Asus motherboard is formfactor SSI EEB. Wikipedia says SSI EEB will match ATX mount points, I just need to find a case with a motherboard tray for the 12"x13" board. Suggestions? (Pretty sure it won't fit in my Antec 300)

5: Do Xeon CPUs come with heatsink & fan? The CPU I have picked out the E5-2650.

The parts picked out so far are:
MoB: ASUS Z9PE-D16
CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2650 (x1)
RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3 1600 (assuming regular memory will operate)
PSU: SeaSonic M12II 620 (no superpowered GPUs involved)

He has an AMD 5750 or 5770 (I forget which), harddrives DVD/CD-RW drives already, and a budget of about $2000.

Thanks to Anantech for years of win. I bought an Abit KT7 years ago because of a review here.

 

[ViviTheMage]

1 : no
2 : you need to have the least amount of memory in the banks for each CPU.

example : 2x quad cores with your motherboard (ASUS Z9PE-D16), you need to have at least 2 dimms populated in DDR fashion for EACH CPU. So you would have 4 dimms in total used up. If you wanted to add memory, you would need to go to 4 dimms each cpu. They run in serial (side by side).

this one threw me for a loop "4-channel per CPU" Does that mean he is required to have 4 dimms filled? Or can he still do the minimum 2?

3 : pulling from asus's website :

Total Slots : 16 (4-channel per CPU, 8 DIMM per CPU)
Capacity : Maximum up to 512GB RDIMM
Memory Type :
DDR3, 1600/1333/1066/800, RDIMM
DDR3, 1600/1066, non ECC
Memory Size :
1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB RDIMM
1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB UDIMM

That makes me think you can have UP TO 8GB DDR3 unbuffered, unregistered in each bank (my advice is to get the exact same model/size for each dimm though, never mix and match if you can).

4 : You want a case that will do at least a EATX (so you could get a case that does EEATX, or WTV) everything else will not work, flexATX, microATX, miniATX, and no go for Standard ATX.

5 : generally xeon's do not come with HS/FAN, if it's retail packaging, it might, you would need to check with the retailer.


abit ftw, shame they went away!

 

[ViviTheMage]

4 channel makes me think it requires 4 DIMMS...someone correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Adderr]

Very awesome, thanks for your help, mister Mage!

As far as I read, four channel is the same sort of thing as triple and double channel, filling all four slots with the exact same kind of module gives you a speed bump, like you get with triple and double channels, but you don't *have* to have all four filled for the board to work.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Very awesome, thanks for your help, mister Mage!

As far as I read, four channel is the same sort of thing as triple and double channel, filling all four slots with the exact same kind of module gives you a speed bump, like you get with triple and double channels, but you don't *have* to have all four filled for the board to work.

Makes sense, my guess would be in sets of 2 would be good.