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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
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    189

    Server motherboard question

    I really do not know where to post this. I figured being it is a server build question then I would ask it in the Co-location area.

    I have heard pro’s and cons from many people about the difference between rack servers and tower servers. From all the hoopla that I have gathered in my reading and chatting with people this is what I have come up with and if anyone else wants to chime in and add there two cents please feel free to.

    From all I have heard and read is that as long as you are using a server motherboard then you are fine in building a tower system and this does make sense to me. For one if you use a tower system with the proper motherboard then you have a lot more room for drive expansion and a few other things.

    My question is how can you tell the difference between a desktop motherboard and a server motherboard when you build a tower? I have been told that a server motherboard will not have any audio intense slots or graphic intense slots. There has to be more to it then that?

    Can someone explain this a little more?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
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    Dallas, TX
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    Some manufacturers simply sell boards labeled as 'Server Board'. Given they're not the cheapest, but they are probably one of the few that you could consider server boards.

    Another good indicator would be using a Dual socket. Those are typically (although not as much lately) reserved for servers since very rarely are they used for anything else (other than graphic workstations).

    In my personal opinion, as long as you pick a reliable board, there will be essentially no difference between that and a 'server' board. I'm from the school that thinks that a server is defined by what it does, and not by what it's built with. You will find many a host that uses a desktop board/computer as a server and of course, neither them nor the customers are able to tell the difference.

    When in doubt, just go for something that's been proven to work reliably.

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  3. #3
    I find that server motherboard is just a label for a motherboard with, say, two sockets and 8 or 18 DIMM slots. However, some server motherboards (like those from Tyan or Supermicro) are a little bit more durable than regular desktop motherboards and use higher quality level components. They are also designed to fit into tiny little rackmount cases, but that shouldn't be a problem in your case.


    Alex

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    41
    There are a number of reputable suppliers using desktop boards on their machines
    - apaqdigital.com and rackmountsetc.com come to mind. That's good enough for me.

    The only reason I would stick to a server mb is if you are in need of IPMI, and usually more DIMMs

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
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    189
    The motherboard I was looking at has a dual socket 1207. I will admit I do not know a lot about motherboards and reading all this stiff makes it a little confusing. There are so many types of dual sockets out there. Here is what I have found so far. What are the differences in sockets?

    1207
    603/604
    LGA 775
    771
    939
    940

    The slots for memory are a little confusing too. You have the following below.
    4 x 240
    4 x 184
    6 x 184
    8 x 184
    8 x 240

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Portland, Oregon
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    Server motherboards:
    - Generally don't have garbage parts on them
    - Cost a bit more than normal mother boards
    - Does not have a audio card (big plus if your going to put this in a 1U case as the audio card is a bit taller and you can't close the lid).
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  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2004
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    Atlanta, GA
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    well, over years of building rackmount servers of all class, we've seen more failed "server" boards than "desktop" boards, truth to be told!

    you use server boards for their passive cooling, dual CPU capacity, greater RAM capacity, remote console/IPMI, not really for their "higher" reliability, IMHO....

    those name-brand "desktop" boards are pretty darn reliable nowadays.
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  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
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    San Jose, CA.
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    Quote Originally Posted by attroll
    The slots for memory are a little confusing too. You have the following below.
    4 x 240
    4 x 184
    6 x 184
    8 x 184
    8 x 240
    The first number refers to the number of memory modules the board supports total.

    The second number refers to the number of pins the memory module has.

    184pin would be some form of DDR memory.
    240pin would be some form of DDR2 memory.
    (I think)

  9. #9
    A related question:

    Is there a real performance difference between a Conroe based motherboard (Core 2, desktop) and a Woodcrest server motherboard (Core 2 Xeon), given the same configuration (one processor, same processor speed, same amount of memory)?

  10. #10
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    Oct 2004
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    Southwest UK
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    There is a difference, but you will only see it when you build a higher-end machine. If you're getting a 1gb RAM, 1 CPU machine then a desktop will be perfectly fine.

    However... some desktop motherboards will not support 4Gb RAM. Most server motherboards only support Error correcting Registered RAM modules. Most server motherboards have better IO throughput (ie use a better chipset like the nvidia professional series)

    Some server motherboards have inbuilt video and audio (not super performance, but a server only needs basic audio/video after all).
    Server motherboards often have multiple network ports.
    Server motherboards often have more RAM slots (my Tyan has 8, and I have an old quad-CPU Intergraph machine that has 32 slots!)

    Also they may not fit in a standard ATX case (my Tyan is EATX size - needed a large case)

    So there is a difference between the boards and I'd recommend getting a server board for your internet-connected system. The extra cost is not much of a big deal if you're paying to have it colocated.

    As for cases, they're the same, just rack cases are flat and towers are big (a bit more than 4U if you put them on their side). However, apart from the obvious additional spaces for drives, its easier to cool a tower case as there's more space above the CPU coolers to push air about. If you build your own rack case, you'll have to be more careful with the cooling that you put in.
    Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
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    London
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    Turning this thread slightly on its head, I'm going to build my own server, and was wondering whether ATX (or MicroATX) motherboards will always fit in a 1U server that says its form factor is ATX. Obviously I'll need a low-height CPU cooler, but are there any other things likely to cause a problem?

    The particular case I had in mind was http://www.xcase.co.uk/acatalog/1u_R...ec_110-SB.html

    Thanks,

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  12. #12
    Join Date
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    Turning this thread slightly on its head, I'm going to build my own server, and was wondering whether ATX (or MicroATX) motherboards will always fit in a 1U server that says its form factor is ATX. Obviously I'll need a low-height CPU cooler, but are there any other things likely to cause a problem?

    The particular case I had in mind was http://www.xcase.co.uk/acatalog/1u_R...ec_110-SB.html
    It doesn't mention what motherboard size (WxHxD) will fit. It only lists the dimension for the case itself. If you're new to building a rackmount, I'd advise going with a barebones solution. I'd recommend either Tyan or Supermicro. Barebones comes with the motherboard already installed, plus the heatsink and rails. Then all you need to buy is the CPU, memory and hard drives.
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  13. #13
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    May 2001
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    Smile

    Most server motherbards use server processors like Xeon or Opteron and they support ECC memory. You can also tell it is a server board based on the brand names like Supermicro or Tyan.

  14. #14
    Maybe going slightly off subject and I know someone will laugh at me but,

    What do you do about a desktop mobo in a 1u case where the ram dimms normally block the fans at the front of the case? As on most desktop mobos the ram dimms are at 180o angle instead of 90o angle on a server mobo. Do you just hope there will be enough airflow to blow around the case?

    -Chris

  15. #15
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    Simple. you don't do it in the first place. If you must do it then put as few ram chips in as far away from the fan as possible. Then you monitor the temps once the server is built and make sure everything stays stable and at a reasonable temperature.

    Air will flow, just not nearly as efficiently as otherwise. Perhaps a 2U case would be more appropriate for a desktop mobo.
    Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
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    Quote Originally Posted by cocodude
    Turning this thread slightly on its head, I'm going to build my own server, and was wondering whether ATX (or MicroATX) motherboards will always fit in a 1U server that says its form factor is ATX.
    If you are going to use a card such as a secondary nic, or a raid controller, sometimes the raiser does not always fit up in the right place for the PCI slot.

    I think we have actually had to buy some adapters that had ribbons to get the PCI in the right position for the 1U or 2U chassis, and they cost more than the motherboard itself.
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  17. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by gbjbaanb
    Simple. you don't do it in the first place. If you must do it then put as few ram chips in as far away from the fan as possible. Then you monitor the temps once the server is built and make sure everything stays stable and at a reasonable temperature.

    Air will flow, just not nearly as efficiently as otherwise. Perhaps a 2U case would be more appropriate for a desktop mobo.
    True,

    Might be wrong but there isn't many desktop motherboards which dont have the ram slots that way Or it may just be me..

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
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    189
    The server motherboard I was looking at was this one here. I am still new at this. Is this a good motherboard?

    http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?l...71&modelmenu=1

  19. #19
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    Oct 2004
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    Southwest UK
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    ASUS are a good manufacturer, and this looks good. Be very aware of the size though - its 12" x 10.5" which is NOT standard ATX size, its larger so it will not fit in some cases.
    Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good.

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