Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Dedicated Server : RackMount Server Question...

[Jordanlw]

Hello,
I was wondering if your able to have a GPU on a rackmount server?

Thanks.

[djorgensen]

why would you want a GPU on such a server?

[Jordanlw]

Could I get a few people to answer this question please?,
And the reason is Id rather have it for my home server then a traditional "tower" computer.
But I will require a GPU and was wondering if its possible.
And just take the factor if its possible to just "connect" one don't worry about if the cover wont allow a object of that size in it.

[djorgensen]

I was asking why you'd want a GPU in it?

If you intend to sit next to a near a rack mounted server, might I suggest you see if you can find one to hear first. As the noise is going to make you go mad.

fitting a GPU in one is no big issue. You will find it hard to locate a 1U box with a PCI Express slot. but you can get supermicro board and cases with such slots. Probably going to be 4U big

[Jordanlw]

Sound & Size is no problem,
Price is.

Ok so its no big problem,
Only need a PCI slot.

[djorgensen]

but why not just get a full tower case?
it will be the same price, if not lower, you can use the same motherboard etc but the noise will be lower and you can stick it under a desk?

[eviltechie]

Originally Posted by Jordanlw

Sound & Size is no problem,
Price is.

Ok so its no big problem,
Only need a PCI slot.

PCI Express.

But yeah, shouldn't be any problem putting a GPU in a rackmount case. There is nothing real special about rackmount cases...just that they come in various heights (U's) and you'll need to make sure your chosen card will fit, or that the case has a PCI Express riser card to allow for a full size GPU in a small rackmount case.

[fastdeploy]

Originally Posted by Jordanlw

Hello,
I was wondering if your able to have a GPU on a rackmount server?

It should be doable in a 2U RM case I think but the card would probably need to be low-profile. 4U case should be no problem at all. I have seen PCI x16 riser cards so in theory a GPU would be feasible in a 1U RM case but I would think you'd run into issues with fan clearance on a GPU.

As with others though, I still don't get why you'd want to. No RM cases that I've come across are designed to be quiet. They're designed to cool hot hardware in confined spaces, especially 1U cases which usually have many high RPM fans.

Unless you're irresistibly drawn to the idea of how cool a RM case is or you like to overspend on a case or you like the sound of a lot of high RPM fans, I would ditch the concept for a clean PC case where you have a lot more options for quiet power and fan configurations.

[Jordanlw]

Im clustering them for a home project.
I need power with low space.

[djorgensen]

if you are clustering them what sort of thing are you going to run in a cluster which needs a decent GPU?

[eviltechie]

Originally Posted by djorgensen

if you are clustering them what sort of thing are you going to run in a cluster which needs a decent GPU?

Maybe trying to get a system that'll run Crysis decently?

[Jordanlw]

Originally Posted by eviltechie

Maybe trying to get a system that'll run Crysis decently?

That gives me a idea....


Anyone know if any cheap RM & Second Hand RM providers that ship to Australia? Or just general providers.

[CGotzmann]

You will want to be able to close the top cover on the RM case because otherwise most cases loose their cooling efficiency and stuff will start overheating

[msherman]

Some companies have RM kits for their tower (mini-tower actually) cases. Effectively turns a mini-tower into a 3U (or 4U, depending on the case) RM system. Might want to consider one of those; that should allow you to keep the case assembled for the cooling efficiencies.

[sshepherd]

Sounds like he's setting up a rendering farm?

Normally this is done with custom rackmount servers, or tower's. Nvidia has some slick hardware available for it too.