Quad-CPU motherboards (for a 48-core system)

Duff-Man · 18 Nov 2013 at 10:01

Okay, I'm looking to spec up a 48-core system, comprised of four 12-core Xeon E5-2600v2 processors, and as much RAM as possible. The system is for running large-scale parallel simulations - intended as a stop-gap between a regular desktop machine and renting time on a cluster.

I know that there are some quad-CPU boards around, but I haven't seen anything (yet) that's rated specifically for the 12-core 2600v2. For example these intel boards look pretty attractive, and 48 DIMM slots would be ideal, allowing up to 384Gb of RAM with standard 8Gb modules - which should be plenty. Unfortunately the board is, apparently, "only available in integrated systems".

Does anybody have any experience using quad-CPU boards? Any way to buy the board directly? Any support yet for the latest Ivy Bridge E Xeon processors? I've checked supermicro, and they don't have anything listed yet...

Mounting in a desktop machine could also be an issue, but with all the custom case designs around I'm sure I could find something to accommodate.

Ideally this machine will be water cooled, but that's another matter (depends on finding a sufficiently large case really!).

chorcen · 18 Nov 2013 at 11:05

The products you looking have rather small demand in the consumer market, this is why manufacturing is limited and typically distributed as you said already as "part of integrated systems". The best is to speak with distributors or retail companies that orienting their business on mid-large business market, they will have exposure to the products you after, and have strong enough relations with manufacturer to request what you want.

Duff-Man · 18 Nov 2013 at 11:23

Thanks for the tip, chorcen

jakspyder · 18 Nov 2013 at 21:08

you may also have more luck here by checking the "servers and enterprise solutions" forums as the guys there may have more experience in your market.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=113

P.S we expect benchmark results once complete

=XDC=FluphyBunny · 18 Nov 2013 at 22:31

We also expect an entry in the Project Log sub forum

colinmcr · 18 Nov 2013 at 22:52

We'd expect you to Fold for Team 10 also ! Good luck finding a board

Duff-Man · 19 Nov 2013 at 18:18

Thanks guys...

I've sent a few emails out to potential vendors. Unsurprisingly those that have come back to me so far are trying to sell me their integrated rack-mount setups. It'll take a couple of iterations to get them to accept that's not what I'm after, but at least there's two-way contact.

If / when I build it I will definitely post a project log

As for folding... well, I would hope that the machine will be occupied running simulations for most of its life! Not going to be much time for folding I'm afraid!