tjatwood

Budget (including currency): $3000 Country: US Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: Want Base as Linux - version TBD - this will host two passthrough Windows VM's for Windows 10 gaming. All other VM's off this box will be either Linux or Windows Server 2019 Other details (existing parts lists, whether any peripherals are needed, what you're upgrading from, when you're going to buy, what resolution and refresh rate you want to play at, etc): Use existing drives/case/etc. Parts RTX2070 (2) for Windows 10 virtualization https://www.newegg.com/asrock-rack-romed8-2t/p/N82E16813140044 Epyc Server Board - see elow - think option 2 is bette EDIT - Decided on the same Gigabyte MZ32-AR0 that Linus used - has IOMMU in BIOS whereas ASRock does not. Has MORE memory slots. Has most of the features I need (not as good as ASRock) https://www.newegg.com/amd-epyc-7402p-socket-sp3/p/N82E16819113592?Description=epyc rome cpu 24 core&cm_re=epyc_rome_cpu_24_core-_-19-113-592-_-Product 24 Core Epyc CPU So this motherboard is more expensive than the Gigabyte motherboard Linux used. This one has all 7 pice x 16 gen 4 slots, 2 oculus, 1 thunderbolt, etc. Adding Adaptec 71605 - not sure if I will do passthrough to Windows Server 2019 as all drives attached are on current Windows Server 2019 implementation Using 45 drive case to replace 36 bay that had motherboard, aIso will need to buy a new case for the ASRock motherboard Questions: 1) I cannot really afford all 8 sockets of RAM to be populated - can I start with say 2 or 4 memory sockets populated? 2) Did Linus ever get around the SMT issue? If not, they could be a deal breaker for me. I think the Threadripper TR3 has a workaround for VFIO and SMT, but there are no 7 pice 4 7 slot motherboards. I would be fine with 7 slots provided maybe 3 were pcie 4 and the rest were pcie3 so I can put in expansion card 3) Thoughts for a case? 4) Should I watercool? Will that lower the overall temperature in the room? Or which is the ideal air cooler? 5) Any good tutorials on VFIO? 6) For the motherboard provided above, how would i find out the IOMMU groupings and if this will do what I want 7) Any ideas for a case? I do NOT need any drives in their except the ones populated on the motherboard as I will hook up to external 45 bay All help is is sincerely appreciated. While I have been running Linux, I want to cut down on physical Windows machines (ideally want to get off Windows eventually completely). New to VFIO and GPU passthrough. Timothy Atwood