Server MB

[Sparkils69]

I was given a Dell Poweredge T610 a few weeks back and I'd like to change out the board for one with 4 PCIe 16x slots with an additional 8x slot for the SAS controller, but that stays compatible with the vast majority of the rig ie. CPUs (Xeon E5504), memory (DDR3 800+ Mhz), and PSUs. Any recommendations preferably with links. Thanks

[zombienerd]

16 minutes ago, Sparkils69 said:

I was given a Dell Poweredge T610 a few weeks back and I'd like to change out the board with 4 PCIe 16x slots with an additional 8x slot for the SAS controller, but that stays compatible with the vast majority of the rig ie. CPUs (Xeon E5504), memory (DDR3 800+ Mhz), and PSUs. Any recommendations preferably with links. Thanks

What is your end game?  What is the purpose of swapping the motherboard?  What will the machine be used for?

[Sparkils69]

So, I'd like to use the rig for running 3 VMs, NAS, and maybe game hosting. For the board I'd like to use 4 full size GPUs at 16x speeds for those VMs plus a hypervisor.

[Windows7ge]

You're not going to be able to. The chassis uses a proprietary form factor that will only work with that board. Standard boards on the market will not fit.

[Sparkils69]

1 minute ago, Windows7ge said:

You're not going to be able to. The chassis uses a proprietary form factor that will only work with that board. Standard boards on the market will not fit.

Would you recommend using a different chassis as well?

[Windows7ge]

20 minutes ago, Sparkils69 said:

Would you recommend using a different chassis as well?

If you want a different motherboard that's your only option. You'll also require a different PSU.

 

However LGA 1366 is pretty old. For the most part you'd be buying used parts off Ebay or the like and what info I could find says between the two CPUs you only have 32 PCI_e lanes (You may get a couple more from the PCH) which means there's no way you're plugging in 4 GPUs & a SAS controller. This is regardless of motherboard. You could maybe do the tape hack and for the GPU's you wouldn't see an impact but still this isn't going to happen. You need more PCI_e lanes.

[Sparkils69]

1 minute ago, Windows7ge said:

If you want a different motherboard that's your only option. You'll also require a different PSU.

 

However LGA 1366 is pretty old. For the most part you'd be buying used parts off Ebay or the like and I what info I could find says between the two CPUs you only have 32 PCI_e lanes (You may get a couple more from the PCH) which means there's no way you're plugging in 4 GPUs & a SAS controller. This is regardless of motherboard. You could maybe do the tape hack and for the GPU's you wouldn't see an impact but still this isn't going to happen. You need more PCI_e lanes.

Even if I were to use 2 X5690? Maybe just 3 GPUs with a SAS controller and use the onboard graphics for the hypervisor or would I still be limited by how many PCIe lanes I'd have?

[Windows7ge]

6 minutes ago, Sparkils69 said:

Even if I were to use 2 X5690? Maybe just 3 GPUs with a SAS controller and use the onboard graphics for the hypervisor or would I still be limited by how many PCIe lanes I'd have?

I have to correct myself. A little more research says the 1366 socket actually uses a lot more lanes through the PCH than new gen chips which receive most through the CPU itself. So to know how many lanes you really have we actually have to look at the motherboard.

 

Still though. You'd need a new motherboard, chassis, PSU. RAM should be re-usable so long as the new board supports it. I don't know if any boards have the slot spacing necessary to support that many cards though. You'd have to rig the motherboard in a jig and use PCI_e riser cables. At which point you might as well keep the current motherboard. GPUs running at x8 perform fine.

[Sparkils69]

1 minute ago, Windows7ge said:

I have to correct myself. A little more research says the 1366 socket actually uses a lot more lanes through the PCH than new gen chips which receive most through the CPU itself. So to know how many lanes you really have we actually have to look at the motherboard.

 

Still though. You'd need a new motherboard, chassis, PSU. RAM should be re-usable so long as the new board supports it. I don't know if any boards have the slot spacing necessary to support that many cards though. You'd have to rig the motherboard in a jig and use PCI_e riser cables. At which point you might as well keep the current motherboard. GPUs running at x8 perform fine.

Honestly, I was kinda hoping that I'd have to do some case modding. A separate PSU would be needed because of the proprietary PSUs in that chassis, and the GPUs would need more power than what those PSUs supply. Thanks for your help!!