Server MBs

[Roger Oberholtzer]

On Sun, 2005-08-21 at 20:56 +0100, Federico Voges wrote:
> Alma J Wetzker wrote:
> 
> > Roger Oberholtzer wrote:
> >
> >> On Fri, 2005-08-19 at 15:20, Lonni J Friedman wrote:
> >>
> >>> On Fri, 19 Aug 2005, Roger Oberholtzer wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Dumb question here:
> >>>>
> >>>> I am looking at 19" rack mount chassis that can hold 6, 8 or however
> >>>> many more SATA disks. These seem to be common; however, it seems that
> >>>> all suppliers list that the systems are for Dual Xeon ATX MB. Well, 
> >>>> I do
> >>>> not want Dual Xeon. I want a P4 ATX MB (as in an ASUS P4C800-Deluxe).
> >>>> Could I expect this to work? Could it be that the Dual Xeon info is 
> >>>> just
> >>>> letting me know I can put that in, but a P4 MB should work as well?
> >>>> These are not coming with the MB. I will be adding that.
> >>>>
> >>>> I am asking various manufacturers this, but I want to know NOW!!
> >>>>
> >>>> Anyone know about this sort of thing?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Generally speaking i don't think you can run Xeons and P4s in the same
> >>> motherboard, as they have different numbers of pins.  The P4C800 you
> >>> mentioned certainly can't take Xeons.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> I am not trying to run them in the same motherboard. I have selected the
> >> ATX motherboard and CPU that I want. What confuses me is that the rack
> >> chassis info say they are for an ATX with a Dual Xeon. I can see that
> >> they can say they support such a thing. But does that mean this is all
> >> the rack supports? I thought ATX defined where the connectors are and
> >> the types of connectors for power and things. The specific CPU should
> >> not really be a concern of the rack chassis. In fact, I have found some
> >> manufacturers that say their racks support ATX MB with Xeon, P4 or PIII.
> >> I think in the other cases (where only Xeon is listed) the manufacturer
> >> is being lazy or assumes their customers know this support (P4 and all)
> >> is implied.
> >>
> >
> > I usually run AMD so I am not positive, but, I think the high end 
> > Intel processors need a separate power connector from the power 
> > supply.  Are those connectors the same for a P4 and a Xeon?  Is it a 
> > 2U case so you can replace the PS with one that does have the correct 
> > connector if you guess wrong?
> >
> > ATX does indeed mean that the mechanical connector locations are 
> > defined.  It even implies a certain connector for MB power.  With the 
> > specialized stuff that showed up in the decade since ATX was defined, 
> > some extra stuff is bound to get added.
> >
> Xeons usually use EPS-12V PSUs that's the power cable with 24 pins 
> instead of 20 and also 2 4pin CPU power cables. Some non Xeon boards are 
> also starting to use the 24pins power cable.

Some chassis have an ordering option for 20 or 24 pins.

> 
> You should check for the motherboard form factors supported - most dual 
> xeon boards are extended ATX (12"x13"). Also, what type of PSU comes with.

The PSUs are usually an add-on. The racks I am looking at allow for the
EPS-12V variety.


> I know you can convert an ATX-12V PSU to use a mother which requires 
> EPS-12V. All you need is a couple of adapter cables (I'm doing that with 
> my dual xeon). Also, most EPS-12V PSUs work as ATX-12V (the extra 4 pins 
> is in fact another cable that you can leav unconnected).
> 
> My advice is to check those specs and/or send an email asking :)

This I have done. My list question is so I can get a more rounded
answer, rather than one that pushes a specific company product.

Anyway, I have found some nice looking 2U racks that hold 4 hot
swappable SATS disks. So I am happy. More on that after I get a few to
try.

> 
> Just my $0.02
> 
> Cheers.
>