Rock stack rack for quality storage
Rock stack rack for quality storage
I've been considering setting up a homelab or NAS with a rackmount server for some time now. Prices seem reasonable across most options I've checked. My concern is using ECC memory for software RAID, but the QVL listings on the motherboard I'm looking at only have four 32GB SKUs total—none of them are available from major stores or at fair prices. Some parts like the AsRock Rack B550D4U-2T appear to be non-ECC options, while others such as Kingston KSM32ED8/32ME offer ECC but aren't listed in the QVL. I'm curious about Kingston's KTL-TS432E/32G which isn't on the QVL. What are the risks here? Would running them at a lower speed reduce those concerns?
QVL refers to tested features that manufacturers confirm will function reliably. You likely won’t need extreme performance settings like XMP. As long as you locate suitable Samsung or Crucial/Micron options matching your desired speeds, you should be okay. ECC may require careful handling, but memory from Samsung and Crucial generally works across most systems.
I don't see many options from Samsung, Crucial or Micron. A Micron MTA18ADF4G72AZ-2G6B2 might suit your needs better if you prioritize stability and capacity over speed. It's pricier and slower, but it could be a solid choice for your application.
I've been using two Micron MTA18ASF4G72AZ-3G2R cables with my ASRock Rack X470D4U and 3800XT for a year now. Not listed on QVL, but configured to JEDEC 3200 in the BIOS without any problems. I'm planning to get two more sticks eventually...
Just a fyi ... you can get Epyc motherboards at much lower prices than the 400$ that Asrock board costs There's an eBay seller with decent reputation on eBay and popular on ServeTheHome forums that sells epyc cpus and motherboards. He had a ton of listings, all kinds of epyc mobos and cpus, I see much less right now, but here's a couple examples : Supermicro H11SSL-i SP3 motherboard+AMD EPYC CPU+16GB * 4~64GB * 8 RAM optional | eBay 469$ for mobo + cpu and if you want you can add ram sticks to the order It's ATX motherboard with lots of pci-e slots, 16 sata ports etc, but only 2 x 1g ports - a 10-25g ethernet card is cheap though , 20-50$) mobo specs : H11SSL-i | Motherboards | Super Micro Computer, Inc. or Supermicro H11ssw-nt SP3 Motherboard + AMD EPYC CPU + 16GB*4~64GB*8 RAM Optional | eBay $390 for motherboard + CPU (select out of a bunch) + add extra money if you want to order ram (ddr4 registered ecc) mobo specs : H11SSW-NT | Motherboards | Super Micro Computer, Inc. You get a motherboard that's sort of a custom form factor but should fit in an extended atx case, has management, 1g and 2x10g rj45 ports... SlimSAS connectors that you can connect up to 4 nvme m.2 drives or up to 16 sata drives using slimsas to sata cables (ex Amazon.com: DiliVing SlimSAS X8 to 8*SATA,SFF-8654 74P to 8*SATA 7P, SlimSAS Host/RAID to SATA Target HD, 85CM Cable : Electronics ) An Epyc 7282 16 core / 32 threads should be fast enough for a nas .. it's about as fast as a Ryzen 5700, but at a tdp of 120w 7302p is even better choice, with up to 128 MB l3 cache, and higher clock speeds, but tdp goes up to 155w You can compare models on CPU World : AMD EPYC 7002 series system-on-a-chip family and you can get a relative performance value using cpu benchmark : PassMark - CPU Benchmarks - List of Benchmarked CPUs He also sells coolers for $50 a piece amd epyc server cooler 4u-sp3 AMD Threadripper -tr4 5 tubes | eBay
There are many benefits to using Epyc, though more research is needed. I avoided a top-tier server setup because my rack was compact and enclosed, and I wanted to manage noise and heat in my office. I’m already working on SAS Icy Dock for the hot-swap, so maybe I can locate an Epyc board that matches my case or fits my rack.