Transforming my Socket 2011v1 setup.
Transforming my Socket 2011v1 setup.
Hey everyone, I'm considering upgrading my old desktop and have several questions. My current setup includes an Asus P9X79 with an Intel Core i7-3820 processor, 16 GB of DDR3 memory, and it's used for light gaming, video encoding, and running VMware labs. I'm also using an HP microserver as a NAS/PLEX. The RAM is running low now, and I've noticed the board can support up to 128 GB ECC if I upgrade to a Xeon. I'm wondering if ECC support is mainly about CPU compatibility or something else. There are risks involved—what if I go this route? One option could be virtualizing my NAS onto this machine while keeping it running, and then selling the HP. If I still need GPU power for gaming or rendering, would it make more sense to use a Windows host with VMware instead of keeping it as a full desktop?
Verify whether the ECC RAM is buffered or registered. Consumer boards may allow unbuffered ECC, though most budget options use buffering. Refer to your motherboard manual for details on ECC compatibility.