Trends in motherboard connectors shaping tomorrow's designs
Trends in motherboard connectors shaping tomorrow's designs
I’m not completely confident about this, so please forgive any misunderstanding if my words seem off. More channels typically need additional pins in the CPU socket, and I don’t believe the current socket can support quad-channel memory. However, with such a large amount of RAM required, you might want to look into Threadripper or Xeon options.
There are rumors about an upcoming workstation platform featuring the W790 chipset and CPUs named Sapphire Rapids. It supports octochannel DDR5 memory and offers over 100 PCIe lanes with varying configurations based on the CPU. Full overclocking capabilities are included, similar to high-end HEDT systems. While exact release dates aren't confirmed, it seems likely a Q1 2023 launch, which would be a reasonable timeline.
Threadripper seems to be the top choice right now. Intel also had some strategies in mind for launching something similar in the first half of 2023.
Epyc is another option in addition to Threadripper... it doesn't come with a high price tag. For instance, some sellers offer EPYC processors, boards, and packages; you can find links to eBay listings. A CPU, motherboard, and cooler combo might cost around $370 or less. While the AMD EPYC 7251+ paired with a Supermicro H11SSL-i and a 4u-sp3 cooler is not the fastest, it provides eight channels across one slot and supports up to 1 TB of DDR4 ECC memory (up to 2 TB on boards with revision 2.x). Most high-end AM4 boards priced over $370 are also more expensive.
The package is affordable since the chipset offers 8 cores running at a standard speed of 2.1 GHz (with turbo up to some higher frequency). These chips are great for setups focused mainly on RAM and graphics cards, especially with your high PCIe lane count and ample memory. You can purchase them separately for around $760, paired with a board that includes a more powerful processor—though they'll cost more. For instance, an Epyc 7F32 bundle with a motherboard is available for about $430. A video card can be found for $10–15, and the boards come with standard ATX or extended ATX power supplies. The graphics chip supports remote management via internet or Ethernet, making it convenient without extra expense.