Looking for a new MB with lots of RAM (16Gb?)

[spudboy]

I'm looking to buy a new motherboard for SQL Server development, along with a few virtual machines (using Hyper-V under Windows 2008).

My current dev machine is a Quad processor AMD with 8Gb (4 x 2Gb sticks - no spare slots left) of RAM but I always running out memory when I come to launch virtual test PCs. It's only 6 or 8 months old, but I can use it elsewhere.

I thought I had the problem solved yesterday when I found a new MSI board with 8 slots, but you can only use 4 DDR2 chips OR 4 DDR3 chips, not together.

Should I be thinking about upping the RAM on my current board to 4 x 4Gb sticks (can you get such things at a reasonable price?)?

I am happy to get another MB if I can find one with more slots. Maybe 12Gb is going to be as good as I can get at the moment (6 x 2Gb sticks).

Anyone got experience with big RAM motherboards? Should I just wait until 4Gb sticks come down in price?

Are Intel alternatives worth looking at (I have always had AMD due to better pricing and I think they are quicker than equivalent Intels PCs I've played on.....)

Thanks
David

[Delta_Farce]

Hi David,

The problem with VM's is that your underlying system will lose all ram allocated to them even if they aren't using it (ie it's reserved for them). So, assuming your host would like at least 2Gb then two of three VM's will use the remainder.

In my experience if you want to go above 8-12Gb you're getting into workstation and server teritority.

I've recently got a Dell Precision Workstation that will support 16Gb of ram (4x4Gb) but they use ECC ram and that's around $800 to fill it (plus the need for extra system fans).

I would say the best way to approach this is to identify how many VM's you'll need to run at any time, and how much ram they will need. Then, give your host OS at least another 2Gb.

Another option is to run your VM's on a host OS that uses less resources than Win2008. VMWare on linux or Virtual Box on Solaris may be an option. I think both can be run in a headless mode too. If you can do this, you can just rdp in from your host machine.

The best prices I've seen for ram are the generic products at Laptop | PC | Computer Memory Upgrades - RamCity (http://www.ramcity.com.au/). I haven't tried their products yet, but they come with a lifetime warranty.

Cheers,

Mark

[spudboy]

In my experience if you want to go above 8-12Gb you're getting into workstation and server teritority.


Any thoughts on what motherboard manufacturers I can research that support this much RAM?

I had a quick look at the DELL website, but even their expensive servers are only quoted with 2Gb of RAM.

[Delta_Farce]

The Dell store is probably listing base configs, so they have to be specced up from there.

Everything but the base Precision Workstation will support a minimum of 24Gb ram. See: Dell Precision Workstation Computers (http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/precndt?c=au&l=en&s=bsd&cs=aubsd1&~ck=mn)

Also, Sun Microsystems have the Ultra 40 M2 with up to 32Gb: Sun Ultra 40 M2 Workstation - At a Glance (http://www.sun.com/desktop/workstation/ultra40/)

I have an Ultra 24 with 8Gb, but it's just below the workstation class. I've rum VM's on it, but really only one at a time.

If you're just after a motherboard to use in your own build-up have a look here: Motherboards - Server Boards | Techbuy Australia (http://www.techbuy.com.au/searchcat/MOTHERBOARD_SERVER.asp)

It's also worth considering eBay for out of lease Gov servers. Some reasonable systems can be picked up at good prices and you can get support contracts from some manufacturers. Check before you buy, but if it's a dev system that may not be a key consideration: Servers, HP Servers, Compaq Servers, Sun Servers items at low prices on eBay.com.au (http://computers.shop.ebay.com.au/Servers-/11211/i.html?_catref=1)

[spudboy]

Thanks for those links. I looked through some of the DELL specs, and found an excellent MB, but unfortunately I can't afford to fill it with RAM!!

72GB (9x8GB ) DDR3 RDIMM Memory, 1066MHz, ECC [add $10,038.60 or $103/week-1]

[spudboy]

How do you reckon this would go?

IBM xSeries 445 / 8x Xeon 2.0GHz, 16Gb, 2x 36Gb U320 - eBay, IBM, Servers, Computers. (end time 01-Oct-09 20:19:19 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/IBM-xSeries-445-8x-Xeon-2-0GHz-16Gb-2x-36Gb-U320_W0QQitemZ160364129831QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Se rvers?hash=item2556726e27&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)

$650 buy it now!!!

[abaddonxi]

Also try Graysonline for servers -
Computers & IT Equipment Auctions Online (http://www.graysonline.com/Computers-and-Electronics/Computers-and-IT-Equipment)

[Delta_Farce]

How do you reckon this would go?

IBM xSeries 445 / 8x Xeon 2.0GHz, 16Gb, 2x 36Gb U320 - eBay, IBM, Servers, Computers. (end time 01-Oct-09 20:19:19 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/IBM-xSeries-445-8x-Xeon-2-0GHz-16Gb-2x-36Gb-U320_W0QQitemZ160364129831QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Se rvers?hash=item2556726e27&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)

$650 buy it now!!!

That would be a very powerful machine, but noise and power consumption might be a problem. If you have a rack to mount it in, and power to keep it going, then it'd be a good way to go.

I know the commercial version of VMWare (ESX I think) will allow resources to be dedicated to VM's (CPU, HDD and RAM), so this could be a good box for doing that.

[vnx205]

This is of no help whatsoever with your problem, but every time I see your thread as I survey the AULRO posts, I am reminded that the person who wrote the computer columns for the Sydney Morning Herald in the early 1980s said when the Apple IIe increased the RAM to 64k that he couldn't imagine anyone ever needing more than 64k in a computer.

Just in case you are young enough to find that improbable, here is a link to some info on the the Apple IIe.

Apple II series - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


And here you are looking for a MB with 250,000 times that much RAM. :p

[spudboy]

I know - it's ridiculous really.

I got a price this afternoon for 12Gb of Kingston RAM (DDR3 1600) which was less than $350!! :eek: How cheap is RAM these days?

All I can do is blame MS for bloating things up so you need 2Gb per PC to get decent performance out of it. 4 x virtual PCs and there goes your total RAM....

[Remy]

Why are you running all your VM's at once anyway? Don't forget 32 bit windows can only use 3GB of Ram anyway. I run parallels 4.0 on a Mac and it is a vast improvement over earlier VM platforms i used. They have a windows version.

Mac Virtual Machines and Virtual PC. Automation and Virtualization Software for Desktops, Servers, Hosting, SaaS - Parallels (http://www.parallels.com/)

Cheers,
Remy

[spudboy]

I generally have 2 VMs running all the time, so my base SQL machine running Win2008, then one VM for web/email access and general Dev work, plus an old Win XP VM to run my accounting system, VNC and for testing.

When I need to test something in Vista or Win7 I have no RAM left, so I have to shut down one of the other VMs, which is a pain, but not the end of the world. The VMs only use 1.2Gb each, so not near the 3Gb limit.

[abaddonxi]

What about a pile of basic boxes and a kvm?

[Delta_Farce]

I'd be inclined to split your current environment between Desktop (Win 7) + email vm and SQL server + accounting VM and run them on two smaller boxes. I'd guessed you were working on a desktop and running SQL in a VM.

Assuming you're using the web/email VM to prevent your host from compromise, I reckon you might be better to keep desktop/net on one box and server/accounting on the other. You might be able to get away with two 6-8Gb machines instead of one 16Gb+ machine if you do that.

The SQL environment might run quicker in Linux or OpenSolaris too, if you're not dependent on MS SQL.

[miky]

Timely thread.

I am thinking of a new machine:
64 bit around 3GHz clock, quad core, with 16Gb of ram.

This will be mainly used for video editing - Adobe Premier.

There are some choices out there but a lot of reaserch will be needed to get a setup optimised for Premier methinks.

Intel or AMD? Hard one... Always had AMD, but... ??

[spudboy]

I've always had AMD too, but I went out to buy this MB + bits and pieces on Friday (unfortunately they didn't have any stock when I got there.....:mad:):
o ASUS P6T
o Intel i7-920
o 12Gb RAM
o 1Tb Western Digital HDD - Server series

The ASUS P6T has 6 slots, so you can get in 12Gb of 2Gb sticks, which are really cheap ATM.

If you find a MB that takes 16Gb without using the ridiculously expensive 4Gb sticks then post right back.

[abaddonxi]

I've always had AMD too, but I went out to buy this MB + bits and pieces on Friday (unfortunately they didn't have any stock when I got there.....:mad:):
o ASUS P6T
o Intel i7-920
o 12Gb RAM
o 1Tb Western Digital HDD - Server series

The ASUS P6T has 6 slots, so you can get in 12Gb of 2Gb sticks, which are really cheap ATM.

If you find a MB that takes 16Gb without using the ridiculously expensive 4Gb sticks then post right back.

http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/index.php'redir=http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_product_info.php?input[product_code]=SYN-P6T-DELUXE-V2&input[category_id]=83
(http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/index.php'redir=http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_product_info.php?input[product_code]=SYN-P6T-DELUXE-V2&input)
http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/index.php'redir=http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_product_info.php?input[product_code]=SYN-P6T-SE&input[category_id]=83
(http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/index.php'redir=http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_product_info.php?input[product_code]=SYN-P6T-SE&input[category_id]=83)
http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/index.php'redir=http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_product_info.php?input[product_code]=SYN-P6T&input (http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/index.php'redir=http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_product_info.php?input[product_code]=SYN-P6T&input[category_id]=83)[category_id]=83

[spudboy]

That last link is the one I am after. That price of $359 is a bit high though.

I have been quoted $288 incl GST for the P6T (from MSY computers). I just have to be patient and wait until Wed/Thu next week ....