Server Boards
Processors
Sadly, both processors I have lying around are P models. I thought those were able to run solo, so that’s why I bought them. I didn’t realize the non-P models can also run in a single-processor configuration.
If I buy new processors, the 96-core version or two lower-core-count processors, I will be buying a new board and will keep that in consideration.
From what I’m seeing, the current Epyc and Threadripper processors have similar clock speeds, but Epyc ones have 3D V-Cache whereas Threadripper processors do not.
Max clock speed
@rrubberr There’s an asterisk on the Epyc page about max clock speed. It said in normal use. I would expect that means when most cores are in use. Does that actually mean “best-case”?
Threadripper clocks
@AgentAnon Are you saying you can overclock Threadrippers or that they self-overclock? I haven’t overclocked a CPU in about 10 years, and the last time I did, the motherboard provided me with a few options.
Dual-socket boards
@rrubberr Do I actually need 2 processors or can I get by with one and get another later? I will buy them both at the same time, just asking for future knowledge depending on how I move things around.
CCDs
@IM3CPO Great note on the CCDs. I know they exist, but I thought newer Epycs had 16-core CCDs. So ideally, I’d keep gaming systems down to 8 cores if I want the best performance. That seems to align with most games as well. They rarely utilize more than 2; let alone 8.
Also great note on using Intel. Unless they’re significantly better at the gaming workload I’d rather stick with AMD. Intel also doesn’t have as many PCIe lanes; and I’d probably need them. Also, I’m not in the Intel ecosystem, so it’d take a lot more work to study up on how they handle naming, cores, that stupid “feature rental” on new chips, etc.
My GPUs are currently 1080 Ti and 3090. I have others, but they’re not worth talking about. I plan to upgrade to this generation’s flagship GPU if it’s worth it, and I hope to only buy one, not two this time.
Networking
The server boards I have are dual-10Gb, and I also have extra Mellanox ConnectX-6 cards with two 25Gb SFP28 ports.
Performance expectations
My expectation is to be able to do 4K@120Hz with max or close to max settings. I understand that pretty much nothing can do ray-tracing well today. I expect to have VRR enabled, but I’d still like a steady framerate, and not one of the games I own supports frame-gen nor am I excited for a extra lag and what is essentially my TV’s motion smoothing.
The other PCs used to be 3440x1440@60Hz, but my oldest son knocked one of those over. They’re currently 2560x1080@75Hz which is a lot easier to drive, but I will probably upgrade them in the future. I expect my wife to complain when she gets time to play BG3 with me again now that the kids are older.
Number of users
@slidermike I plan to have 6 users at any given time, but for the most part, it will be 1-3 depending.
My kids are fairly young, and only 2 of them can use the PC at the moment, and with Aster, they’re currently able to, but it has issues with X-Input controllers messing with both workplaces. VMs would be better.
If for some reason I’m working on a project and my kids are playing too, that’s 3.
In terms of my wife and me, that’s 2 of us. My kids aren’t skilled enough to play LAN games just yet.
If I’m playing on the TV, we’re all together, so that’s only 1.
I expect this server to get a lot more use as my kids get older.
Finding a rackmount case
I can’t find a rackmount case that allows you to add a bunch of GPUs with PCIe extenders.
I’m wondering how to address that. It’s the crux of this whole operation.
Peformance Testing
@IM3CPO If you can do those benchmarks, you’d be my hero! The games I’d be playing right now that absolutely kill my system are:
- No Rest of the Wicked
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Sackboy (with ray-tracing)
- Hitman 3 (with ray-tracing)
No other games seem to stress the system. As you can tell, I don’t play many AAA games. I stick to AA and indie titles, but AA games tend to be the worst-optimized of the bunch.
The last big game I played that could’ve caused problems was Elden Ring (back in 2022), but that’s because of shader compilation stutter, and I didn’t touch ray-tracing. Plus, it’s limited to only 60fps.
