Questions regarding dual processor boards

[b4u]

Hi,

Can anyone help me understand a bit more about dual processor boards?

Taking Supermicro X10DRL-i I have the following questions:

1# In a dual processor board (the one described above) where the following is stated:

CPU Thermal Design Power (TDP): support up to
145W (See Note 1 next page)

...

Note 1: CPU Maximum Thermal Design Power (TDP) is subject to chassis
and heatsink cooling restrictions. For proper thermal management, please
check the chassis and heatsink specifications for proper CPU TDP sizing.

Those 145W TDP is per processor? Meaning that two Intel® Xeon® Processor E5-2620 v4
(20M Cache, 2.10 GHz) which are spec'ed at 85W TDP (each one) can be operating without any problem at full load?


2# Can a board be running with only one CPU? All memory slots can be filled, or only half of them which are somewhat related/paired with the only one CPU-1 installed?

3# I latter on I install a second processor, will it run out-of-the box? If I have Windows 12 Server R2 installed on bare metal will it requires any change or reinstall? Or if I use virtualization on bare metal (proxmox or free vmware ESXi) will they also automatically detect and make use of the new available CPU/cores?


Thanks.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

1) Yes; that's per CPU.

2) Most modern dual socket boards can operate with only one CPU installed, but last I checked, yes, that will disable half your RAM slots. Check the manual for details, RAM placement recommendations, etc.

3) If it's the same model and stuff, yes, you just install the new chip. Your OS will deal with it just fine.

 

[b4u]

3) If it's the same model and stuff, yes, you just install the new chip. Your OS will deal with it just fine.

Thank you for your reply. So if I put a Xeon E5-2620 v4 I will have to put another Xeon E5-2620 v4 to be trouble safe? If I put another one I have to reinstall OS, even if it is a bare metal VM solution?

Thanks

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Thank you for your reply. So if I put a Xeon E5-2620 v4 I will have to put another Xeon E5-2620 v4 to be trouble safe?

Yes.

If I put another one I have to reinstall OS, even if it is a bare metal VM solution?

No, you don't have to reinstall the OS. It will be fine.

 

[Viper GTS]

IMO it's foolish to pay all the extra up front (PSU, motherboard, case, cooling, etc) to prepare for a CPU addition in the future.

By then tech will have moved far enough you're probably better off just buying another 1P system (if 1P was enough to begin with). For a business server I'd generally prefer 2P for memory expansion purposes. Your 200 database use case also supports just going full 2P from the beginning. Remember to populate every memory channel - You'll want 8 DIMMs. 8x16 GB would be where I would start. You will burn through 128 GB far faster than you think, I use 96 at home and could use more.

Viper GTS