Once the basics are clear, RAM must be procured. ECC would be possible, but it is significantly more expensive and harder to find than normal, unbuffered RAM. So “normal” RAM is used.

The maximum expansion with four memory channels and eight slots would be eight DDR4 modules, each with a capacity of 32 GB. That would give a whopping 256 GB. Desirable, but not financially feasible at the time of my search.

Corsair Vengeance LPX

Because price/performance also plays a role, we opted for DDR4 modules with 16 GB each*, giving us a total of 128 GB for all eight. This means that the four memory channels are fully utilized and the memory controller is not overloaded.

⧉ Corsair

⧉ Corsair

⧉ Corsair

Power supply

I was able to purchase two HX1200s* at a bargain price from a miner in Bavaria. The second one, which has not been used until now, will now be used in this server (the other HX1200 is in “Tamy-PC”). Full accessories, very good condition.

⧉ Corsair

⧉ Corsair

⧉ Corsair

⧉ Corsair

⧉ Corsair

⧉ Corsair

Der Beitrag <h5>TR-Server #3: </h5><h3><b>Memory and PSU</b></h3> erschien zuerst auf flohs blog.

With all this powerful hardware, it’s time to think about which power supply should power the PC. Basically, you can simply use the known performance specifications to get a rough idea. In my case, these would be:

Of course, these are all maximum values, which is why the number is so high. Not so long ago, there wasn’t much choice in the ATX form factor in these performance ranges. Today, the range of high-performance power supplies is changing for the better virtually every day*, due to the high power consumption of modern graphics cards and the resulting demand.

What is possible?

For many years, my first choice for power supplies has been Corsair, especially the AX and HXi/HX series. My second choice would be BeQuiet, also in the upper efficiency segment (Dark Power). Otherwise, I would go for either Seasonic or EVGA.

Here, too, after observing the market for a long time, I found what I was looking for in the classified ads: an EVGA Supernova T2 with an impressive 1600 watts, which was probably used for mining. It cost me €200, with all the original accessories in the original packaging.

⧉ EVGA

⧉ EVGA

⧉ EVGA

⧉ EVGA

⧉ EVGA

⧉ EVGA

Note the non-standard C19 socket and C20 plug, as the maximum continuous current load of the commonly used C13/C14 variant would be too close to the limit at 10 A at full capacity.

Technical specifications

That looks like a good fit.

Der Beitrag <h5>Retro-XP-PC #7: </h5><h3><b>Power comes from fuel</b></h3> erschien zuerst auf flohs blog.

The following components have already been defined:

• Processor, Intel Core i7-7700K
• Processor cooler, Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE
• Motherboard, ASUS ROG Strix Z270E Gaming

The following parts are still missing:

• RAM
• Possibly a graphics card with HDMI 2.0
• SSD / HDD
• Power supply
• Case, but since the whole thing will be overclocked on a benchtable and later built into a drawer, this is negligible.

RAM:

For RAM, I used a 16 GB kit consisting of two 8 GB modules – Crucial Ballistix (DDR4-2400)*. I already had them on hand, left over from a previous upgrade project:

⧉ Crucial

Graphics card:

As a dedicated GPU, even though Intel’s integrated GPU would have also enabled 4K @ 60 Hz via DisplayPort 1.4, I used an existing and unused Nvidia GeForce GT 1030 OC* from Gigabyte. Of course, in terms of connectivity (PCIe 3.0 x4!), it’s not a particularly good card, but it can do one thing better than the integrated one: 4K @ 60 Hz via HDMI 2.0. As an additional positive side effect, more RAM is available for the system as a whole, which would otherwise have been used by the integrated GPU.

⧉ Gigabyte

⧉ Gigabyte

⧉ Gigabyte

SSD / HDD:

I plan to install two data storage devices—a very fast NVMe boot drive, also a leftover Samsung 960 Evo with 250 GB of storage space (my first NVMe, newer model*), and a 3.5″ SATA hard drive with 1 TB of storage space* as a slow data grave for downloads, cache, etc.

There are SSDs with significantly more performance – I consider the read rates for everyday use of this system to be by far the most relevant, and even the smallest 960 Evo with 250 GB at the time can shine here, with a maximum of 3200 MB/s. The fastest PCIe 3.0 x4 Samsung SSD in the consumer sector, the 970 Evo Plus (the successor to the 970 Evo), only manages marginally more, namely a maximum of 3500 MB/s – which is the maximum for the interface anyway.

The 960 Evo is therefore a good fit for this system because even it almost maxes out the interface when it comes to important read operations. The NVMe also gets a passive heat sink from JEYI – I’ve installed it many times before – it works well, looks good, and is very affordable:

⧉ Samsung

⧉ JEYI

⧉ WD

Power supply:

Like everything else… left over. I usually use power supplies from Corsair*, and in exceptional cases from EVGA.
Here’s a picture:

⧉ CoolerMaster

Now all the components are together—assemble them and start overclocking!

Der Beitrag <h5>i7-7700K OC #6: </h5><h3><b>Remaining hardware</b></h3> erschien zuerst auf flohs blog.