Topic: What makes a motherboard or CPU server grade?

[smeusr]

Hi, I've heard on numerous occassions where people refer to server boards and server cpu's.  Can someone please explain what is the difference between a desktop Mobo and a server Mobo.  The same question for a desktop cpu and a server cpu.

 

thanks.

[mmccarn]

I can't say much about CPUs, but here's my story about server vs. workstation motherboards...

Long ago, our Netware server's motherboard failed.  It used a PII 400MHz CPU and had 256MB RAM.

While we waited for the Dell folks to show up w/ a new motherboard, we moved the hard disk controller and network controller into a PIII 933MHz workstation with 512MB RAM.

On paper, the 'workstation' should have been faster than the 'server'.  In actuality, it would do just fine until we had 5 or 10 users accessing the same database -- then the response would slow to a crawl.

I believe (but have no certain knowledge on this) that the difference is in the number of data pathways inside the computer - the server had 2 PCI buses, with the HDC and Network card on different buses - and perhaps the server had superior conflict resolution capabilities (better interrupt handling).

For whatever reason, I remain convinced that 'server class' machines are better at handling multiple simultaneous client requests.

[girkers]

Another "feature" of server Mobos is the ability to use ECC RAM. This RAM is error-correcting and thus is less prone to errors. As mmccarn stated the server Mobo has more buses to cope with multiple inputs unlike desktop boards that usually share buses.

With CPU desktop CPUs are designed for speed where as server CPUs are designed for stability, not saying you can't have one and not the other but that is generally the philosophy behind the development of the CPU.

Server components are designed to run 24/7/365 whereas desktop components are not, that is another reason why you pay more for Hard Drives that are server grade than the standard desktop models.

[smeusr]

Thanks for your responses.

I just installed SME on an  ASUS P5B board with a Core 2 Duo.  Whereas a buddy of mine installed one on a server board with a Duo Core Xeon.  Both are 2 GHz chips.  Are there any significant differences between the two?

After reading your posts, I'm itching to go out and buy a server machine.


Thanks.

[girkers]

smeusr,

I will be honest and I can't say for sure. I just had a quick glance at the product brief for the Xeon and the only things that stand out are, can have up to 8MB Level 2 Cache, can be more power efficient and includes ECC functions.