Posted: 10/5/2023 5:25:16 PM EDT
|
So I'm not an EE or computer guy... at all. I'm an optics/mechanical guy and the extent of my electronics expertise is trying not to let the smoke out. But I find myself needing to source some computer options with the following minimum requirements. I'm having trouble finding a rackmount PC that specifies GPU performance though. Should I just use a slide-out shelf in the rack and strap a gaming laptop to it? Form Factor: 19" Rack Mount, 1U, Short Depth (<13" deep) Processing power: i7 or greater Video out: 2x HDMI or 2x DisplayPort GPU: NVidia RTX 20xx AMD or RX 6xxx-XT (or better) Serial communication: 1x RS232 (for serial) or 1x Ethernet (for serial) Network: 2X ports for Gigabit TCP/IP (whether native or expansion card) 1x USB port; A or B |
|
The limitation of a 1U rack means you have shit selection for real GPUs. Also not much has an actual RS232 serial port these days. Will probably need a USB->serial adapter cable. PS there is a computer sub-forum that might get you better quality responses. https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/Urban-Commandos/124/ |
|
Quoted: The limitation of a 1U rack means you have shit selection for real GPUs. PS there is a computer sub-forum that might get you better quality responses. https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/Urban-Commandos/124/ I don't think we need "cutting edge" GPUs or anything. I'm just told by the system engineer something in the realm of a RTX 20xx / RX-6xxx-XT or better... so like ~4 year old tech. I figured maybe a rackmount could offer that since laptops can. And if I post in GD... the responses are more fun. |
|
Going to be really difficult getting that in a 1u imo especially that short of a depth. If there’s any way you can upgrade your rack a little bigger you could do a 4u 15” deep chassis and have no issues, something like the Sliger 4150a or i would work a lot better. I’m building a 4170a right now and it can fit a triple fan 6700xt no problem ETA: especially if you are using a current gen I7 you can have clearance for a decent tower cooler if you go to 4u. Or you can do an AIO with the cases I mentioned. Going to be way easier this route |
|
Quoted: Going to be really difficult getting that in a 1u imo especially that short of a depth. If there’s any way you can upgrade your rack a little bigger you could do a 4u 15” deep chassis and have no issues, something like the Sliger 4150a or i would work a lot better. I’m building a 4170a right now and it can fit a triple fan 6700xt no problem Good advice. Just upgraded the coolers on my 4u yesterday. Attached File |
|
Quoted: You’re not going to find a 1U rack pc with a discrete gpu. What are you trying to do? So far I've tracked down two... Dell (uses NVIDIA dual T1000 8GB or RTX A2000 12GB among others) but I think it's too long and not sure if they make a short depth chassis version. Iron Link 1U Shallow Rack Mount (dual NVIDIA T1000 8GB, RTX A2000 12GB, RTX A4000 16GB, etc...) It says short depth, but I can't hardly find any info on this thing aside from the Linked In announcement... could be vaporware. Or just a repackaged Dell 3930. |
|
Quoted: There's only 1U remaining available in the rack (front or back) and there's another device already on the opposing rear side of that rack ... so the depth of this PC is limited to ~13" |
|
Quoted: There's only 1U remaining available in the rack (front or back) and there's another device already on the opposing rear side of that rack ... so the depth of this PC is limited to ~13" Get a rack more suitably sized for what you're trying to accomplish, then. |
|
The make some PCI breakout chassis that use a ThunderBolt (similar to USB-C but faster) connection to the Host. This would give you flexible option for your choice of Graphics Card and a slot to put a real Serial Card in. This chassis could sit on top of the rack or to the side? https://www.sonnettech.com/product/thunderbolt/pcie-card-expansion-systems.html https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Cardbus-Chassis/ci/13355 I'm not sure what you are running App wise on this? But a Mac Studio or Mac mini could sit on a rack shelf. Crazy fast in a small package. But I think any gaming laptop would match your specs. You can run some of them with the lid closed, but I'd want adequate airflow. |
|
Get started here and use some adapters or a hub to USB the extra crap you’re looking for. ?? https://www.stealth.com/rackservers/sr-1550-short-depth-1u-rack-computer-server/ |
|
Quoted: you wont find a short depth 1u as has been stated you MAY can find a 2U, but really 3 and 4U are your options for short depth setups, and even then they'll likely be 20+ inches long I think I'm just going to put a workstation class laptop on a 10" deep 1U slide out shelf. Velcro tape the machine to the shelf and call it good. There's a few out there with enough GPU and connections that could work for me. I just can't believe that there's a few ~14.5"x10"x1" laptops (with integral keyboard/battery/screen) out there that can be SOOOO much more powerful than ANY way bigger 1U fullsize 17.5"x20"x1.75" 1U server, let alone a shallow depth 1U computer.  HP ZBook Fury 16" G10 Mobile Workstation ($3089) Core i7 13700HX 32GB DDR5 (2x16GB) 1TB NVMe SSD NVIDIA RTX 3500 Ada 12GB (comparable to GeForce RTX 3060 Ti / Radeon RX 6750 XT) 1x HDMI 1x Mini DisplayPort 1x RJ45 enet 2x Thunderbolt 4 (will use a USB-C to RJ45 ethernet adapter on one) 2x USB-A (will use a USB-C to RS232 adapter on one to get serial) That should get me my dual monitor, my dual TCP/IP ethernet, the needed USB-A, and my RS232 Serial ... leaving one Thunderbolt/USB-C to spare. |
|
Quoted: I think I'm just going to put a workstation class laptop on a 10" deep 1U slide out shelf. Velcro tape the machine to the shelf and call it good. There's a few out there with enough GPU and connections that could work for me. I just can't believe that there's a few ~14.5"x10"x1" laptops (with integral keyboard/battery/screen) out there that can be SOOOO much more powerful than ANY way bigger 1U fullsize 17.5"x20"x1.75" 1U server, let alone a shallow depth 1U computer. HP ZBook Fury 16" G10 Mobile Workstation ($3089) Core i7 13700HX 32GB DDR5 (2x16GB) 1TB NVMe SSD NVIDIA RTX 3500 Ada 12GB (comparable to GeForce RTX 3060 Ti / Radeon RX 6750 XT) 1x HDMI 1x Mini DisplayPort 1x RJ45 enet 2x Thunderbolt 4 (will use a USB-C to RJ45 ethernet adapter on one) 2x USB-A (will use a USB-C to RS232 adapter on one to get serial) That should get me my dual monitor, my dual TCP/IP ethernet, the needed USB-A, and my RS232 Serial ... leaving one Thunderbolt/USB-C to spare. The problem isn't the specs, the problem is heat. A server needs to be able to run at 100% load 24/7 for the next 5 years. You're not going to get that level of performance or reliability out of laptop grade hardware. With any sustained load on a laptop, you will get thermal throttling and reduced service life. |
|
Quoted: The problem isn't the specs, the problem is heat. A server needs to be able to run at 100% load 24/7 for the next 5 years. You're not going to get that level of performance or reliability out of laptop grade hardware. With any sustained load on a laptop, you will get thermal throttling and reduced service life. |
|
Quoted: The problem isn't the specs, the problem is heat. A server needs to be able to run at 100% load 24/7 for the next 5 years. You're not going to get that level of performance or reliability out of laptop grade hardware. With any sustained load on a laptop, you will get thermal throttling and reduced service life. It's not only that but 'half depth rack 1u rack mount server that's kind of low power with a lower end GPU" is a very niche market for server manufacturers to target, meanwhile "Laptop with a gpu of some sorts" is a very massive market. The latter is also a lot easier to design for, mostly due to the reasons you noted. |