Our ASRock Rack ROMED8-2T assessment is one we’ve been enthusiastic about for a while. A key function with the AMD EPYC 7002 Collection codenamed “Rome” is that it exposes numerous PCIe lanes even in a single-socket configuration. There are some sensible constraints to placing a full AMD EPYC 7002 single-socket platform on an ATX kind issue motherboard so many examples we’ve seen up to now make main trade-offs. With the ASRock Rack ROMED8-2T, one successfully will get all the things the CPU has to supply besides in 1 DIMM per channel reminiscence mode. Allow us to get into the assessment.
ASRock Rack ROMED8-2T Overview
Trying on the ASRock Rack ROMED8-2T we will see a completely packed ATX kind issue motherboard. Whereas it is a commonplace ATX kind issue, there are a number of small concessions made to remain compact. A terrific instance of that is that the center screw mounting level on the highest fringe of the motherboard is changed by a pad on the bottom to be able to make room for the DIMM slots.
There are a complete of 8x DDR4 DIMM slots which assist RDIMMs, LRDIMMs, and even NVDIMMs (examine the HCL.) On the higher finish of the spectrum, this implies one can have as much as 8x 128GB LRDIMMs for 1TB of reminiscence or 8x 256GB LRDIMMs for 2TB of reminiscence. These eight slots every have their very own reminiscence channel for full bandwidth. That may be a huge differentiator over the Threadripper (non-Professional) sequence. The CPU socket helps AMD EPYC 7002 CPUs as much as 225W. One can see that the socket and reminiscence are designed for entrance to again airflow which is what one usually needs in server chassis.
Allow us to get to what’s maybe essentially the most distinctive function: PCIe slots. There are seven PCIe Gen4 x16 slots. Which means we get 112x PCIe Gen4 lanes uncovered on this system. The AMD EPYC 7002 sequence has a complete of 128x PCIe lanes, nevertheless, some are used for peripherals such because the 10GbE networking that we’re going to focus on later.
Setting some context right here, the 112x PCIe Gen4 lanes have extra lanes than a twin Intel Xeon Scalable server. Since they’re Gen4, not Gen3, they’ve extra bandwidth than a 4-socket third Technology Intel Xeon Scalable Cooper Lake platform. One of many challenges on this method, and whereas there are usually not many others prefer it, is that getting this many single-width PCIe Gen4 x16 playing cards is comparatively tough. Nonetheless, the pliability this gives is superb.
With a view to service the remaining motherboard growth functionality, ASRock Rack has a sequence of switches that enable one to successfully divert PCIe Gen4 lanes from the PCIE2 slot to different codecs. An instance is that we’ve twin M.2 slots. One can take as much as a M.2 22110 (110mm) NVMe SSD, the opposite as much as a M.2 2280 M.2 SSD. We’ll be aware that with a M.2 22110 SSD put in, you’ll have issue accessing the mounting level on the backside center of the motherboard.
The motherboard additionally has two Oculink and two miniSASHD connectors. For those who take a look at the motherboard, that is maybe one of many extra fashionable designs with out even a single devoted 7-pin SATA port on board (there’s a SATADOM BOM choice that’s depopulated on our motherboard.) As a substitute, we get high-density connectors for options akin to SATA ports. The Oculink ports can be utilized for NVMe SSDs such because the Kioxia CM6 we simply reviewed.
ASRock Rack additionally did a pleasant job of utilizing the perimeters of the motherboard with horizontal connectors to maintain cabling tidy. We additionally needed to level out that there are a complete of 7x 6-pin fan headers alongside the sting of the motherboard which makes followers straightforward to wire besides if they’re rear chassis followers. When you have followers on the rear (or doubtlessly prime) of the chassis, you merely have to be aware of cable lengths and routing.
The enormous silver heatsink close to the PCIe slots is primarily to chill the Intel X550-AT2 controller which gives this platform with twin 10Gbase-T networking. The Intel X550-AT2 is properly supported in most OSes and that could be a nice alternative for this platform. Different ports one will discover legacy serial and VGA ports. There may be an out-of-band administration port. The USB port configuration is barely completely different. We’ve two USB 3 Sort-A ports which is pretty commonplace. We’ve no USB 2 ports that are largely pointless today, however then we’ve a USB Sort-C port as properly. This is without doubt one of the first server motherboards we’ve used with a Sort-C port. It’s powered by an ASMedia ASM3142 controller and in the event you take a look at the motherboard footage you will notice a entrance panel header from this controller as properly.
When you have entrance panel USB wants, there’s a commonplace USB 3.0 header close to the facility provide inputs.
The facility provide inputs are one other attention-grabbing facet to this method. There’s a commonplace 24-pin ATX energy connector, an 8-pin CPU energy enter, after which a 4-pin energy enter. On this class of system, we often see two 8-pin CPU energy inputs however it’s possible that the additional house was wanted to place the motherboard mounting gap. That’s a good way to indicate simply how packed this motherboard is.
Subsequent, we’re going to get into administration, adopted by our take a look at configuration and efficiency. If you’re in search of the block diagram to tie the above collectively, try the final web page.
