Supermicro SuperServer 5018A-FTN4 Rackmount Server
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 8:23 pm
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Is this a question for the reviewer? Perhaps you didn't notice -- bluray playback from this machine is not possible (unless you're talking about streaming it from this server through the network, which is routine & not worth separate testing). The integrated video is straight VGA unsuitable for anything other than ordinary monitoring. Yes, you could add a video card, but that defeats the low power server purpose. You don't really need anything near this level of performance to run a Plex media server, which can be done even by a NAS box.hhnn wrote:why you dont try to work with media server program like plex media server with 1 or 2 bluray playback ?
i think of this product for home server to serve 1-2 tv and ipad
Why can't internal PSUs be as good as or better than external ones?as the 200W 80 Plus Gold unit inside is only a small step behind a quality external power source.
they CAN be, they just hardly ever are. nearly every OEM cuts corners on their included PSU's.Olaf van der Spek wrote:Why can't internal PSUs be as good as or better than external ones?as the 200W 80 Plus Gold unit inside is only a small step behind a quality external power source.
Larry's statement should not be taken out of context -- or maybe he should have made it more explicit that the reference is to EFFICIENCY only. There's a simple reason why the pico + adapter ends up more efficient at the <20W loads. The 200W stock PSU is well below its best efficiency range; maximum efficiency with most PSUs is reached at 50~70% of rated load. The <20W load is below the optimal range for the pico+Seasonic 80W 12VDC adapter, but not quite as much.Olaf van der Spek wrote:Why can't internal PSUs be as good as or better than external ones?as the 200W 80 Plus Gold unit inside is only a small step behind a quality external power source.
I understand, so why does nobody put such an adapter into a ATX PSU form factor?MikeC wrote: A class V AC/DC adapter is rated for maximum 87% efficiency (presumably at 50~70% of max load)
What's in the adapter is a AC-to-DC converter -- same as in an ATX PSU, except the latter has multiple output DC voltages. The pico adds the other DC lines -- 5V, 3.3V, 5Vsb. Technically, Gold & Platinum 80+ PSUs already outperform a pico + adapter in efficiency at their respective rated outputs.Olaf van der Spek wrote:I understand, so why does nobody put such an adapter into a ATX PSU form factor?MikeC wrote: A class V AC/DC adapter is rated for maximum 87% efficiency (presumably at 50~70% of max load)
We said as much, and I think the review appraises the board well enough. From the last page...derekva wrote:Having just built a Windows 2012 R2 Essentials server using the Supermicro A1SAi-2750F board, 8GB RAM, a Fractal Design Node 304, a RAID controller (PERC 6i), and a lot of drives (currently two Samsung SSDs + four 3.5" 2TB "green" drives, but I will be switching to eight 2TB 2.5" drives when finances permit), may I suggest you review just the Supermicro board without all the associated rack-mount hardware? It's simply amazing what can be done with the Avoton microarchitecture, server-class components, and the mini-ITX form factor for less than 70W.
-D
Perhaps you can share with us photos of your setup and your assessment of its performance... and acoustic qualities, too.The real star of the show is the A1SRi-2758F mini-ITX motherboard and its embedded Atom C2758 SoC. The C2758 represents a giant leap forward for Intel, a snappy 8-core chip that truly addresses the gap behind the previous generation of Atom and the current crop of ULV Ivy Bridge based chips like the Core i3-3217U. The difference wasn't just in the numbers either — we could actually feel the difference. It's the first embedded processor we've used that didn't exhibit noticeable lag or unresponsiveness compared to a "proper" socketed desktop solution.
I'm still polishing the server, but when it is cleaned up a bit (wiring is a mess and I'm using a crappy Antec Flex PSU while I modify the wiring on the Seasonic SS-300ET), I'll post some photos / write-up.MikeC wrote:We said as much, and I think the review appraises the board well enough. From the last page...derekva wrote:Having just built a Windows 2012 R2 Essentials server using the Supermicro A1SAi-2750F board, 8GB RAM, a Fractal Design Node 304, a RAID controller (PERC 6i), and a lot of drives (currently two Samsung SSDs + four 3.5" 2TB "green" drives, but I will be switching to eight 2TB 2.5" drives when finances permit), may I suggest you review just the Supermicro board without all the associated rack-mount hardware? It's simply amazing what can be done with the Avoton microarchitecture, server-class components, and the mini-ITX form factor for less than 70W.
-DPerhaps you can share with us photos of your setup and your assessment of its performance... and acoustic qualities, too.The real star of the show is the A1SRi-2758F mini-ITX motherboard and its embedded Atom C2758 SoC. The C2758 represents a giant leap forward for Intel, a snappy 8-core chip that truly addresses the gap behind the previous generation of Atom and the current crop of ULV Ivy Bridge based chips like the Core i3-3217U. The difference wasn't just in the numbers either — we could actually feel the difference. It's the first embedded processor we've used that didn't exhibit noticeable lag or unresponsiveness compared to a "proper" socketed desktop solution.
MikeC wrote:Larry's statement should not be taken out of context -- or maybe he should have made it more explicit that the reference is to EFFICIENCY only. There's a simple reason why the pico + adapter ends up more efficient at the <20W loads. The 200W stock PSU is well below its best efficiency range; maximum efficiency with most PSUs is reached at 50~70% of rated load. The <20W load is below the optimal range for the pico+Seasonic 80W 12VDC adapter, but not quite as much. A class V AC/DC adapter is rated for maximum 87% efficiency (presumably at 50~70% of max load) while a Gold 80+ is rated for 90% at 50% load & 87% at full load. The picoPSU also has some losses through it -- the 12V line is passed straight through, but the 5V and 3.3V lines are converted from the 12V line, so there's always a loss. Perhaps as little as 5%, but this really means that even at its ideal, peak efficiency, the pico+adapter will always be lower than the 87% of the adapter alone. If the Supermicro system was loaded up with its maximum hardware complement, and power load reached... say 60-70W or higher, the stock Gold 80+ PSU would likely draw LESS power (a watt or 2 or 3?) than the pico.
Is there an after-market pico+adpater I can look at, in order to replace the one that comes stock with this unit?MikeC wrote:What's in the adapter is a AC-to-DC converter -- same as in an ATX PSU, except the latter has multiple output DC voltages. The pico adds the other DC lines -- 5V, 3.3V, 5Vsb. Technically, Gold & Platinum 80+ PSUs already outperform a pico + adapter in efficiency at their respective rated outputs. The reason why a full fledged ATX PSU with high efficiency at 10~60W will not be produced is simple: There is no money in it, and very little energy savings. 98% of people will not pay more -- or even the same price -- for a lower power PSU even if it is higher efficiency. Between a 100W and a 300W ATX PSU Platinum, the cost of manufacturing is the same, the parts difference virtually identical -- maybe even more for the 100W model. And at 10W load, what will be difference be? Probably 1W. Marketing guys would scream that they can't sell less power in a product that's supposed to deliver power.
Are you still going to do this?derekva wrote:I'm still polishing the server, but when it is cleaned up a bit (wiring is a mess and I'm using a crappy Antec Flex PSU while I modify the wiring on the Seasonic SS-300ET), I'll post some photos / write-up.
Okay I sent a PM addressed to both of them & linked to my post...quest_for_silence wrote:With reference to our kind host, I think that an e-mail will be more effective than a post.
Yikes relax, no need to be so rude/snarky...MikeC wrote:It's not clear what you're asking. I've really said all I want to say on the subject -- it simply isn't worth the effort, time or money to try and improve efficiency at 20W. It just won't save enough energy. 2-3W maybe? Just turn off one of your lights a half hour earlier before bed and that will save you as much. As for "best combos" of pico + adapter, do it if you want quieter.... but for highest efficiency, you'll have to hunt on your own.
Really? Rude/snarky? This was not intended, all I said was I've addressed this... tho I admit I was feeling some annoyance at the multiple identical msgs in PM, email & posts from you and perhaps this is reflected in some way in my last post. I find your response over the top.NT wrote:Yikes relax, no need to be so rude/snarky...
No worries, I'll work it all out, don't need your thoughts/help.
Cheers.
Sorry. I've not been on SPCR in a while.NT wrote:*BUMP* @MikeC & @derekva
I don't suppose you can spare a minute to address my post now?
viewtopic.php?p=593894#p593894
Thank-you.