Building a home server can be an excellent way to gain control over your data and increase your computing power. If you’re looking for a high-capability server with many vcores, then the x99 architecture is a great choice. However, buying all new components for a server can be expensive, so some people choose to take advantage of Chinese motherboards that are reassembled from reused server parts, such as the Huananzhi X99 F8D motherboard.
One of the advantages of taking Chinese motherboards like the Huananzhi X99 F8D is that they are often much cheaper than buying new parts from top-tier manufacturers. These motherboards are often reassembled from reused server parts, which means they may not have all of the latest features, but they still offer high performance and reliability. Additionally, these motherboards may have extra features that aren’t available on newer motherboards, such as support for older processors and more expansion slots.
Huananzhi X99 F8D Plus
Spec:
- Main chipset: Intel C612
- CPU Socket: Support Intel LGA2011-3 platform processor
- Memory slot: 8 x DDR4 memory slot，Support server memory
- Memory standard: Support four channels DDR42400/2133/1866MHz Memory，Max support 512GB
- Storage interface: 6 x SATA 3.0 6Gbps
- Expansion Slots: 3 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 ，3 x PCI Express 3.0 x8
- Expansion interface: 2 x M.2 22110 NVME PCIE X4 3.0，1x M.2 2280 NVME PCIE X4 2.0 @NGFF SSATA 3.06Gb/s（An SSATA signal will be used）
- Sound: 7.1 sound card
- Network Card: 2 x Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5Gbps LAN
- Power interface: 24PIN+8PIN+8PIN
- FAN PIN: 2xCPU_FAN PIN，4xSYS_FAN PIN
- power supply: 8+8-phase power supply
- Dimension: 305*330MM E-ATX
- Rear panel interface: 4xUSB2.0 Interface，4xUSB3.0 Interface，2x Network card interface，1×3-hole audio interface
- Front panel interface: 2 x USB2.0 PIN，1 x USB3.0 PIN，1 x Front audio pin，1 x COM PIN，1 xPower-on pin，1 x 14PIN TPM，1xMain board buzzer，1 xDiagnostic card，1 xStart/restart button
Speaking of processors, there are a variety of CPUs that are compatible with the LGA2011-3 architecture. Some popular examples include the Intel Core i7-5960X, the Intel Xeon E5-2690 v3, and the Intel Xeon E5-2680 v4. The Core i7-5960X was introduced in 2014 and was one of the first consumer-grade CPUs to offer 8 cores and 16 threads. At its introduction, it had a price tag of around $1,000, but now you can find it on Aliexpress for around $60.
The Xeon E5-2690 v3 was also introduced in 2014 and was designed for use in servers. It features 12 cores and 24 threads and has a base clock speed of 2.6GHz. At its introduction, it cost around $2,500, but now you can find it on Aliexpress for around $120.
The Xeon E5-2680 v4 was introduced in 2016 and features 14 cores and 28 threads. It has a base clock speed of 2.4GHz and was designed for use in high-performance computing environments. At its introduction, it cost around $2,000, but now you can find it on Aliexpress for around $160.
Despite their age, these processors are still capable of providing high performance in a home server environment. The combination of these processors with a Chinese motherboard like the Huananzhi X99 F8D can provide a cost-effective way to build a high-capability server that can handle a variety of tasks. Just be sure to do your research and ensure that all of your components are compatible before making your purchase!
