Gigabyte R184-S92 Server Review

We finally got a server featuring an Intel Xeon 6 processor! The Gigabyte R184-S92. It features not just one but two Intel Xeon 6 processors from the 6500- and 6700-series. Those would be CPUs with Performance or Efficiency cores, you do get a choice, but you can’t mix both. For memory options, this system can support DDR5 registered DIMMs or Multiplexed Rank DIMMs, also known as MRDIMMs and Multiplexor Combined RANK DIMMs or MCR DIMMs. MRDIMMs a little shorter and will most likely be the victor in naming convention. You heard it here first, well maybe not… 

If you want a little more information on Intel Xeon 6 CPUs, we did make a short video, and you can watch it here. We will give you a little more information on those Xeon 6 CPUs and the MRDIMMs for good measure before we go into the specifics on the Gigabyte R184-S92 Server. This configuration we have today is the AAV1 but there is one more, at least so far. The LAV1 SKU, which supports Direct Liquid Cooling with optional cooling plates on the CPUs. 

We usually like to have a bit more order to the presentation by checking out the front then the back and then going inside the system. Not today. First up the Intel Xeon 6 processors. That includes the 6700E-Series, 6700P-Series and 6500P-series with a Thermal Design Power rating of up to 350W. The “E” refers to Efficiency cores, and the “P” to Performance cores. In other words, E-cores and P-cores. Those are not mixed in the actual CPU architecture like on the Core I and Core Ultra Processors, which can have both P-cores, E-cores. Nor, can you place a CPU with E-cores alongside one with P-cores, unfortunately. We’re sure you already knew that but like that laptop review we put out a few months back, we had to mention you can use a laptop anywhere… Kindly, one of the comments brought us back in line. Sometimes the comments are the best! Highly entertaining! 

Those CPUs with E-cores do not have Intel’s hyper-threading technology and can provide up to 144 physical cores and 144 virtual threads. Those with P-cores can support up to 86 physical cores, and with Intel Hyperthreading Technology up to 172 virtual threads. Surprisingly, Intel Xeon 6 CPUs have what Intel describes as a System-on-Chip variant architecture and features integrated GPU, accelerators, and controllers. It’s not entirely dependent on multi-chip modules for different functions. We’ll just mention this is a departure from the previous enterprise-class Intel x86 CPU architecture found in the previous generations, including all the Intel Xeon Scalable CPUs for the last 5 generations. We can definitely go back several more generations but let’s keep it current. Although, the distinction is a little vague as Intel describes Intel Xeon 6 as an “innovative modular x86 architecture” but also a “System-on-Chip variant”. 

P-cores are the only ones that offer Advanced Vector Extensions 512 AVX-512 for enhanced vector math speeds for AI and HPC applications. Also, low latency, and up to 504MB of cache. Have you perhaps seen AMD’s v-Cache Technology? Anyways, those CPUs with P-cores also support more memory bandwidth and also Multiplexor Combined RANK DIMMs with significantly higher data transfer rates at 8,800MT/s compared to 6400MT/s with DDR5 memory modules. MRDIMMs are also considered DDR5 DIMMs but can only be used with Intel Xeon 6 CPUs with P-cores and only 1x DIMM per Channel. In a nutshell, with the 6700P-series, you get up to 86 cores per CPU and 172 virtual threads.

Intel increases the cores count with up to 288 physical cores and up to 216MB of L3 cache with the 6900-series but those ones not supported on this system. Apparently, E-cores are physically smaller than P-cores, hence the discrepancy that allows them to use the same socket. E-core CPUs are single-threaded so no doubling of the physical cores. MRDIMMs are not compatible with CPUs featuring E-cores. 

We have seen analysis where unless you currently have 2^nd generation or earlier generation Intel Xeon Scalable CPUs installed in your network, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to replace them. Although with those other, older platforms, Intel has pushed a 2.7-times increase in rack density over those prior generation Intel Xeon processors. You can knock out those older servers at a factor of 3 to 1 by installing updated servers supporting Intel Xeon 6 CPUs. Also save on power consumption. 

We’ll say it again—technology never ages well. They are also more energy efficient for applications like cloud or shared computing environments. E-cores CPUs are designed for one- or two-socket implementations, whereas those with P-cores can be placed in 1-, 2-, 4-, or 8-socket platforms. Both can provide up to 192 PCIe 5.0 lanes in a two-socket server, like this one. The CPUs compatible with this system are capped at a thermal Design power rating of up to 350W.

Memory supported on the Gigabyte R184-S92 includes DDR5 Registered and MRDIMM memory modules. The MRDIMMs are only compatible with CPUs with P-cores and only 1DIMM per channel. Given this system supports an 8-channel memory architecture, and there are 16x memory module slots per processor, only 16x MRDIMMs can be installed with both processors across the 32 memory module slots. Multiplexor Combined RANKS DIMMs are basically two standard DIMM modules that are stacked providing to access two memory ranks at the same time on a single channel. Theoretically, this enables a 37% increase in memory bandwidth. That would be the difference between DDR5 DIMMs at up to 5600MT/S divided by the up to 8800MT/s memory speed with MRDIMMs. 

As we are already inside the case, let’s take a look, and then move to the outside. You can see the two risers in back, both with support for a full-height, half-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slots. Each of the risers is controller by one of the CPUs.

Below the PCIe slots are the 2x OCP mezzanine card connector with a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, which can be outfitted with additional NICs or even a SAS controller. Between those, an I/O board with a PCIe Gen5 x2 slot for an NVMe M.2 drive. Two more PCIe 5.0 x4 slots support two more NVMe M.2 slots that can be used for additional storage or to boot the system in a mirror RAID with both drives installed. No mention of GPUs supported on this system.  

There are a number of MCIO connectors on the system board for support of NVMe storage devices with 6x from CPU 0 and 6x from CPU1. You will need a SAS controller for SATA or SAS drive implementation on this system. For NVME or SATA RAID you can use a virtual RAID on CPU key that installs right next to one of the two M.2 drives. 

On the front of the Gigabyte R184-S92, the default configuration is 12x 2.5-inch storage bays for Gen5 NVMe, SATA or SAS-4 drive types.

The backplane supports SAS at up to 24Gb/s and SATA at 6Gb/s. A small control panel on the top left of the chassis features, a power ON button ID button, then LEDs for system status, HDD status, LAN 2 LAN 1, lastly a reset button.

Around back, there are two 1600W PSUs positioned to either side of the chassis with an OCP 3.0 mezzanine card slot adjacent to each. The I/O panel between the OCP slots features a mini display port, ID LED, 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 port, two GbE LAN ports, and a dedicated IPMI Management LAN port. Above, 2x PCIe card slots.

That dedicated IPMI LAN port can be used to connect to the server for remote management of the system. Gigabyte provides a few utilities to do just that. The Gigabyte Management Console, which comes pre-installed and Gigabyte Server Management or GSM. Gigabyte Management Console doesn’t have its own acronym.

Guess we can call it GMC but that does sound like a certain car manufacturer. Back on track… It can be used for a single server or small cluster of servers like one of those multi-node cloud servers. Alternatively, Gigabyte Server Management or GSM is available for download and offers several utilities to manage your whole infrastructure, including a Plugin for VMware vCenter. We’re talking maintenance, management, alerts, power capping, a mobile utility, and more. Nuf said!

We hope you enjoyed this overview of the Gigabyte R184-S92 server. Featuring Intel Xeon 6 processors, this system can help your business thrive providing powerful compute and energy efficiency in a compact 1U chassis. If you like our reviews, consider subscribing to our YouTube channel. If you’re looking for critical parts or need to upgrade your system, check out our website!