Blender
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- Blender - High-Performance Server Configuration
This document details the "Blender" server configuration, a high-performance system designed for demanding workloads such as 3D rendering, scientific simulations, video encoding, and virtual machine hosting. It is intended for server hardware engineers, system administrators, and IT professionals responsible for deploying and maintaining such systems. This configuration prioritizes compute power and memory bandwidth, with a focus on reliability and scalability. Refer to Server Room Infrastructure for environmental considerations.
1. Hardware Specifications
The "Blender" configuration is built around a dual-socket server platform. The following details the specific components utilized:
Component | Specification |
---|---|
CPU | 2 x Intel Xeon Gold 6338 (32 Cores/64 Threads, 2.0 GHz Base Clock, 3.4 GHz Turbo Boost, 48MB Cache, 165W TDP) |
Motherboard | Supermicro X12DPG-QT6 (Dual Socket LGA 4189, Supports 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable Processors, 16x DDR4 DIMM Slots) |
RAM | 512GB DDR4 ECC Registered 3200MHz (16 x 32GB DIMMs) – Configured for 8-channel operation per CPU. See Memory Technologies for details on ECC. |
Storage - OS Drive | 1 x 500GB NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD (Samsung 980 Pro) – For operating system and critical applications. Refer to Storage Hierarchy for optimal drive placement. |
Storage - Rendering/Data | 4 x 8TB SAS 12Gbps 7.2K RPM Enterprise HDD (Seagate Exos X18) in RAID 10 configuration – Providing 16TB usable storage with redundancy and performance. See RAID Levels for more information. |
GPU | 2 x NVIDIA RTX A6000 (48GB GDDR6, 10752 CUDA Cores, 384 Tensor Cores) – Optimized for rendering and accelerating computational tasks. Refer to GPU Acceleration for details. |
Power Supply | 2 x 1600W 80+ Platinum Redundant Power Supplies – Providing ample power and redundancy. See Power Supply Units for specifications. |
Network Interface | 2 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet (Intel X710-DA4) – For high-bandwidth network connectivity. See Network Topologies for network design considerations. |
Chassis | Supermicro 8U Rackmount Chassis – Designed for optimal airflow and component cooling. Refer to Server Chassis for form factor options. |
Cooling | Redundant Hot-Swap Fans with N+1 redundancy – Maintaining optimal operating temperatures. See Server Cooling Systems for details. |
RAID Controller | Broadcom MegaRAID SAS 9460-8i – Hardware RAID controller for RAID 10 configuration. |
Detailed specifications for each component are available on the respective manufacturer's websites. The motherboard supports IPMI 2.0 for remote management via Integrated Platform Management Interface.
2. Performance Characteristics
The "Blender" configuration is designed for high performance in compute-intensive tasks. The following benchmark results demonstrate its capabilities:
- **Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core):** 48,500 points
- **Blender BMW Render (Cycles):** 38 minutes (using RTX A6000 GPUs)
- **SPEC CPU 2017 Rate (Integer):** 185.2
- **SPEC CPU 2017 Rate (Floating Point):** 270.5
- **IOmeter (RAID 10 Sequential Read):** 1,850 MB/s
- **IOmeter (RAID 10 Sequential Write):** 1,600 MB/s
- **VMware vSphere Performance (VMmark 90):** 280 (estimated – performance varies based on VM configuration)
These benchmarks were conducted in a controlled environment with appropriate cooling and power delivery. Real-world performance will vary depending on the specific workload and configuration. The dual GPUs significantly accelerate rendering tasks, reducing render times by up to 70% compared to a CPU-only rendering setup. The large memory capacity allows for handling large datasets and complex simulations without performance bottlenecks. See Performance Monitoring Tools for methods of tracking system performance. The high-speed NVMe drive contributes to fast boot times and application loading. The SAS RAID 10 array offers a good balance of performance and redundancy for storing large project files.
3. Recommended Use Cases
The "Blender" configuration is ideally suited for the following applications:
- **3D Rendering & Animation:** The powerful CPUs and GPUs make it an excellent choice for rendering complex scenes in applications like Blender, Maya, and 3ds Max.
- **Scientific Simulations:** The high core count and large memory capacity are ideal for running computationally intensive simulations in fields like computational fluid dynamics (CFD), molecular dynamics, and finite element analysis (FEA).
- **Video Encoding & Transcoding:** The CPU and GPU can accelerate video encoding and transcoding tasks, reducing processing times for large video files. Consider using Hardware Video Encoding for optimal performance.
- **Virtual Machine Hosting:** The large memory capacity and powerful CPUs allow for hosting multiple virtual machines with good performance. Ideal for running virtualization platforms like VMware vSphere and Proxmox VE. See Virtualization Technologies for more information.
- **Machine Learning & Deep Learning:** The GPUs can be used for training and inference of machine learning models, particularly those that benefit from GPU acceleration. Refer to GPU Computing for details.
- **Data Analytics:** Processing and analyzing large datasets.
4. Comparison with Similar Configurations
The "Blender" configuration represents a high-end solution. Here's a comparison with other similar configurations:
Configuration | CPU | RAM | GPU | Storage | Estimated Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
**Blender (This Configuration)** | 2 x Intel Xeon Gold 6338 | 512GB DDR4 | 2 x NVIDIA RTX A6000 | 16TB SAS RAID 10 | $25,000 - $30,000 |
**"Composer" - Mid-Range Rendering** | 2 x Intel Xeon Silver 4310 | 256GB DDR4 | 1 x NVIDIA RTX A4000 | 8TB SAS RAID 1 | $15,000 - $20,000 |
**"Analyst" - Data Science/VM Hosting** | 2 x AMD EPYC 7543 | 512GB DDR4 | 1 x NVIDIA RTX A5000 | 8TB NVMe RAID 1 | $20,000 - $25,000 |
**"Entry Level" - Basic Server** | 1 x Intel Xeon E-2388G | 64GB DDR4 | Integrated Graphics | 2TB SATA HDD | $5,000 - $8,000 |
The "Composer" configuration offers a more affordable option for rendering, but with reduced performance due to the lower-end CPU and single GPU. The "Analyst" configuration prioritizes memory and NVMe storage, making it suitable for data science and virtual machine hosting. The "Entry Level" configuration is suitable for basic server tasks but lacks the power and scalability of the "Blender" configuration. Consider Total Cost of Ownership when evaluating different configurations. The choice of CPU architecture (Intel vs AMD) depends on specific workload characteristics and software licensing considerations.
5. Maintenance Considerations
Maintaining the "Blender" configuration requires careful attention to cooling, power, and component health.
- **Cooling:** The high-performance components generate significant heat. Ensure adequate airflow within the server chassis and room. Regularly clean dust from fans and heatsinks. Monitor CPU and GPU temperatures using Server Monitoring Software. Consider liquid cooling options for even more effective heat dissipation.
- **Power Requirements:** The dual power supplies provide redundancy, but the system requires a dedicated 208V/240V power circuit with sufficient amperage. Monitor power consumption using power distribution units (PDUs) with monitoring capabilities. Ensure proper grounding to prevent electrical hazards. See Data Center Power Management for best practices.
- **Storage Maintenance:** Regularly check the health of the RAID array using the RAID controller’s management interface. Monitor drive temperatures and SMART attributes. Implement a regular backup schedule to protect against data loss. Consider Data Backup Strategies.
- **Firmware Updates:** Keep the firmware for the motherboard, RAID controller, and other components up to date to ensure optimal performance and security.
- **Remote Management:** Utilize the IPMI interface for remote monitoring and management of the server. This allows for troubleshooting and maintenance tasks to be performed remotely.
- **Component Replacement:** Keep spare components on hand for quick replacement in case of failures. Establish a preventative maintenance schedule to replace components before they fail.
- **Environmental Monitoring:** Maintain proper temperature and humidity levels in the server room. Monitor for water leaks or other environmental hazards. Refer to Environmental Control Systems.
- **Regular Log Review:** Regularly review server logs for any errors or warnings that may indicate potential problems.
- **Security Hardening:** Implement appropriate security measures to protect the server from unauthorized access. This includes strong passwords, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems. See Server Security Best Practices for detailed guidance.
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Intel-Based Server Configurations
Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
---|---|---|
Core i7-6700K/7700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB | CPU Benchmark: 8046 |
Core i7-8700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 13124 |
Core i9-9900K Server | 128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 49969 |
Core i9-13900 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
Core i9-13900 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
Core i5-13500 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
Core i5-13500 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
Core i5-13500 Workstation | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000 |
AMD-Based Server Configurations
Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
---|---|---|
Ryzen 5 3600 Server | 64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 17849 |
Ryzen 7 7700 Server | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 35224 |
Ryzen 9 5950X Server | 128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 46045 |
Ryzen 9 7950X Server | 128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 63561 |
EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB) | 128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB) | 256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB) | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
EPYC 9454P Server | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe |
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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️