Today we have something special for the STH mining community. We have a preview of a 16x GPU mining system from Ethereal Capital called the P106-100-X16. The system features 16x NVIDIA P106-100 mining GPUs and a lot more. It has a server-class motherboard with its own GPU and remote iKVM management along with IPMI. This system is leaps and bounds above your typical consumer motherboard based mining rig.
The Ethereal Capital 16x GPU Mining System P106-100-X16
We have a prototype system in the data center lab so we are not going to publish system pictures. There are a few bits that may be changed and we have been asked to hold off on a full review. Still, here are the 16x NVIDIA P106-100 GPUs that power the massive mining rig.
We know many users build systems based on consumer motherboards. This system is powered by server power supplies, high-end Delta cooling fans, and most importantly an Intel Pentium D1508 CPU. The Intel Pentium D1508 is a dual core, quad thread version of the Intel Xeon D (codenamed Broadwell-DE.) As an embedded server chip, it is usually placed on a motherboard, in this case a Supermicro X10SDV-2C-TLN2F. You can read our Supermicro X10SDV-2C-TLN2F review for more about the platform.
With a 25W TDP SoC it makes for a great mining platform with a unique feature: this system actually has dual 10Gbase-T networking. Beyond that, the motherboard has its own embedded GPU making this technically a 17x GPU system with 16x available for mining and one for remote management.
Anyone operating large mining operations in remote locations to take advantage of low-cost power will know that servicing systems can be difficult. Using the Supermicro embedded motherboard, the P106-100-X16 is able to give its operator a remote console as well as the ability to remotely reboot the server. If you have a GPU crash, for example, you can remotely login and get low-level access to the system including the ability to make BIOS changes.
Along with the underlying hardware, the P106-100-X16 utilizes a customized version of ethOS, a mining-focused platform based on Ubuntu. That platform provides easy remote management and monitoring which is excellent.
Final Words
Although we are holding off on our final review, and we have a prototype in-house, the system is remarkable. Unlike consumer-based systems with webs of PCIe to USB to PCIe adapters, consumer PSUs and fans, this is the first open frame mining rig we have seen that can be managed like a standard server and is built on reliable server hardware. Many data center operators are nervous about bringing on mining rigs due to their propensity to ignite and cause fire suppression systems to activate. Ethereal Capital has designed one of the first open-frame systems to address that risk. Further, by bringing a 16x mining GPU per mining rig system online, one gets to distribute the system and PDU costs among a larger number of GPUs which makes using higher quality components feasible.
There is much more to come, but this is an absolutely awesome mining rig.
I’d prefer the P104-100 version. Is STH going to review that too? Don’t you want to spread as many GPUs over the total system as possible? What about a 1080TI or Vega 64 version?
I do monero and I’d like to see Vega. Have dozens running right now
Are there actual reports of mining rigs catching fire?
Mining rigs, overloaded PSUs/ PDUs and etc. It is a well known risk from a data center operator perspective at this point.
Hello Patrick thanks for your teaser, waiting for the final review to check it out. Did you know if this new system would be rackable as the one they have in the website currently?
Hi, guy. I don’t know about server motherboard. How to connect 16 gpu to this mainboard. I see it only 1 pci slot.
Carlos – From the current dimensions you would place it in dedicated mining racks, not standard 19 inch racks.
Sorry, this is probably stupid question from a newbie, but I have goole it and I don’t get it clear.
How do you connect 16 GPUs in a single PCIe? and how do you do to avoid bandwith transfer problems between the CPU and the GPUs?
thank you in advance for the answer
Hi OCS – we should have the full review up tomorrow with details.