This is an exciting development, given some of the reviews we have done recently. Something holding back the development of Arm servers outside of hyper-scalers is simply the availability of platforms. When we reviewed the ASRock Rack ALTRAD8UD-1L2T, one of the big features was available via Newegg bundles. Those bundles typically came with harder-to-integrate 2U heatsinks that do not work in many 4U or desktop development platforms. Around the time of that review, we did a piece about the Noctua NH-D9 AMP-4926 4U and NH-U14S AMP-4926. The big challenge with those heatsinks was the lack of availability. Now, that seems to be fixed.
Noctua Fans for Ampere Altra Max Now on Newegg
This week, listings for the new fans appeared on Newegg. They are being shipped directly from Noctua, so it seems like they are not being stocked at Newegg warehouses.
Here is a listing for the NH-D9 AMP-4926 4U, the 4U LGA4926 cooler that is shipped and sold by Noctua Cooling solutions.
This is actually our pick for most applications since the Ampere Altra Max is not a hot processor and it fits in 4U chassis.
If you have an open bench or are using a larger chassis, then you may want the NH-U14S AMP-4926, but otherwise, we would go with the 4U model even for a M128-30 (128-core 3.0GHz model.)
Final Words
The ASRock Rack ALTRAD8UD-1L2T bundle with the 64-core 2.2GHz (Q64-22) is currently $1499, and the bundle with the 128-core 2.6GHz Altra Max (M128-26) is $2999. Adding another $129-139 for a cooler is not. the cheapest proposition, but it makes building a 4U or desktop server or workstation feasible.
At the same time, AMD EPYC 8004 Siena and Bergamo are out for higher-performance parts. We are also on the verge of the Intel Sierra Forest Q2 2024 launch. Once that part launches Intel will have more E-cores per socket than the Altra Max offers, and likely more performance and performance per watt. Once Sierra Forest is out, Ampere will desperately need AmpereOne on the market. At the same time, if you just need Arm cores and want to use cheaper DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen4, then the Altra/ Altra Max are much less expensive entries into Arm servers than the NVIDIA Grace Superchip.
Where to Buy
If you are interested in these, here are links to Newegg:
- Noctua NH-D9 AMP-4926 4U
- Noctua NH-U14S AMP-4926
- Ampere Altra Max 128 Core Bundle
- Ampere Altra 64 Core Bundle
Please note that we may earn small affiliate commissions if you purchase via these links.
