ASRock Rack Unveils Diamond Rapids Motherboard with 4TB DDR5 Support
ASRock Rack, the server-oriented subsidiary of ASRock, has showcased a new motherboard designed for Intel's upcoming Diamond Rapids architecture. The board, identified as the DMRD16-2L+, is built to handle massive memory workloads, supporting up to 4TB of DDR5 RAM through a single CPU socket.
Spotted at the OCP Global Summit 2026, the DMRD16-2L+ is engineered for Intel's next-generation Xeon 7 Diamond Rapids processors. The platform utilizes a one-DIMM-per-channel layout with 16 DDR5 slots, allowing for a staggering total capacity of 4,096GB (4TB) when fully populated. This capacity is achieved by using high-density modules, including 128GB 8,000MT/s RDIMMs, 128GB 12,800MT/s MRDIMMs, or 256GB 12,800MT/s MRDIMM 2U modules.
High Bandwidth and Massive Scale
Beyond sheer capacity, the 16-slot configuration aims for extreme throughput, with a theoretical maximum bandwidth of 1.6TB/s. While this capacity dwarfs many high-end consumer systems, it faces stiff competition in the server space; for instance, AMD's SP5 socket can support up to 6TB of DDR5 across 24 DIMM slots. However, the scale of this ASRock Rack solution is particularly relevant for AI development and large-scale data processing.
The cost of such a setup is significant. Based on a median price of approximately $9,212 for 256GB RDIMM DDR5 modules, a fully populated 4TB system could reach an estimated $147,392. It is important to note that this is a rough estimate based on average speeds (including DDR5-4800) and does not account for the premium required for high-speed 8,000+ MT/s modules.
Form Factor and Connectivity
Despite its massive capabilities, the DMRD16-2L+ uses an EEB PCB (12x13 inches), making it roughly the size of a large E-ATX board and potentially compatible with some large consumer desktop cases. To accommodate the dense layout, ASRock Rack has opted for an unconventional expansion design. Instead of standard PCIe slots, the board utilizes 16 MCIO x8 connectors, providing a total of 128 PCIe lanes capable of PCIe 6.0 or CXL 3.0 support.
Other onboard features include a single PCIe Gen 5 M.2 slot for internal storage, two 1GbE ports, and an Aspeed AST2700 controller for remote server management. The Diamond Rapids Xeon 7 family, which this board supports, is expected to launch in 2027, succeeding the Granite Rapids lineup and utilizing Intel's 18A-P manufacturing process.
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