ASUS
ASUS RS500A-E12-RS12U-12W12B 1U barebone server, EPYC 9004, 24 DIMM, 16 NVMe
1U rackmount barebone supports a single AMD EPYC 9004 processor up to 400W, 24 DDR5 DIMM slots for 6TB, 16 NVMe bays, three PCIe 5.0 slots, OCP 3.0 and two single-slot GPUs
- Form Factor1U Rackmount
- WorkloadGeneral Purpose Server
- CPU TypeSupports AMD EPYC 9004 Series Processors (up to 400W)
- CPU SocketSocket SP5
- Installed CPUNo CPU Installed
- Max Processors1
- Supports up to 128 Zen 4c cores for heavy compute
- 24 DDR5 DIMM slots enable 6 TB maximum memory
- 16 NVMe bays plus 12 SATA/SAS ports for dense storage
- Three PCIe 5.0 slots and OCP 3.0 for high-speed expansion
- EVAC heatsink cools processors up to 400 W TDP
1U EPYC 9004 barebone
The ASUS RS500A-E12-RS12U-12W12B is a 1U rackmount server barebone built for a single AMD EPYC 9004 series processor up to 400 W TDP. It targets operators who need dense compute and storage in a standard rack footprint without a pre-installed CPU or memory.
Thermals and power in normal use
An enhanced volume air cooling (EVAC) heatsink handles processors up to 400 W within the 1U chassis. The platform supports DDR5 RDIMM and 3DS RDIMM at 4800, 4400, 4000 or 3600 MT/s across twelve memory channels. No CPU or memory is installed from the factory.
Build, connectors and daily implications
The front bay accommodates up to sixteen NVMe drives plus two internal M.2 slots and twelve SATA or SAS connections. Expansion includes three PCIe 5.0 slots — one full-height x16, two low-profile x16 and x8 — and an OCP 3.0 socket for networking. Dual single-slot GPUs are supported for AI or HPC acceleration. Remote management runs on ASPEED AST2600 with ASMB11-iKVM and hardware root of trust.
Highlights
- Supports up to 128 Zen 4c cores for heavy compute
- 24 DDR5 DIMM slots enable 6 TB maximum memory
- 16 NVMe bays plus 12 SATA/SAS ports for dense storage
- Three PCIe 5.0 slots and OCP 3.0 for high-speed expansion
- EVAC heatsink cools processors up to 400 W TDP
Specifications
| Brand | ASUS |
|---|---|
| Model | RS500A-E12-RS12U-12W12B |
| Form Factor | 1U Rackmount |
| Workload | General Purpose Server |
| CPU Type | Supports AMD EPYC 9004 Series Processors (up to 400W) |
| CPU Socket | Socket SP5 |
| Installed CPU | No CPU Installed |
| Max Processors | 1 |
| CPU Features | Supports 4th Generation AMD EPYC Processors with AMD 3D V-Cache technology AMD EPYC 9004 Series Processors (Air cool with EVAC up to 400W) |
| Memory Slots | 24 x 288Pin |
| Installed Memory Size | No Memory Installed |
| Max Memory Supported | 6TB |
| Memory Type Supported | DDR5 4800/4400/4000/3600 RDIMM/ 3DS RDIMM |
| Channel Supported | 12 Channel |
| Installed HDD | No Storage Installed |
| Serial ATA | 12 x SATA/SAS/NVME |
| M.2 | 2 |
| Support GPUs | Up to 2 single-slot GPU cards |
| PCI Express | Up to 3 PCIe Gen5 slots + 1 OCP3.0 1 x PCIe x16 slot (Gen5 x16 link, FH, HL) 1 x PCIe x16 slot (Gen5 x16 link, LP, HL) 1 x PCIe x16 slot (Gen5 x8 link, LP, HL) 1 x OCP3.0 socket (Gen5 x16 link) |
| First LAN | Intel I350-AM2 |
| Max. LAN Speed | 1 Gigabit |
| 2.5" Bays | 12 |
| Front USB | 2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 |
| VGA | 1 x VGA (Front), 1 x VGA (Rear) |
| Rear USB | 2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 |
| RJ45 | 2 x 1GbE |
| Max. Power | 1200W Redundant 1+1, 80 Plus |
| Dimensions | 33.17" x 17.68" x 1.73" |
| Weight | 31.22 lbs. |
| Shipping weight | 18.15 kg |
| Package size | 843 × 449 × 191 mm |
Questions about this item
How do I install the CPU into the SP5 socket and what step do people get wrong?
Align the gold triangle on the AMD EPYC 9004 processor with the socket corner marker, lower the retention frame evenly, then torque the captive screws in the printed sequence. The step most often missed is following the exact tightening order; skipping it can leave uneven contact and prevent the 12-channel DDR5 from training at 4800 MHz.
What maintenance or replacement will the cooling and memory subsystem need later?
The EVAC heatsink relies on front-to-rear airflow, so schedule regular dust removal from the 1U chassis vents and verify fan RPM via ASMB11-iKVM. DDR5 RDIMM or 3DS RDIMM modules are rated for the platform lifetime; only replace a DIMM if the 12-channel memory test reports an uncorrectable error.
What limit appears first when the server runs sustained 400 W CPU loads?
Thermal headroom of the EVAC air-cooling solution is the first constraint. The heatsink is validated for processors up to 400 W; continuous operation at that TDP requires clean filters and full fan speed, otherwise the CPU will throttle to protect itself.
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