Supermicro X9SCA Quick Manual

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Supermicro X9SCA Workstation/Server Mainboard

The word mètis was also the ordinary Greek word for a quality that combined wisdom and cunning, our good friend Mitty

A over a year now Supermicro’s X8SAX Mainboard has been one of the most successful mainboards to fire out of Supermicro's San Jose headquarters. It has

surpassed all expectations as a reliable workhorse never faltering. Here we have heavily used it within many successful articles especially on the launch of

the new professional workstation graphic cards from both AMD and Nvidia. Time has marched on now and the advent of the release of Intel’s® C204 PCH

Chipset with the new Intel® Xeon® E3-1200 family saw the dawning of the inheritor the Supermicro X9SCA. A formidable adversary and the mainboard

planners at Supermicro have taken into account all due consideration of the needs of the many, in both current upgrades paths for now and the future and

usability of some previous generation PCI cards.

A week ago saw the successful launch of our article covering the new SPECapc for 3ds Max™ 2011 to which the Supermicro X9SCA was heavily

featured throughout. In came the responses for an article of the mainboard in full, what can it do, how fast is the system I/O all the relevant questions good

VARS’s and S.I’s. would ask before up taking a new mainboard of this quality. These are all very relevant questions especially in today’s market when

meticulous stability is the fundamental requirement of any system, whether in DCC, CAD, HPC or finally a server board. So we have your attention now as

this article has had many thinking on new modes of system configurations and upgrade paths as the mainboard really has got the complete remit.

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Fundamentally this a board that will suit many pockets and allow many to build firm long term reusable in house solutions. This is a mainboard that has

massive optional upgrade paths allowing so many choices to be made even after it reaches its end of life on what it first set out to complete.

The professional workstation market is now completely dominated by Windows 64-bit and the expanse of memory that can be used by a uni-processor

system using Intel’s Intel® C204 PCH Chipset has reached a huge total of 32GB. Therefore we see a leap forward of 8GB of memory and for some this is a

monstrous amount. Though, on reflection and looking at what todays DCC and CAD viewsets can generate off the GPU, onto Disc I/O thereafter becoming

CPU rendered we do require these amounts of memory to maintain the system at peak optimal performance.

With the aid of Supermicro’s public relations department we now look at the official line

This new generation of UP server solutions delivers increased throughput, and higher performance-per-watt and performance-per-dollar compared to its

predecessors by delivering up to 25% performance improvement, 2x the memory footprint (32 GB total), 20 PCI-E 2.0 lanes, and two SATA 6 Gb/s ports (SATA

3.0).

"Our advanced SuperServer® architecture and broad selection of products optimized for the new generation UP Intel® Xeon® server processors deliver greater

performance and lower power consumption with reduced TCO for customers," said Charles Liang, President and CEO of Supermicro. "We believe that these

latest 4 / 2-Core UP server solutions will help IT managers seeking higher performance and efficiency to realize better results with fewer resources to optimize

their operations."

"End users are demanding server solutions with increased performance, ECC memory support, and decreased power consumption," said Boyd Davis, VP and

GM of Intel Data Centre Group Marketing. "Supermicro and Intel are enabling customers to realize improvements across all of these categories with

Supermicro's server solutions based on the new Intel® Xeon® processor E3 family."

This announcement comprises eight new SuperServer® models, and eight new server boards including mainstream X9SCL(-F), performance X9SCM(-F), quad

LAN X9SCi-LN4(-F), and full-featured X9SCA(-F).

The SuperServers® consist of the following optimized configurations:

Storage and cloud computing optimized 5017C-MTF with X9SCL-F server board and high-performance Gold Level power SuperChassis 813MTQ-350CB

SMB optimized 5017C-MTRF server with X9SCL-F server board and Gold Level high-efficiency redundant power SuperChassis 813MTQ-R400CB

High-performance, low-TCO mainstream 1017C-TF with X9SCL-F server board and cost-effective Gold Level high-efficiency power SuperChassis

111LT-330CB chassis

Value optimized server 5017C-TF with X9SCM-F server board and Gold Level power SuperChassis 811TQ-350B

Low-power, appliance optimized high-efficiency 5017C-LF with X9SCL-F server board and short-depth SuperChassis 510L-200B

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Entry-level, compact all-purpose 5017C-MF with X9SCL-F server board and space efficient SuperChassis 512F-350CB

Performance 5037C-T mid-tower server with X9SCA server board and whisper-quiet 21dB SuperChassis 732i-500B

Value 5037C-i mini-tower server with X9SCL server board and 25dB whisper-quiet SuperChassis 731i-300B

Detailed product information on this launch is available at

http://www.supermicro.com/products/nfo/xeon_x9.cfm

Therefore once more to reiterate, so much to choose from with Supermicro bringing to the fore its stance on maintaining higher performance-per-watt and

performance-per-dollar not least forgetting its continued contributions in lower carbon footprints and Supermicro’s strict “green” policy.

With the introduction completed we now move forward to some pictures of the mainboard in the flesh and the actual system build.

Page 1 - X9SCA Introduction

Page 2 - Features and Description

Page 3 - System Set-Up and Software Used

Page 4 - SiSoftware Sandra 2011 Part 1 - System Tests

Page 5 - SiSoftware Sandra 2011 Part II - Memory Tests

Page 6 - Mainboard Hard Disc Tests

Page 7 - System I/O Tests PCMark 7 Professional and POV Ray 3.7 RC3

Page 8 - Professional Graphic Card Tests

Page 9 - SPECviewperf® and SPECapc™ Tests

Page 10 - Conclusions and Award

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Prices & Specifications are subject to changes. Errors & Omissions Excepted.

Use of content; whether from a review or news page item in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced

in any electronic or printed medium

and is forbidden without written prior agreement.

This site is covered by UK Law and International Treaties.

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Supermicro X9SCA Workstation/Server Mainboard

Primary Mainboard Features

CPU Support.

Single socket H2 (LGA 1155) supports Intel® Xeon® E3-1200 family, Intel® 2nd Generation

Core i3 & Intel® Pentium® family processors

System Bus. QPI up to 5 GT/s

System Memory.

4x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM sockets.

Supports up to 32 GB DDR3 ECC Un-Buffered memory (UDIMM) 1333/1066MHz

1333/1066/800MHz ECC DDR3 SDRAM 72-bit 240-pin gold-plated DIMMs

DIMM Sizes 8GB, 4GB, 2GB, 1GB

Memory Voltage 1.5V

PCI Slots

·

PCI-Express. 1 (x16) PCI-e 2.0 slots

2 (x4) PCI-e slot (using x8 slot)

PCI 3 X 32-bit PCI slot

On-Board Devices

Chipset. Intel® C204 PCH chipset

SATA. SATA 3.0 6Gbps with RAID 0

SATA 2.0 6Gbps with RAID 0, 1, 5, 10

Network Controllers. Intel® 82574L, 2x Gigabit LAN ports Virtual Machine Device

Queues High efficient I/O overhead. Supports 10BASE-T,

100BASE-TX, and 1000BASE-T, RJ45 output

VGA. Matrox G200eW 16MB DDR2

Super I/O. Nuvoton WPCM450RA0BX

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Page 1 - X9SCA Introduction

Page 2 - Features and Description

Page 3 - System Set-Up and Software Used

Page 4 - SiSoftware Sandra 2011 Part 1 - System Tests

Page 5 - SiSoftware Sandra 2011 Part II - Memory Tests

Page 6 - Mainboard Hard Disc Tests

Page 7 - System I/O Tests PCMark 7 Professional and POV Ray 3.7 RC3

Page 8 - Professional Graphic Card Tests

Page 9 - SPECviewperf® and SPECapc™ Tests

Page 10 - Conclusions and Award

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Supermicro X9SCA Workstation/Server Mainboard

Continuing in our build of “in house” test systems they grow but these systems are used for many different on-going tasks behind the scenes. Though to

maintain a sound and stable platform for tests of this magnitude the Supermicro X9SCA stays firmly in the box, supported by Intel's excellent Intel’s® C204

PCH Chipset, Intel’s® 1280 E-Series CPU finalising with Crucial's efficient ECC DDR3 validated for the mainboard. This will ensure for future outings a

platform which will give total reliability for all that we throw at it within the single socket CPU scenarios.

Component Test System

Mainboard Supermicro X9SCA Workstation Mainboard

CPU 1 X 3.5GHz Intel® Xeon® 1280 E Series, 8MB Shared Cache, 5GB/s QPI

CPU Cooling 1 X

Akasa Nero 2 1155 HSF

Memory 4 X 4GB (16GB Total) Crucial DDR3 1333MHz Unbuffered ECC Memory Modules

Hard Drive 1 X 250GB Intel 510 Series Solid State Drive (6GB/s)

Video Card

AMD FirePro™ V7900

Intake Cooling Akasa 120mm Amber Fans

Exhaust Cooling Akasa 120mm Amber Fans

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Chassis Akasa Raptor Mid ATX Chassis

PSU Akasa PowerMax 850W

Hardware Suppliers for the Review

AMD for the supply of the FirePro™ V7900

Crucial Memory for the DDR3 1333MHz Unbuffered ECC Memory, thank you for pulling out the stops here.

Intel EU for the supply of the new 3.5GHz Intel® Xeon® 1280 E Series CPU and the 250GB Intel 510 Series Solid State Drive (6GB/s)

Supermicro for the supply of the X9SCA Mainboard

Akasa for the supply of the Nero 2 Heatsink Fan and Raptor Chassis for the new Supermicro X9SCA mainboard

With the support and help of all the companies involved. It gives you the reader a choice on upgrade paths that many of you look for here with the

performance ratio’s the system has to provide and notwithstanding the professional graphic cards from both AMD and NVIDIA.

Systems Integrators, OEM’s and VAR’s should contact all companies directly for pricing and availability of all components, Boston being a good starting point.

Members of the public should contact their respective suppliers requesting the parts directly. One main e-tailer that can supply the EU reader readily all the

parts listed you should pop over to SCAN and see what todays best bottom dollar deal is on the main parts listed.

Benchmarks and Software Used 64-bit Mode

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1

SiSoftware Sandra 2011 (Latest Build)

ASSD Solid State Drive Test

CrystalMark 3 64-bit Benchmark

PCMark 7 Professional

POV-ray 64-bit 3.7 RC3

Bentley MicroStation Benchmark

Cinebench 10 64-bit

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit

Redway Turbine Benchmark

SPECapc SM for 3ds Max 2011TM

SPECapcSM for Maya 2009

SPECapc for SolidWorks 2007™

SPECviewperf® 11.0 64-bit

An array of synthetic and application tests which will stretch the complete system I/O in every way conceivable. Each has its own merits and each shows on

how the CPU, Chipset, Memory, SSD and the professional graphics card fully perform to the maximum. Each set of tests has been applied on the clean

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system hard drive shown above to ensure that no residue drivers were left installed with all updates/patches applied. A test/render has been completed

many times over different periods of the system uptime. Whilst maintaining the fair play rules of SPEC® HyperThreading and Turbo Boost have been

enabled, with the memory being left in its default status of Auto. Tests have been conducted in accordance with the resolutions stipulated within the test

run rules of 1920 x 1080 @ 59Hz / 60Hz in 32 bit colour. Results that have been shown within this article are from the application/benchmarks first run in

accordance with the SPECviewperf® and SPECapc™ fair play rules and in order to maintain continuity all other test results have been obtained in the same

process

Page 1 - X9SCA Introduction

Page 2 - Features and Description

Page 3 - System Set-Up and Software Used

Page 4 - SiSoftware Sandra 2011 Part 1 - System Tests

Page 5 - SiSoftware Sandra 2011 Part II - Memory Tests

Page 6 - Mainboard Hard Disc Tests

Page 7 - System I/O Tests PCMark 7 Professional and POV Ray 3.7 RC3

Page 8 - Professional Graphic Card Tests

Page 9 - SPECviewperf® and SPECapc™ Tests

Page 10 - Conclusions and Award

3D Professor Contact Details

Send mail to

[email protected] with questions or comments about this web site.

Prices & Specifications are subject to changes. Errors & Omissions Excepted.

Use of content; whether from a review or news page item in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced

in any electronic or printed medium

and is forbidden without written prior agreement.

This site is covered by UK Law and International Treaties.

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Supermicro X9SCA Workstation/Server Mainboard

SiSoftware Sandra 2011 Part 1 - System Tests

CPU Test

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Multimedia Test

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Cryptography Test

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Page 1 - X9SCA Introduction

Page 2 - Features and Description

Page 3 - System Set-Up and Software Used

Page 4 - SiSoftware Sandra 2011 Part 1 - System Tests

Page 5 - SiSoftware Sandra 2011 Part II - Memory Tests

Page 6 - Mainboard Hard Disc Tests

Page 7 - System I/O Tests PCMark 7 Professional and POV Ray 3.7 RC3

Page 8 - Professional Graphic Card Tests

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Supermicro X9SCA Workstation/Server Mainboard

SiSoftware Sandra 2011 Part II - System Tests

Memory Test

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Memory Latency Test

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Cache and Memory Test

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Page 1 - X9SCA Introduction

Page 2 - Features and Description

Page 3 - System Set-Up and Software Used

Page 4 - SiSoftware Sandra 2011 Part 1 - System Tests

Page 5 - SiSoftware Sandra 2011 Part II - Memory Tests

Page 6 - Mainboard Hard Disc Tests

Page 7 - System I/O Tests PCMark 7 Professional and POV Ray 3.7 RC3

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Supermicro X9SCA Workstation/Server Mainboard

Mainboard Hard Disc Tests

File System Test

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Crystal Disk Mark 3.0.1 64 -bit Version

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Physical Disc Test

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Supermicro X9SCA Quick Manual

Supermicro X9SCA Quick Manual

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