EPYC Naples (gen1) CPU on latest H12SSL SP3 motherboard work?

[koifish59]

My end goal is to have the current supermicro H12SSL motherboard with a EPYC Milan zen3 CPU that might launch in a few months. But I need something to hold me off until Milan is released, so is it possible to throw in a cheap zen1 CPU to this motherboard?

I know that a zen2 epyc rome is possible with last gen H11SSL, but how about the other way around?

 

[koifish59]

So this Asrock TRX40D8-2N2T supports both gen1 Naples and gen2 Rome CPUs:

ASRock Rack > ROMED8-2T

www.asrockrack.com

So hopefully the supermicro board can support both generations as well.

 

[ari2asem]

h12-boards also support 1ste gen epyc.

 

[koifish59]

h12-boards also support 1ste gen epyc.

How were you able to confirm this? I looked through the motherboards manual and it doesn't say anything about EPYC 7001 CPUs being compatible.

 

[ari2asem]

because any board supporting epyc gen2, will support gen1. you don't need conformation from supermicro....their site is not complete with providing info

 

[alex_stief]

Well, Asus KRPA-U16 does not support Naples CPUs. At least according to Asus support, so take that with a grain of salt.
But there is no technical reason why Naples support must be included on Rome boards.

 

[Nyakov]

is it possible to throw in a cheap zen1 CPU to this motherboard?

How did it go? Did you manage to run Naples CPU on H12SSL?

 

[Bert]

I would like to also check on that. Are we able to use Naples CPUs on a H12SSL? According to this thread, there is no motherboard that supports 3 versions of EYPC:

https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/asrock-wont-support-epyc-milan-on-the-epycd8-epycd8-2t.32352/

This is really weird, after all just like intel, AMD platforms are also limited to support 2 generations and it is more confusing now since they all have the same name.

 

[ari2asem]

I would like to also check on that. Are we able to use Naples CPUs on a H12SSL? According to this thread, there is no motherboard that supports 3 versions of EYPC:

https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/asrock-wont-support-epyc-milan-on-the-epycd8-epycd8-2t.32352/

This is really weird, after all just like intel, AMD platforms are also limited to support 2 generations and it is more confusing now since they all have the same name.

the limiting factor here is the size of bios chip.
all epyc generations are the same regarding the socket.
but the amount of MB size of bios chip is limited.

this has nothing to do with Amd.
it is mainboard manufacturer responsibility to add support for all 3 gen's at the same time

 

[RolloZ170]

for naples the BIOS needs microcodes and the NaplesPI/Agesa.
if the manutacturer does not provide a BIOS with naples support, naples is not supported.
there may some other reasons that impede naples support like the connection CPU<>BMC.
Rome/Milan have extra lanes(WAFL) for BMC connection, Naples use still one of the PCIe lanes.
if the mainboard use WAFL lanes Naples can not work because lack of WAFL.

 

[LolSalad]

Naples processor will not work with h12 generation sp3 socket MB

 

[jpmomo]

the asrock rack romed6 supports all 3 BUT you need the older bios to get the naples gen to work. you need the newer bios to support the rome and milan. It might be hard to get the older bios now but it was possible and I have all 3 generations working with 3 of the same mb.

 

[perpetualrabbit]

I do not believe zen1 will work in a H12SSL or H12DSL board until someone actually demonstrates it. And no funky adapted BIOS. Just a normal bios from the supermicro site.
Too many people just shout: "it should work". Yes, in theory maybe. But does it actually work?
Also, H12 boards have pcie 4.0 and H11 only has pcie 3.0 which would for me be the main reason to choose it.
But do Zen1 CPUs support pci4.0? Is the PCIe version dependant on the CPU?

 

[i386]

But do Zen1 CPUs support pci4.0?

No (https://www.amd.com/en/products/epyc-7000-series)

Is the PCIe version dependant on the CPU?

Yes. The pcie slots connect directly to the cpu socket (should be documented in the block diagram of the mainboards) Example: https://www.supermicro.com/manuals/motherboard/EPYC7000/MNL-2314.pdf, Figure 1-3

Edit: link to h12ssl manual

 

[perpetualrabbit]

No (https://www.amd.com/en/products/epyc-7000-series)

Yes. The pcie slots connect directly to the cpu socket (should be documented in the block diagram of the mainboards) Example: https://www.supermicro.com/manuals/motherboard/EPYC7000/MNL-2314.pdf, Figure 1-3

Edit: link to h12ssl manual

Ok, there you have it then. Even in theory H12 should not support a Zen1 CPU. It would have been a handy backwards compatibility option indeed.
But who knows, maybe someone can still demonstrate that it actually does work, and Zen1 CPU lets all the PCIe slots in the H12 board operate as PCIe 3.0. Not saying that is possible but it is conceivable.
I doubt either the board or the CPU will break in this experiment, so is there anyone willing to try it out?

 

[RolloZ170]

a Rome/Milan CPU can be configured to work with only PCIe 3.0 on ever SP3 motherboard. it will drop down to PCIe 3.0 if the Card not supports 4.0
in theory in will work, but you need a BIOS with Naples support.
edit:
used the Supermicro IPMI BIOS file listing
searched for "h12ssl" and got 4 entries showing H12SSL opened with AMIBCP they show H11SSL inside.
filename is H12SSL0.819

 

[RolloZ170]

Also, H12 boards have pcie 4.0 and H11 only has pcie 3.0 which would for me be the main reason to choose it.
But do Zen1 CPUs support pci4.0? Is the PCIe version dependant on the CPU?

PCIe 4.0 only with Rome or Milan.