H11DSi alternative: Gigabyte MZ71-CE0 / MZ71-CE1

[NablaSquaredG]

Hi,

The Gigabyte MZ71-CE0 / MZ71-CE1 (10G vs 1G networking) seems to be a nice alternative to the Supermicro H11DSi, providing more PCIe Slots.

Just for anyone wondering:
I asked my distributor for availability. Production will start mid-December 2020, shipping around mid-January 2021.
Price will be ~585€ + tax

 

[ourmark]

Looks good!

Compatible with first generation processors so offers an affordable route in to the Epyc line for those who are greedy and want 2 of everything. A little worried about cooling with the CPUs being in line, but I'm sure I could work something out. Maybe have CPU1 blow from the back if there's clearance from all the I/O gubbins?

 

[NablaSquaredG]

After careful consideration, I'm not too impressed honestly.
The Gigabyte Board is marketed as "budget oriented", but still 20% more expensive than the Supermicro H11DSi-NT.
I'm not sure whether the additional features are worth the additional 100 bucks net before tax...

 

[liam.gigabyte]

If I may add... the 64 core (280W CPU) is supported on the MZ71 boards.
For AMD 7002 platform owners.. you gain PCIe 4.0 speeds.....M.2 (Gen4) slot, 1xPCIe (Gen4) slot, and up to 5 NVMe drives (Gen3).
Also, for 7001 CPUs you still have the NVMe slots available. You aren't limited to SATA speeds.

The goal is higher CPU computing and faster I/O options for drives, as well as support for a (PCIe 4.0) GPU.

 

[Subatomic]

If I may add... the 64 core (280W CPU) is supported on the MZ71 boards.
For AMD 7002 platform owners.. you gain PCIe 4.0 speeds.....M.2 (Gen4) slot, 1xPCIe (Gen4) slot, and up to 5 NVMe drives (Gen3).
Also, for 7001 CPUs you still have the NVMe slots available. You aren't limited to SATA speeds.

The goal is higher CPU computing and faster I/O options for drives, as well as support for a (PCIe 4.0) GPU.

These look excellent and I am very interested. Any word on MSRP, availability, and were to purchase in the US?

 

[liam.gigabyte]

These look excellent and I am very interested. Any word on MSRP, availability, and were to purchase in the US?

With our end of Oct. announcement, production would have completed around the same time. I would suggest you visit our "Where to buy" page and contact those resellers or try our GIGABYTE store. Where To Buy - GIGABYTE Global

 

[Subatomic]

With our end of Oct. announcement, production would have completed around the same time. I would suggest you visit our "Where to buy" page and contact those resellers or try our GIGABYTE store. Where To Buy - GIGABYTE Global

I did look at the "Where to buy" a few weeks ago and came up with nothing useful in the US direct consumers. That is why I asked.

 

[liam.gigabyte]

I did look at the "Where to buy" a few weeks ago and came up with nothing useful in the US direct consumers. That is why I asked.

Please contact our sales representatives listed in "Where to Buy" - GIGABYTE Store, or contact the other sellers.
Other questions please PM.

 

[mirrormax]

if the mz71 is anything like the MZ72-HB0(i assume as they are almost identical except for less pcie4.0 slots) its been very good so far. no issues getting it up and running and better IPMI interface than supermicro with proper fan control etc.

 

[NablaSquaredG]

I've got an update from my distributor:

Availability of MZ71-CE0 / MZ71-CE1 is now expected around the beginning of March 2021... ROME2D16-2T beginning of April 2021.

 

[Subatomic]

Thanks for the update. I think I will make due with my H11Dsi-NT until Milan is released and we know about support from various motherboards. I find it annoying that I still can not find the Gigabyte boards from US retailers. Do they even want to sell these boards?

 

[NablaSquaredG]

Today I ordered my MZ71-CE0, should arrive this week. I can't wait

 

[ari2asem]

keep us updated with your build.

especially for VRM temps when you have full load on both cpu's

 

[NablaSquaredG]

Shall do!

I'll probably put it into a Supermicro SC825 with 2x SNK-P0063P, perhaps with a custom air shroud

 

[NablaSquaredG]

http://imgur.com/a/Byvl8bR

Board just arrived... As far as I can say, I'm the first one in Germany to receive this board

 

[ari2asem]

is that small white sticker behind pci-e slots for bios-rom ?? with small clams ??
if yes, then you can easly replace bios chip

 

[NablaSquaredG]

...the board is dead on arrival and now going for RMA.

Board couldn't be powered on - neither via BMC ("Performing Power Action failed" after 3 retires) nor via front panel.
BMC is working fine, but I just can't power on the board. Tried different PSUs an also tried on a wooden table to make sure there are no short-circuits.

Good job, Gigabyte! @liam.gigabyte

 

[norbertwnuk]

@NablaSquaredG Was the RMA successful? The one I have received, might be that first in Poland, not doing POST... also undergoing RMA.
How long it took to get replacement or you decided to switch back to SM?

 

[NablaSquaredG]

RMA was successful, took about two weeks. But I don't know whether that was Gigabyte or just my distributor that sent me a replacement as soon as they had another one in stock.

The MZ71 works now, but is buggy. CPUs don't reach boost clock and Gigabyte has not reacted to my support ticket yet... (see here: https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/gigabyte-mz71-ce0-not-reaching-boost-clock.32386/)

 

[NablaSquaredG]

Aaaaaand here we go again: Second round RMA!

http://imgur.com/a/lOOQKsw

Honestly: Worst Mobo I've ever had.