NVME Motherboard Choices?

[T_Minus]

Looking for a SuperMicro or other brand motherboard (3yr+warranty) to buy new that supports NVME on the motherboard, and possibly SAS2/3 on motherboard too.

I would also like 3-5 PCIE3.0 slots for potential P3700s, converters, or 12GB/s cards.

Looking for Haswell V3 cPU capable, single or dual config, I'll be starting with a single CPU.

Not looking to "WTB", but more of a "What are my options" right now?

 

[EffrafaxOfWug]

Are you looking for server or workstation purposes? Might be a bit low-end "prosumer" rather but I've had my eye on the ASRock X99-WS for a while now as it's the only board I've seen (other than the brand-new Xeon D's) that'll take server-grade stuff and has an M2 slot on board; you can chuck a xeon and ECC RAM in it. They also make the X99 WS-E and X99 WS-E/10G which have a ludicrous complement of seven PCIe 3.0 16x plus optional integrated 10Gb networking.

 

[T_Minus]

Ironically, I just found out my desktop/workstation board supports it.

I'm looking for something like you mentioned or SuperMicro, nothing specific it's for testing stuff with. Purchase will be within a couple months so I expect more offerings.

 

[Patriot]

Are you looking for server or workstation purposes? Might be a bit low-end "prosumer" rather but I've had my eye on the ASRock X99-WS for a while now as it's the only board I've seen (other than the brand-new Xeon D's) that'll take server-grade stuff and has an M2 slot on board; you can chuck a xeon and ECC RAM in it. They also make the X99 WS-E and X99 WS-E/10G which have a ludicrous complement of seven PCIe 3.0 16x plus optional integrated 10Gb networking.

I just got an Asrock X99-Extreme6 in and it does also support the full xeon lineup as well as rdimms
m.2 has nvme support on certain boards... I realize this wasn't what you were exactly looking for but it is at a much nicer price range.

 

[yaxisandxaxis]

m.2 PCIe is good.

 

[Patriot]

m.2 PCIe is good.

It is, but they are not going to be high endurance parts... Least not yet.

 

[yaxisandxaxis]

It is, but they are not going to be high endurance parts... Least not yet.

True. But depends how fast you need and there are new samsung ones with caps

 

[ATS]

It is, but they are not going to be high endurance parts... Least not yet.

There are apparently high endurance parts out there thanks to MS though not offered through normal channels, aka vendor direct volume buys. MS is using M.2 in all their new cloud servers and has been working with multiple vendors to get the endurance firmware done for them.

 

[Patriot]

There are apparently high endurance parts out there thanks to MS though not offered through normal channels, aka vendor direct volume buys. MS is using M.2 in all their new cloud servers and has been working with multiple vendors to get the endurance firmware done for them.

Since HP Gen9 server and moonshot cartridges offer m.2 I would assume they have high endurance drives for them as well.... just not for us....

 

[ATS]

Since HP Gen9 server and moonshot cartridges offer m.2 I would assume they have high endurance drives for them as well.... just not for us....

If that was true, I would doubt that MS would be doing so much work with their cloudssd thing. Its also important to note that a lot of the SSD endurance is largely firmware based. By tweaking retention parameters, they can vastly also the endurance in firmware.

Though are the moonshot/Gen9 PCIe based or SATA based?

 

[Patriot]

If that was true, I would doubt that MS would be doing so much work with their cloudssd thing. Its also important to note that a lot of the SSD endurance is largely firmware based. By tweaking retention parameters, they can vastly also the endurance in firmware.

Though are the moonshot/Gen9 PCIe based or SATA based?

765483-B21 Leads me to believe sata based drives.

 

[T_Minus]

Looks like BIOS upgrade and the MSI I have supports NVME.

Time to look into it. Already running a XP941.

 

[EffrafaxOfWug]

Just headed over to ASRock again to see if they had the new Xeon D board up yet (no they don't) but noticed M2 slots on several of their newer server boards, including what looks like a very cramped 2P model:
ASRock Rack > EPC612D8A
ASRock Rack > EP2C612D16C-4L

No option for 10G or SAS on any though sadly.

 

[OBasel]

The higher end drives need more than m.2 NVMe.

 

[T_Minus]

The higher end drives need more than m.2 NVMe.

I should have specified that I'm interested in a 2P E5 v3 NVME capable motherboard eATX max size so I can throw it in a SM chassis I have. I know I mentioned a lot of options, but ultimately it will be a 2P E5 v3 and/or v2 (if price is right to upgrade).

My workstation motherboard supports NVME but it's not why I want a NVME server board I guess I'll wait for some new SM to come out, and/or the existing to drop a little. Maybe get lucky and replace my v2 2P E5 board with one of their NVME ones that has been out a year or two now.

I've had 1 ASROCK motherboard in the past that gave me issues, and another that was 100% fine... not sure on the brand as it's new to me, but I would check them out again but prefer SM and/or retail if I'm dropping $$ or buying new.