Supermicro H12SSL-i, H12SSL-C, H12SSL-NT, H12SSL-CT boards - notes, experiences
- Thread starter lihp
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Yes but I chose different path than BMC downgrading. I set RPM in BMC to maximum instead. For the two 4-pin push-pull Noctua fans (NF-A12x25 PWM) on Noctua CPU heatsink I used Noctua resistors (LNA adapters) to reduce their RPM a bit and hence noise to acceptable level (at full RPM these are a bit too loud).
In case of chassis fans, I use three 3-pin Fractal fans that were included with Define 7 XL set. These are silent enough at max RPM.
For PCIe slowdown the issue is that I have some PCIe Gen4 SSDs installed in Gen3-only compliant PCIe x16 to 4x M.2 'cheap' Aliexpress adapters (inserted into PCIe slots). So far I found no such "cheap" adapter that claimed to be PCIe 4.0 compatible and was indeed PCIe 4.0 compatible.
Obviously these SSDs negotiate at Gen4 and are causing a lot of PCI parity errors in BMC and Linux (via PCI AER) in such situation.
On Asrock board I just slowed down these PCIe slots to Gen3 in BIOS.
Here I found a Linux script that shifts PCIe SSD speed down do Gen3 but before this script is loaded during Proxmox boot, still a lot of errors are logged.
So I will be replacing these adapters with "true" Gen4 adapters (ASUS Hyper PCIe 4.0), a bit of unplanned migration cost ;-)
In case of chassis fans, I use three 3-pin Fractal fans that were included with Define 7 XL set. These are silent enough at max RPM.
For PCIe slowdown the issue is that I have some PCIe Gen4 SSDs installed in Gen3-only compliant PCIe x16 to 4x M.2 'cheap' Aliexpress adapters (inserted into PCIe slots). So far I found no such "cheap" adapter that claimed to be PCIe 4.0 compatible and was indeed PCIe 4.0 compatible.
Obviously these SSDs negotiate at Gen4 and are causing a lot of PCI parity errors in BMC and Linux (via PCI AER) in such situation.
On Asrock board I just slowed down these PCIe slots to Gen3 in BIOS.
Here I found a Linux script that shifts PCIe SSD speed down do Gen3 but before this script is loaded during Proxmox boot, still a lot of errors are logged.
So I will be replacing these adapters with "true" Gen4 adapters (ASUS Hyper PCIe 4.0), a bit of unplanned migration cost ;-)
Considering biting the bullet on getting Rome CPU and h12SSL for a 24-bay HDD build. Any issues that I should be aware of, is this still a good choice? Noting some issues with the resistors/capacitors near the PCI slots. Tossing between this and ROMED8-T...
Edit: this is the thread with the issues that other folk experienced - https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/h12ssl-i-stuck-at-bmc-initiating.38043/page-5
Edit: this is the thread with the issues that other folk experienced - https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/h12ssl-i-stuck-at-bmc-initiating.38043/page-5
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Yep this got me, I bought a ROMED8-2T as a replacement. It was fine until a (careful!) transplant between cases broke my BMC. Sucks.
I have a rev 1.1 H12SSL-i and it's been running pretty much 24/7 for well over a year. Had some initial issues getting the CPU to detect (but seem it was a software issue) since then it's been rock solid.
I do have some thoughts about it tho, the lastest BIOS is getting pretty old now and how Supermicro handles fan settings in the BMC certainly lack compared to other boards I use (Gigabyte server boards are way more flexible for example). Not to mention the settings for fans is actually lacking some features in some of the more recent BMC firmwares and drove ppl on this very forums to have to run the boards on older BMC firmwares just to get the fans doing what they want.
That all being said I have my fans running at a constant speed using Ipmitools and yeah pretty happy with the board, upgraded the CPU and RAM a few times and everything has worked just fine.
I have been running H12SSL-i for over a month now (with EPYC 7303) with no issues. Yes, BMC fan settings are very limited and issues with unsettable lower thresholds. I ended up running fans on full speed and restricting their speed with Noctua silencers (resistors) rather than downgrading BMC.
I do have ROMED6U-2L2T as well, used previously in my home server, replaced by H12SSL-i, now serving as 'testbed'. No complaints about stability of that board. Hardware design and capabilities are excellent. Fan settings are far more flexible than in Supermicro. But... My general feeling is that both BMC and BIOS in AsRock are very buggy and their technical support does not exist. BIOS/BMC updates are very rare.
I do have ROMED6U-2L2T as well, used previously in my home server, replaced by H12SSL-i, now serving as 'testbed'. No complaints about stability of that board. Hardware design and capabilities are excellent. Fan settings are far more flexible than in Supermicro. But... My general feeling is that both BMC and BIOS in AsRock are very buggy and their technical support does not exist. BIOS/BMC updates are very rare.
Thanks @helskor and @klosz007. Very helpful feedback. Sounds encouraging.
I think I can tolerate the fan settings if lacking, the system will run pretty cool in my application and I’ll swap out the standard fans for low noise versions anyway. Given there’s a ipmi tools solution, that will do the trick.
I think I can tolerate the fan settings if lacking, the system will run pretty cool in my application and I’ll swap out the standard fans for low noise versions anyway. Given there’s a ipmi tools solution, that will do the trick.
Necessary or not but not complicated
Fractal chassis fans run at full speed and still very silent + provide sufficent airflow.
Only Noctua CPU cooler fans were too loud at full speed so I simply connected silencers that were included in the box with them.
It's just one of multiple options. Second is flashing older BMC to be able to set lower crtitial threshold. Third - setting fixed fan speeds via ipmitool so that they run faster than fixed (in newer firmware versions) lower critical threshold but not at full speed.
Fractal chassis fans run at full speed and still very silent + provide sufficent airflow.
Only Noctua CPU cooler fans were too loud at full speed so I simply connected silencers that were included in the box with them.
It's just one of multiple options. Second is flashing older BMC to be able to set lower crtitial threshold. Third - setting fixed fan speeds via ipmitool so that they run faster than fixed (in newer firmware versions) lower critical threshold but not at full speed.
I am looking to buy H12SSL-i motherboard. From past experience i have found that 10G nic on supermicro motherboards run very hot and so i plan to stay clear of this.
- Is there a particular motherboard revision i should buy (dont want motherboard to die because of overheating) ?
- Also, looking for recommendations on where can i buy it from (i am in US)?
- My current server (X10Dri-T) has Micron 16GB DDR4-2133 36ASF2G72PZ-2G1B1 dimms, can i use them with H12SSL-i?
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last revision 1.02 . 1.00 / 1.01 has sensitive BMC chip VRegs.
10G NIC gets only hot in idle(no FAN action), it shuts down before overheating.
running server-chassis has much air over the NIC heatsink.
So update - it does not work. Had to get one older 2 port 1 gig and brand new 2 port 10 gig (X550-T2). With the I225 it would usually hang in post, occasionally getting into the OS and crashing very early in the boot process.
1.10 is much better revision. SM replace the sensitive VRs.
i wonder why, because SM says there was no problem with the VRs on the board.
afaik not. but 2.0 must not be better. maybe SM removed bug, or build the board cheaper.