Supermicro X13SAE-F W680 Motherboard Mini-Review

[Weapon]

They sell some kind of license for the BIOS update function from IPMI but historically the MAC address code generator site has always worked for me.

 

[i386]

The bios update function is integrated in ipmi for free starting with the x12/h12/m12 generations, you need this license if you want to manage a bunch of servers remotely with other supermicro tools.

 

[cdru]

Normally, it should be possible to update the BIOS through IPMI even without an installed CPU, but IIRC Supermicro charges a fee for a tool doing this, and that is why it might be not possible with the MB as received.

In any case, a Celeron G6900 should have a price in the range $50 ... $80.

Unfortunately, according to SuperMicro support, this is not possible. From a support case I opened for my X13SAE-F board not booting. They have a FAQ entry saying that the board can support 13th gen Rocket Lake CPUs with BIOS R 2.0. They just neglect to mention that it hasn't actually been released yet. I followed it up asking what my options were when and how to flash it since I only had a i5-13600K. I straight up asked if I could use a 12th gen Pentium or Celeron. Their response:

Based on the current schedule, the estimated ETA of R 2.0 BIOS will be in the middle of November. This motherboard doesn't support any Intel Celeron and Pentium CPU.

Unfortunately, this model doesn't support BIOS flash inside the IPMI due to the Intel ME firmware limitation. If you don't have any Intel Core 12th Gen. CPU on hand, please kindly contact our RMA Department for BIOS updating service.

I know there's a difference between "supports" and "absolutely won't work". It's very well possible they just haven't tested cheaper chips with the ~$500 board. I just am passing along what they said. Hopefully it prevents disappointment if indeed Celerons (and Pentiums) aren't supported...or maybe comes as a surprise if it does work.

I ended up disappointed regardless. It ended up my board was DOA. IMPI interface works, but the board never fully powers on. Immediately turns off. And that's after I convinced the wife she needed to upgrade her desktop so I could have a 12th gen CPU handy...

 

[bambi123]

Well my retail X13SAE-F is being shipped out from Taiwan, hopefully it is not DOA.

Will spend time to reduce the idle draw, maybe a little undervolting the CPU and reduce the PL1/PL2 limits. Then see how Server 2019 runs with 10 Hyper-V VM's !!

I have decided to go with a 12700K rather than 12900K, as the price differential for the same 8 P-cores made more sense.

 

[bambi123]

So newbie help required here: how do I attach an ISO via IPMI ? I have found the virtual CDROM, but what is it expecting there - FTP / SFTP / SMB, IP address it not very clear.

 

[i386]

smb

 

[bambi123]

smb

Struggling to get it to play, I just reverted to using a USB stick.

 

[bambi123]

Anyone know what the BMC Settings / Host Interface tab does - I notice it creates a NDIS Interface device in windows when enabled.

 

[yeryer]

SuperMicro did release the 2.0 bios for 13th gen support on the X13SAE. I had registered for notification and never received any but it's on their BIOS download site so I've ordered one and a 13900k

 

[bambi123]

Has anyone updated the BMC and Firmware? Confused by the firmware update process, the BMC can be done via the web-gui.

 

[i386]

I have seen somewhere in the last 24hours a screenshot and the x13 ipmi stuff looks like the h12 stuff.

Shutdown the os first (don't flash the bios while the system is running, you will end up with an unbootable system and would need to try the super.rom method)
Go to Maintenenance -> Firmware Management -> Update
Select what you want to update (BMC/IPMI or BIOS/UEFI Firmmware), select the correct file, (un)check the settings you like and start the update process

 

[chenxiaolong]

The X13SAE-F doesn't support BIOS updates via the BMC. You have to put the update and flash script on a FAT32-formatted drive and run the flash script from the UEFI shell.

 

[bambi123]

Yes trying to understand the firmware update. So using the bootmenu boot in to the built UEFI shell with a FAT32 usb key plugged in to holding the firmware files.

 

[WillTaillac]

I put a 13th gen CPU on an X13SAE-F and can confirm both that it works and that you *have* to have a 12th gen CPU to do the update. No over-the-BMC update.

 

[T.Bone]

I need help Completing the Update. Im not sure exactly how to do it. If anyone would give me a hand it would be greatly appreciate

 

[Almighty]

I need help Completing the Update. Im not sure exactly how to do it. If anyone would give me a hand it would be greatly appreciate

What part are you stuck at?

 

[T.Bone]

I was following the directions and they weren't exactly clear. it says boot into shell then type flash.nsh BIOSnamex.xxx
what they meant was boot into shell type fs0: then follow the directions. Since I had my files on root of USB I didnt need any of the Dir stuff either. Thank you for your help.My only issue now is I want to use VGA and HDMI at the same time. I have a ORIGENAE S21T so I need the VGA for the built in screen. Yes the case is old I just finally got around to pulling the trigger on my new home server build. Im coming off of a HP MediaSmartServer and Im loving it. Im super happy with my first build so far. I went total over kill.

 

[Almighty]

I was following the directions and they weren't clear. it ways boot into shell then type flash.nsh BIOSnamex.xxx
what they meant was boot into shell type fs0: then flow directions. Since I had my files on root of USB I didnt need any of the Dir stuff either. Thank you for your help.My only issue now is I wasn't to use VGA and HDMI at the same. I have a ORIGENAE S21T so I need the VGA for the built in screen. Yes the case is old I just finally got around to pulling the trigger and I love it. Im super happy with my first build.

Take a look at this configuration: Notes about Supermicro X11SCA-F

 

[driesmp]

And how about the reverse: Does this motherboard allow one to use a processor with a GPU, and then use both the IPMI and the GPU at the same time (e.g., for Plex pass-through), such as for example on many of the X**-**H-F motherboards?

I am also wondering about this, if the iGPU can connect to a monitor (eg DP port/HDMI) or be used as transcoding device while the IPMI display keeps working on this motherboard?

 

[Almighty]

I am also wondering about this, if the iGPU can connect to a monitor (eg DP port/HDMI) or be used as transcoding device while the IPMI display keeps working on this motherboard?

Yes need to update max tolud setting and some video settings per my link above.