Supermicro Motherboards

[Jules48]

I'm about to have my main audio workstaion system rebuilt after a Socket A Athlon system failed to get on with my Creamware hardware (a PCI bus issue with Via KT133 chipsets).

My OEM (who's kindly rebuilding the machine for me) is recommending a server orientated Supermicro motherboard, coupled with a 1GHz PIII, 1Gb PC133 SDRAM, all SCSI HD etc. The thinking is that a server orientated configuration will be more stable, potentially offer better PCI bus performance (which the Creamware hardware really thrives on) and reduce the chance of any bottlenecks in the system.

I just wondered if anybody on this list had any experience of Supermicro mainboards (they're kind of pricey) and might be able to advise on suitability for a pro-audio Logic/Creamware Scope rig. I've been jumping through hoops the last couple of months with my Athlon system so I really need to get it right this time. Not that there's anything wrong with Athlon's by the way, it's basically just a compatibility issue with certain types of hardware.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Jules Bromley

 

[andylawcc]

never owned a Supermicro Board and i doubt many ppl here did too,
it is because they primarily make Servers Mobos, and their boards are not known for Overclocking (which is not essenstial for Servers anyhow) Their reputation is very well renowned and I think you can't go wrong with Supermicro. but i have some doubt about their Athlon Platform though.
alternative could be MSI K7T Master or a Tyan board

 

[Xanathar]

If your doing Video Editing, Why not ask him for a Dual Board (While your at it) If you ensure the Board has 64Bit PCI slots that will mean it has at least 2 PCI bus controllers so you can segment your video and scsi controllers to one bus which will play nicely while you leave the other bus for lower level functions like video, sound, and networking. A Dual board should fit your bill nicely (assuming NT4 or Win2k), You can go with slower processors (866EB or so) which would cost only a little over the 1 gig price but give you much larger net performance.

Btw, Supermicro motherboards rock. (Just stay away from the 840 chipset boards, not their fault, but intels)

 

[AndrewR]

Ditto what andy said: Never used one (a friend did awhile back though), but they have a terrific reputation for reliability in the server market, which is a mission critical segment so that carries some weight. Definitely not consumer oriented boards though.

 

[dkozloski]

I have used six SuperMicro boards. All were cranky about memory. Four boards were super stable but not exactly red hot performers. Two were so bad I finally gave up on them and threw them in the scrap pile. Both required Intel processors to be underclocked to be stable enough to install operating systems. Tech support was mostly shouting at orientals that didn't have a very good grasp of the English language and they didn't have anything to suggest that I hadn't already tried. I should have RMA'd them with the original supplier but they were even worse.

 

[PCResources]

<< Socket A Athlon system failed to get on with my Creamware hardware (a PCI bus issue with Via KT133 chipsets). >>



I have seen this before, with a BX board and Creamware, this is not a problem specific for the VIA chipset, a simple MSI K7T PRO2 motherboard will be a solution. This board works great with Creamware.



<< The thinking is that a server orientated configuration will be more stable, potentially offer better PCI bus performance (which the Creamware hardware really thrives on) and reduce the chance of any bottlenecks in the system >>



Well, the thinking is pure speculation, change your supplier of hardware, they do not have a clue, sure, it will work, and they will make as much money as they possibly can, this money comes out of your wallet.



<< Not that there's anything wrong with Athlon's by the way, it's basically just a compatibility issue with certain types of hardware. >>



NOPE, if there is an compatibility issue it is with this particular motherboard. Not the Athlon, even if your HW supplier would be right, it would be a chipset compatibility issue, not a CPU one.

You want the ultimate system for your tasks?? I'll build it for you, probably for half the price.

Patrick Palm

Am speaking for PC Resources

 

[andylawcc]

LOL! shouting in Oriental.... reminds me of Lethal Weapon4, &quot;Its Fried Rice not Fried Lice!&quot; &quot;its FLied Lice you Plick&quot;

 

[LXi]

Why bother with Pentium3? Its a waste of money. If you want server class, go with MSI K7T Master, onboard SCSI Ultra160, cant beat that.

 

[PCResources]

BTW, supermicro boards are totally worthless, if you are looking for a server board, check out Microns boards instead.

Patrick Palm

Am speaking for PC Resources

 

[PCResources]

<< If you want server class, go with MSI K7T Master, onboard SCSI Ultra160, cant beat that. >>



Oh, i can't, well, then i would suggest a Adaptec RAID controller, on a Micron board. (i will not recommend my own designs, because they would be to expensive in this case)

As a server board the MSI K7T Master, hehe, well this is NOT meant for SERVERS, so calling it server class is wrong. Maybe High-end desktop or low end workstation.

PC Resources

Am speaking for PC Resources

 

[PCResources]

<< LOL! shouting in Oriental.... reminds me of Lethal Weapon4, &quot;Its Fried Rice not Fried Lice!&quot; &quot;its FLied Lice you Plick&quot; >>



ehhh, what?????????

 

[andylawcc]

nah, it just a stupid joke...

for some reason and as much of AMDbacker, I still think Athlon are not for servers. but that's just superficial.

 

[PCResources]

<< for some reason and as much of AMDbacker, I still think Athlon are not for servers. but that's just superficial. >>



So what do you do for a living?? I build multi-million dollar mainframes, and i happen to think that the Athlon is great for servers.

But i would choose an Alpha over the Athlon every day of the week, Intel... hmmm, no thanks, really, no way, just no way in hell will i recommend the P-III, it's just not good enough.

Patrick Palm

Am speaking for PC Resources

 

[LXi]

<<As a server board the MSI K7T Master, hehe, well this is NOT meant for SERVERS, so calling it server class is wrong. Maybe High-end desktop or low end workstation.>>

Quote from the Anandtech review:

&quot;The K7T Pro is designed to satisfy the vast majority of users, but at the same time they were preparing another version of this board for high-end users. They decided to put in more features on this motherboard to make sure that high-end users and companies would both love it. They designed this motherboard for use in servers and workstations. They call it, the Microstar K7T Master.&quot;

&quot;Microstar does not disappoint us with their K7T Master. AMD has proven that their processors are ready for server/workstation market, and Microstar has finally provided us with the appropriate platform.&quot;

&quot;The K7T Master provides the same high level of stability that we're used to, and there is no doubt this is a very impressive motherboard for the server and workstation market. &quot;


Noticed the word server and workstation there?

 

[PCResources]

<< Noticed the word server and workstation there >>



Oh, sure did... hehe, but i will have to disagree, this board is NOT a server board.

Does it have more PCB layers to support stability? Does it come with an onboard RAID controller?

There are more demands that i have for a server board, not many board meets my demands, but this one is not even close, ONE, SINGLE CHANNEL, NON RAID SCSI CONTROLLER, and then it's a server board??????????????

Please give me a break.....

One thin i wonder about you LXi, how old are you, and what do you do for a living?

Patrick Palm

Am speaking for PC Resources

 

[LXi]

Since when did you have the authority to set official qualifications as to whether a board is server class or not?

 

[PCResources]

<< Since when did you have the authority to set official qualifications as to whether a board is server class or not? >>



As a server motherboard designer and as a buyer of server motherboards for multi million dollar systems (there is more than one server per system), i think i know what a REAL server mobo is all about, and the K7T Master really has NO functions that would make it a server board.

But, you didn't answer my question, what do you do for a living, and how old are you?

Patrick Palm

Am speaking for PC Resources

 

[LXi]

<<But, you didn't answer my question, what do you do for a living, and how old are you?>>

I thought you asked Andy. But you can care less about what I do, and I can care less about you. I believe Anandtech is RIGHT to say the K7T Master is a sever/workstation motherboard. Heck, read this:

&quot;Regular AnandTech visitors will remember the K7T Pro KT133 motherboard we reviewed in June, which is one of the most stable KT133 motherboards we have worked with and currently powers 4 of AnandTech?s servers.&quot;

 

[PCResources]

<< I thought you asked Andy. But you can care less about what I do, and I can care less about you. I believe Anandtech is RIGHT to say the K7T Master is a sever/workstation motherboard. Heck, read this: >>



Well, maybe you read some little info, and you ALWAYS believe what you read to be true, because you have no experience whatsoever to question it, then you recommend it to all and everyone, if you are wrong, people are going to waste their money.

I have been in this business long enough to know the difference between a server board and a low-end workstation board, and i tell you that the K7T Master is not a server mobo in my opinion.



<< Regular AnandTech visitors will remember the K7T Pro KT133 motherboard we reviewed in June, which is one of the most stable KT133 motherboards we have worked with and currently powers 4 of AnandTech?s servers >>

[

Well, LXi, the boards they are using are regular K7T PRO boards (so that would make them server boards??), just because you put a board in a server, this doesn't make it a server board, get it?

Trust me LXi, you have questioned me more than one, is this getting to be a hobby of yours??

Patrick Palm

Am speaking for PC Resources

 

[LXi]

<<Trust me LXi, you have questioned me more than one, is this getting to be a hobby of yours??>>

We just happen to come across each other. Seriously, I dont really give a flying feck as to whether the MSI is a server board or not. All I care is that this board fits Jules48's requirements.

<<just because you put a board in a server, this doesn't make it a server board, get it?>>

Stop asking me whether I &quot;get it&quot; or not. It sounds like if you're the ultimate sovereign in this business and everyone else is inferior. Im not claiming the MSI boards are server class, Im just showing you the confidence Anandtech has in these boards to maintain their servers.

 

[PCResources]

<< All I care is that this board fits Jules48's requirements. >>



I would rather recommend a K7T Pro2 with a Adaptec controller. But that's just me.

For server stability, take a look at the Micron Athlon boards...


Patrick Palm

Am speaking for PC Resources

 

[PCResources]

<< Stop asking me whether I &quot;get it&quot; or not. It sounds like if you're the ultimate sovereign in this business and everyone else is inferior. Im not claiming the MSI boards are server class, Im just showing you the confidence Anandtech has in these boards to maintain their servers. >>



Well, i didn't say every one else is inferior, but i think that sometimes you are trying to convince people about your beliefs, even though these beliefs are only things you have read, i have the experience to make these recommendations, do you have the experience required??

Trust me LXi, i didn't mean to belittle you, just stop claiming that you know what you do not.

Patrick Palm

Am speaking for PC Resources

 

[LXi]

<<Well, i didn't say every one else is inferior, but i think that sometimes you are trying to convince people about your beliefs, even though these beliefs are only things you have read, i have the experience to make these recommendations, do you have the experience required??

Trust me LXi, i didn't mean to belittle you, just stop claiming that you know what you do not.>>

Just what did I say that made you think that Im trying to make everyone think the way I do? Everything I've said on this thread is my personal opinion. I always look at whats the best for your money before making any foolish recommendations. In this case, my opinion is that the K7T Master will be the best because you get everything you need on one board, oppose to expensive Micron boards or K7T Pro+SCSI RAID which will cost you a fortune. And obviously, I dont know the validity of the things you do, but I can believe what Anandtech says.

 

[rahvin]

<<Well, maybe you read some little info, and you ALWAYS believe what you read to be true, because you have no experience whatsoever to question it, then you recommend it to all and everyone, if you are wrong, people are going to waste their money.

I have been in this business long enough to know the difference between a server board and a low-end workstation board, and i tell you that the K7T Master is not a server mobo in my opinion.>>

And your opinion is worth exactly what we paid for it. BTW, you are a prick..

Jules, I've had pretty good luck with the couple supermicro's that ran across my path. I've considered their stuff pretty stable. You may want to consider getting the SCSI off motherboard though, makes your board more expensive and if you lose the MB you won't lose the SCSI with it (this depends on your timeframe for replacement of the SCSI subsytem of course).

 

[PCResources]

<< And your opinion is worth exactly what we paid for it. BTW, you are a prick.. >>



Sure, i'm a prick, when you cannot prove them wrong, just slam &eacute;m eh??

Just because i have different opinions, and have the experience to back them up you do not have to resort to name calling, ok?

Patrick Palm

Am speaking for PC Resources