Description
The Supermicro X8DTH-iF motherboard is a powerful and feature-rich solution that sets the standard for dual-processor-based high-end systems, especially optimized for High-Performance Computing (HPC) and clustering servers. At its core, it harnesses the remarkable capabilities of the Intel 5500/5600 Series Processor and is paired with the formidable Intel 5520 chipset.
Intel 5520 Chipset and Processor Power:
At the heart of this motherboard lies the Intel 5520 chipset, which comprises dual 5520 IO hubs and an ICH10R South Bridge. The Intel 5500/5600 Series Processor brings formidable processing power to this platform. The standout feature here is the Intel QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) controller, a cutting-edge point-to-point system interconnect interface that replaces the traditional Front Side Bus Technology. This architectural shift greatly enhances system performance and scalability.
The Intel 5520 IO Hub connects to each processor via independent QPI links, with each link delivering a potent combination of 20 pairs of unidirectional differential lanes for data transmission and reception, along with a differential forwarded clock. A complete QPI link pair boasts a whopping 84 signals.
High-speed Connectivity and RAS Features:
The Intel 5520 chipset offers robust connectivity options, supporting up to 36 PCI Express Gen2 lanes for peer-to-peer read and write transactions. Meanwhile, the ICH10R South Bridge provides an impressive seven PCI-Express ports, six SATA ports, and seven USB connections.
In terms of reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS), the Intel 5520 platform doesn’t disappoint. It boasts memory interface ECC, x4/x8 Single Device Data Correction (SDDC), Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC), parity protection, out-of-band register access via SMBus, memory mirroring, and Hot-plug support on the PCI-Express Interface.
Key Features of the 5500/5600 Series Processor and 5520 Chipset:
– Each processor packs four cores, featuring an 8MB shared cache among the cores.
– The platform includes two full-width Intel QuickPath Interconnect links, each delivering up to an impressive 6.4 GT/s of data transfer rate in both directions.
– Virtualization Technology and Integrated Management Engine support provide enhanced functionality.
– The point-to-point cache coherent interconnect ensures efficient data exchange, with fast/narrow unidirectional links and concurrent bi-directional traffic.
– Comprehensive error detection via CRC and error correction via Link-level retry ensures data integrity.
Special Features and Management:
The X8DTH-iF motherboard offers a range of specialized features, including:
– Recovery from AC Power Loss settings in the BIOS.
– Robust PC health monitoring, with voltage monitoring and adjustable thresholds, fan status monitoring, and environmental temperature control.
– System Resource Alert feature for event notifications.
– ACPI Features for power management and system event handling, including a Slow Blinking LED for Suspend-State Indicator and Main Switch Override Mechanism.
Power Supply and Super I/O:
The Supermicro X8DTH-iF motherboard can accommodate 24-pin ATX power supplies, with additional two 12V 8-pin power connections to ensure reliable power delivery. It is essential to use high-quality power supplies meeting ATX power supply Specification 2.02 or above. Adequate power supply is crucial for processors with high clock rates.
The Super I/O on the motherboard simplifies interfacing with floppy disk drives and provides two high-speed, 16550-compatible serial communication ports (UARTs). These UARTs offer legacy and advanced speed modes to support various peripherals. The Super I/O chip also supports ACPI power management and auto power management to reduce power consumption.
In summary, the Supermicro X8DTH-iF motherboard combines the formidable processing power of Intel processors and the Intel 5520 chipset with a rich set of features, robust management capabilities, and reliability features, making it the ideal choice for demanding HPC and clustering server applications where performance, scalability, and system availability are paramount.
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