Intel S1200KP Mini ITX Server Motherboard LGA 1155 Intel C206 DDR3 1066/1333

Pros: Works with Xeon v2 and the ivy bridge processors provided you have a way to update it to the current bios. Yes there is a different version for the new processors and intel has said there are comparability differences. My system has been up and stable for a few months 24/7 with no issues.

Cons: Bios upgrade required for ivy bridge compatibility.

Pros: Size and layout are great.

Cons: I bought this board along with a Xenon E3-1230 V2 chip. Reading the description and taking a quick glance at the tested processor list from Intel, I thought I would have my first home server up and running now. I was very WRONG.

I spent the time yesterday assembling all the components I had spent nearly $2000.00 on and it does not work. I contacted Intel support and was told that i needed the DBS1200KPR not this board. I tried to search for the DBS1200KPR on their website and guess what it sends you to the page for this board. The only reference to the KPR is in a note at the bottom of the processor list page.

Now I am left with an expensive paperweight. When I installed everything I also installed the included sticker inside of my case for a reference. That is what is for, right? I am now forced to search for the DBS1200KPR somewhere else since it is not carried here.

Other Thoughts: It would be nice for some clarification in the Item Description letting people know that this board will not work with the newer Intel E3-1200 V2 series chips.

Pros: Mini-ITX form factor is nice and small. Board layout is good.

Cons: As the previous reviewer stated V2 Xeon CPUs are not supported even though ark.intel.com says they are on the S1200KP product page. The compatibility information provided by Intel is highly misleading. You have to read the manual to see that there is a compatibility problem. You actually need the S1200KPR which Newegg does not carry at the time of this review. It's hard to find.

Intel also indicates that the chipset and CPU support VT-D. The S1200KP and S1200KPR do not because Intel has arbitrarily decided not to include these features by blocking them from the BIOS. Intel's support does not recognize this as a problem. This is disgusting.

Also, unlike everything else, the S1200KP family does not support registered ECC RAM or x16 organization RAM. It is very very picky about RAM. You have to dive into the manual to find this out.

Other Thoughts: Really regret my decision to build a mini-ITX home server. It would have been smarter to go with micro-ATX where I could buy a non-Intel motherboard. I really wanted to stash this thing away and run a home server hosting a couple of virtual machines. Now I have to scale back those plans plus I'm out $60 for shipping, return, and restocking. Thanks, Intel.

This is the second Intel system I've built this year and the second one to give me problems. The x79 system I built earlier this year also had a motherboard/CPU related problem with the stepping. Getting help from ASRock was a piece of cake. Intel just wants you to post onto their community forum where they can ignore you. Really terrible product support. I will never buy an Intel motherboard again.

It's 2012. These problems should not still be happening. Important features should not be missing. Avoid this product.

Pros: Looks cute. Very small. Makes a fine paper weight. If your into out dated computers this board does works with old legacy processors.

Cons: The board is incompatible with Intel's currently shipping processors. If you wish to run the latest Xeon E3 v2 processors, this is NOT the board for you. If you try to install a second generation Xenon E3 v2 processor the board will give you three beeps indicating your memory is not compatible. Don't run out and replace your RAM, it is the CPU that is incompatible NOT your RAM.

To run a Xeon E3 v2 processor you need to purchase the BBS1200KPR.

Other Thoughts: Read the official Intel product guide carefully before buying this board. Google g39481003_s1200kp_productguide_r1_2.pdf to find it.

From note (2) on page 2:
The product codes of DBS1200KP and BBS1200KP can only support Intel® Xeon® E3-1200 Processors or the 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM i3 Processors. The product codes of DBS1200KPR and BBS1200KPR can support Intel® Xeon® E3-1200 Processors, the 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM i3 Processors, Intel® Xeon® E3-1200 V2 Processors or the 3rd Generation Intel® CoreTM i3 Processors.

Pros: See prior review

Cons: This board seems to have an issue with the bios incorrectly reporting the CPU temperature. My replacement board also reported very high cpu temps, all the way to 90+C with 68F ambient temp and good airflow in the case. I moved the board to a full ATX tower case and with 3 fans blowing on the board and a PCI-E video card. Still reading 60C in the bios. I installed the OS then installed Core Temp. It is showing a live temp of about 25C with min/max being 23C/46C.

Other Thoughts: I now have a ton of time into what should have been an easy build. I even posted this issue on the Intel Community forum and got no response, not really impressed with Intel and their "server" boards at the moment. I'm going with the hypothesis that the bios is wrong and putting the system work, worst case it burns up and I buy a DQ67EPB3 to replace it as I have had nothing but excellent experience with them.

Also for all the people looking at this board for VM's. It does NOT support VT-d while the DQ does. I really can't figure out what Intel was thinking, leaving this feature off a Server board that was seemingly custom made for VM labs yet including it on a consumer workstation board. This cost it another egg. Only flawless operation regardless of the bios temp reading from this point forward is going to keep this from becoming a product I recommend avoiding at all cost.

My high temp readings are with the .12 and .18 bios, Xeon E3-1245 rev D2 as well as an i7-2600 cpu.

Pros: All the specs look good, never got to do much with it yet.

Cons: None - see below

Other Thoughts: Sending this back for a replacement. Posted fine and I installed ESXi 5, then looked into updating the bios. This is when I noticed the CPU temp was 78C !! E3-1245 running at stock speed. I tried all the tricks, different CPU fan, artic silver, different CPU (i7), different ram, different PSU. Temp still climbs to 78C within minutes of start up. I have a DQ67EP in the same case etc and the i7-2600k in it only hits 38C.
I'm sure this is a great board hence the 4 star review but I searched the internet and found no mention of this issue so I wanted to give people a heads up so you don't spend hours trying to diagnose this problem because you're sure it couldn't be the board.

Pros: Runs fine with a i7-2700k, doesn't really mention much about compatibility in the manual but it runs fine.

Cons: None really, needed an extra fan to cool the chipset when using the 2700k.

Other Thoughts: Built in dual gig-e nics, nice!