Pros: everything you want in a server / workstation board without the fluff.

Cons: Narrow ILM bracket through me for a loop when trying to attach a corsair H110i GTX CPU water cooler. Thankfully there is a solution to this -> http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?p=820388

Pros: All good as advertised.

Cons: Board had bent VGA connector that others have referenced. The VGA port has a short and requires pressure to work.

Manufacturer Response:

We are sincerely apologize the issue you are experiencing with your motherboard. Please kindly contact our technical support so that we can work with you in finding a solution. Please see the below technical support contact information:

Phone: (408)503-8000
Hours: 9:00 a.m – 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time (Monday – Friday)

Email address: support@supermicro.com

You can also submit your issue online: https://webpr3.supermicro.com/Support/login.aspx?

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any question.

Thank you!
SM Technical Support

External Link(s):

Submit your issue online|

Pros: Most of the basic features you'd want in a server motherboard. Great LAN, separate management Ethernet port and the best available chipset. By not integrating too much onto the motherboard you can customize the rest of the system to your specifications and not waste money on integrated components.

Cons: Compatibility is a huge issue with this motherboard.

ATX non-compliance: Mounting holes do not comply with the ATX specification. The hole between the CPU power connector and RAM is completely non-standard. The hole near the motherboard chipset has microATX (not ATX) placement.

Heatsink Bracket: The narrow ILM (heatsink bracket) dramatically limits your choices for heatsink.

CPU power support is limited to 145 watts.

Damage to COM and VGA connectors are likely due to insufficient manufacturer packaging. The motherboard is shipped in a package not much larger than it with two thin pieces of foam on top and bottom. The edges of the board are free to absorb impact, and as others have noted, often do. Damaged COM and VGA connectors are to be expected.

Other Thoughts: This is a custom board for use with other Supermicro products. If purchasing this board shop solely from Supermicro's compatibility list.

Manufacturer Response:

We are sincerely apologize the issue you are experiencing with your motherboard. Please kindly contact our technical support so that we can find out more about your issue and work with you in finding a solution. Please see the below technical support contact information:

Phone: (408)503-8000
Hours: 9:00 a.m – 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time (Monday – Friday)

Email address: support@supermicro.com

You can also submit your issue online: https://webpr3.supermicro.com/Support/login.aspx?

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any question.

Thank you!
SM Technical Support

External Link(s):

Submit your issue online|

Pros: ATX form factor, ECC memory support, works well with PNY VCGGTX7602XPB video card, Intel E5-2620 V3 processor, Samsung M393A1G40DB0-CPB ECC memory.

Cons: Running Windows 8.1 Pro/64 bit - appears to be incompatible with Creative Labs Audigy Rx soundcard (PCIe 1.0a). Supermicro support is very poor. Supermicro discourages BIOS upgrade and makes it difficult.

Other Thoughts: Wish there were more USB 3.0 ports. VGA port comes in handy for troubleshooting. Supermicro heatsink SNK-P0050AP4 oscillates but can turn the fan 100% on.

Pros: Standard Size, excellent feature set, compatible with Xeon E5­1650 v3 (a 6 core processor which offers some of the best bang for the buck), works well with SUPERMICRO CSE-732D4-865B Black Server Case, (except that the 19 pin USB3.0 cable from the case front panel when plugged into the 19 pin header on the mobo only activates 1 of the 2 front panel USB 3.0 ports). Easy to set up, perfectly stable so far.

Cons: Supermicro needs to improve their board packaging. This board has RS232 and VGA ports extending off of the back of it, and my board arrived with the RS232 port bent completely backwards over the board. I needed to bend it back to fit the IO panel which left the connector a bit loose and flexy. Fortunately I do not need this port for my application and it did not cause additional problems for me.

The only other comment I would make is I wish it was possible to select to have the 19 pin USB3.0 header carry two USB 3.0 ports to the front panel of the case as is expected.

Other Thoughts: Easy to install. I am using 4 Supermicro-recommended Samsung 8GB RAM sticks, 32GB total. This new server is being used for Filemaker 13 hosting and is nominally 8 times faster than the 3-year old server it replaces.

Pros: Works with ESXi 5.5
Remote management
Low power v3 CPU

Cons: None so far

Other Thoughts: Paired this with:

1 x Intel Xeon E5-2620 v3 Haswell 2.4GHz LGA 2011-3 85W Server Processor BX80644E52620V3

1 x Crucial 32GB (2 x 16 GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2133 (PC4-17000) ECC Server Memory Model CT2K16G4RFD4213

Nice home ESXi server.

Pros: Reasonably priced server MB

Cons: I have no idea why Supermicro decided to cheap out on both VGA and Serial port outputs which basically hold on to the motherboard on the metal connectors and nothing else. If you look at this MB picture you will notice the slim design of these. Of course when the board arrived it had both connectors bent and no video. I'm almost to blame Supermicro for cheaping out as obviously not much force is required to bent these during shipping considering how both ports protrude outwards.

Other Thoughts: Sent the board back and ordered a replacement giving Supermicro benefit of the doubt. Considering the design if the second one shows up the same way it will be no Supermicro from now on for me.