Thread: Anandtech News

The launch of Intel’s Ice Lake Xeon Scalable processors has been in the wings for a number of years. The delays to Intel’s 10nm manufacturing process have given a number of setbacks to all of Intel’s proposed 10nm product lines, especially the high performance Xeon family: trying to craft 660 mm2 of silicon on a process is difficult at the best of times. But Intel has 10nm in a place where it is economically viable to start retailing large Xeon processors, and the official launch today of Intel’s 3^rd Generation Xeon Scalable is on the back of over 200,000+ units shipped to major customers to date. The new flagship, the Xeon Platinum 8380, has 40 cores, offers PCIe 4.0, and takes advantage of the IPC gain in Intel’s Sunny Cove processor core. We’re testing it against the best in the market.

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Hot on the heels of Intel's latest Ice Lake-SP 3rd Generation Xeon Scalable processor launch, GIGABYTE Server has listed three new motherboards designed for server use. The GIGABYTE Server MU92-TU1, the MU92-TU0, and MU72-SU0 all offer different levels of features and controllers and are based on Intel's C621A chipset for 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable. Two are built on the E-ATX form factor, with one ATX model, with features varying between sixteen memory slots, different dual Ethernet configurations, and all come with an integrated ASPEED BMC controller.
The Intel Xeon Scalable processor stack is designed for use in servers, with some likely professional applications alongside the usual Cloud and Datacenter operations. With some new refinements of its 10 nm process for Enterprise situations, including the use of SGX and a focus for customized crypto acceleration. There are many Intel Xeon Scalable Ice Lake-SP SKUs in the product stack, including the top tier 40-core Xeon Platinum 8380 model the way down to the entry-level Xeon Silver 4309 model.
Read our Intel 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable Review below:

• Intel 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable (Ice Lake SP) Review: Generationally Big, Competitively Small

To complement the 3rd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable for Enterprise launch, GIGABYTE has readied up three new motherboards. Based on the Intel C621A chipset and all using one LGA4189 socket, GIGABYTE Server MU92-TU0, the MU92-TU1, and MU72-SU0 include some interesting and notable features.
MU92-TU0 and MU92-TU1

Starting with the E-ATX sized pairing, the MU92-TU0 and MU92-TU1 both include seven full-length PCIe 4.0 slots, which can operate at x16/x0/x16/x0/x16/x0/x16, or x16/x8/x8/x8/x8/x8/x8, with sixteen memory slots that can support up to 2 TB of 3DS RDIMM/LRDIMM DDR4-3200 memory, with regular LRDIMMs of up to 128 GB and RDIMM memory up to 64 GB also supported. For storage, both the MU92-TU0 and MU92-TU1 include a single PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot, with two SATA ports and two SlimSAS ports with support for up to eight SATA ports. Both models also include a standard 24-pin ATX 12 V motherboard power input, two 8-pin 12 ATX CPU power inputs, seven 4-pin fan headers, an Intel VROC connector, a PMBus, and an IPMB connector.

GIGABYTE Server MU92-TU0 motherboard (E-ATX)

Aesthetically the same with GIGABYTE's blue PCB, the only difference between the MU92-TU0 and MU92-TU1 is the MU92-TU1 is using ASPEED's latest ARM-based AST2600 BMC controller. The slightly lesser spec MU92-TU0 uses an ASPEED AST2500 BMC controller, while both models include dual 10 GBase-T Ethernet, which is powered by an Intel X710-AT2 controller. Also present on both models are two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a D-Sub video output and MLAN port for the BMC, a COM port, and an ID button with LED.
MU72-SU0

The GIGABYTE Server MU72-SU0 is using an ATX form factor featuring a single LGA4189 socket. It includes eight memory slots, with support for up to 2 TB of 3DS RDIMM/LRDIMM DDR4-3200 memory, and regular LRDIMMs of 128 GB and RDIMMs up to 64 GB for servers that require less memory capacity. There's a total of seven full-length PCIe 4.0 slots, with supported configurations including both x16/x0/x16/x0/x16/x0/x16 and x16/x8/x8/x8/x8/x8/x8, with storage options including one PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot, and three SlimSAS connectors which allow for up to twelve SATA ports.

GIGABYTE Server MU72-SU0 motherboard (ATX)

The MU72-SU0 uses an ASPEED AST2600 BMC controller, with a dedicated management Ethernet port and D-Sub video output, with dual Gigabit Ethernet, which is driven by a pair of Intel I210-AT Gigabit controllers. The rear panel also includes four USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a COM port, and an ID button with LED. Other avenues of connectivity around the board include seven 4-pin fan headers, a TPM header, and an Intel VROC connector. Providing power to the board is one 24-pin 12 V ATX motherboard power, one 8-pin 12 V ATX CPU power, and a 6-pin PCIe power input designed to deliver more power to the full-length PCIe slots.
It is unknown when the GIGABYTE Server MU92-TU1, MU92-TU0, and MU72-SU0 are likely to hit retail shelves at the time of writing, but given the Ice Lake-SP processors are now released, we don't expect it will be too long. We also don't currently have any pricing information.
Source: GIGABYTE Server
Gallery: GIGABYTE Server Unveils Three New Motherboards For Intel 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable


Related Reading

• Intel 3rd Gen Xeon Scalable (Ice Lake SP) Review: Generationally Big, Competitively Small
• Intel Ice Lake Xeon Scalable Shipments To Date: 30 Customers, 100k+ Units
• Axiomtek Unveils IMB700 Motherboard, LGA4189 For Intel Ice Lake-SP
• Intel at CES 2021: Ice, Tiger, Rocket, Jasper, and Alder Lake

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