Instead of an enthusiast motherboard, this time we will look at a workstation motherboard. Meanwhile it is not a entry level motherboard, Gigabyte provided us with their latest high end motherboard which features up to 512 GB of DDR3 memory running at 1600 MHz, two 8 core / 16 threads processor, a high end LSI SAS controller and more. Here we provide you a little preview before we put the full review online.
On the following pages we're going to introduce you to the latest dual socket motherboard from Gigabyte that supports the latest and fastests octocore Xeon E5-2600 series from Intel.
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
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Specifications / Delivery
| CPU | Dual LGA2011 Socket Supports Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product family |
| Chipset | Intel C602 |
| Memory | 16 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 128GB (UDIMM) and
512GB (RDIMM) of system memory 16 x 1.35V DDR3L DIMM sockets supporting up to 128 GB of system memory Quad channel memory architecture Support for 800/1066/1333/1600 memory modules Support for ECC RDIMM/ UDIMM memory modules |
| Multi-GPU | N/A |
| Slots |
1 x PCIe x16 (@ Gen3 x16 bus) slot 1 x PCIe x16 (@ Gen3 x8 bus) slot 2 x PCIe x8 (@ Gen3 x4 bus) slots 1 x PCIe x4 (@ Gen2 x1 bus) slot |
| Audio | No audio chip |
| Video | Integrated ASPEED AST2300More information on the manufacturer's website |
| Storage | 2 x SAS 6Gb/s ports (8 x SAS 6Gbs via LSI SAS200 1 x SAS 3Gb/s ports (4 x SATA II 3Gbs via LSI SAS200 2 x SATA III 6Gb/s ports Intel SW RAID 0/1/5/10 LSI IR RAID 0/1/1E/10 |
| LAN | 2 x Gigabit Ethernet LAN (Intel® I350 supports 10/100/1000 Mbps) 1 x KVM Server Management 10/100 LAN Port |
| I/O internal | |
| I/O external | |
| Formfactor | EATX (33.0 cm x 30.5 cm) |
| BIOS | 1 x 64 MB flash AMI BIOS |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Bundle | 2x SATA II cables 1x Manual 1x CD Drivers 1x I/O Shield |
| On Manufacturer's Website | Gigabyte GA-7PESH1 |
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
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Layout
The Gigabyte GA-7PESH1 comes on a blue PCB and black expansion slots. Even if it is a workstation motherboard, Gigabyte seems to have spent some time on the design and didn't make a cheap looking motherboard but indeed a very good looking one. The layout itself has been well thought and there is for example plenty of space around the CPU socket to install even todays largest CPU coolers as we managed to mount two Noctua NH-D14 on it without any problems.
Gigabyte equipped his workstation motherboard so each cpu are powered by six digital power phases. Furthermore each set of four DIMM memory slots benefit of their own two digital power phases. With a total of 4x 2 digital power phases for the memory and 2x 6 for the processors to provide maximum stability.
Totally you'll find four sets of four DIMM-slots on the GA-7PESH1 which means there are no less than sixteen memory slots for an amount of total memory up to 128GB. Officially supported are the following clock speeds: 1600 / 1333 / 1066 MHz. Memory slots are quite close to the cpu socket so you won't be able to fit enthusiasts memory on it but that's not a problem because this motherboard is designed for workstation use and worksation memory doesn't have high memory heatspreaders luckily.
Southbridge as well as current converters are being held at adequate temperatures via a passive cooling blocks. But not only, also the LSI chip and the LAN chip have heatsinks on them to feel more fresh.
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
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Connectors and I/O
Overall, there is on this board just two SATA ports that are attached to the bottom board. There are also three SAS headers that provide up to twelve additional ports available. The SAS ports are provided on an LSI controller, who was tied with eight lanes to the chipset. This gives enough bandwidth available, so that high-performance RAID array can be set up. On this motherboard you will find two full PCIe x16 slots spaced by one slot to mount a dual graphics card setup for computing. Further, there are two PCI Express x8 ports and one PCI Express x4 expansion slot. For the PCI Express x16 slots as well as in the x8 slots Gigabyte releases by this server board PCI Express Gen 3. Also useful are the two PCI Express x8 ports that provide more than enough bandwidth, so even the latest high-end SSDs in these slots can fit.
Totally you'll find three fan headers on the Gigabyte GA-7PESH1 which is more than enough for a workstation motherboard because usually workstation fans are directly connected to the power supply. Anyway you will find one cpu0_fan as well as one cpu1_fan located not far at the right of each cpu's power design and a sys_fan located next to the LSI SAS Controller.
Looking at the external connectors directly at the back-panel, Gigabyte equipped their worksation motherboard with four USB2.0 ports, no less than three Ethernet LAN ports, a COM connector and of course the video out (VGA) for the ASPEED integrated graphic chip AST2300.
| Page 1 - Introduction> | Page 4 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
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Conclusion
| Allgemein | + | - | |
| At a first glance we were surprised that the Gigabyte GA-7PESH1 comes with quite a nice color scheme. We really wouldn't have expected this from a workstation motherbooard. Furhtermore it was possible to install large CPU coolers, which is really usfull if you want to build a high-end workstation that operates at low noise level. Another nice addition is the LSI RAID Controller which is capable of managing up to twelve drives. Therefore it is also worth mentioning that the RAID Controller has been connected via eight lanes. Like there there should be plenty of bandwidth. | - Design - LSI RAID Controller - Spacious around CPU Sockets |
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| Layout | + | - | |
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Looking at the DIMM slots showed that they have been placed very close to the CPU sockets. Like this Gigabyte has been able to save some space which they needed because of the expansion slots. In fact there is a good mix. What you get is two PCI Express x16 Gen3 slots, two PCI Express x8 Gen3 slots as well as another PCI Express x4 Gen2 slot. If you for example want to install a high performance PCI Express SSD then you'll be happy about the PCI Express x8 Gen3 Slots. |
- Location of DIMM Slots - Expansion Slots - PCI Express Gen3 | ||
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
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Author: Christian Ney c.ney@ocaholic.ch