Adapters and Peripherals

Intel® Server Board SE7520BD2/SE7520BD2-D2

4.Adapters and Peripherals

Add-in adapter card and peripheral compatibility and stress testing will only be performed with the latest version of an operating system at the time the validation testing occurred. The following table shows the operating system and base system configurations used to validate each device. The adapters are divided into categories based on their functionality. All integrated on-board devices are tested by default and are therefore not included in the following tables.

Note that not all adapter cards were tested under all operating systems. The following notation is used in the tested adapters and peripherals table below to indicate the support level that Intel provides for a particular adapter under a particular operating system:

		This adapter or peripheral has been tested and is supported under the specific
	Number (i.e. 1)	configuration identified in the Base System Configurations Table in Section 2 of this
		document.

		This adapter or peripheral has been tested, but is NOT supported under the specific
	Number in brackets (i.e. [1])	configuration identified in the Base System Configurations Table in Section 2 of this
		document. Limited compatibility testing only.

	NT	This adapter or peripheral has not been tested under this operating system and is not
	NT	supported under this operating system.
		supported under this operating system.

	ND	This adapter or peripheral has not been tested under this operating system due to
	ND	limitations in IHV driver availability, and is not suported under this operating system.


		This adapter is supported, but not tested. This adapter model has not been tested
		with this server board, but Intel will support it based on successful testing of a similar
		adapter from the same adapter family. Intel has high confidence that this adapter will
	SA (Similar Adapter)	function correctly with the server board. This adapter uses the same firmware and
	SA (Similar Adapter)	drivers, and has a nearly identical system interface to another adapter of the same
		family that has been successfully tested with this server board. In addition, Intel has
		secured IHV commitment to support the similar adapters equally. Customers should
		always test adapters as part of the final system configuration prior to deployment. All
		installation guidelines for the tested adapter also apply to the similar adapter.

Any variations to the standard adapter installation process or to expected adapter functionality are documented in the Installation Guidelines section of this document. If there are installation guidelines affecting a particular adapter and operating system combination, these are referenced in the following table. If there are no installation guidelines noted in the following table, then the adapter installed and functioned as expected using manufacturer’s installation instructions or Intel’s best-known methods.

Testing of adapters cards normally is performed with unused add-in adapters and onboard controller expansion ROMs disabled in BIOS Setup. Intel recommends that customers disable the option ROM for add-in controllers and/or the on-board controllers when not booting from the controller or needing to use its built in utilities.

Revision 2.0

SE7520BD2, SE7520BD2-D2 specifications

The Intel SE7520BD2 and SE7520BD2-D2 are server motherboards designed for high-performance computing environments. Built on the Intel architecture, these motherboards cater to the demanding needs of enterprise-level applications, virtualization, and data-intensive processes.

One of the standout features of the SE7520BD2 series is its support for dual Intel Xeon processors, which allows users to harness multiple cores for parallel processing. This capability significantly enhances system performance, making it ideal for tasks such as database management, web hosting, and large-scale computations. The motherboard is equipped with a Socket 604, enabling compatibility with a range of Intel Xeon processors, thus offering flexibility for system upgrades.

Memory support is another critical aspect of the SE7520BD2. The motherboard features eight DIMM slots, supporting DDR2 RAM with speeds of up to 400 MHz. This design allows for substantial memory capacity, with configurations supporting up to 32 GB of memory. The advanced memory architecture helps ensure robustness, stability, and low latency, which are crucial for memory-intensive applications.

The motherboard also includes several integrated technologies to enhance performance and reliability. Among these is Intel’s PCI Express technology, which provides high-speed connectivity for peripheral devices, including graphics cards and storage solutions. This feature is essential for building high-performance systems that require fast data transfer rates.

In terms of storage, the SE7520BD2 supports SATA for connecting hard drives and solid-state drives. It features up to six SATA ports, enabling extensive storage options that can accommodate the needs of large databases and extensive file storage. The availability of RAID support further enhances data integrity and redundancy, making it suitable for critical applications.

Security features on the SE7520BD2 series include support for various enterprise-level management tools, such as Intel Active Management Technology, which facilitates remote management and monitoring of servers. This is particularly valuable for IT administrators in maintaining system health and security.

In conclusion, the Intel SE7520BD2 and SE7520BD2-D2 motherboards provide a robust platform for high-performance applications. With its support for dual Xeon processors, extensive memory capacity, and advanced connectivity options, these motherboards can meet the rigorous demands of modern enterprises while delivering reliability and efficiency. Whether deployed in data centers, enterprise server environments, or for specific computational tasks, the SE7520BD2 series stands out as a reliable choice for organizations looking to optimize their computing power.