Chapter 1: Introduction

1-3 Chipset Overview

Built upon the functionality and the capability of the 5400 chipset, the X7DWE motherboard provides the performance and feature set required for quad-proces- sor or dual-processor-based high-end systems with confi guration options opti- mized for complex storage platforms. The 5400 chipset supports single or dual Intel Quad-Core/Dual-Core Xeon 5400/5300/5200/5100 Series processor with front side bus speeds of up to 1.6 GHz. The chipset consists of the 5400 Memory Controller Hub (MCH) for the host bridge and the 631xESB/632xESB I/O Controller Hub (Enterprise South Bridge 2-ESB2) for the I/O subsystem.

The Intel 5400 MCH (North Bridge)

The 5400 MCH (North Bridge) provides two FSB processing interfaces, four fully buffered (FBD) DIMM memory channels, PCI-Express bus interfaces confi gurable to form x8 or x16 ports, an ESB2 South Bridge Interface (ESI) and SMBus Inter- faces for system management, and DIMM Serial Presence Detect (SPD). The peak bandwidth for each FBD channel is 8 GB/s for DDR2 800/667/533 FBD memory, giving a total memory size of 32 GB.

The Intel 631xESB/632x ESB I/O Controller Hub-ESB2 (South Bridge)

The 631xESB/632xESB I/O Controller Hub (Enterprise South Bridge 2) integrates an Ultra ATA 100 Controller, six Serial ATA host controller ports, one EHCI host controller, seven external USB 2.0 ports, an LPC interface controller, and a fl ash BIOS interface controller. Additionally, the ESB 2 chip also contains a PCI inter- face controller, integrated LAN controller, and an ESI for communication with the MCH. The Intel ESB2 offers the data buffering and interface arbitration capabili- ties required for a high-end system to constantly operate effi ciently and maintain peak performance.

Compliant with the ACPI platform, the ESB2 supports the Full-On, Stop-Grant, Suspend-to-RAM, Suspend-to-Disk, and Soft-Off power management states. Combined with the functionality offered by the onboard LAN controller, the ESB2 also supports alert systems for remote management.

With the 5400 chipset built in, the X7DWE offers a superb solution for intense com- puting and complex I/O environments, and is ideal for high-end server systems.

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SUPER MICRO Computer X7DWE, Supero user manual Chipset Overview, Intel 5400 MCH North Bridge

X7DWE, Supero specifications

Supermicro, a leading provider of high-performance server technology, has made significant strides in the server market with its Supero X7DWE motherboard. This particular model stands out for its robust capabilities, designed specifically for enterprise-level applications and data center deployments.

The Supero X7DWE motherboard is engineered with dual Intel Xeon 5000/5100 series processors, enabling it to handle demanding computational tasks effectively. With support for up to 32 GB of DDR2 memory, this motherboard provides substantial memory bandwidth, which is essential for high-performance computing and virtualization applications. The architecture allows for up to 8 DIMM slots, delivering flexibility in terms of memory configuration to meet specific workload requirements.

One of the key features of the Supero X7DWE is its advanced I/O capabilities. The motherboard is equipped with multiple PCI Express slots, allowing for the integration of a variety of expansion cards, including high-speed network adapters, RAID controllers, and graphics cards. This versatility enhances the server's performance and adaptability, catering to various business needs.

In terms of storage, the X7DWE comes with support for several SATA and SAS drives, including RAID configurations, which provide improved data redundancy and performance. This feature is particularly attractive to businesses that require reliable data management and protection.

Moreover, the Supero X7DWE motherboard incorporates advanced networking capabilities, featuring integrated dual Gigabit Ethernet ports. These ports facilitate high-speed data transfer and redundancy, essential for business continuity and ensuring that applications remain accessible.

Power efficiency is another critical aspect of the Supero X7DWE design. With support for high-efficiency power supplies, the motherboard minimizes energy consumption while maximizing performance, making it a cost-effective solution for enterprises looking to reduce operational costs.

In conclusion, the Supermicro Supero X7DWE motherboard exemplifies a perfect balance between performance, reliability, and flexibility. With its dual processor support, expansive memory capacity, advanced I/O options, and efficient power management, it is an ideal choice for organizations seeking to deploy high-performance servers tailored for intensive workloads. Whether for virtualization, database management, or enterprise applications, the X7DWE proves to be an excellent foundation for building powerful and scalable server solutions.