Supermicro MBD-X12DPI-NT6-O server motherboard

Dual-socket Xeon server board

The Supermicro MBD-X12DPI-NT6-O is an Extended ATX motherboard built for dual 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors in LGA 4189 sockets. It targets datacentre builds that need high core counts and large memory capacity in a 12 x 13 inch form factor. The Intel C621A chipset links up to 4 TB of DDR4 3200 ECC memory across eighteen 288-pin slots. Buyers who only need a single processor or consumer-grade memory should look elsewhere.

Thermal and power envelope

Each socket supports CPUs up to 270 W TDP with three UPI links running at 11.2 GT/s, so adequate airflow across the VRM and DIMM areas is essential. The board draws power through standard EPS connectors and distributes it to eighteen DDR4 slots, four PCIe 4.0 x16 slots and two PCIe 4.0 x8 slots. No onboard fan headers or acoustic specifications are provided in the manufacturer data. Systems without forced-air chassis cooling will not meet the thermal demands of fully populated configurations.

Expansion and connectivity extras

Fourteen SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports with RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 support high-density storage arrays. A single M.2 M-key slot accepts 2280 or 22110 modules over a PCIe 4.0 x4 link. Dual Intel X550 controllers deliver two 10 Gbps Ethernet ports for fast fabric connectivity. The Aspeed AST2600 provides VGA output on both rear and front headers, while five USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports and two USB 2.0 headers handle peripheral and management connections. Builds requiring additional M.2 slots or onboard Wi-Fi must add expansion cards.