The Gigabyte WRX80-SU8-IPMI is a single-socket motherboard that gently walks a thin line between a workstation and server offering. This motherboard features an AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro SP3 socket that, while billed as a workstation processor, borrows so much from the EPYC server line that we call it the “WEPYC” internally for “Workstation EPYC”. While this is not the highest volume platform, we are seeing a number of vendors offer unique spins on bringing all of the platform capabilities to the market. In this quick overview, we are going to look at what Gigabyte offers.
Gigabyte WRX80-SU8-IPMI Overview
The Gigabyte WRX80-SU8-IPMI is a CEB Form Factor motherboard, so it is on the larger side for single-socket motherboards at 305mm x 267mm. Still, this makes it more practical to integrate into existing systems than proprietary form factor server motherboards that are popular in this generation. Also, many of the EPYC server motherboards we have seen in smaller form factors offer significantly less functionality, and this system looks absolutely packed.
We have the annotated picture above just to get a sense of the main features we want to discuss in this quick piece. First, the headline feature is support for the AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro processors which in March 2021 will allow bespoke workstations to be built. Unlike the desktop Threadripper CPUs, these have full PCIe capabilities and 8-channel ECC LRDIMM support for up to 2TB of memory capacity. Unlike the server EPYCs with those features, Threadripper Pro has an AMD WRX80 chipset that gives us a lot of the workstation features such as USB 3.2 Gen2 capabilities.
For PCIe we get seven PCIe Gen4 slots. Six are x16 electrical while one is x8. In addition, we get two M.2 SSD slots onboard. There is edge connectivity for 4x SATA III but also three SlimSAS connectors that can be either PCIe Gen4 x4 or four lanes of SATA III. We discussed a bit about how using a PCIe Gen4 x1 lane as SATA III is useful, but a much lower performing option in our Kioxia CD6-L PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD Review Ending Data Center SATA. Still, this gives one the ability to get up to 16x SATA III lanes from the motherboard.
For connectivity, we get dual Intel i210 for 1GbE. 10GbE is provided by the Intel X550. This is a higher-end solution than the Marvell 10Gbase-T used on some other Threadripper Pro boards. A key difference here is that we do not get a dedicated RJ45 port for management. Instead, management is on a shared i210AT setup. The system itself has an ASPEED AST2500 BMC which is interesting since Supermicro is moving to the Aspeed AST2600 BMC for their Threadripper Pro offering.
Along with the NICs and USB ports, we also get legacy VGA/ serial and a full audio connector set. One can find server motherboards with dual Intel i210AT and X550 networking, but the USB and audio additions make this a much more suitable workstation platform than using a server motherboard for a workstation.
Final Words
If you want to learn more about the CPU, you can see our AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3995WX Review A Bold WEPYC and a video discussing the new processor family here:
Gigabyte is offering a number of upgrades over the original Lenovo ThinkStation P620 offering. Examples include a Baseboard Management Controller or BMC for server-like management, higher-end networking, and more PCIe connectivity.
Perhaps the biggest feature is that with this platform, Gigabyte will allow one to make their own system, whether that is a workstation effectively built around a high-end “WEPYC” or a server built around a Threadripper Pro. The former is something STH attempted with its Ultra EPYC project building a workstation with a Gigabyte AMD EPYC motherboard in a Sun Ultra 24 chassis well before the Threadripper Pro was launched.
This is a beautiful board. Two 10gbe ports damn. Do you guys believe supermicro offering or their board is more stable then this gigabyte one?
What are a few good cases that will fit this case?
It’s a Extended ATX (E-ATX) form factor so there’s plenty of cases. I have the Phantek Entho 2 pro, dual system case. Running E-Atx and a m-itx system in this case. A good case that fits what I do.
If I didn’t want a dual system build and just run a
E-atx mobo, I like the Lian li O11 XL.
Again, there’s so many cases with E-ATX support to fit your needs and likes.
Technically, the motherboard spec’s say it is “CEB Form Factor; 30.5cm x 26.7cm”. E-ATX may or may not be somewhat different. Rear panel and screw holes are supposed to match up with ATX. Fractal Design’s Design 6 USB-C should work (though I’m somewhat disappointed with the case).
When/where available? My 3955wx arrives Friday and I have no motherboard
Where Is this being Sold?
Is it even out Yet?
I have the X299-WU8 need updrade..
Any Ideas
thanks
Does any know how compatibility of this to ubuntu 18.04?
My only problem with this board is that I can’t find a place to buy it.
Fractal Design Define 7 XL
Great for this great MBoard
Question! Why frozen on Q-code 05 ;(
Installed:
CPU_ Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX
POWER_ EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 P2, 80+ PLATINUM