Super Micro C2SBX+

Super Micro, are you familiar with them? Chances are that unless your focus is on the workstation and server markets, you probably haven't heard of them. However, this company has been around since 1993 and they have been producing a variety of different motherboards, servers, computer enclosures, and other products to fit the needs of their customers. Super Micro manufacturers a variety of different Intel server motherboards -- and they are one of the few that offers quad-socket Xeon motherboards -- but they also have a growing selection of Core 2 desktop motherboards. The C2SBX+ is one of their newest motherboards and with our first Super Micro review at Phoronix we are looking at this product. This Intel X48 motherboard is designed for digital entertainment, gaming enthusiasts, and other high-end applications.

Features:

Processor
- Single LGA775 Socket
- Supports an Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9000/QX6000, Core 2 Quad Q9000/Q6000, Core 2 Duo E8000/E6000, Pentium dual-core E2000, Celeron dual-core E1000, and Celeron 400 CPU series
- 1600 / 1333 / 1066 / 800 MHz system bus

Chipset
- Intel X48
- ICH9R + PXH/V

Memory
- Four 240-pin DIMM sockets
- Supports up to 8 GB of unbuffered, non-ECC DDR3 1333/1066/800MHz memory (Dual Channel) or up to 4 GB Non-ECC 1600MHz XMP DDR3 memory

Expansion Slots
- 2 (x16) PCI-E 2.0 slot
- 1 (x1) PCI-E slot
- 2x 64-bit 133 / 100MHz PCI-X (3.3V) slots
- 2x 32-bit 33MHz PCI (5V) slots

BIOS Features
- Plug and Play (PnP)
- DMI 2.3
- PCI 2.2
- ACPI 1.0 / 2.0
- USB Keyboard support
- SMBIOS 2.3

Contents:

Super Micro's motherboard packaging is a bit flashier than what we have been accustomed to seeing from their largest competitor, Tyan Computer Corporation. On the front of the packaging is a nature landscape printed on the box along with their tagline of "We Keep IT Green." Also printed on the box are highlights of RoHS compliance, designed (though not manufactured) in the USA, DDR2/DDR3 up to 1600MHz support, PCI Express 2.0, and Core 2 Extreme/Quad/Duo support.

Included with the Super Micro C2SBX+ were the motherboard manual, one ribbon floppy cable, one ribbon IDE cable, six Serial ATA cables, one IEEE-1934 Firewire expansion header, one driver CD, and one I/O shield. Protecting the motherboard during shipping were two thick foam pads -- one of which separated the motherboard from the included accessories. On the driver CD is a Linux version of Super Doctor II along with quite a few Windows applications. This Super Micro utility allows users to monitor their system fans, system voltages, chassis intrusion, system temperatures, and power supply failure. While it's great that Super Micro maintains this program on alternative operating systems, Linux users can just use LM_Sensors to accomplish this same functionality.