Supermicro SuperO C9X299-PG300 Motherboard Review - KitGuru

Rating: 8.0.

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. Board Layout and Features4. UEFI5. Software6. Testing Methodology7. Tests: CPU Related8. Tests: Memory Related9. Tests: Gaming Related10. Tests: Motherboard Features Performance11. Overclocking & Power Consumption12. Closing Thoughts13. View All Pages

With Intel's X299 platform supporting up to 18-core processors with 165-watt thermal design power, high-quality motherboards with capable power delivery are essential. One company that has long been engineering motherboards for high core-count and high power consumption scenarios is Supermicro.

This respected server vendor has also been manufacturing consumer motherboards since Intel's Z87 generation (2013) and its latest foray into the consumer market is for Intel's X299 chipset with its SuperO C9X299-PG300.

The Supermicro SuperO C9X299-PG300 differs from the typical X299 motherboard from the “big four” of ASUS, ASRock, Gigabyte or MSI. It is immediately clear from the design and presentation of the product that Supermicro's design ethos is server-influenced.

There's something inherently reassuring about a motherboard from a company that hasn't yet mastered the art of gaming gimmicks or marketing, fancy aesthetics and novelty features. The C9X299-PG300 is “more server” than gaming, even if Supermicro have attempted to shape it as a gaming product using the SuperO branding. Think of SuperO to Supermicro along the same lines as what ROG is to ASUS.

There are plenty of high-end connectivity options worthy of X299 including Aquantia 10 Gigabit LAN, dual M.2 slots with cooling, dual U.2 slots, USB 3.1 Type-A and C and Realtek ALC 1150 based audio. The real surprise is Supermicro's decision to fit onboard RGB lighting, which can be controlled by the “SuperO Booster” software, as this suggests more thought has gone into the consumer positioning of this motherboard than just branding.

A quick skim of Supermicro's C422 chipset offerings, that's the chipset that uses the same LGA2066 socket as X299 but for Xeon enterprise processors only, confirms that no obvious rebranding has taken place. Let's see how Supermicro's purpose-built consumer motherboard for Intel X299 stands up to scrutiny.

Supermicro SuperO C9X299-PG300
Form Factor	ATX,  30.48cm x 24.38cm
CPU Socket	LGA 2066
Chipset	Intel X299
Memory	DDR4, 8 DIMMs*, up to 128GB, 2666MHz+ (faster speeds with overclocking/XMP) *4 DIMMs only on 28-lane CPUs
On-board Graphics	None
Discrete Graphics	Up to 4-Way graphics card configurations (Nvidia or AMD)
Expansion Slots	4 x PCIe 3.0 X16 (8x/0x/16x/16x or 8x/8x/8x/16x for 44-lane CPUs, 0x/4x/8x/16x for 28-lane CPUs) 1 x PCIe 3.0 X4 (X1 electrical)
Storage	6 x SATA III (via X299 chipset) 2 x M.2 (supports PCIe 3.0 X4 32Gbps, no SATA) 2 x U.2* *On 44-lane CPUs U.2 #1 shares bandwidth with PCIe slot #1, U.2 #2 has dedicated x4 CPU lanes. On 28-lane CPUs U.2 #1 is unavailable and U.2 #2 uses bandwidth from PCIe slot #3
USB	2 x USB 3.1 (1 Type-C, 1 Type-A, all via ASM3142, 2 Rear) 6 x USB 3.0 (4 Rear, 2 Front, all via Intel X299) 4 USB 2.0 (2 Rear, 2 Front, all via Intel X299)
Networking	1 x Intel I219-V Gigabit LAN RJ45 1 x Aquantia AQC107 10 Gigabit LAN RJ45
Audio	Realtek ALC 1220 7.1 Channel HD Audio
RGB	Onboard RGBs (three zones) 2 x 12v G R B connectors
Fan Headers	5, all support 3/4 pin PWM/DC fans (2 x CPU, 3 x SYS)
Rear I/O	1 x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse combo port 2 x USB 2.0 (black) 2 x USB 3.0 (blue) 2 x USB 3.0 (red) 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A (Red) 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C 1 x Intel Gigabit LAN RJ45 1 x Aquantia 10 Gigabit LAN RJ45 5 x Audio Jacks 1 x Optical S/PDIF
UEFI	128Mb UEFI AMI

Supermicro's packaging has had a branding facelift with slogans like “Play Harder” and “Server Quality. Built for Gaming” all under the “SuperO” banner. Illustrated features include its 10 Gigabit LAN, dual M.2/U.2 and reinforced power delivery for “up to 300W TDPs”.

Supermicro labels the rear I/O as having “4 USB 3.1 (3 Type A + 1 Type C)” yet this is incorrect as it actually has 1 Type A and 1 Type C. There is a diagram on page 11 of the user's manual that gives the correct illustration of the USB setup. Supermicro confirmed to us that this was an error and it would address all the errors on its website, in its online documentation and inform any partners to update any product listings they have for this motherboard.

The accessory bundle includes four SATA cables, the rear I/O shield, cable labels, a case badge, a quick reference guide and driver/utility DVD.

There are a few things to note about this bundle including the fact the user's manual is not supplied as a physical copy and can only be accessed online. Secondly, the driver/utility DVD does not include the SuperO Booster software for controlling the onboard LEDs.

The design of the SuperO C9X299-PG300 is quite neutral and should suffice for most prospective buyers. The colour scheme is a mix of a number of shades of grey all on top of a matte black PCB. The only design flair that stands out as potentially polarising is the “Play Harder” slogan printed on a heatsink sticker. For the fussy customer with some patience, and a heat gun, this can likely be removed.

The onboard LED lighting covers three zones – the chipset/PCH heatsink, the isolated audio PCB and the rear I/O shroud, with two optional 12 volt (pin1) GRB (pin 2,3,4) headers available too. All of this is controlled by the SuperO Booster software which contains the lighting options.

The PCIe lane configuration depends on the CPU used – 28-lane CPUs naturally have more limitations than 44-lane CPUs. The provided block diagrams give a clear indication on what PCIe bandwidth is shared between which slots and ports.

SATA storage provision is a little low for Intel's X299, six ports is less than the default eight ports provide. However, Supermicro attempts to make up for this with dual U.2 and dual M.2, all operating at up to PCIe 3.0 X4 32Gbps when lanes are available.

Since X299 provides 8 SATA channels by default, it seems like a missed opportunity that Supermicro has not used the unused pair of SATA channels to offer both M.2 slots in SATA mode as well as PCIe.

Fan provision is a little on the low side too for a motherboard of this calibre – just three fan headers dotted around the board for system fans and two for the CPU cooler.

USB header connectivity is equally average with just two internal headers for USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 (USB 3.1 Gen 1) available.

Onboard diagnostic options are excellent with a code reader, power and reset buttons and a clear CMOS button.

The audio solution uses an isolated PCB along with an unshielded Realtek ALC1220 codec. The capacitors are 105 degrees Celsius rated ELNA audio capacitors and there are no additional amplifiers fitted beyond what the ALC1220 codec already provides.

The black plastic circle holds the CMOS battery and connects via a two pin cable, sometimes this pops out of place and is on the fiddly side to replace back.

The rear I/O provides the following ports:

• 1 x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse combo port
• 2 x USB 2.0 (black)
• 2 x USB 3.0 (blue)
• 2 x USB 3.0 (red)
• 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A (Red)
• 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C
• 1 x Intel Gigabit LAN RJ45
• 1 x Aquantia 10 Gigabit LAN RJ45
• 5 x Audio Jacks
• 1 x Optical S/PDIF

It's worth reiterating our earlier caution that this rear I/O does not have four USB 3.1 ports, it has 2. Some of the Supermicro literature, both online and in paper form, suggested four USB 3.1 ports. This board has a single ASM3142 controller that provides a maximum of two USB 3.1 ports, one of those is translated into Type-C by an ASM1543 controller.

There is a diagram on page 11 of the user's manual that gives the correct illustration of the USB setup.

The CPU socket uses two 8 pin EPS connections and has immediate access to a pair of fan headers.

The M.2 provision is excellent in that both ports support PCIe 3.0 x4 32Gbps and have cooling solutions. The M.2 slot nearest the CPU socket supports up to 22110 devices (110mm) while the other slot is limited to 2280 (80mm).

Under the motherboard there isn't a great deal to see aside from a strip of 12 LEDs underneath the isolated audio PCB. All the screws and fastenings used underneath are easily removed with a cross-head screwdriver.

The CPU VRM is a true 8-phase solution with 1 inductor and 1 dual-MOSFET (high- and low-side in a single chip) per phase. The dual-MOSFET packages are International Rectifier TDA21470 which are high-end units capable of a peak of 225 amps at 94% efficiency according to the data sheet.

The maximum rated average current for the TDA21470 is 70-amps which means this power solution can easily handle 70-90 watts per phase (560-720-watts total) while maintaining 94~95% efficiency.

The CPU heatsink isn't large but does have a decent weight to it and a good number of fins. Given the MOSFETs it cools are very efficient it should be up to the job.

At a power draw of 300-watts for the VCore, 37.5-watts (1.8V x 20.83A) per phase, the system would be about 94% efficient and generate about 18-watts of heat.

The PWM controller for the CPU is marked Infineon “XDPE11280A” but there's no data sheet provided for this controller online. However, it is a fully digital multi-phase controller according to a number of online chip resellers and being an Infineon unit its definitely high-quality and probably expensive.

There are at least a further four Primarion “PXE1110CDM” digital PWM controllers dotted around the memory and CPU area, likely responsible for the memory, VCCSA and VCCIO VRMs. Interestingly, Apple chooses to use these PWM controllers in the iMac Pro so the expectation is that these are also high quality controllers.

There are a number of smaller Infineon TD21240 power stages, six or more, located near the Primarion PWM controllers.

These TD21240 power stages are rated for a maximum average current of 40amps with a typical efficiency between 91 to 94% according to the data sheet. These are less powerful than the TDA21470 units used to supply the CPU, rated for 40A versus 70A, but given these do considerably less work they are highly over-engineered for the job.

Supermicro's UEFI environment isn't that different to “the big four” and has an initial entry into the UEFI through an “EZ Mode” splash screen with options like XMP, Boot Order and basic monitoring data. Clicking the slider at the top toggles the advanced mode which opens up all the usual advanced overclocking options a consumer would expect from an X299 motherboard.

The main interface has a list of themes to select options from within:

• Overclocking
• CPU
• Memory
• Advanced
• System Health
• Boot
• BIOS Update

It's worth noting that each section is not unique, i.e. some BIOS options appear in multiple sections or some just link out to other sections.

The key combinations are slightly different to most other motherboard vendors such as F3 for optimised defaults, F4 for save and exit.

The Overclocking options are exhaustive and Supermicro appear to give the user just about every option that Intel's hardware allows for. It can be a little intimidating at first but there's no reason to treat overclocking any different to other motherboards – simply dial in a core voltage in the “Voltage Configuration” section, using the millivolt format (1.2v = 1200mv), and then set the core ratio in the main “CPU Overclocking” section by tweaking the “All Core OC Setting” to manual. The SVID/FIVR section within Voltage Configuration has the Load Line Calibration options.

Many of the Overclocking options are repeated in the CPU section.

The Memory section doesn't have much in it at all, the XMP settings are found in the overclocking section under “Memory Overclocking”.

The Advanced section of the UEFI provides a long list of configuration items ranging from chipset configuration to direct interfacing with onboard ICs like the NCT6792D Super IO chip. There are a truck-load of configuration options here, most of which the average user is best leaving untouched.

The System Health section holds the system monitoring data and fan controls. In the fan control section the setting needs to be set to “Customize” to allow the user to change the fan behaviour for each fan, each fan must be programmed manually and there are no default profiles. The “fan curves” have four temperature thresholds with four corresponding fan speeds, it is not possible to create smoother fan profiles than this or use any custom fan hysteresis settings (the time delay between speed changes).

The Boot section handles the boot order, boot override, has the BIOS profile options for saving and loading settings as well as the save and exit interface.

The BIOS Update window displays the current BIOS version and once “Start Update” is selected the system reboots back into the UEFI with new options available – select file and start flash. There is no internet update option from within the UEFI environment.

Supermicro's SuperO Booster software is the main software package for the Supermicro C9X299-PG300. It is a somewhat similar idea to the likes of ASUS AI Suite, ASRock A-Tuning/F-Stream, Gigabyte EasyTune and MSI Command Center, except better unified. Supermicro earns credit for convenience since all its relevant and useful functionality sits inside this single software package.

That said the Booster software didn't come without its initial setup problems for our particular test system. Supermicro does not supply a version of the software with the motherboard's driver/utility DVD so we had to use the website downloaded version. The Supermicro website held two versions of the software 1.0.0.2 and 2.0.0.4 – both versions were incompatible with our test setup.

KitGuru approached Supermicro about the issue and shortly after the company provided version 2.0.1.12 which worked flawlessly. That said, at the time of writing this version is still not available for download on the Supermicro website meaning any prospective buyers of this motherboard would have to rely on the current version working for them.

Supermicro explained to us that our experiences represented an isolated case based on feedback received from its partners. However, if the same situation were to be encountered as us the user will be unable to use the software unless Supermicro updates its website to the new version or the customer proactively obtains a newer version through customer support channels.

The SuperO Booster software looks a lot like the Supermicro UEFI. It has a similar set of tabbed displays for different themes and users can change a whole host of settings in Windows such as CPU and memory performance parameters and fan speeds.

The CPU section permits on-the-fly adjustments to the multiplier and base clock.

The fan speed controls are still the same 4-step solutions but the software does have a range of pre-defined profiles to choose from that the UEFI didn't have.

The voltage section is as it sounds, and allows for on-the-fly adjustments to the various key voltages used by the system.

Luminous is the part of the software that allows for the customisation of the onboard RGB LEDs using a range of presets (the options listed under Main Board). Only the composite lighting mode gives the option to change colours and lighting patterns for each of the four zones independently – HD audio, chipset, IO cover and external (the two LED strip headers are treated as a single RGB object).

In composite there are three lighting modes that can be used – static, alarm (quick flashing) and breathing (slow pulsing) – with any colours across any combination of the four lighting zones.

The BIOS Update section allows the UEFI to be updated directly from the Supermicro website.

Supermicro SuperDoctor 5 comes with the driver/utility DVD but isn't on the Supermicro website. It's a very niche software utility that runs a local web server on the machine to monitor and configure the system through a web interface, the default login is ADMIN/ADMIN. It's a tool that looks and feels like a system administrator utility and it loses a lot of its useful functionality with the C9X299-PG300 since IPMI isn't supported.

It's probably worth skipping for most users as the functionality can be found in SuperO Booster software or in the UEFI BIOS.

We will be outlining the Supermicro SuperO C9X299-PG300 motherboard's performance with the Intel Core i9 7900X CPU, 32GB of G.Skill Trident Z DDR4 memory and a Gigabyte GTX 1080 G1 Gaming.

X299 Motherboard Test System:

• Processor: Intel Core i9 7900X (4.0GHz All-Core Turbo).
• Memory: 32GB (4x8GB) G.Skill Trident Z XMP (3200MHz 16-18-18-38 @ 1.35V).
• Graphics Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1080 G1 Gaming.
• System Drive: Samsung 850 EVO 500GB SSD
• CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i V2 with Two ML120 Pro Fans.
• Power Supply: Seasonic Platinum 760W SS-760XP.
• Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit** Intel Spectre/Meltdown Patches were not installed for any of the testing

Comparison X299 Motherboards:

• ASRock X299 Taichi XE
• ASRock X299E-ITX/ac
• Gigabyte X299 Aorus Gaming 7
• MSI X299 Gaming M7 ACK
• MSI X299 SLI Plus
• MSI X299M Gaming Pro Carbon AC
• Supermicro SuperO C9X299-PG300

Drivers and UEFI:

• Intel Chipset 10.1.1.42
• Nvidia GeForce 385.41 drivers
• Supermicro UEFI 1.0 (22/02/2018)

Tests:

• Cinebench R15 – All-core CPU benchmark (CPU)
• SiSoft Sandra 2017– Processor Arithmetic Test (CPU) and Memory Bandwidth Test (Memory)
• 7-Zip 16.04 x64 – Built-in 7-Zip benchmark test (CPU)
• AIDA64 Engineer 5.92 – System cache & memory benchmark and stress test (Memory and Power Consumption)
• 3DMark Time Spy v1.0 – Time Spy (1440p) test (Gaming)
• Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation – Built-in benchmark tool CPU-Focused test, 1920 x 1080, Extreme quality preset, DX12 mode (Gaming)
• Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Built-in benchmark tool, 1920 x 1080, Ultra quality preset, DX12 mode (Gaming)
• ATTO 3.05 – M.2, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, and SATA 6Gbps transfer rates (Motherboard)
• RightMark Audio Analyzer 6.4.1 – Record and playback test using a line-in to line-out loopback with a 3.5mm audio cable (Motherboard)

7-Zip

7-Zip is an open source Windows utility for manipulating archives. We measure the Total Rating performance using the built-in benchmark tool. The test stresses all CPU cores to 100% and shows an affinity for memory bandwidth.

Cinebench R15

Cinebench is an application which renders a photorealistic 3D scene to benchmark a computer’s rendering performance, on one CPU core, all CPU cores or using the GPU. We run the test using the all core CPU mode.

Sandra Processor Arithmetic

SiSoft Sandra 2017 is a multi-function utility program that supports remote analysis, benchmarking and diagnostic features for PCs, servers, mobile devices and networks. We run the application’s processor arithmetic test to gauge the CPU performance on each tested motherboard.

CPU performance is mostly identical across all X299 motherboards that were tested.

The SuperO C9X299-PG300 is the only X299 motherboard we have tested since Intel has released its Spectre and Meltdown patches for X299. To complete testing fairly we prevented Windows from updating as running the same tests on an up to date version of Windows 10 resulted in a 0-5% performance deficit in some benchmarks.

AIDA64 Engineer

AIDA64 Engineer is a multi-featured software suite for diagnostics, stress testing, benchmarking, software auditing and various other measurement parameters. We use AIDA64 Engineer to benchmark memory throughput and latency.

Sandra Memory Bandwidth

SiSoft Sandra 2017 is a multi-function utility program that supports remote analysis, benchmarking and diagnostic features for PCs, servers, mobile devices and networks. We use the SiSoft Sandra memory bandwidth test to provide a set of memory bandwidth results.

Memory performance was a little down on some competing motherboards but it is within reasonable testing error and is probably explained by less aggressive CPU Cache settings applied by Supermicro compared to other motherboard vendors.

3DMark

3DMark is a multi-platform hardware benchmark designed to test varying resolutions and detail levels of 3D gaming performance. We run the Windows platform test and in particular the Time Spy benchmark, which is indicative of high-end 1440p PC Gaming.

Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation

Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation is a Sci-Fi real-time strategy game built for the PC platform. The game includes a built-in benchmark tool and was one of the first available DirectX 12 benchmarks. We run the CPU-focused benchmark using DirectX 12, a 1080p resolution and the Extreme quality preset.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is an action role-playing stealth video game released in August 2016. A built-in benchmark utility is included and we test using the Ultra quality preset and the DirectX 12 API at a 1080p resolution.

Gaming performance across all X299 motherboards was within a few frames which can be explained by GPU Thermal Boosting variance and previously identified differences in CPU and memory performance from various under-the-hood system parameters that motherboard vendors tinker with to improve performance.

Supermicro is well-known for its adherence to Intel specifications so the fact it appears towards the bottom of these graphs is no coincidence.

ATTO Disk Benchmark

The ATTO disk benchmark is a Windows-based utility for testing storage performance of any storage drive or controller. We use the default benchmark setup.

M.2 PCIe Performance

For M.2 testing we use a Toshiba OCZ RD400 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD.

M.2 performance was good, the drive was able to operate at full speed and it didn't throttle at all – staying sub-60 degrees Celsius even after extended testing runs.

USB Performance

We test USB 3.0 and 3.1 performance using a pair of Transcend SSD370S 512GB SSDs in RAID 0 connected to an Icy Box RD2253-U31 2-bay USB 3.1 enclosure powered by an ASMedia ASM1352R controller.

USB 3.0 and 3.1 performance was par for the course.

SATA 6Gbps Performance

For SATA 6Gbps testing we use an OCZ Trion 150 480GB SSD.

SATA performance was typical of the SATA III interface with only minor testing variance between all X299 motherboards on test.

Audio Rightmark Audio Analyser is a freeware benchmarking utility designed to objectively test the performance characteristics of audio solutions. We setup a line-in line-out loop and execute the record/playback test before generating the results report you see below. A sampling mode of 24-bit, 192 kHz is tested where available. If unavailable the closest alternative operating mode available is used and clearly marked.

Audio performance was very good across the range, which goes to show that lots of extra “bells and whistles” in the audio department, such as operational amplifiers and codec shielding, do not necessarily translate into better performance. Supermicro opted for a vanilla implementation of the Realtek ALC1220 codec with ELNA audio capacitors and the results are excellent.

Manual CPU Overclocking:

To test the Supermicro SuperO C9X299-PG300 motherboard’s CPU overclocking potential, we set the CPU VCore as close to 1.20V as possible. We maintain the DRAM frequency at 3200MHz to take memory stability out of the overclocking equation.

Overclocking was simple and we were able to easily achieve 4.6GHz using 1.2 volts. Any more frequency gains required pushing voltage further and that lead to unacceptable temperatures, read more about our i9 7900X overclocking experiences here.

Overclocking brought no surprises – the CPU isn't capable of more than 4.6GHz without going beyond our own 1.2v threshold. The minimum stable voltage to maintain 4.6GHz on the Supermicro SuperO C9X299-PG300 was 1.18v with the automatic Load Line Calibration. The motherboard sensors didn't seem to report the core voltage correctly but the “VID” voltage on the CPU correctly reported the core voltage as 1.18v during overclocking, at stock the same voltage was 1.1v.

Motherboard Sensors

Unfortunately, there were no sensors on the Supermicro C9X299-PG300 that recorded any temperatures that were reported to be the VRMs or MOS. As such it is difficult to comment on the thermal state of affairs for the CPU VRM implementation. However, we experienced no signs of throttling relating to the VRMs during our multiple-hour testing suite.

Other media outlets have examined the thermal performance of this Supermicro motherboard with fairly impressive results.

Overclocked Performance

Power

We leave the system to idle on the Windows 10 desktop for 5 minutes before taking a reading. For CPU load results we run AIDA64 CPU, FPU, Cache and Memory stress tests and take a reading after 5 minutes. The power consumption of our entire test system (at the wall) is shown in the chart.

Power consumption was a little bit higher than some similar motherboards when overclocked but typically there's not much variance between all motherboards when operating at the same frequencies.

There has been a significant amount of scrutiny placed upon the VRMs of motherboards since the VRM exposé of early X299 motherboards by professional overclocker der8auer. This lead to some manufacturers revising some motherboard's VRM designs and heatsinks to deal with shortcomings.

That VRM problem was largely exacerbated by Intel releasing higher core-count CPUs, peaking with the 18 core i9-7980XE, that required even more power to operate at high frequencies in order to compete with AMD's disruptive Threadripper platform.

The increased scrutiny of VRMs has spread to other platforms including AMD's AM4 and TR4 sockets and Intel's LGA 1151v2 socket – particularly where the motherboards are pitched towards gamers and support overclocking functions. Supermicro, then, is opening itself up to scrutiny with the SuperO C9X299-PG300 and its claims about “server quality”.

In our analysis it is hard to fault the Supermicro C9X299-PG300 and its VRM implementation that is based on high quality components across all the VRM areas – CPU VCore, VCCSA, VCCIO and memory. Given that the state of thermals is largely unknown and environment-dependent we'd still caution that Core i9 users running significant overclocks should pay attention to ensuring airflow over the VRM heatsink to prevent any long term issues on any X299 motherboard.

VRMs aside the Supermicro motherboard is an interesting proposition with 10 Gigabit Ethernet and dual M.2 slots both with cooling and 32Gbps of bandwidth. The inclusion of dual U.2 is novel and increases storage flexibility, but is perhaps nothing more than symbolic given the abysmal uptake of the U.2 standard across the industry by storage vendors.

There are a few more niggling issues with Supermicro's C9X299-PG300. For starters the mistake on the packaging and many of its online sources regarding the number of USB 3.1 ports was unfortunate, but Supermicro has taken sufficient measures to address this mistake. This motherboard does not have four USB 3.1 ports, it has 2, but that's insignificant as there are still few USB 3.1 devices capable of using the additional bandwidth provided by USB 3.1 over USB 3.0.

Another minor issue encountered related to the Supermicro SuperO Booster software having compatibility issues on our test system, though Supermicro promptly addressed this with a new version that is being finalised for customer release as this review is being written.

The generally average numbers of certain other connectors is also a little disappointing for a motherboard of this class. For instance, X299 supports 8 SATA ports direct from the chipset yet Supermicro has only implemented 6 of these and the M.2 ports do not make use of those spare SATA lanes to offer alternative SATA operating modes.

Similarly, USB could do with a couple more internal headers of type 2.0 and 3.0 to bolster connectivity options while the number of fan headers could also benefit from rising above the current 5 headers to keep up with rival motherboards in this class.

The Supermicro motherboard, despite its shortcomings, is a well-built motherboard that is “infused with server DNA”. Supermicro could still implement a number of improvements, but for the X299 buyer looking for a no-nonsense and high-quality motherboard with a strong VRM and useful connectivity – such as dual M.2 and 10 Gigabit LAN – the C9X299-PG300 is definitely a worthwhile consideration.

The Supermicro SuperO C9X299-PG300 is currently available to buy from Newegg in the USA for $349.99 with a 3 year warranty. There is currently no retail availability in the UK from any reputable retailer but Newegg does ship to the UK for £338.67 (shipping and taxes included). Supermicro informed KitGuru that it was currently negotiating with retail partners internationally to improve availability, so only time will tell if this effort is realised.

Pros:

• Excellent VRM components for the VCore, VCCIO, VCCSA and Memory
• Dual cooled M.2 and dual U.2
• SuperO Booster is a simple and useful unified software utility
• Onboard RGB LED lighting and two RGB headers
• Diagnostic code reader and onboard power/reset/clear CMOS buttons
• 10G and 1G Ethernet connections

Cons:

• M.2 ports do not support SATA mode
• Low number of USB headers (2), SATA ports (6) and fan headers (5)
• Limited global retail availability
• CMOS battery mount is clunky and comes loose

KitGuru says: A class-leading VRM implementation paired up with excellent PCIe storage options and 10G LAN make the Supermicro SuperO C9X299-PG300 an attractive proposition for demanding prosumers.

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