Article: SOtM Launches sMB-Q370 Motherboard

[Patatorz]

On 12/17/2021 at 9:36 PM, One and a half said:

There's no support for Xeon? It's pretty much dead in the water for me then. Also wonder if a 24/7 operation has similar specs to a server class board.

 

One good thing the only windows is the LTSC version support, of all Windows for audio, I found that OS to be the least to get in the way SQ wise. 

 

I assume it is something possible with a FW upgrade like with Supermicro : the LG 1151v2 are compatible with Xeon 2100 and 2200 series. For OS support should not be a big issue to use also some Windows server versions…i doubt that SOtM created specific components with specific drivers

[Patatorz]

Thanks, Yes you are right. Xeon are also supported by C242 chipset like on Supermicro X11SCL-F.

 

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/compare.html?productIds=147326,147324

[Patatorz]

No reviews ? No feedbacks ?

[Patatorz]

Possible to provide a block diagram of the sMB-q370 as there is nothing in the manual ?

 

 

[Patatorz]

22 hours ago, Dev said:

 

why would you use a full bandwidth graphic card in a motherboard especially designed for audio ? cpu direct lanes has always sounded better with USB add-on cards than the ones on the south bridge (which is off-coarse slower).

Perhaps also for people running a graphic card for HQ Player ?

[Patatorz]

9 minutes ago, Dev said:

 

Does Miska suggests to use the graphic card in cpu direct lanes ? I would probably not venture into this motherboard if I were doing HQP upsampling. The motherboard is only compatible upto 9th gen proc which isn't fast enough for sophisticated filters.

I don’t know, I just mentioned this as an option that could make sense. Your inputs makes sense but not everybody is looking for the most sophisticated filters.

[Patatorz]

For the ones who would like to use BBS boot between different options/OS, you need to presse "F7" during boot sequence (not in the actual manual).

[Patatorz]

I'm testing the sMB-Q370 + SCLK-EX with 10MHz (75 Ohms) input.

[Patatorz]

3 hours ago, botrytis said:

 

Well, remember this chipset/CPU is 8th generation and we are currently at the 13th Gen of Intel CPU's. Just saying old tech, with old issues, that were fixed in the up-and-coming generation of CPU/Chipsets.

 

Goes up to 9th generation. Using right know with a i9-9900k under win11, Audiolinux and Gentooplayer.

[Patatorz]

I’m using this smb-q370 since 6 months with in addition the superclock for the MB (no other sotm boards like Ethernet or usb). The superclock is powered by external 12v (uptone js2) and 10Mhz reference clock. CPU is a 9900k. The MB is powered by a ULPS from Pachanko feeding a Taiko DC/AtX. 

im very satisfied with the performance of the server and good step forward vs my previous one.

i also appreciate the support from sotm even if still not possible to make a solarflare NIC board working : this board is preventing the SMB-Q370 booting. We should probably find a solution. The bios is quite limited in terms of settings especially for cpu. One little trick, if you have multiple boot option, hitting F7 allows you to select the BBS screen to select your boot.

 

Best Regards 

[Patatorz]

Hi, the Solarflare x2522. It boots fine on a supermicro x111scl-f. Just updated the solarflare’s FW and remove the PXE boot. Will try again later this week.

[Patatorz]

Standard MB customized by/for sotm and not fully designed from scratch ?

 

[Patatorz]

Thanks I did not find time to put the x2522 on the Q370. Will try to do today after FW and PXE adjustments.

[Patatorz]

On 2/1/2023 at 7:15 AM, Exocer said:

Yeah I have the SFN 8522, which worked flawlessly with the SMB Q370.

So I tried the x2522 with FW updated and PXE boot disabled, still same problem : no boot. Would need to find a SFN8522

[Patatorz]

Hello, @MayfromSOtM just saw that you released the firmware D8260T35 has been released on late july. Any information concerning this update ? Any improved compatibility (x2522 boards) ?

[Patatorz]

I made the update from my side but did not identify some big changes like cpu tweaking etc… did somebody else make this upgrade ?

[Patatorz]

Ok so mainly no big changes.

[Patatorz]

@MayfromSOtM seems the D8260T36 firmware has been released. Any chance to know the changelog ?

I installed it but did not see clear changes (CPU frequency management for example).

[Patatorz]

Ok I should have missed the 35.1 somewhere with this « overclocking » menu that disappeared on the T36 version.