Context

For the last 3 years I’ve used the hardware described in my 2012 article. In order to drive a hi-dpi display, I needed to install an nVidia graphics card, since only the nVidia hardware/software supported multi-tile displays requiring MST (Multiple Stream Transport) such as the Dell UP2414Q. While I’ve switched to a Viewsonic VX2475Smhl-4K in the meantime, I still needed a recent-enough DisplayPort output that could deliver 3840x2160@60Hz. This is not the case for the Intel Core i7-2600K’s integrated GPU, so I needed to stick with the nVidia card.

I then stumbled over a video file which, when played back using the nouveau driver’s VDPAU functionality, would lock up my graphics card entirely, so that only a cold reboot helped. This got me annoyed enough to upgrade my hardware.

Why the Supermicro X11SSZ-QF?

Intel, my standard pick for mainboards with good Linux support, unfortunately stopped producing desktop mainboards. I looked around a bit for Skylake mainboards and realized that the Intel Q170 Express chipset actually supports 2 DisplayPort outputs that each support 3840x2160@60Hz, enabling a multi-monitor hi-dpi display setup. While I don’t currently have multiple monitors and don’t intend to get another monitor in the near future, I thought it’d be nice to have that as a possibility.

Turns out that there are only two mainboards out there which use the Q170 Express chipset and actually expose two DisplayPort outputs: the Fujitsu D3402-B, and the Supermicro X11SSZ-QF. The Fujitsu one doesn’t have an integrated S/PDIF output, which I need to play audio on my Denon AVR-X1100W without a constant noise level. Also, I wasn’t able to find software downloads or even a manual for the board on the Fujitsu website. For Supermicro, you can find the manual and software very easily on their website, and because I bought Supermicro hardware in the past and was rather happy with it, I decided to go with the Supermicro option.

I’ve been using the board for half a year now, without any stability issues.

Mechanics and accessories

The X11SSZ-QF ships with a printed quick reference sheet, an I/O shield and 4 SATA cables. Unfortunately, Supermicro apparently went for the cheapest SATA cables they could find, as they do not have a clip to ensure they don’t slide off of the hard disk connector. This is rather disappointing for a mainboard that costs more than 300 CHF. Further, an S/PDIF bracket is not included, so I needed to order one from the USA.

The I/O shield comes with covers over each port, which I assume is because the X11SSZ mainboard family has different ports (one model has more ethernet ports, for example). When removing the covers, push them through from the rear side of the case (if you had installed it already). If you do it from the other side, a bit of metal will remain in each port.

Due to the positioning of the CPU socket, with my Fractal Design Define R3 case, one cannot reach the back of the CPU fan bracket when the mainboard is installed in the case. Hence, you need to first install the CPU fan, then install the mainboard. This is doable, you just need to realize it early enough and think about it, otherwise you’ll install the mainboard twice.

Integrated GPU not initialized

The integrated GPU is not initialized by default. You need to either install an external graphics card or use IPMI to enter the BIOS and change Advanced → Chipset Configuration → Graphics Configuration → Primary Display to “IGFX”.

For using IPMI, you need to connect the ethernet port IPMI_LAN (top right on the back panel, see the X11SSZ-QF quick reference guide) to a network which has a DHCP server, then connect to the IPMI’s IP address in a browser.

Overeager Fan Control

When I first powered up the mainboard, I was rather confused by the behavior: I got no picture (see above), but LED2 was blinking, meaning “PWR Fail or Fan Fail”. In addition, the computer seemed to turn itself off and on in a loop. After a while, I realized that it’s just the fan control which thinks my slow-spinning Scythe Mugen 3 Rev. B CPU fan is broken because of its low RPM value. The fan control subsequently spins up the fan to maximum speed, realizes the CPU is cool enough, spins down the fan, realizes the fan speed is too low, spins up the fan, etc.

Neither in the BIOS nor in the IPMI web interface did I find any options for the fan thresholds. Luckily, you can actually introspect and configure them using IPMI:

# apt-get install freeipmi-tools
# ipmi-sensors-config --filename=ipmi-sensors.config --checkout

In the human-readable text file ipmi-sensors.config you can now introspect the current configuration. You can see that FAN1 and FAN2 have sections in that file:

Section 607_FAN1
 Enable_All_Event_Messages Yes
 Enable_Scanning_On_This_Sensor Yes
 Enable_Assertion_Event_Lower_Critical_Going_Low Yes
 Enable_Assertion_Event_Lower_Non_Recoverable_Going_Low Yes
 Enable_Assertion_Event_Upper_Critical_Going_High Yes
 Enable_Assertion_Event_Upper_Non_Recoverable_Going_High Yes
 Enable_Deassertion_Event_Lower_Critical_Going_Low Yes
 Enable_Deassertion_Event_Lower_Non_Recoverable_Going_Low Yes
 Enable_Deassertion_Event_Upper_Critical_Going_High Yes
 Enable_Deassertion_Event_Upper_Non_Recoverable_Going_High Yes
 Lower_Non_Critical_Threshold 700.000000
 Lower_Critical_Threshold 500.000000
 Lower_Non_Recoverable_Threshold 300.000000
 Upper_Non_Critical_Threshold 25300.000000
 Upper_Critical_Threshold 25400.000000
 Upper_Non_Recoverable_Threshold 25500.000000
 Positive_Going_Threshold_Hysteresis 100.000000
 Negative_Going_Threshold_Hysteresis 100.000000
EndSection

When running ipmi-sensors, you can see the current temperatures, voltages and fan readings. In my case, the fan spins with 700 RPM during normal operation, which was exactly the Lower_Non_Critical_Threshold in the default IPMI config. Hence, I modified my config file as illustrated by the following diff:

--- ipmi-sensors.config	2015-11-13 11:53:00.940595043 +0100
+++ ipmi-sensors-fixed.config	2015-11-13 11:54:49.955641295 +0100
@@ -206,11 +206,11 @@
 Enable_Deassertion_Event_Upper_Non_Recoverable_Going_High Yes
- Lower_Non_Critical_Threshold 700.000000
+ Lower_Non_Critical_Threshold 400.000000
- Lower_Critical_Threshold 500.000000
+ Lower_Critical_Threshold 200.000000
- Lower_Non_Recoverable_Threshold 300.000000
+ Lower_Non_Recoverable_Threshold 0.000000
 Upper_Non_Critical_Threshold 25300.000000

You can install the new configuration using the --commit flag:

# ipmi-sensors-config --filename=ipmi-sensors-fixed.config --commit

You might need to shut down your computer and disconnect power for this change to take effect, since the BMC is running even when the mainboard is powered off.

S/PDIF output

The S/PDIF pin header on the mainboard just doesn’t work at all. It does not work in Windows 7 (for which the board was made), and it doesn’t work in Linux. Neither the digital nor the analog part of an S/PDIF port works. When introspecting the Intel HDA setup of the board, the S/PDIF output is not even hooked up correctly. Even after fixing that, it doesn’t work.

Of course, I’ve contacted the Supermicro support. After making clear to them what my use-case is, they ordered (!) an S/PDIF header and tested the analog part of it. Their technical support claims that their port is working, but they never replied to my question with which operating system they tested that, despite me asking multiple times.

It’s pretty disappointing to see that the support is unable to help here or at least confirm that it’s broken.

To address the issue, I’ve bought an ASUS Xonar DX sound card. It works out of the box on Linux, and its S/PDIF port works. The S/PDIF port is shared with the Line-in/Mic-in jack, but a suitable adapter is shipped with the card.

Wake-on-LAN

I haven’t gotten around to using Wake-on-LAN or Suspend-to-RAM yet. I will amend this section when I get around to it.

Conclusion

It’s clear that this mainboard is not for consumers. This begins with the awkward graphics and fan control setup and culminates in the apparently entirely untested S/PDIF output.

That said, once you get it working, it works reliably, and it seems like the only reasonable option with two onboard DisplayPort outputs.