GIGABYTE MZ31-AR0 (SP3 EPYC) Server Motherboard Review

Setup and Testing Scenario

Our goal with the server and workstation motherboard review is to bring you a wide variety of tests and results which will, hopefully, allow you to make the best choice for your future setup.

Additional Hardware Components

It is not possible to test motherboards without additional hardware, but we also don’t want to test the connected devices. That is a fine line to walk, and we hope we’re hitting the spot. We will use the hardware needed, but we won’t go above that. By keeping it to the basics, we’re eliminating a false of performance originating from another piece of hardware.

We’ll install up to 8 memory modules, a processor with cooling, and storage drives of each type possible. There’s also a GPU installed, but not a flagship. We do need monitor-output, and the GPU is also needed to run some benchmarks.

Changes in Testing Methodology

I hate changing my testing methodology as it makes comparing results to previous reviews more difficult, but it can’t always be avoided. With the new generation of motherboards, we’ve truly entered a new era. SATA is still supported, but it’s a true legacy device now. As such, we’ve moved to a PCIe NVMe card for our operating system.

The same goes for graphics cards. Our old card was BIOS only with no UEFI support. The new generation boards won’t boot with legacy BIOS and as such, we also had to upgrade the GPU. Due to those changes, some previous results seem far lower in comparison. However, I will retest what is possible and update previous reviews as well as new ones with new and better comparable results. That will be done in between my normal reviews and not on a set schedule.

There is one more change and that is the OS. In the past, I’ve used Windows Server 2012 R2, but driver support is very tricky in that aspect. So I’ve moved to Windows 10 instead which makes the whole setup a lot easier.

Hardware Utilized

• CPU: AMD EPYC 7551P
• RAM: Crucial DDR4 2133 MHz (16x 16GB)
• PSU: be quiet! Dark Power Pro 11 1200W
• GPU: ASUS ROG Strix RX570
• Cooler: Noctua NH-U14
• OS Drive: Intel Optane 900p 280GB
• PCIe Drive: Intel Optane 900p 280GB
• M2 Drive: Toshiba OCZ RD400 512GB
• SATA Drive: Toshiba OCZ VX500 512GB SATA3
• USB Drive: SilverStone TS11C with Toshiba OCZ VX500 512GB SATA3

Software Utilized

We use a wide variety of applications to gain a broad spectrum of results for comparing diverse aspects of the system performance. The OS will be Windows 10 Pro, and most should be familiar with the other applications and tools too.

• Windows 2016 Data Center Edition
• AIDA64 Engineer Edition
• Anvil’s Storage Utilities
• Cinebench R11.5
• Cinebench R15.0
• Geekbench 4
• Handbrake
• OCCT
• PerformanceTest 8.0
• SiSoftware Sandra Platinum 2017 SP2
• SPECwpc
• SuperPi Mod 1.9 WP
• wPrime 2.10

External Hardware

There are more components needed such as a switch to connect the network ports which the motherboard has to offer. For this, I’m luckily equipped with a nice D-Link DXS-1210-12TC switch and a full set of CAT7 cables. We’ll also be using a power meter to check on the electricity consumption.