MSI Launches two C236 Based Workstation Motherboards

[btarunr]

MSI, leading in motherboard design, launches two new motherboards to fully utilize the power of the Intel Xeon E3 v5 series CPUs. The C236A WORKSTATION and C236M WORKSTATION motherboards are engineered to offer the best performance and stability for workstation, entry server and datacenter use, catering to the most demanding heavy-duty computer users.

MSI C236 WORKSTATION motherboards are optimized for professional and industrial use. Advanced PCB design, engineered using industry leading standards and the use of the highest quality components passing the most extreme quality validation, the C236A WORKSTATION and C236M WORKSTATION motherboards guarantee the best in performance and reliability. Designed and optimized for NVIDIA Quadro and AMD FirePro graphics cards multi-GPU setups, equipped with unique Steel Armor and optimal PCI Express slot placement ensure great efficiency and perfect stability for heavy duty computing.



The MSI WORKSTATION motherboards are designed to fully support the latest generation Intel Xeon processors for high performance computing. Utilize all cores & threads and harness the power of Intel Xeon E3 v5 series processors to optimize productivity.

The WORKSTATION motherboards are also equipped with a plethora of smart features, such as unique DDR4 Boost, enhancing the traces and signals of ECC memory to offer a fast and reliable system. The latest storage standards can also be found on the WORKSTATION models. With support for Turbo M.2, Turbo U.2 and SATA Express offering a wide variety of blazing fast solutions. Following the latest and greatest in connectivity, the reversible USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port can be found onboard.* Military Class 4 components, Audio Boost, Intel Gigabit LAN and Click BIOS 5 make top things off to make the C236 WORKSTATION motherboard the perfect multi-tasking powerhouse for demanding productivity applications.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Disparia]

The ATX model is great with it's slot layout and M.2 support (U.2 with adapter). On the other hand MSI went with DOA SATA Express standard on the mATX model? Not a deal breaker as there are plenty of situations where that board would make a respectable workstation, just leaves you asking "Why did you screw this up?".

Spec pages if anyone is interested:

http://www.msi.com/product/motherboard/C236M-WORKSTATION.html
http://www.msi.com/product/motherboard/C236A-WORKSTATION.html

 

[Fx]

What the hell is Turbo M.2 compared to M.2? I can't find anything about it. It seems to be fluff advertising, but in a very misleading way.

 

[cadaveca]

What the hell is Turbo M.2 compared to M.2? I can't find anything about it. It seems to be fluff advertising, but in a very misleading way.

Turbo M.2 is PCIe x4 connection, rather than PCIe x2 or SATA.

 

[Fx]

Turbo M.2 is PCIe x4 connection, rather than PCIe x2 or SATA.

Good to know. I have always seen it just called M.2 including when it does have a PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 connector.

 

[cadaveca]

Good to know. I have always seen it just called M.2 including when it does have a PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 connector.

Yeah, it was more of a thing when Z97 was the main chipset, since M.2 on Z97 did not always have PCIe x4 link, but is still used today to signify the type of connectivity. The high-speed M.2 drives (2500 MB/s) need that PCIe x4 link.

On the other hand MSI went with DOA SATA Express standard on the mATX model? Not a deal breaker as there are plenty of situations where that board would make a respectable workstation, just leaves you asking "Why did you screw this up?".

SATA Express allows for proper USB 3.1 front panels with 100W/ plug charging/power delivery. IT is currently the only way to get that functionality (also requires 5.25 bay box, available from several brands). Keeping in mind the focus on high-speed connectivity, it'd be a serious screw-up (in my books), if they didn't have EVERYTHING.