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X99 on mITX: ASRock X99E-itx/ac
- Thread starter Phuncz
- Start date
Darn, that's too bad. Thanks for checking!
If anybody is interested, I have finally got ESXi 6.0 working after a few too many hours of trial and error but mostly trusty Google and all those that have been down this path with other boards before me.
I picked ESXi 6.0 over 5.5 because 6.0 has a lot of new features including much more solid UEFI support and especially UEFI boot support from my Samsung SM951 in the M.2 slot. As it turns out, it was this UEFI support that slowed me down the most as I couldn't work out why the Host couldn't see any USB devices despite finding the USB controllers without any trouble.
I am afraid I haven't been very scientific and haven't had time to go back and try different combinations of settings but I can assure you that these settings work very well with more than acceptable benchmarking scores coming out of the clients that I am gradually bringing to life on my XEON E5-2676 V3 workhorse.
First BIOS settings where all the usual suspects need to be enabled/disabled:-
The ones that took me the longest to work out were in the Advanced\USB Configuration
After that the most helpful site I used was this one which taught me things about ESXi which I would never have learnt anywhere else. In particular, the following articles in no particular order:=
This got me started by explaining why I couldn't see any NIC's on my configuration
This selection of available ESXI packages let me pick and choose "missing" drivers in VIB file format.
And then this fabulous Customizer was simply icing on the cake to packaging it all together.
Full build details and links to my customised ISO installer will be in my next post.
Needless to say, all care no responsibility is all I can offer for this science project. I have no doubt that some of you will be much cleverer than me when it comes to ESXI but the overall good news is that it works!
I picked ESXi 6.0 over 5.5 because 6.0 has a lot of new features including much more solid UEFI support and especially UEFI boot support from my Samsung SM951 in the M.2 slot. As it turns out, it was this UEFI support that slowed me down the most as I couldn't work out why the Host couldn't see any USB devices despite finding the USB controllers without any trouble.
I am afraid I haven't been very scientific and haven't had time to go back and try different combinations of settings but I can assure you that these settings work very well with more than acceptable benchmarking scores coming out of the clients that I am gradually bringing to life on my XEON E5-2676 V3 workhorse.
First BIOS settings where all the usual suspects need to be enabled/disabled:-
- Advanced\CPU Configuration\Intel Virt. Tech. ENABLED
- Advanced\Chipset Configuration\VT-d ENABLED
- Boot Option UEFI BIOS
- Fast Boot DISABLED
- Boot\CSM DISABLED
The ones that took me the longest to work out were in the Advanced\USB Configuration
- Intel USB 3.0 Mode Auto
- Legacy USB support UEFI Setup Only
- Legacy USB 3 Support ENABLED
After that the most helpful site I used was this one which taught me things about ESXi which I would never have learnt anywhere else. In particular, the following articles in no particular order:=
This got me started by explaining why I couldn't see any NIC's on my configuration
This selection of available ESXI packages let me pick and choose "missing" drivers in VIB file format.
And then this fabulous Customizer was simply icing on the cake to packaging it all together.
Full build details and links to my customised ISO installer will be in my next post.
Needless to say, all care no responsibility is all I can offer for this science project. I have no doubt that some of you will be much cleverer than me when it comes to ESXI but the overall good news is that it works!
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Phuncz
2[H]4U
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- Apr 12, 2009
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- 2,630
Awesome work, this is a nice find and interesting increase for home lab efficiency.
As per my previous post, I have created a customized ESXi 6.0 build (VMKernel Release Build 3380124) for the X99E-itx/ac which includes support for both the I211-AT and I218V on-board NIC's, the NMVe M.2 slot, the EXSi Embedded Host Client and the latest Intel CPU microcode updates.
For those of you who might like to try out ESXi, my customized bootable ISO installer can be downloaded from here. For those that prefer to use a bootable USB, I use UNetbootin which can be downloaded from here
ESXi seems to find all the available installed devices and has pass through support (if required) for your Graphics card, USB controllers and devices, HD audio device, M.2 controller, on-board WiFi and both Gigabit Ethernet ports. So far I haven't tested all of these but can confirm that the pass through of my Intel AC 7260 WiFi card works fine in my Windows 10 Pro Client.
I am relatively new to ESXi and so would welcome any feedback in the form of suggestions, user experiences and suggested improvements.
For me at least, this SFX build has opened a whole new world in terms of the Server based demos I can now perform from my "little carry-on box". It is truly amazing!
Needless to say, I am very grateful for all the contributions that everybody has made to this thread. Only 1 month ago, I didn't think that a truly portable XEON Server was possible.
For those of you who might like to try out ESXi, my customized bootable ISO installer can be downloaded from here. For those that prefer to use a bootable USB, I use UNetbootin which can be downloaded from here
ESXi seems to find all the available installed devices and has pass through support (if required) for your Graphics card, USB controllers and devices, HD audio device, M.2 controller, on-board WiFi and both Gigabit Ethernet ports. So far I haven't tested all of these but can confirm that the pass through of my Intel AC 7260 WiFi card works fine in my Windows 10 Pro Client.
I am relatively new to ESXi and so would welcome any feedback in the form of suggestions, user experiences and suggested improvements.
For me at least, this SFX build has opened a whole new world in terms of the Server based demos I can now perform from my "little carry-on box". It is truly amazing!
Needless to say, I am very grateful for all the contributions that everybody has made to this thread. Only 1 month ago, I didn't think that a truly portable XEON Server was possible.
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Phuncz
2[H]4U
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- 2,630
Sometimes hosting LAN-parties, I can embrace the desire for a portable server. Thanks again for the write-up and offering the ISO for everyone !
Can you post a basic step by step on your process to getting Yosemite running and/or the utilities you used? Unibeast 5 or 6, or neither? The kexts used and tools used to inject them?
I've been following X99 guides on tonymacx86 including one where the user had a 2676V3, but I've been stuck at the initial installer boot process.
I can do this on one SSD, right? I have a 1TB SSD partitioned 240GB for OS X and the rest for Windows.
Thanks a ton.
Hi guys, I' ve just received a new sample of this board as replacement for the one which gave me the infamous whea logger event 17 error.
Now this motherboard won't boot at all! I've just installed it in the same exactly pc in which the old one was seated in with no luck.
Sometimes I can enter in the bios but can't do anything, like trying to update the bios which I presumed corrupted.
There is something I can do or do I need another RMA?
If this can help the motherboard give me 5 beeps and a black screen.
What ca I do?
Now this motherboard won't boot at all! I've just installed it in the same exactly pc in which the old one was seated in with no luck.
Sometimes I can enter in the bios but can't do anything, like trying to update the bios which I presumed corrupted.
There is something I can do or do I need another RMA?
If this can help the motherboard give me 5 beeps and a black screen.
What ca I do?
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Contact ASRock - ask them what 5 beeps means. It may be the CPU is actually the problem...
Nox
It's quite bad in my experience and the bluetooth module is the worst. I've replaced it with a asus usb ac56 which is pretty good.
zachinthebox101
n00b
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- Feb 26, 2016
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Hey this is my first hardforum post so I apologize if I am messing anything up. I am having some issues with posting and was hoping I could get some advice from you guys. Also, apologies because I can't paste links yet while I am still a fresh new member.
Here is my parts list: Intel Core i7-5820K, EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti - System Build - PCPartPicker. I also have the adapter bracket for the h75 and have everything all installed. When everything is all connected and good to go, I get no beeps from my motherboard speaker, but also no post. I have a sticker on the chipset that says p 1.2 which led me to believe that my bios didn't support my ram.
I went to the compatibility specs sheet for the motherboard and purchased this ram from amazon: amazon.com/gp/product/B00MMLUYPQ. I hoped it would solve my problems, but alas that didn't :/ I stripped my parts down and began to rebuild.
With nothing but the CPU, I get three beeps. Then with the CPU and a stick of ram I get ten beeps. Then, if I add the GPU in, I get five beeps. But in all instances, I get no video out the displayport despite fans spinning and pumps going. I also tried with my friend's evga gtx 780 but still to no avail. At this point, I'm thinking the CPU or the motherboard may be the issue, but still feel it is somehow tied to the bios version.
Do you have any advice on how to proceed? Any help would be super appreciated.
Thanks so much.
Here is my parts list: Intel Core i7-5820K, EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti - System Build - PCPartPicker. I also have the adapter bracket for the h75 and have everything all installed. When everything is all connected and good to go, I get no beeps from my motherboard speaker, but also no post. I have a sticker on the chipset that says p 1.2 which led me to believe that my bios didn't support my ram.
I went to the compatibility specs sheet for the motherboard and purchased this ram from amazon: amazon.com/gp/product/B00MMLUYPQ. I hoped it would solve my problems, but alas that didn't :/ I stripped my parts down and began to rebuild.
With nothing but the CPU, I get three beeps. Then with the CPU and a stick of ram I get ten beeps. Then, if I add the GPU in, I get five beeps. But in all instances, I get no video out the displayport despite fans spinning and pumps going. I also tried with my friend's evga gtx 780 but still to no avail. At this point, I'm thinking the CPU or the motherboard may be the issue, but still feel it is somehow tied to the bios version.
Do you have any advice on how to proceed? Any help would be super appreciated.
Thanks so much.
I have a very similar system - same CPU and RAM, similar GPU and SSDs. So I can confirm that the RAM works with the board; BUT you need firmware version P1.40 or P1.50. My board also shipped with P1.20, so I too got a 4GB stick to upgrade the firmware. It might have even been the exact same part you linked to at Amazon. Does your board boot with the 4GB stick? If not I'd contact ASRock for more info about what the beeps mean, and whether you need to RMA the board. (Or, one more thought: You've checked it's not the monitor, right?)
zachinthebox101
n00b
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- Feb 26, 2016
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I have narrowed it down to PSU, CPU, or Mobo. I tried my friends working evga 780 and that produces the exact same result in my machine. Also, my 980 ti hybrid posts in his machine. I did think it was the ram, so I got a 4gb stick directly from AsRock's memory compatibility list for this motherboard. If I use my 16gb sticks, I get no beeps and no post. If I use my 4gb stick, I just get 5 beeps but still no signal to the monitor despite all my lights and fans and pumps working.
My monitor works definitely! I've had it plugged into my laptop and I've gotten the same result on other monitors with different cables also. My board gives no beeps and no post with any combo of 16gb sticks. With the 4gb stick, I get 5 beeps but no post (no video out to display). I sent in an email to AsRock and jet.com where I bought the board. Jet wanted me to initiate a refund immediately but that means I'd have to wait for my package to get all the way there and they have up to 10 days to process my return and then a few more days before it gets back to my credit card and I can reorder (not really wanting to do that). My order was fulfilled by newegg so I want to reach out to them today. I'm also hoping AsRock gets back to me, though I've had issues with their support as when I emailed them before, their "support" was just a bunch of different segments and links copied from various places across the internet.
Thanks again to both of you for getting back to me so fast.
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That's awesome. But it's something that Asrock should have done themselves. HP do. Indeed, now you've done it, you might ask Asrock to list it and host it.
zachinthebox101
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- Feb 26, 2016
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Just got back from Best Buy. I'm not at home in Los Angeles and being away at an unfamiliar college town in Indiana makes it a bit tough. Best Buy wanted me to pay $100 to test out my CPU on their bench so I said thanks but no thanks. Hopefully I'll hear back from AsRock before Monday in which case I will probably just initiate a return at jet.com. I'm pretty bummed but what can you do!
zachinthebox101
n00b
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- Feb 26, 2016
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Yeah it was pretty disappointing to say the least, but they definitely have that Geek Squad business model down. $100 for a one-time consultation, $350 for a 3 year membership . . . Anyway, I did short the CMOS and let the battery drain overnight last night to no avail :/ So pretty much at this point I'm waiting to hear back from AsRock to see what the next step is.
Normally, I would agree with you. The trouble is that ASRock would have to pay for the pleasure of "certifying" this board and then need to take responsibility for all the non-server components that exist on this board which clearly they are unable to do. Personally I am just grateful that ASRock had the presence of mind to build this board for people like me who need to have access to a personal mobile server.
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Sorry for the delay getting back to you on this. Like many others, I found out the hard way that you have to spend a fistful of dollars for a high end nVidia board that will support pass through. Fortunately AMD is a lot more generous and I was able to get it working on an R9 360 without any problems on a Win 10 64bit Guest.
And how much would that cost? Not a lot relatively speaking.
Actually, it would be quite a lot. On normal server grade boards they only use server grade components that all have almost defacto VMWare support. By contrast our board has a host of unsupported consumer grade components. You can't expect ASRock to support and provide sever grade drivers for all of them.
Hermit2001
Weaksauce
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- Aug 25, 2015
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wreckem and anyone who has tried it: what was your experience with the Asetek 545LC? Any temps?
Don't know why I'm obsessed with this cooler at the mo, but I'm getting the itch to try it (just for shiggles) on an overclocked 5820K in my M1.
Don't know why I'm obsessed with this cooler at the mo, but I'm getting the itch to try it (just for shiggles) on an overclocked 5820K in my M1.
Does anyone use this board with a pci express riser/extender? I've found the "whea logger Event 17" issue is probably due to the way the motherboard react to the riser.
I can elaborate:
1) the motherboard works well with the video card put in directly,
2) the video card doesn't show errors when hosted on another motherbord, even using the pci express riser cable.
In orer to confirm this thesis i'd need some feedback.
P.S. I've a Deepcool Tristellar case, so I need the riser!
I can elaborate:
1) the motherboard works well with the video card put in directly,
2) the video card doesn't show errors when hosted on another motherbord, even using the pci express riser cable.
In orer to confirm this thesis i'd need some feedback.
P.S. I've a Deepcool Tristellar case, so I need the riser!
So, how exactly does this NH-C14 fit?
NH-C14 X99
I have the narrow ILM kit but the brackets still don't fit (last pic). The brackets for the stock cooler fit (3rd pic) I suppose but that means I can only put the cooler one way, right?
NH-C14 X99
I have the narrow ILM kit but the brackets still don't fit (last pic). The brackets for the stock cooler fit (3rd pic) I suppose but that means I can only put the cooler one way, right?
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Here's some pics from when I installed mine...
That doesn't look like the correct bracket in the last pic either?
Huh, WTF then. I got the NM-I2011 mounting kit from Noctua and those were the brackets included. Ah man, if I have to wait another week to get some stupid brackets I will be seriously bummed. You went watercooled right?..Any chance you have the correct brackets still handy?
Hmmm definitely don't seem to be the right ones
Yep switched to WCing (installing the Bitspower mono block today - hurrah!) but am holding onto the brackets, for when/if I move back to air.
Was worth a shot! I was feeling kinda discouraged but I ate some delicious tacos and now I think I will continue the build and use the horrible stock cooler until Noctua can send me the correct brackets.
inchikiboze
Weaksauce
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- Jul 23, 2014
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- 69
This is the mounting kit that I used to mount my C14 on the board. I also found that using an ultra-low-profile screwdriver, and using 10 mm M4 screws instead of the Dynatron screws, made the installation much easier, but if you are handy and patient, you should be able to get away with a regular driver and the included screws.
Well I had quite a time with this computer already. For anyone searching this thread later: Samsung 950 Pro is not recognized by Windows 7 so you will need to install on another disk and then clone the files over. The alternative is to try and sideload some drivers for it but honestly just doing the install then cloning is just easier.
As an aside this Dynatron stock cooler is absurdly loud under load. I can't wait for Noctua to send me the correct parts because this is as loud as the server room at work.
As an aside this Dynatron stock cooler is absurdly loud under load. I can't wait for Noctua to send me the correct parts because this is as loud as the server room at work.
hi all, what program are people using to monitor/control fan speeds?
I have speedfan and i'm sure it was working a while back, but at some point recently it's changed to only monitoring fan speeds. Not entirely sure what's changed to cause it, or did I dream it was working before? Am on 1.5 bios
Nox
I have speedfan and i'm sure it was working a while back, but at some point recently it's changed to only monitoring fan speeds. Not entirely sure what's changed to cause it, or did I dream it was working before? Am on 1.5 bios
Nox
Speedfan has only worked sporadically for me as well. For the last few months, it's only been able to monitor fan speeds.
I've also noticed the boot options seem to like to change themselves. I've changed it to the high res splash screen, and it keeps changing itself back.
edit - updated BIOS to 1.50, and the high res splash screen option appears to be gone, along with a couple of other options. Speedfan still doesn't work.
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