GIGABYTE Intros C246-WU4 Motherboard for Xeon E-Series and Core Processors

[btarunr]

GIGABYTE today introduced the C246-WU4, a workstation-grade socket LGA1151 motherboard based on Intel C246 chipset, with support for the recently announced Xeon E-2100 series, in addition to 8th and 9th generation Core processors. With Xeon processors installed, it supports up to 128 GB ECC memory. 9th Generation Core processors let you use up to 128 GB non-ECC memory. 8th generation ones cap out at 64 GB non-ECC. The board also supports many of the vPro enterprise features that the Q370 Express chipset offers.

Built in the standard ATX form-factor, the board draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX, 8-pin EPS, and optional 4-pin ATX, and uses an 8+2 phase VRM to condition power for the CPU. Expansion slots include four PCI-Express 3.0 x16, from which slots 1 and 3 are wired to the CPU, and share an x16 link (x16/NC or x8/x8), while slots 2 and 4 are gen 3.0 x4, and wired to the PCH. There's also a legacy PCI slot driven by a bridge chip. Storage connectivity includes two M.2 PCIe with gen 3.0 x4 wiring, each; and ten SATA 6 Gbps ports, from which eight are driven by the PCH, and two from an ASMedia ASM1061 chip. Network connectivity includes two 1 GbE interfaces, one driven by an Intel i219-V, and the other by i211-AT, with vPro support. USB connectivity includes USB 3.1 gen 2, including type-C rear-panel ports. The onboard audio features a Realtek ALC1220VB, which is EMI shielded, and wired to WIMA capacitors. Expect this board to be priced around $350.



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[kastriot]

IntelAmd

 

[coonbro]

. Expansion slots include four PCI-Express 3.0 x16, from which slots 1 and 3 are wired to the CPU, and share an x16 link (x16/NC or x8/x8),

I thought these workstation chipsets did not support NVidia SLI ? is this something new on this giga board out side of intel specs ? will support amd x-fire up to 3 way ]


kinda figured that was intels plan to stop using xeon chips on the ''gaming '' type boards like it use to be with the z 97's and below ? like with the skylake platform- z370, ect,, no xeon support .


was nice when you gopt a intel say z87 and had most all I- and xeon chips to slap in . I guess intel seen too much of a guy getting a nice gaming board and slapping a cheaper xeon in it over there I-5/i7 chips and put a stop to that ..lol... [ how cheap ]

maybe the 246 will support sli ? the 236 did not

not too clear on it here

expansion options

c236
https://ark.intel.com/products/90594/Intel-C236-Chipset

c246
https://ark.intel.com/products/147326/Intel-C246-Chipset

c236 gaming board slot example
http://www.asrock.com/MB/Intel/Fatal1ty E3V5 Performance GamingOC/index.asp


I just don't see intel helping a guy out on that any.. its intel

 

[Fx]

This is a pretty nice board. I especially like that it didn't skimp on the SATA ports and actually has 10 instead of 8. The dual NICs is really nice as well.

 

[coonbro]

wish tyhis came up when I did my first post above , but like said no NVidia sli [just list x-fire support up to 3 way ]

Multi-Graphics Technology 1. Support for AMD Quad-GPU CrossFire™ and 3-Way/2-Way AMD CrossFire™ technologies


https://www.gigabyte.com/us/Server-Professional-Products/C246-WU4-rev-10#sp

I do like trying to make a gaming type board from the c236 chip set to get a wide cpu selection like it use to be and not stuck with I-5 I-7 only and windows 10 [ these run win-7 with out tricking it in to do so and all's supported under a xeon ]

this c246 is not a good and looks to try to strand you to win 10 / server .

in the end that sli support could be a factor for some , but todays strong cards for me not at all