Summary
Highlights
The video introduces the P11SPM-I, a micro ATX LGA 3647 motherboard from Alibaba, costing around 200-210 Euros. It's one of the cheapest options for this socket, tested with an Intel Xeon 6212U 24-core CPU. The reviewer compares it to an OEM LGA 3647 motherboard, noting that the OEM version is often superior despite having fewer memory channels.
The motherboard features an 8-pin CPU power connector, 24-pin main power, and non-standard front panel headers. It has three DDR4 memory slots on each side of the CPU socket, totaling six slots for six-channel memory configuration. Other features include multiple fan headers, PCI Express 3.0 x8, x16, and x4 slots, and an M.2 NVMe slot. The VRM design is basic, and its heatsink is poorly attached, suggesting limited cooling effectiveness. The I/O panel includes a COM port, dedicated LAN for IPMI, four USB 3 ports, two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and a VGA output.
The motherboard presents numerous issues. It has weak PCI Express signals, causing failures with PCIe extenders and even an Nvidia GT 710 GPU. High idle power consumption (over 100W compared to 50W for the OEM board) is a major concern. Secure boot cannot be enabled due to system lock-ups when disabling CSM. The IPMI (ASPEED AST2400) is very limited, lacking fan control and HTML5 remote control, relying instead on legacy Java applications. The CPU power connector's placement obstructs memory module removal. There is only one M.2 slot despite 48 available PCIe lanes on the CPU.
The motherboard supports 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB DDR4 memory sticks at 2933 MHz with no compatibility issues. USB 3, USB 2, and SATA 3 ports function correctly. Smart fan control is limited to automatic mode for 4-pin fans, with no user control in BIOS or IPMI. All PCI Express slots work, and bifurcation is supported (tested with a PCIe x16 to 4x4 card). The M.2 slot is functional but connected to the chipset, not directly to the CPU's PCIe lanes. LAN adapters and basic IPMI functionality (with default 'admin admin' credentials) also work.
Sleep mode does not work. Secure boot remains non-functional, and TPM 2.0 compatibility is unknown. Resizable BAR is unavailable, though 4G decoding is present. 'Restore on power loss' works but lacks BIOS configuration options. The P11SPM-I consumes 4W when off and a staggering 111W idle (compared to 9W off and 48W idle for the OEM board). The VRM temperature reached 75°C under AIDA64 stress tests with a 165W TDP CPU, which is acceptable but not ideal for higher TDP processors. HWMonitor detects no sensors, and Intel Virtualization cannot be disabled in BIOS.
Benchmark results consistently show the P11SPM-I underperforming compared to the OEM RX 621C. For example, Cinebench R23 single-core scores 683 vs. 961, and all CPU cores score 20,940 vs. 21,209. Similar performance gaps are observed in Geekbench 6 and gaming benchmarks (F1 2023, Shadow of the Tomb Raider). The P11SPM-I also consumes more power for worse performance. The reviewer concludes that, in its current state, the motherboard cannot be recommended due to too many issues, including a limited BIOS, restricted IPMI, questionable PCIe signaling, high idle power consumption, and overall underperformance.