Gigabyte MZ73-LM2

Gigabyte MZ73-LM2 (Rev. 3.x) – Dual EPYC 9005 Platform with PCIe Gen5 M.2 and 6400 MT/s Memory Support

The Gigabyte MZ73-LM2 (Rev. 3.x) stands as a pinnacle of dual-socket server engineering, explicitly updated to handle the extreme throughput of AMD EPYC 9005 “Turin” processors. Unlike typical server boards that compromise on onboard storage speeds, this E-ATX platform fully embraces the PCIe 5.0 ecosystem, delivering Gen5 speeds not just to expansion slots, but directly to the M.2 interface. It is the definitive choice for HPC clusters and AI workstations requiring maximum bandwidth from CPU to storage.

Unleashing EPYC 9005 Performance

Designed for the next era of computing, the board supports dual processors with a massive cTDP headroom of 500W. This allows it to drive the most powerful 128-core EPYC 9005 SKUs without throttling. Crucially, the memory architecture has been validated for higher frequencies: with 24 DIMM slots, the platform supports DDR5 ECC RDIMM/3DS RDIMM memory at speeds up to 6400 MT/s (with EPYC 9005), providing significantly lower latency for memory-bound scientific calculations compared to previous generations.

Native PCIe Gen5 Storage Architecture

The MZ73-LM2 distinguishes itself with a cutting-edge storage topology that mixes next-gen performance with legacy compatibility:

• Ultra-Fast Boot: It features a dedicated M.2 slot running at PCIe Gen5 x4. This allows for the installation of the absolute fastest NVMe boot drives or caching accelerators directly on the motherboard.
• Flexible Connectivity: The board utilizes high-density headers to manage drives. It includes MCIO connectors for Gen5 NVMe devices and a specific SlimSAS 4i connector dedicated to SATA. A breakout cable (SlimSAS to 4x SATA) is included, ensuring out-of-the-box support for standard hard drives.

Expansion and Networking

To support heavy computational loads, the board offers four PCIe Gen5 x16 slots, providing unhindered bandwidth for multi-GPU setups or 400GbE network cards. Native networking is handled by the Broadcom BCM57416 controller, providing dual 10GBase-T (10GbE) ports. This integrated high-speed networking frees up the PCIe slots for compute accelerators, optimizing the system’s expansion potential.

Enterprise Management

Reliability is ensured through the ASPEED AST2600 BMC, which provides secure, out-of-band management via IPMI 2.0 and KVM-over-LAN. This allows administrators to monitor the health of the 500W CPUs and high-speed memory remotely, ensuring 24/7 uptime in data center environments.

Technical Specifications Summary

• Processor Support: Dual AMD EPYC 9005/9004 (Socket SP5) / 500W cTDP
• Memory Speed: Up to 6400 MT/s (EPYC 9005) / 4800 MT/s (EPYC 9004)
• Expansion Slots: 4x PCIe Gen5 x16
• Onboard Storage: 1x M.2 PCIe Gen5 x4, MCIO (Gen5), 1x SlimSAS (SATA)
• Networking: 2x 10GbE (Broadcom BCM57416) + Mgmt LAN
• Management: ASPEED AST2600 BMC
• Form Factor: E-ATX (305W x 267D mm)