ASRock EC266D2I-2T/AQC Server Motherboard — Intel C266 Chipset, LGA-1700, Mini ITX

Meet the ASRock EC266D2I-2T/AQC, a compact, purpose-built server motherboard designed to deliver enterprise-class performance in tight spaces. Built around the Intel C266 chipset and the LGA-1700 socket, this mini-ITX board is tailored for compact servers, edge deployments, NAS, and small virtualization nodes. It supports the Intel Xeon E-2400 series processors as well as Intel Pentium Gold G7400/G7400T, offering a flexible balance between heavy-duty computing and efficiency. With two DDR5 ECC UDIMM memory slots in a 1DPC configuration, you can achieve a stable, error-correcting memory setup that safeguards data integrity while keeping costs and power consumption in check. The board’s thoughtful layout includes a single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for high-bandwidth add‑ins, plus robust storage and networking options that scale with demand. Whether you’re building a compact home lab, a dedicated storage appliance, or a small-scale virtualization node, this ASRock board provides solid reliability, modern I/O, and easy expansion in a tiny footprint.

• Ultra-compact, enterprise-ready design. The EC266D2I-2T/AQC packs server-grade capability into a mini-ITX footprint (6.7" x 6.7"), making it ideal for compact chassis, small data centers, and edge installations. Its LGA 1700 socket supports Intel Xeon E-2400-series processors and Intel Pentium Gold G7400/G7400T, delivering scalable performance for virtualization, file services, containers, and lightweight databases. The board’s C266 chipset brings dependable I/O, stable memory interfaces, and a foundation for dense deployments, ensuring your micro data center or home lab runs smoothly 24/7.
• DDR5 ECC memory for data integrity and performance. This motherboard provides 2 DIMM slots for DDR5 ECC UDIMM modules, configured at 1DPC, delivering robust memory reliability essential for servers and virtualization hosts. ECC memory reduces the risk of silent data corruption, helping ensure uptime for NAS, VM workloads, and database services. The DDR5 platform also brings higher bandwidth and improved energy efficiency compared with older generations, benefiting latency-sensitive applications and multi‑VM environments while keeping power draw reasonable in compact servers.
• Flexible storage architecture with extensive I/O. A single M.2 PCIe4.0 x4 slot enables blazing-fast boot and application storage, while support for up to eight SATA 6Gb/s ports covers bulk storage, logs, and backups. For external expansion, two OCuLink connectors provide PCIe4.0 x4 or SATA 6Gb/s (and one offers PCIe3.0 x4 or SATA 6Gb/s), enabling external NVMe or SATA arrays and scalable storage solutions without sacrificing internal space. This combination makes the board highly adaptable for NAS appliances, hyper-converged nodes, and edge servers where both capacity and speed matter.
• High-performance networking built in. The board includes two 10GbE ports delivered by Marvell controllers, delivering fast, low-latency uplinks suitable for virtualization, NAS storage networking, and fast data transfers between nodes. Dual 10GbE reduces the need for extra NICs in dense setups, supports link aggregation, and helps ensure consistent throughput for crowded workloads, remote replication, and multi-node clusters.
• Expandable yet governed by a compact form factor. In addition to the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for GPUs, accelerators, or high-bandwidth add-in cards, the EC266D2I-2T/AQC’s OCuLink interfaces and M.2/ SATA options let you tailor your I/O stack to your workload. The Mini ITX design keeps chassis choices broad—from compact NAS enclosures to silent office servers—without sacrificing critical server features such as ECC memory, dual LAN, and modern PCIe interfaces. This board is built for flexibility, reliability, and efficient scaling in small footprints.

Technical Details of ASRock EC266D2I-2T/AQC

• Form Factor: Mini-ITX (6.7" x 6.7")
• CPU Socket: LGA 1700
• Chipset: Intel C266
• Processor Support: Intel Xeon E-2400 series and Intel Pentium Gold G7400/G7400T
• Memory: 2 x DDR5 ECC UDIMM slots; 1DPC configuration
• Memory Type: DDR5 ECC UDIMM
• Expansion Slots: 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16
• Storage Interfaces: 1 x M.2 (PCIe 4.0 x4)
• SATA Ports: Up to 8 SATA 6Gb/s
• OCuLink Interfaces: 2 x OCuLink connectors (PCIe 4.0 x4 or SATA 6Gb/s; PCIe 3.0 x4 or SATA 6Gb/s)
• Networking: 2 x 10GbE (Marvell)

How to install ASRock EC266D2I-2T/AQC

Installing the ASRock EC266D2I-2T/AQC in a compatible mini-ITX chassis is straightforward and designed for reliability in compact servers. Begin by selecting a supported processor from the Intel Xeon E-2400 series or Intel Pentium Gold G7400/G7400T and ensuring it is properly seated in the LGA 1700 socket. Apply an appropriate cooling solution sized for your chassis and the expected workload, then secure the heatsink. Install the DDR5 ECC UDIMM memory modules in the two DIMM slots in a 1DPC configuration, ensuring the modules are fully seated and aligned with the slot notch. If you plan to use fast boot drives or primary applications, insert an M.2 PCIe4.0 x4 drive into the M.2 slot and secure it with a screw. Connect storage devices to the internal SATA headers if you intend to deploy a larger storage pool or archival data store, up to eight drives can be attached depending on chassis and cabling. For external expansion, use the two OCuLink connectors to link NVMe or SATA storage enclosures, selecting PCIe4.0 x4 or PCIe3.0 x4 or SATA 6Gb/s configurations as needed. Attach the 10GbE network cables to the Marvell controllers and connect them to a switch or router to enable fast network access for virtualization hosts, NAS appliances, or edge workloads. If you plan to add PCIe expansion cards, insert them into the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and secure them per the card’s installation guidelines, ensuring compatibility with the motherboard and BIOS. Power up and enter the BIOS to configure boot order, memory timing, and ECC settings, then install your preferred operating system—whether Linux, Windows Server, Proxmox, VMware, or Hyper-V. Finally, verify system temperatures and cooling in your chosen chassis, especially in dense micro data center environments, and ensure monitoring and health checks are active for sustained performance.

Frequently asked questions

• What processors are supported? The ASRock EC266D2I-2T/AQC supports Intel Xeon E-2400-series processors and Intel Pentium Gold G7400/G7400T on the LGA 1700 socket.
• How many memory slots are available? It has 2 DDR5 ECC UDIMM slots configured in 1DPC, enabling ECC memory for data integrity with up to two DIMMs.
• What storage options does it offer? The board provides 1 x M.2 PCIe4.0 x4 for primary storage and up to 8 SATA 6Gb/s ports for bulk storage, plus two OCuLink connectors for external expansion (PCIe4.0 x4 or SATA 6Gb/s; PCIe3.0 x4 or SATA 6Gb/s).
• What networking is included? It includes two 10GbE ports by Marvell for fast, reliable network connectivity, suitable for virtualization, NAS, and high-bandwidth workloads.
• What is the form factor? The motherboard is Mini-ITX, measuring 6.7" x 6.7", designed for compact server builds and small form factor chassis.
• Can I add PCIe expansion cards? Yes, there is a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for GPUs or accelerators, and external storage via the OCuLink connectors to expand I/O without sacrificing internal space.