The Supermicro SSG-540P-E1CTR36H is a 4U, double-sided storage server with 36 hot-swap 3.5-inch SAS/SATA bays and a single-socket 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable platform. StorageReview’s December 11, 2021 evaluation found it suited to capacity-focused shared storage, but its performance figures describe one specific TrueNAS CORE build—not a guaranteed result for other drives, layouts, or workloads.
What the SSG-540P-E1CTR36H is
This is an X12-era rack server built around Supermicro’s Super X12SPI-TF motherboard. Its 36 front-and-rear bays are arranged as 24 at the front and 12 at the rear, allowing drive access from both sides. The design is intended for deployments that need substantial drive capacity in one chassis; the rear bays also mean rack placement and service access deserve attention.
StorageReview’s Brian Beeler described it as “Supermicro’s latest mainstream storage server that features 36 3.5″ hard drive bays and Intel’s latest 3rd Gen Scalable CPU” in the review published December 11, 2021. The word “latest” applies to that 2021 review, not to the product’s position in today’s portfolio. Read the StorageReview evaluation.
Core platform and connectivity
- One LGA-4189 socket supporting 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors up to 270 W TDP.
- Eight DDR4 DIMM slots; StorageReview lists support for up to 2 TB of DRAM, or up to 3 TB with supported persistent-memory configurations.
- Two Intel X550 10GbE Base-T ports, plus a dedicated IPMI management port. 10GbE describes each port’s advertised link rate; actual application throughput depends on the full network and storage path.
- Four low-profile PCIe 4.0 slots: two x16 and two x8.
- Onboard SATA via the C621A chipset, an M.2 boot location, internal fixed-drive options, and optional rear two-bay 2.5-inch NVMe/SATA support, as described in the review.
Supermicro’s X12 family materials describe family-level single- or dual-processor options, but the reviewed SSG-540P-E1CTR36H configuration is single-socket. Do not assume capabilities listed for the broader family apply to this specific SKU. Supermicro storage systems.
The Tool Desk
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- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Drive controller and configuration differences
The H model evaluated by StorageReview uses a Broadcom 3908 SAS controller. The review distinguishes it from the SSG-540P-E1CTR36L, which uses a Broadcom 3808 configured in IT mode. These are not interchangeable labels: verify the exact model suffix, controller, backplane, and drive support when evaluating a listing or configuring a system. SAS and SATA are drive-interface types; the fact that a chassis has 36 bays does not by itself establish which drives or controller arrangement a particular unit includes.
The chassis is also described with optional rear 2.5-inch NVMe/SATA bays. Treat that as an option to confirm on the individual system, not an assured feature of every unit.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
How StorageReview tested it
The December 2021 review populated the system with 32 Western Digital Ultrastar DC HC520 12 TB hard drives, leaving four bays unused. It installed TrueNAS CORE, configured RAIDZ3, and used both onboard 10GbE ports while testing SMB and iSCSI shared storage. The resulting build and workload are essential context: the numbers are not a direct prediction for a differently populated server or a different storage stack.
- The reviewer created four SMB shares and four 25 GB iSCSI LUNs.
- The stated filesystem configuration enabled LZ4 compression and disabled deduplication.
- RAIDZ3 was selected by the reviewer to tolerate three drive failures in that layout; it is the test choice, not a universal configuration prescription.
The review’s 32 drives total 384 TB of nominal drive capacity before array protection, filesystem overhead, and formatting. That arithmetic is not usable capacity. The review does not establish a single transferable usable-capacity figure for other deployments, and RAIDZ3 overhead and filesystem choices affect what remains available to applications. StorageReview’s test setup and results.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
What the benchmark results mean
In the review’s 128K sequential iSCSI test, the system delivered 2.32 GB/s read and 2.31 GB/s write. Those are reported results for the specific 32-drive TrueNAS CORE/RAIDZ3 test configuration, its network path, and that sequential workload. They should not be treated as expected performance for a different drive count, filesystem, controller, network, or application.
StorageReview also reported separate results for 4K random and 8K sequential workloads. Those tests address different access patterns, so a buyer should compare the workload that resembles the intended service rather than choosing a server from the largest sequential-throughput figure alone. The review’s SMB and iSCSI results are useful reference points, but they do not establish production latency, power consumption, or performance for every protocol and deployment.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Where this server may fit
StorageReview framed the platform for growing capacity needs such as backup repositories, media files, and unstructured data. That positioning makes sense when the deployment values many 3.5-inch bays and shared storage, but the right fit depends on the workload and operating constraints.
- Capacity and redundancy: decide how many bays are needed now, what expansion means in practice, and what failure protection and recovery process the data requires. Do not equate raw drive capacity with usable storage.
- Performance profile: distinguish large sequential transfers from random I/O, latency-sensitive access, and concurrent users. Match benchmark protocol and block size to the actual service.
- Network path: the system has two onboard 10GbE Base-T ports, but the switches, client links, cabling, teaming or multipath configuration, and workload determine end-to-end behavior.
- Physical deployment: check rack depth, weight, power delivery, cooling, and access to the chassis front and rear. These specifications and measurements are not established by the cited review.
Comparing it with newer Supermicro 36-bay systems
Supermicro’s current storage portfolio includes later X13 4U front-loading/double-sided systems advertised with up to 36 3.5-inch SAS/SATA bays, optional NVMe hybrid support, and 4th/5th Gen Xeon Scalable processor support. The SSG-540P-E1CTR36H remains a specific 3rd Gen Xeon X12-era design; an X13 system should not be assumed to be a drop-in replacement. Compare model-specific documentation, backplanes, service access, and supported configurations. Supermicro’s storage portfolio.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
| Comparison point | SSG-540P-E1CTR36H reviewed configuration | Later X13 4U portfolio category |
|---|---|---|
| Processor generation | Single 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable socket | 4th/5th Gen Xeon Scalable support advertised at category level |
| Drive layout | 24 front plus 12 rear 3.5-inch hot-swap SAS/SATA bays | Up to 36 3.5-inch SAS/SATA bays; exact model layout varies |
| NVMe | Optional rear two-bay 2.5-inch NVMe/SATA support described in review | Optional NVMe hybrid support advertised at category level |
| Exact configuration detail | Review specifies the single-socket H model and Broadcom 3908 controller | Not stated for a single specific X13 model in the portfolio listing |
For a meaningful comparison, also check single- versus dual-socket support, memory and PCIe requirements, SAS/SATA versus NVMe needs, controller mode, drive replacement workflow, and the network cards needed for the target workload. The broad portfolio description is not a substitute for the datasheet of the specific system under consideration.
What to verify before sourcing one
The review is a historical product evaluation, not a current listing or quote. It does not establish present stock, street pricing, warranty terms, power draw, or acoustic output. Those are important ownership questions that require confirmation from a current seller or integrator.
- Confirm the exact suffix (H or L), controller model and mode, backplane, and included drive trays.
- Verify the supported drives and whether the quoted unit includes any optional rear 2.5-inch bays or other internal storage options.
- Request a current written quote that identifies CPU, memory, controller, firmware/support coverage, and any included drives.
- Check rack dimensions, weight, power requirements, cooling, service parts, and warranty/support terms against the intended site.
- For a used or reseller unit, verify condition, drive hours and health where applicable, and the ability to obtain compatible replacement parts.
The WD Ultrastar DC HC520 12 TB drives in the 2021 test are a historical configuration example, not a current drive recommendation. For any replacement or new purchase, verify interface, capacity, workload rating, warranty, controller/backplane compatibility, and current inventory.
Quick Recap
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