Huananzhi X99-QD4 Review & Guide

HUANANZHI X99-QD4 — old and new revisions

X99‑QD4 is one of Huananzhi’s most popular microATX (mATX) motherboards. The first version appeared in 2021. Since then, a DDR3 variant (Huananzhi X99‑QD3) and a new revision have been released. While not perfect, the model has earned a reputation as a solid budget board.

At present, the QD4 isn’t particularly popular, largely because its price exceeds that of similar competing boards.

Specifications


Huananzhi X99-QD4
Revision
Old rev
New rev
Socket
LGA 2011-3
LGA 2011-3
Chipset
Q87 / Z87 / H87
Q87 / Z87 / H87
Supported Processors
Intel Core i7 (5000, 6000 series, Haswell-E/Broadwell-E)
Intel Xeon E5-1600 v3/v4, E5-2600 v3/v4, E5-4600 v3/v4 (Haswell-EP/Broadwell-EP)
Intel Core i7 (5000, 6000 series, Haswell-E/Broadwell-E)
Intel Xeon E5-1600 v3/v4, E5-2600 v3/v4, E5-4600 v3/v4 (Haswell-EP/Broadwell-EP)
VRM Configuration
3 phase (6 virtual via doublers)
Total MOSFETs: 12 (6 high-side + 6 low-side)
3 phase (6 virtual via doublers)
Total MOSFETs: 12 (6 high-side + 6 low-side)
Maximum Recommended TDP
≤120W (v3 processors)
≤130W (v4 processors)
≤120W (v3 processors)
≤130W (v4 processors)
Supported Memory
4 x DDR4 DIMM (quad-channel) with ECC and non-ECC support
Maximum capacity: 128 GB
4 x DDR4 DIMM (quad-channel) with ECC and non-ECC support
Maximum capacity: 128 GB
Sleep Mode Support
No
No
Expansion Slots
1 x PCI-e x16 (Gen 3.0)
1 x PCI-e x4 (Gen 3.0)
1 x PCI-e x1 (Gen 2.0)
1 x PCI-e x16 (Gen 3.0)
1 x PCI-e x4 (Gen 2.0)
Storage
6 x SATA 3.0
2 x M.2 (NVME, Gen 3.0 x4)
6 x SATA 3.0
3 x M.2 (NVME, Gen 3.0 x4)
Fan Connectors
1 x CPU cooler (4pin)
1 x Case fan (4pin)
2 x Case fan (3pin)
1 x CPU cooler (4pin)
1 x Case fan (4pin)
2 x Case fan (3pin)
PS/2 Ports
2 (mouse + keyboard)
2 (mouse + keyboard)
USB 3.0 Ports
2 (+ front panel support)
2 (+ front panel support)
USB 2.0 Ports
4 (+ front panel support)
4 (+ front panel support)
Network
Gigabit LAN (RTL8111 \ RTL8168)
Gigabit LAN (RTL8111 \ RTL8168)
Audio
5.1 channel (ALC897)
5.1 channel (ALC897)
Extra
-
M.2 Wi-Fi port
Bios Chip
W25Q128FV
W25Q128FV
JLPC1\DEBUG1 header
Yes
Yes
TPM 2.0 header
No
No
PCB layers
6
6
Form Factor & Dimensions
mATX 245 x 190 mm
mATX 245 x 190 mm
Approximate Price
$50 - $60 (Aliexpress)
$60 - $70 (Aliexpress)

The board comes in a black‑and‑blue color scheme and looks quite nice. It is built around 8‑series desktop chipsets; regardless of which chipset a given unit uses, functionality remains the same.

The QD4 offers quad‑channel memory mode, a sufficient number of ports, and decent overall quality. Highlights include four fan headers and an M.2 Wi‑Fi slot (latest revision only).

The power delivery is typical budget fare: three doubled phases (six effective), each with two MOSFETs. It uses 3NA7R2 (52 A / 7.2 mΩ) (×6, high‑side) and 3NA3R4 (75 A / 3.4 mΩ) (×6, low‑side) MOSFETs, plus the ISL6376 PWM controller. This setup can handle mid‑range CPUs; if you plan on sustained heavy loads, we recommend adding airflow over the VRM area.

HUANANZHI X99-QD4 — VRM area close‑up

Unlike most budget boards, the CPU power‑consumption sensor works correctly here. However, the usual Chinese quirks remain: inaccurate temperature sensors and Smart Fan control that only recognizes the 4‑pin CPU fan header (CPU_FAN1). The main disappointment is the lack of sleep (S3) support; only hibernation (S4) is available.

Revisions

Classic X99‑QD4

Boards produced in 2021–2023 built QD4’s reputation as a quality, inexpensive model. There are no hidden pitfalls or surprise drawbacks. The first revision is still running in many LGA2011‑3 systems.

The classic QD4 carries the marking G608B ver 1.0, located just above the 24‑pin ATX connector.

Revisions with three M.2 slots

In 2024, Huananzhi released a new version of the board. It gained three M.2 slots plus an M.2 Wi‑Fi slot. A PCIe x1 slot was sacrificed, and the PCIe x4 slot now comes from the chipset, so it runs at PCIe 2.0.

Unfortunately, early units had a hardware flaw, likely related to the RAM power subsystem. As a result, the board often struggled with four (and sometimes even three) memory modules. In some cases, the new revision would not start in quad‑channel at all; lowering memory frequency to 1866 MHz sometimes helped. Sadly, there is no real fix other than using dual‑ or tri‑channel configurations.

The problematic revision was labeled G693H V1.0, though we cannot guarantee that every board with this marking is affected. Still, trust in the new revision was undermined.

Later, revisions labeled G693H ver 2.0 and G693H ver 0.1 appeared, where the memory issue seems to have been fixed. All newer revisions look identical, so check the PCB markings before buying.

BIOS Capabilities

HUANANZHI X99-QD4 — BIOS interface

The board uses a familiar AMI BIOS. There’s no modern graphical interface, but the stock firmware exposes memory timing controls and is reasonably stable by Chinese BIOS standards. The “Restore AC Power Loss” function is available, and headless boot (without a GPU) is possible. Features like Resizable BAR, overclocking of unlocked CPUs, and more can be enabled by flashing a compatible BIOS.

Simple BIOS Flashing Guide (Windows)

BIOS version & dateRam TimingsReBARUnlocked CPU OCTurbo Boost unlockUndervoltNotes & Link
06/07/2022 23:58:08 Ver: H81X9902+----Stock BIOS from revision G608B ver 1.0
[Download]
06/07/2022 23:58:08 Ver: H81X9902+----Stock BIOS mod by Koshak1013. BCLK 100.00MHz + No Beep + smartfan (<45°=30%/>80°=100%)
[Download]
03/09/2024 17:33:08 Ver: X99-QD4 693H+----Stock BIOS from revision G693H ver 0.1
[Download]
03/09/2024 17:33:08 Ver: X99-QD4 693H++---Stock BIOS mod by Koshak1013. REBar + BCLK 100.00MHz + No Beep
[Download]
03/09/2024 17:33:08 Ver: X99-QD4 693H++-+-50 mVStock BIOS mod by Koshak1013 (REBar + BCLK 100.00MHz + No Beep) + Unlock for V3 CPUs
[Download]
-+++--Bioses for overclocking unlocked CPUs. See readme.txt
[Download]
BX99DA08+++--Custom BIOS from iEngineer. ReBAR + Unlocked CPU overclock + TPM2.0 Support...
[Link]
⚠️ WARNING: BIOS flashing carries real risks and can permanently damage your motherboard if the firmware is incompatible or the process fails. We cannot guarantee compatibility with every board revision or hardware configuration. Failed flashes typically require a hardware programmer for recovery. Make sure you understand the risks first.
  1. Download FPTW 9.1.10 from this page.
  2. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  3. Copy your BIOS file (bios.bin or bios.rom) into the same folder as FPTW.
  4. In the Command Prompt, navigate to the FPTW folder using the cd command.
  5. Flash the BIOS with the following command: fptw64 -f bios.bin

Note: Replace bios.bin with the actual name of your modded BIOS file, if it’s different. If FPT reports a lock (cannot access protected regions), reboot to BIOS and disable the BIOS lock: IntelRCSetup → PCH Configuration → Security Configuration → BIOS Lock: Disable.

After flashing, we recommend resetting settings to defaults.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the official manual?

The official manual for the latest revisions can be downloaded here.

The board won’t boot, black screen, etc. What should I do?

See our article about the most common LGA2011‑3 issues.

Where can I find drivers for this board?

The page with current drivers for socket 2011‑3 boards is located here.

Where is the BIOS chip located?

To the right of the chipset heatsink; you can attach a programmer clip.

Is it possible to connect TPM 2.0 modules?

There’s no dedicated TPM 2.0 header on the board, but there is a DEBUG header through which custom TPM 2.0 modules can be connected. You’ll need the module itself and, possibly, third‑party BIOS firmware that supports it. More information about such modules can be found here.