Machinist X99 MR9A PRO: Full Review

X99 MR9A PRO is one of the most successful motherboards produced by Machinist. It’s a full‑size ATX model with plenty of ports and a power delivery subsystem capable of handling the most powerful processors for this socket.

Specifications

One of the main advantages of this model is its power delivery, consisting of 8 virtual phases. Each phase uses three MOSFETs. It uses SM4503NHKP (80 A/3 mΩ) (x8, high‑side) and SM4508NHKP (49 A/6.8 mΩ) (x16, low‑side) MOSFETs, the UP1649Q PWM controller common on Chinese boards, and uP1961S MOSFET drivers (x4). This configuration, especially with active cooling, can handle powerful CPUs such as the Xeon E5‑2699 v3.

The storage subsystem offers 6 SATA ports (only 4 of them are SATA 3) and two M.2 slots running at PCIe 3.0 x4. There are plenty of PCIe slots as well: the x16 and x4 slots are wired to the CPU, while the x1 slot is wired to the chipset and limited to PCIe 2.0.

Positives include a thick 10‑layer PCB, the presence of both a PC speaker and a POST code display, and an integrated plastic rear I/O shield that makes the board look more modern.

The main disappointment is the use of a desktop rather than a server chipset. Most commonly it’s B85, but variants with Q87 and even C226 exist. Functionally these variants are the same, but all of them have a limited number of USB 3.0 ports.

In addition, the board has all the traditional drawbacks:

Common Limitations of Budget Chinese X99 Motherboards:

Temperature Monitoring Issues

Temperature monitoring doesn’t work properly on most budget Chinese X99 boards. Onboard sensors are non-functional and display erratic readings (such as 120°C+ in monitoring software like AIDA64) due to faulty sensor implementation. However, CPU temperature monitoring via the processor’s built-in sensors remains accurate.

Limited Fan Control

Fan control only works with 4-pin PWM CPU coolers. 3-pin case fans run at constant speeds without automatic regulation. Consider using manual fan controllers or PWM adapters as workarounds.

BIOS Limitations

The BIOS implementation is often incomplete. You’ll find numerous settings and options, but many simply don’t function as intended or have no actual effect on system behavior.

Most critically, memory timing controls are hidden in the stock BIOS. This prevents manual RAM overclocking and fine-tuning. However, you can solve this by flashing modified BIOS versions that unlock these hidden advanced memory timing options and other concealed features.

AIDA64 Freezing

Chinese boards with desktop chipsets (H81, B85, Q87, etc.) have broken motherboard temperature sensors that freeze AIDA64.

Fix: Disable the faulty sensor in AIDA64

• Enable status bar: View → Status Bar
• Right-click the status bar at the bottom → HWMon Modules → uncheck PCH / Bibxy
• If this doesn’t help – disable all sensors and enable them one by one to identify the culprit.

Revisions

The board has been produced for at least several years, and during this time the manufacturer has released many revisions. The first version had a cut‑down VRM and a simpler audio chip; however, all subsequent revisions came with 8‑phase power and the familiar ALC897. Apparently, there are no other significant differences between revisions. Firmware from different versions is also interchangeable.

Although early versions do not have a TPM 2.0 header, they all have a JLPC1 header, so getting a working TPM 2.0 is still possible. However, this requires a non‑standard module and a BIOS with support for it. In addition, for the module to function fully, a small mod is needed: you’ll have to carefully solder two wires to the Super I/O controller. If such operations don’t scare you, you can find the details via this link.

Revision with TPM 2.0 support

A later revision with a 14-pin TPM 2.0 header is also on sale; full operation only requires inserting a compatible module—no board mods needed.

BIOS Capabilities

Stock firmware has never been a strong suit of Machinist boards, and the MR9A PRO is no exception. The BIOS provides no access to memory timings, cannot overclock unlocked CPUs, and includes the usual shortcomings: inaccurate board temperature and power readings, a non‑functional Smart Fan for all headers except the 4‑pin CPU header. Naturally, extras like Resizable BAR are also absent.

Fortunately, most of these shortcomings can be fixed by flashing BIOS images from third‑party vendors or other Chinese boards.

Simple BIOS Flashing Guide (Windows)

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

I can’t install the audio drivers.

If none of the audio drivers worked, try a manual installation via Device Manager. To do this, extract the contents of the .cab files, which you can download here.

Conclusion

Machinist X99 MR9A PRO is a solid board designed for high‑power processors. It offers a working sleep state, plenty of ports, good power delivery, and a thick 10-layer PCB. If you’re looking for a board for a CPU with a TDP over 130 W, it’s an excellent option. Unfortunately, the stock firmware isn’t great, so you’ll likely want to replace it—but with a bit of effort you’ll end up with one of the most attractive boards for the money.