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Boards with the X99E branding have been around since at least 2024. These are typical Chinese motherboards from the ultra-budget category, sold under numerous brands: MOUGOL, Qiyida, Atermiter, and others. There’s even a Huananzhi-branded variant, marketed as the X99E-K4.
Despite its bare-bones design and the numerous shortcomings typical of this class of hardware, the board remains in production and has seen several revisions.
There is also a DDR3 version of this board, which most sellers list as the X99E-D3 or X99E3.
Specifications
| Model | X99E V1.2 |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 2011-3 |
| Chipset | P55 / H55 / HM57 / QM57 |
| 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) |
| VRM Configuration | 3 phase (6 virtual via doublers) Total MOSFETs: 12 (6 high-side + 6 low-side) |
| Maximum Recommended TDP | ≤90W (v3 processors) ≤100W (v4 processors) |
| Supported Memory | 4 x DDR4 DIMM (dual-channel) with ECC and non-ECC support Maximum capacity: 64 GB |
| S3 Sleep Mode Support | No |
| Expansion Slots | 1 x PCI-e x16 (Gen 3.0) 1 x PCI-e x1 (Gen 2.0) |
| Storage | 3 x SATA 2.0 1 x M.2 NGFF/NVME (Gen 3.0 x4) |
| Fan Connectors | 1 x CPU cooler (4pin) 1 x case fans (4pin) |
| PS/2 Ports | 2 (mouse + keyboard) |
| USB 3.0 Ports | - |
| USB 2.0 Ports | 6 (+ front panel support) |
| Network | Gigabit LAN (RTL8168H \ RTL8111H) |
| Audio | 5.1 channel (ALC897) |
| Bios Chip | Fudan FM25W128 |
| TPM 2.0 header | No |
| JLPC1 header | No |
| Form Factor & Dimensions | mATX 205 x 185 mm |
| Approximate Price |
The board is built around the most basic P55 or H55 chipsets, originally designed for the long-obsolete LGA1156 platform. You might also run into variants using mobile PCH chips from the same era. Reusing these old, dirt-cheap chipsets keeps the price down, but the trade-off is a complete lack of SATA III and USB 3.0.
The storage subsystem, beyond the three SATA II ports, includes a dual-mode M.2 slot, with mode switching handled by jumpers located nearby.
The power delivery is entirely typical for a board at this level — 6 virtual phases, each with 2 MOSFETs covered by a small heatsink. This configuration handles processors up to 90–100W TDP with ease. If you plan to run a higher-TDP CPU or unlock Turbo Boost on Haswell processors, adding supplemental airflow over the VRM area is advisable.
To put it bluntly, the X99E has virtually no standout strengths, and its weaknesses are entirely predictable: mediocre build quality, broken sleep support, a typically rough firmware, and standard onboard audio with no filtering capacitors. Worth noting is the use of FUDAN BIOS chips instead of the more common Winbond, and the complete absence of a TPM 2.0 header — or any debug headers at all — which is surprising given that even the cheapest competing boards tend to include this functionality.
Revisions
There are at least five known revisions of the X99E: V1.11, V1.2, V1.3, V1.4, and V2.0.
No documentation or changelog is available, and the only visible, meaningful change is the M.2 Wi-Fi port that appeared in the 2.0 revision.
BIOS Features
The board runs the typical stock firmware based on Aptio V. Regardless of revision, the feature set is identical across all versions. ReBAR and Above 4G Decoding are available, and Secure Boot is present (untested). There is no native support for overclocking unlocked processors or accessing memory timings. Beyond that, the BIOS isn’t much different from countless other Chinese boards: there’s no shortage of settings, but a significant portion of them simply don’t do anything.
The full set of typical flaws is present: inaccurate temperature sensors, a power consumption sensor that underreports actual draw, a less-than-intuitive Smart Fan implementation, and other minor bugs typical of generic Chinese motherboards.
| BIOS version & date | Ram Timings | ReBAR | Unlocked CPU OC | Turbo Boost unlock | Undervolt | Secure Boot | Notes & Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X99E Ver:1.0 10/27/2023 17:01:04 | - | + | - | - | - | + | Stock BIOS (rev 1.11&1.2) [Download] |
| X99E Ver:1.0 10/27/2023 17:01:04 | + | + | - | + | -50 mV | + | Stock BIOS mod (Ram timings+TBU+undervolt) [Download] |
| X99E Ver:1.0 02/22/2024 17:32:57 | - | + | - | - | - | + | Stock BIOS (rev 2.0) [Download] |
Unfortunately, the oddball H55 platform creates real headaches for BIOS backup and flashing. Standard tools like the Intel Flash Programming Tool don’t work with H55. AFUDOS / AFUWIN can dump only the BIOS region. Full flashing and full backup require a hardware programmer.
Frequently Asked Questions
The board won’t boot, black screen, etc. — what should I do?
Check out our guide to the most common LGA2011‑3 issues.
Where can I find drivers for this board?
Our current driver collection for socket 2011‑3 boards is here.
Which memory slots are primary?
The orange ones (furthest from the CPU).
Where’s the BIOS chip located?
To the right of the chipset heatsink.
How do I connect the front panel?
Conclusion
OldRigRevive Review
4.8
3.5
2.3
3.0
“The X99E clearly underperforms even compared to other entry-level chipset boards. Compared to alternatives, it offers fewer ports, no TPM 2.0 support, and a stock firmware that doesn’t expose memory timings.
None of this prevents the board from functioning, but if you’re shopping for an X99 board at the bottom of the market, take a look at the Qiyida X99-H5 — it addresses most of these shortcomings.”
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Senior Hardware Specialist proving you don't need top-tier gear to game. Expert in smart upgrades and budget-friendly PC restoration.