Roundup tests of motherboards aimed at Intel Core 2 Duo processors
ASUS P5N32-SLI Premium
Motherboards based on the NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI Intel Edition chipset have not gained much popularity among the manufacturers, so the number of finished products was minimum. Nevertheless, ASUS has released a very interesting motherboard - ASUS P5N32-SLI Premium.
Isn't the PCB design familiar? The three previous motherboards offer the same design: in development of the Striker family, the design of P5N32-SLI Premium was almost completely replicated. Therefore, the board supports 8 USB 2.0 ports (two ports have been sacrificed for the installation of a Wi-Fi module),
8 SerialATA II links, two Gigabit LAN controllers, and 8-channel integrated audio (with the ADI 988B chip used as a codec, on a separate board). Besides, on the board there is a chip to support the Firewire bus (2 ports).
The configuration of expansion slots: three PCI Express x16 slots (to the blue and black slots, 16 bus lanes are allocated to each, and only 8 to the yellow slot), two PCI slots, one PCI Express x1 slot, and a slot for an audio card.
The rear panel is of practically standard configuration, except the missing LPT and COM ports, where the optical and coaxial SP-DIF outputs, as well as two Serial ATA II ports are positioned instead.
The BIOS of ASUS P5N32-SLI Premium is built on the Award BIOS Phoenix version.
We found no special issues of compatibility to memory modules. However, in terms of memory overclocking the board is evidently weaker than products based on Intel and NVIDIA 6?? series chipsets.
The board keeps track of the processor's and system's current temperatures, current voltages, and rotational speeds of all the five fans. Besides, the speed of the CPU cooler (as well as the cooler plugged in to the CHA_FAN1) can be set dependent on the CPU temperature using the Q-FAN 2 feature.
Let's list the overclocking tools: FSB is adjustable within 100 to 525 MHz, CPU voltage can be raised to 1.8 V, on the memory - to 2.55 V, on the chipset - to 1.7 V (on the north and south bridges - to 1.65V), as well as on the FSB to 1.5 V. The actual overclocking results are middling: stable FSB speed = 345 MHz.
We note a rather powerful cooling system of the board, which includes radiators of the power components of the power supply module which are linked to the radiators on the chipset with heat pipes. If needed, the user can install additional fans (which are available in the bundle):
Here goes the interim conclusion: if the user is not an extreme overclocker, then ASUS P5N32-SLI Premium can compete versus ASUS P5N32-E SLI and P5N32-E SLI PLUS. It also offers three PCI Express x16 slots onboard and supports almost all ASUS' proprietary technologies. Moreover, due to the additional SerialATA/RAID controller and a Wi-Fi module it is more advantageous at the expansion options. At the package bundle, it is also better: there are two additional fans and a SoundMAX microphone. The only shortcomings is that it costs precisely as much as ASUS P5N32-E SLI and P5N32-E SLI PLUS ($220-240). It is very hard to pay such amount for a motherboard built on the chipset of the previous generation.
If the user needs overclocking over the bus up to 350 MHz and higher, this motherboard can be safely ruled out.
Pros:
- Excellent stability and performance;
- Perfect compatibility to various memory modules;
- Support for SLI (two PCI Express x16 slots);
- Additional PCI Express x16 slot (in fact - 8 bus lines);
- Support for SerialATA (6 SATA II links - nForce 590; 2 SATA II links - additional controller by Silicon Image; RAID);
- Support for Parallel ATA ( 1 channel - nForce 590);
- Integrated 8-channel audio and two Gigabit LAN controllers;
- Wi-Fi module;
- Support for the USB 2.0 (8 ports) and IEEE-1394 (2 ports);
- A pack of ASUS proprietary technologies: (PC Probe II, Music Alarm, CrashFree BIOS 3, MyLogo2, etc.);
- Additional set of AI Proactive (NOS, AI Net 2, AIBooster, OC Profile) proprietary technologies;
- Superb system for cooling the chipset (passive and active modes are available);
- Good package bundle.
Cons:
The board's specific features:
- Powerful overclocking tools but middling results (FSB=345 MHz) because of the chipset.
ASUS P5N-E SLI
We are reviewing another motherboard by ASUS that offers support for the SLI. This is P5N-E SLI and is based on the NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI chipset. This chipset is the lowest of the nForce 6xx series with support for SLI. Its main distinctions from the top-end 680i SLI are in that in the SLI mode to each of the video cards 8 PCI Express bus lanes are allocated. At the same time, the overall number of lanes is 18, which does not allow for installing the third PCI Express x16 slot onboard (the 680i SLI chipset supports 46 lanes). Besides, the chipset does not support the SLI-Ready Memory technology whose support is the privilege of the nForce 680i SLI.
The board supports 8 USB 2.0 ports, 5 SerialATA II links, a Gigabit LAN controllers, and 6-channel integrated audio (with ALC883 chip used as the codec). Besides, on the board there is a chip to support the Firewire bus (2 ports), and due to the nForce 650i SLI chipset the motherboard supports 2 Parallel ATA links.
The configuration of expansion slots: two PCI Express x16, two PCI slots, and a PCI Express x1.
In general, the expansion options are quite balanced, except the 6-channel audio. Clearly, the developers tried to make the product as cheap as possible, which resulted in the mechanical SLI-terminator, but I don't think the difference between the 6- and 8-channel audio subsystem is so essential.
The rear panel is of almost standard configuration except the missing COM ports. Instead of one of the COM ports, there is a coaxial SP-DIF output. Instead of the second COM port, there is a SerialATA II port. One of the missing COM ports is provided by the PCB design and implemented with a plate (missing in the bundle).
The BIOS of ASUS P5N32-SLI Premium is built on the Award BIOS Phoenix version.
We found no essential issues of compatibility to memory modules.
The board keeps track of the processor's and system's current temperatures, current voltages, and rotational speeds of all the three fans. Besides, the speed of the CPU cooler can be set dependent on the temperatures with the Q-FAN 2 feature.
Let's list the overclocking tools: FSB speed adjustment 133 to 750 MHz, raising voltage on the CPU up to 1.7V, up to 2.517V on the memory, and up to 1.748V on the chipset.
The actual overclocking results are perfect: stable FSB speed = 500 MHz.
Here goes the interim conclusion: ASUS P5N-E SLI has proved an effective demonstration of how a product priced at $150 of dignified consumer properties can be created. And I did like this motherboard even more than many others based on the P965 chipset. In particular, it fully meets the demands of the average user: two, sometimes three SerialATA disks, one or two ParallelATA drives, support for USB and Firewire. In this context, support for the SLI is regarded as a free expansion of the future functionality.
Besides, we note the superb overclocking capability of the motherboard. At that, ASUS P5N-E SLI based on NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI is not inferior to the best overclocker motherboards based on P965, and thus joins the "500 MHz club".
We note separately the future support for future Intel Core 2 Duo processors with the bus speed 1333 MHz and a lot of ASUS proprietary technologies. And all that is at quite affordable price!
Pros:
- Excellent stability and performance;
- Perfect compatibility to various memory modules;
- Support for SLI (two PCI Express x16 slots);
- Support for SerialATA ( 4 SATA II links - nForce 650; 1 SATA II link - additional JMicron controller; RAID);
- Support for Parallel ATA ( 2 links - nForce 650);
- Support for the USB 2.0 (8 ports) and IEEE-1394 (2 ports);
- Gigabit LAN controller;
- A pack of ASUS proprietary technologies: (PC Probe II, EZ Flash2, CrashFree BIOS 2, MyLogo2, etc.);
- Additional set of AI Proactive (AI Net 2, AIBooster, OC Profile) proprietary technologies.
- Reasonable price.
Cons:
The board's specific features:
- Powerful overclocking tools and superb results (FSB=500 MHz).
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Content: |
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Page 1 - Chipsets
Page 2 - Roundup table of motherboards
Page 3 - abit AW9D-MAX, abit AB9 Pro
Page 4 - ASUS P5W-DH Deluxe, ASUS P5W64-WS Pro
Page 5 - ASUS Commando, ASUS P5B Premium Vista Edition
Page - ASUS P5B Deluxe Wi-Fi, ASUS P5B-E
Page 7 - P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe, Striker, P5N32-E SLI, and P5N32-E SLI PLUS
Page 8 - ASUS P5N32-SLI Premium, ASUS P5N-E SLI
Page 9 - Gigabyte 965P-DQ6, Gigabyte 965P-DS4
Page 10 - Gigabyte 965P-DS3, Gigabyte 965G-DS3
Page 11 - Foxconn 975X7AB, Foxconn P9657AA-8EKRS2H
Page 12 - MSI P6N SLI Platinum, MSI P965 Platinum
Page 13 - MSI P965 Neo, MSI P965 Neo2
Page 14 - Intel D975XBX2 (i975X), Intel DG965RYCK
Page 15 - ECS NF650SLIT-A, ECS nForce 570 SLIT-A
Page 16 - ECS PN2 SLI2+, ECS P965T-A
Page 17 - Performance, conclusions
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