Update (August 8, 2006): The overclocking section has been updated as a result of a new, more overclocking-friendly BIOS.
Introduction
Your browser hasn't even had a chance to cool off after our last Core 2 Duo motherboard review, and yet here we are today with another. The entire enthusiast community is buzzing about Core 2 now that it has been made a reality, and we saw in our coverage of the Core 2 that this buzz is well-deserved. Motherboard manufacturers stand to earn a healthy profit at this stage if they play their cards right.
On the cutting block this time is ASUS' P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP, a P965-based enthusiast offering presented with the typical slew of ASUS deluxe features. ASUS' first post-Core 2 motherboard release is bound to turn some heads -- and that is why we are here. Does the P5B Deluxe deserve the turning of heads, or the turning away of heads? Let's take a look at the raw specifications before we go anywhere else.
Specifications
Ripped shamelessly from ASUS' website, here are the raw specifications of the P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP:
|
CPU
|
LGA775 socket for Intel Core 2 Extreme / Core 2 Duo / Pentium Extreme / Pentium D / Pentium 4 / Celeron D Processors
Compatible with Intel 05B/05A/06B processors
Intel Hyper-Threading Technology ready
* Refer to www.asus.com for Intel CPU support list
|
|
Chipset
|
Intel P965 / ICH8R with Intel Fast Memory Access Technology
|
|
Front Side Bus
|
1066 / 800 / 533 MHz
|
|
Memory
|
4 x DIMM, max. 8GB, DDR2 800 / 667 / 533 MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered memory
Dual channel memory architecture
* Refer to www.asus.com or user manual for Memory QVL (Qualify Vendor List)
|
|
Expansion Slots
|
2 x PCI-E x16 (blue @ x16 mode, black @ x2 or x4 mode)
1 x PCI-E x1 (x1 or diabled mode)
3 x PCI 2.2
|
|
Storage
|
Southbridge
- 6 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports
- Intel Matrix Storage Technology supports RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10.
JMicron JMB363 PATA and SATA controller
- 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 for up to 2 PATA devices
- 1 x Internal SATA 3.0 Gb/s port
- 1 x External SATA 3.0 Gb/s port (SATA On-the-Go)
- Support SATA RAID 0, 1 and JBOD
|
|
LAN
|
Dual Gigabit LAN controllers, both featuring AI NET2
Marvell PCI-E and PCI Gigabit LAN controllers
|
|
Wireless LAN
|
ASUS WiFi-AP Solo
54 Mbps IEEE 802.11g and backwards compatible with 11 Mbps IEEE 802.11b
- Software Access point mode
- Station mode : Infrastruceure mode and Ad-Hoc mode
|
|
Audio
|
ADI AD1988B 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Support Jack-Sensing, Enumeration, Multi-streaming and Jack-Retasking
- Coaxial / Optical S/PDIF out ports at back I/O
- ASUS Noise Filter
- ASUS Array Mic
|
|
IEEE 1394
|
TI 1394a controller supports 2 x IEEE 1394a ports (one at midboard; one at back panel)
|
|
USB
|
8 x USB 2.0 ports (4 ports at mid-board, 4 ports at back panel)
|
|
ASUS AI Lifestyle Features
|
ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution:
- ASUS AI Gear
- ASUS AI Nap
- ASUS 8-Phase Power Design
- ASUS Fanless Design: Heat-pipe solution
- ASUS Fanless Design: Stack Cool 2
- ASUS Q-Fan 2
- ASUS Optional Fan for Water-cooling or Passive-Cooling only
ASUS Crystal Sound:
- ASUS Noise Filter
- ASUS Array Mic
ASUS EZ DIY:
- ASUS Q-Connector
- ASUS O.C. Profile
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 2
- ASUS Power LED
ASUS WiFi@Home:
- ASUS WiFi-AP Solo
|
|
Other ASUS Special Features
|
ASUS MyLogo 2
Multi-language BIOS
|
|
Overclocking Features
|
Intelligent overclocking tools:
- AI NOS (Non-delay Overclocking System)
- AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner)
- ASUS PEG Link - Automatically performance tuning for graphics card
- ASUS AI Booster utility
Precision Tweaker:
- vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.00625V increment
- vDIMM: 13-step DRAM voltage control
- vChipset: 4-step Chipset voltage control
SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection)
- FSB tuning from 100MHz up to 400MHz at 1MHz increment
- Memory tuning from 533MHz up to 1066MHz
- PCI Express frequency tuning from 100MHz up to 150MHz at 1MHz increment
Overclocking Protection:
- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
|
|
Back Panel I/O Ports
|
1 x PS/2 Keyboard
1 x PS/2 Mouse
1 x Serial port
1 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial + Optical)
1 x External SATA
1 x IEEE1394a
2 x RJ45 port
4 x USB 2.0/1.1
1 x WiFi-AP Solo antenna jack
8-Channel Audio I/O
|
|
Internal I/O Connectors
|
2 x USB connectors support additional 4 USB ports
1 x Floppy disk drive connector
1 x IDE connector
7 x SATA connectors
1 x CPU Fan connector
5 x Chassis Fan connector
1 x Power Fan connector
1 x IEEE1394a connector
Front panel audio connector
1 x Azalia Digital Header
1 x S/PDIF Out Header
Chassis Intrusion connector
CD audio in
24-pin ATX Power connector
2 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector
System Panel
|
|
BIOS
|
8 Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3, ACPI 2.0a, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
|
|
Manageability
|
WfM 2.0, DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME, PXE
|
|
Accessories
|
UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
FDD cable
SATA cables
SATA power cables
I/O Shield
User's manual
USB2.0 port module
3 in 1 Q-connector
IEEE1394 port module
InterVideo Media Launcher (OEM version)
Optional Fan for Water-Cooling or Passive-Cooling only
ASUS WiFi-AP Solo omni-directional antenna
Array Mic
|
|
Support CD
|
Drivers
ASUS PC Probe II
ASUS Update
AI Booster
ASUS AI Suite
ASUS WiFi-AP Solo Wizard
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
|
|
Form Factor
|
ATX Form Factor, 12"x 9.6" (30.5cm x 24.5cm)
|
A number of features here tickle my fancy, but I'd hate to ruin them with a simple blurb -- so let's get going!
