Once again, analyzing today's motherboard market, we come to the conclusion that today, when Personal Computer is becoming a thing as necessary in every home as a TV; the most popular segment of the market is its budget sector. This is understandable. For people who are buying something for the first time that is not entirely clear to them, perhaps just an interesting toy, the desire to save money is quite justified. Moreover, the development of the PC has reached such a level that even the most inexpensive machine allows you to play and process both video and music, surf the Internet, work with text, tables, photographs, drawings, in general, do almost anything you want, for with just one exception. Since a budget PC is usually built around motherboard With an integrated graphics core, you can’t play modern games on it. The maximum that such a machine can handle is toys that are 2-3 years old. Meanwhile, for many users, even the most cutting-edge games are of practically no interest. But everyone wants to have a large and high-quality monitor. After all, a monitor is a window into the electronic world. And who wants to look at the world through cloudy and crooked glass? Therefore, for the home, even a combination of “the most inexpensive and simple computer + a large and high-quality (read expensive) monitor” will look quite logical and reasonable. However, anyone, even the most best monitor will not reach its full potential without the use of digital interfaces. Today, the most advanced is HDMI, and the most common is DVI. Until recently, support was provided only by external video cards. With the advent of AMD 6xx chipsets and NVIDIA GeForce 7xx the situation changed dramatically for the better. The built-in video cores of these chipsets offered simultaneous support for both analog D-SUB and digital DVI and HDMI interfaces. However, both series of chipsets were designed for AMD platforms. Later, NVIDIA nevertheless introduced a modification of the GeForce 7100 chipset for Intel processors. However, all solutions with built-in video from Intel itself, which is so actively promoting the idea digital home, worked only with the outdated analogue D-SUB output.

The situation changed somewhat only with the release of chipsets with integrated Intel G33/35 Express graphics. The differences in functionality between these chipsets are somewhat ambiguous. Both support new processors with an operating bus frequency of 1333 MHz, and both have received much-missed support for DVI and HDMI digital outputs. The G35, as an older solution, is equipped with a more powerful GMA3500 graphics core, which has hardware compatibility with the DirectX 10 API, support for Shader Model 4.0 and OpenGL 2.0. The GMA3100 graphics core included in the G33 chipset is only compatible with Microsoft DirectX 9.0c, Shader Model 2.0 and OpenGL 1.5. At the same time, G33 supports new standard random access memory DDR3, but G35 is not. However, for now, DDR3 memory is too expensive, and its use is only advisable in the most expensive and powerful systems. In the budget and mass sectors of the market, the DDR2 standard still reigns. Therefore, for now, the G35 chipset, which has a more productive and functional graphics processor, is still more attractive to consumers.

Well, let's take a closer look at this chipset. It will be presented to us by the ASUS P5E-VM SE motherboard.

Specifications ASUS P5E-VM SE

Initially, to get acquainted with the G35 chipset, it was planned to take the ASUS P5E-V HDMI motherboard for testing, as it most fully represents the functionality this set microcircuits However, by coincidence, in the laboratory we found the ASUS P5E-VM SE board - a simplified modification of the above-mentioned model. For the end consumer, cheaper modifications can be even more interesting than those that are equipped to the maximum. Let's take a look at the comparison table of technical ASUS characteristics P5E-V HDMI and ASUS P5E-VM SE.

pay	ASUS P5E-V HDMI	ASUS P5E-VM SE
Supported processors	Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, Intel Core 2 Extreme, Pentium 4, Pentium 4 Extreme Edition, Pentium D, Celeron D
QPB frequencies	1333/1066/800 MHz
Chipset	Intel G35+ICH9R	Intel G35+ICH9
Memory slots	4 DIMM slots (two channels) for unbuffered non-ECC DDR2-800/667/533 MHz modules. Maximum total volume - 8 GB
Expansion slots	2 PCI Express x16, 1 x PCI Express x1, 3 x PCI 2.3	1 x PCI Express x16, 2 x PCI Express x1, 1 x PCI 2.3
Parallel ATA	1 channel UltraDMA 133, implemented on the JMicron JMB368 controller
Serial ATA	6 ports implemented on a 3 Gb/s controller integrated into the chipset	4 ports implemented on a 3 Gb/s controller integrated into the chipset
	RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5, JBOD
Ethernet	Atheros L1 PCIe Gigabit LAN controller
Integrated sound	Eight-channel (7.1) HDA codec Realtek ALC883
	12 ports (6 are routed to the I/O panel)
IEEE 1394	2 ports implemented on the VIA VT6308P controller
System monitoring	Monitoring voltages on components, fan speeds, processor temperatures (using the built-in thermal sensor)
Overclocking options	Increasing the frequency of the system bus, processor, RAM (synchronously with FSB), and voltage levels on components
	AMI BIOS on 8 Mb chip
Form factor	ATX, 244x305 mm	Micro ATX, 244 x244 mm
Approximate retail price, USD

As you can see, there are plenty of differences. Firstly, ASUS P5E-V HDMI is made in the ATX form factor, while ASUS P5E-VM SE has the Micro ATX format, which is more common for solutions with built-in video. The older modification, due to its larger dimensions, offers a slightly different configuration and large quantity slots for expanding functionality, as well as a larger number of Serial ATA ports. However, the main differences that you should pay attention to first of all are the type of outputs. While the ASUS P5E-V HDMI offers a full complement of analog D-SUB (RGB) and digital HDMI and DVI, the rear panel of the ASUS P5E-VM SE has the old D-SUB and nothing more. However, the difference in the cost of these products is also quite noticeable and amounts to about $30. If a person is building an inexpensive PC with a CRT-based monitor or an inexpensive LCD panel equipped with only a VGA input, the ASUS P5E-VM SE will be his preferred option. On the other hand, if similar system assembled with the expectation of being able to connect to a TV with HDMI, ASUS offers a compromise solution - the P5E-VM HDMI modification with digital DVI and HDMI. However, for a compromise the user will have to pay about $10 extra. But let's return to the ASUS P5E-VM SE that came to us.

Packaging and equipment

ASUS adheres to the principle that can be stated as “each product has its own packaging.” On the front of the box large print Markings and logos of the chipset model and supported processors are applied. The back contains a general photograph of the board and a description of the main features and functionality. That is, everything is clear and understandable. Taking such a box in your hands, it immediately becomes clear that this is ASUS P5E-VM SE, and not some other product from the countless modifications.

The delivery set is a little more complete than what we are used to seeing in the boxes of budget products.

The set includes, in addition to such standard accessories as:

• 80-wire IDE cable;
• cable for FDD
• Serial ATA cable;
• adapter from Molex power plug to two SATA;
• plug for I/O panel on the rear wall of the case;
• CD with drivers and proprietary software;
• manual,

added a set of proprietary Q-Connector connectors designed to facilitate connection of elements to the board system unit, a disc with third-party software and a multilingual quick start guide, which also includes Russian. The latter can be quite important for many.

Design and Layout

ASUS P5E-VM SE format is a full-size Micro ATX. That is, the textolite base of the board is a square with a side of 244 mm.

So the ASUS developers were not constrained by dimensions. Therefore, here we see the full number of DIMM slots, there are four of them, and the connectors for connecting IDE device cables and floppy drives are where they should be - on the right edge of the board in the center.

By the way, support for the IDE interface appeared thanks to the use of a discrete JMicron JMB368 controller. Recall that from IDE support Intel company refused even at the stage of releasing the eighth version of the ICH south bridge. In the upper right part of the PCB surface we also see a block for connecting a COM port. Quite recently we have already encountered such a ridiculous solution, but from a different manufacturer and on a board based on a different chipset. That is, in this arrangement “for show” we observe a certain trend. However, despite the outdated interface, it is still in demand. And thanks to this formal implementation, the wire to the COM port bracket will stretch across the entire board.

The switching voltage regulator of the processor supply is made according to a four-channel circuit, which for products under Intel processors is the standard.

However, some simplifications in the form of missing elements are noticeable in the diagram. Instead of four field effect transistors The manufacturer sold three per channel. But this circumstance should not cause any concern. This should be enough to power modern dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo and quad-core Core 2 Quad processors. And for “non-hardcore” overclocking, this should be enough. By the way, with the Core 2 Duo E6400 bench processor overclocked by 50%, the temperature of the MOSFET remained virtually unchanged and was 45"C in the busiest modes.

Obviously, the north bridge of the Intel G35 chipset, which includes a RAM controller and a GMA3500 graphics core, turned out to be quite “hot”. Despite the fact that ASUS developers equipped this chip with a simply gigantic radiator by the standards of Micro ATX format products, its operating temperature when blown by a processor cooler was 47"C.

The South Bridge is cooled by a small heat sink, the operating temperature of which fluctuates around 38"C.

All measurements were made using a high-precision digital thermometer MASTECH MS650.

The room temperature during measurements was 25.2"C. Despite the fact that the radiators look copper, they are actually made of aluminum alloy, and the copper effect creates a high-quality coating. You can easily verify this - just scratch the radiator a little with a needle.

For discrete slots, there is little soldering on the surface of the board. In addition to the mandatory PCI Express x16 for an external video card, there are 2 PCIe x1 and one good old PCI slot. Pretty poor, isn't it? At least one connector was replaced by a massive northbridge heatsink, which the developers prudently removed from the processor socket. In turn, in order to avoid problems with video cards equipped with massive cooling systems, PCI Express x16 was also prudently removed from the radiator.

The back panel of ASUS P5E-VM SE does not look quite ordinary.

Here, in addition to the standard set consisting of two PS/2 ports for a mouse and keyboard, six two-pin sound card inputs and outputs and a network RJ-45, we see six, instead of the usual four USB 2.0, a coaxial digital audio output S/PDIF, one port IEEE1394a and analog video output D-SUB. Under the latter there is a place, and even mounting holes are drilled, where the DVI digital output should have been located if it had not been abolished in this modification.

In general, the design of the ASUS P5E-VM SE is thought out quite well, and the only criticism is that the block for connecting the COM port is “exiled” to the opposite edge of the board.

Test bench configuration,BIOSSetupand overclocking

The motherboard in question was tested with the following set of equipment:

• processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400, 2133 GHz (8x266), 2 MB L2;
• cooler: Scythe Ninja Plus with 120 mm fan at 1500 rpm;
• RAM: 2 modules of 1024 MB each, Apacer DDR2-800, 4-4-4-15 400 MHz;
• hard drive: Seagate ST3160811AS, 160 GB, 3 Gb/s SATA, 8 MB Cache, 7200 rpm;
• power supply: FLOSTON 560 W (LXPW560W).

The appearance and structure of the configuration utility for the basic input/output system ASUS P5E-VM SE, built on the basis of AMI BIOS v2.58 microcode, are standard for ASUS products, but quite unusual for those who have not previously dealt with motherboards from this manufacturer.

However, the interface is intuitive, and even a trained beginner can easily understand it. Omitting a number of standard items for configuring various aspects of the board’s functioning, let’s turn to the JumperFree Configuration submenu, located on the Advanced tab.

Here are a number of settings used when overclocking the system. It must be said that for Micro ATX boards based on a chipset with built-in video, the range of settings is quite wide. In addition to the standard ability to change the processor bus frequency, it offers the ability to change the PCI Express bus clocking and a wide range of coefficients for calculating the RAM frequency.

In addition, the overclocker is given the widest possibilities for adjusting the processor supply voltage,

DIMM modules,

north and south bridge chips.

Moreover, the settings limits are so high that they would look appropriate on a board for hardcore overclockers.

Setting RAM timings is carried out in automatic or manual modes. And after choosing manual mode The four main delays will need to be set explicitly; the “Auto” value is not provided for them. But five additional ones can be configured separately and at will.

During testing, the board easily allowed us to reach the overclocking limits of bench equipment. The RAM modules were overclocked from 800 to 1000 MHz DDR2, and Core processor 2 Duo with a standard clock frequency of 2166 MHz and a bus of 1066 MHz, without any increase in the supply voltage, we managed to overclock it to 1600 MHz on the bus, which made it possible to reach the CPU mark of 3200 MHz.

Thus, we can say that ASUS P5E-VM SE has extraordinary overclocking abilities that are not typical for similar products. However, given the cost of this product, there is nothing phenomenal here.

Testing

We will compare the performance of the Intel G35 chipset with the competing NVIDIA GeForce 7100 chipset, which will be presented by the previously reviewed FOXCONN M7PMX-S motherboard.

Memory subsystem

Let's start by checking the throughput of the memory subsystem, measured using the Cache and Memory Benchmark module of the Lavalys Everest v4.5 diagnostic utility.

With DDR2 RAM modules, the Intel G35 chipset controller works noticeably faster.

Complex tests

The most serious and “advanced” package for comprehensive system testing today is the updated SYSMark 2007 package from BAPCO. The main feature of SYSMark 2007 is the fact that it uses only real-life and widely used applications to test the system. The ones that run on their PCs every day and are used by millions of people around the world for work. The package consists of four scenarios, each of which includes a number of operations performed by a specific set of applications specific to a specific area of ​​​​PC use.

In the overall ranking, according to the results of the SYSMark 2007 package, the Intel G35 chipset turns out to be significantly faster than its competitor,

which is also clearly visible in each individual scenario.

Next comes the popular PCMark 2005 test suite. Unlike SYSMark, it only simulates the operation of real applications, but, nevertheless, at the moment it is capable of giving a completely adequate and comprehensive assessment of system performance.

Here the Intel G35 chipset is again ahead, in all respects.

In the next test suite CINEBENCH 9.5, based on professional 3D scene creation software CINEMA 4D, the Intel G35 with its GMA3500 graphics core is again ahead.

Mathematical and scientific calculations

ScienceMark 2.0 emulates scientific calculations performed on a computer, such as determining the kinetic and potential energy of molecules crystal lattice metal at different temperatures, calculation of nuclear and electron charges and other complex mathematical calculations.

The only task performed by the Super Pi program is to determine the value of Pi (3.14) with high accuracy. That is, this is a mathematical problem in its purest form. In our case, the calculation was performed with an accuracy of 1 and 8 million decimal places.

The Intel G35 chipset again copes significantly faster with mathematical calculations.

Coding of video and audio data

For the next set of applications, which includes the task of encoding DVD video with the most popular codecs - DivX and XviD, as well as converting it into something understandable to the vast majority mobile phones 3gp format, Intel G35 chipset fits much better.

The same applies to the task of compressing an audio stream using the Lame 3.97 codec into MP3 format. The original WAV file size was 750 MB.

Image processing

Adobe Photoshop is the most popular and functional raster editor. To measure the performance of systems in this task, a script was used to process five-megapixel photographs in uncompressed TIF format (about 15 MB each) with more than 30 filters.

The Panorama Factory program is designed for stitching panoramic images from separately shot frames. The application is characterized by very high stitching accuracy, but, as a result, high resource consumption. Eight five-megapixel photographs were processed.

And again, the Intel G35 turns out to be noticeably faster.

Data archiving

The WinRAR archiver is one of the most popular and effective data compression programs.

Semi-synthetic gaming tests

With 3D gaming graphics processing included in the Intel G35 chipset GPU The GMA3500 does a noticeably better job than its competitor.

In gaming applications, the GMA3500 is faster again.

Interface throughput and power consumption

The speed characteristics of the USB and SATA controllers of the tested chipsets are almost identical.

The level of power consumption of systems based on the compared chipsets was measured using the power indicator of the FLOSTON LXPW560W power supply.

It is quite interesting that, despite the dual-chip architecture, the more powerful graphics core and dual-channel memory controller, the Intel G35 chipset consumes energy more economically.

Audio quality

Testing the audio path of the motherboard ASUS boards P5E-VM SE, based on the Realtek ALC883 HDA codec, was produced by RightMark Audio Analyzer 5.5 in 16-bit, 44 kHz mode using a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4 SE sound card.

The final rating of "very good" for sound implemented on the ALC883 codec is standard.

conclusions

ASUS P5E-VM SE motherboard – product excellent quality with a lot of advantages. This is a good package, thoughtful design, adequate cooling of the chipset, outstanding overclocking capabilities and much more. However, there is one serious drawback that was introduced at the product development stage - the lack of DVI and HDMI digital outputs. And if HDMI is not useful to everyone today, then every more or less decent modern LCD monitor is equipped with a DVI interface, and there is no doubt that digital connection the image will be better. Thus, one of the main advantages of the Intel G35 chipset in the P5E-VM SE modification was curtailed. Therefore, this board can be recommended for purchase only to those who are going to use it in conjunction with a CRT or the cheapest LCD monitor. Otherwise, the buyer should pay attention to the P5E-VM HDMI modification. By paying about $30 for it, in addition to DVI and HDMI, the user will also receive the additional functionality of modifying the ICH9 south bridge with the index “R”.

We thank FLOSTON for providing the Floston LXPW 560 W power supply.

We thank UltraPrice for providing the motherboard for testing.

Photos were taken in the TECHLABS studio, photographer Artem Kondratenko.

In previous reviews, we have already focused on ASUS solutions that were based on Intel fourth series processor chipsets. To complete this series, let's talk about the high-end motherboard on Intel chipset X48 Express, which entered the market this spring. Formally, X48 belongs to a new generation of chipsets, but in practice there are practically no fundamental differences from its predecessor Intel X38 Express. It is only necessary to note the official support for the FSB frequency of 1600 MHz. In addition, Intel now claims that the X48 only supports DDR3 RAM, but this is most likely just a marketing ploy, since the chipset description mentions frequency dividers for DDR2. A detailed comparison of X38 and X48 can be found at compare.intel.com. The same fact confirms that the company has ASUS motherboard boards based on Intel X48 Express with support for DDR2 RAM. In this review we will take a closer look at one of these boards. Here is ASUS P5E Deluxe

Specification:

Manufacturer
	Intel X48 Express/Intel ICH9R
CPU socket
Supported processors	Intel Core 2 Extreme / Intel Core 2 Quad / Intel Core 2 Duo / Intel Pentium Dual-Core / Intel Celeron
System bus, MHz	1600/1333/1066/800 MHz
Supported memory	Dual-channel memory architecture; 4 x DDR2 DIMM slots supporting up to *8 GB of memory; DDR2 operating frequency: **1200/1066/800/667 MHz *32-bit OS can display memory capacity no more 4 GB **frequency 1200 MHz is achieved only in overclocking mode
Expansion slots	2 x PCIe 2.0 x16* 3 x PCIe x1** 2 x PCI * Supports ATI CrossFireX technology in x16 to x16 mode ** PCIe x1_1 (black) is intended for the audio card included in the kit.
Disk subsystem	Intel South Bridge ICH9R: 6 x SATA 3 Gb/s with support for Intel Matrix Storag technology. Possibility of creating RAID array 0, 1, 1+0, 5 JMicron JMB368 PATA controller: 1 xUltraDMA 133/100/66/33 Mbit/s with support for 2 PATA devices.
Sound subsystem	SupremeFX II audio card ADI AD1988B 8-channel High Definition Audio codec, S/PDIF coaxial and optical input/output on the rear panel. Technologies: ASUS Noise Filter, AI Audio 2.
LAN support	Marvell88E8056 PCIe Gigabit LAN controller supports AI NET2 technology.
	Primary 24-pin ATX connector Additional 8-pin ATX12V connectors
Cooling	Radiators on bridges and power stabilizer, united by heat pipes.
Fan connectors	1 x for CPU fan 2 x for system fans 1 x for power supply fan
External I/O ports	1 x PS/2 keyboard port 1 x coaxial S/PDIF output 1 x optical S/PDIF output 6 x USB port ov 1 x IEEE 1394a port 1 x RJ-45 (LAN) port
Internal I/O ports	3 x USB connectors supporting 6 USB 2.0 ports 1 x FDD connector 1 x IDE connector 1 x S/PDIF Out 1 x CD input 1 x IEEE 1394a port Front panel connector Front panel audio connector
	16 Mb Flash ROM, DMI 2.0, PnP, AMI BIOS, SM BIOS 2.3, ACPI 2.0a Technology support: Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
Proprietary technologies	Energy Saving Technologies - ASUS EPU (Energy Processing Unit) - ASUS 3rd Generation 8-phase Power - ASUS AI Nap Silent cooling - ASUS Fanless Design: Heat-pipe - ASUS Fanless Design: Stack Cool 2 - ASUS Q-Fan 2 ASUS EZ DIY - ASUS Q-Connector - ASUS Q-Shield - ASUS O.C. Profile - ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 - ASUS EZ Flash 2
Equipment	6 x SATA cables 1 x adapter for 2 SATA power ports 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable 1 x FDD cable 1 x module with two USB 2.0 ports and one IEEE1394 1 x plug for the rear panel of the ASUS Q-Shield case 1 x DVD with drivers Additional turbine fan Instructions and User Guide
Form factor, Dimensions, mm	ATX 305 x 244
Products webpage	The latest version of BIOS and drivers can be downloaded from the support site.

Package

ASUS P5E Deluxe is packaged in a black cardboard box. On the front side in the lower left corner there are logos of supported processor families. On the right is noted about support for 45-nanometer processors, a system bus frequency of 1600 MHz and ASUS EPU technology.

On the front page, as well as on the reverse side, proprietary technologies supported are described in detail. motherboard. Let us say a few words about each of them.

ASUS EPU – This is a chip that is used to monitor and configure the processor's power settings, which provides an optimal balance of performance and power consumption. Thanks to the processor voltage management system, it provides complete control of power consumption at any load level. In addition, it allows you to achieve the most efficient energy use, up to 80.23%, when working with applications that do not require processor resources.

ASUS 3rd Generation 8-phase Power – 8-phase processor power module that can operate at temperatures up to 15°C lower than traditional solutions. Lowering the temperature makes it possible to reduce the fan speed to ensure quiet, stable system operation and improve overclocking capabilities. 8-phase power reduces input/output voltage fluctuations, ensuring processor and power supply safety and extending component life.

ASUS AI Nap – With AI Nap, users can instantly put their computer into power saving mode without leaving applications. During the user's absence, the system will continue to operate silently, consuming a minimum amount of energy.

ASUS Fanless Design: Heat-pipe - Heat pipes conduct the heat generated by the chipset to heatsinks, which are located next to the processor fan. As a result, the speed of the system fans is reduced, which guarantees silent operation with good stability and long component life.

ASUS Fanless Design: Stack Cool 2 - expansion of the cooling system thanks to special printed circuit board, which promotes uniform distribution of heat from heating elements.

ASUS Q-Fan 2 - Intelligently adjusts the rotation speed of the processor cooler and case fans depending on the load (heating of the elements) of the system, ensuring silent operation.

ASUS Q-Connector– modules that allow you to easily connect buttons and LEDs on the front panel of the case. As well as USB and FireWire connectors.

ASUS Q-Shield– a convenient cover for the I/O connector panel that protects the motherboard from static electricity.

ASUS AI NET 2– tests network connections without loading the OS. Remotely determines whether the connection is correct when the PC is turned on

ASUS O.C. Profile– allows you to save BIOS settings in CMOS or separate file, which allows users to share overclocking settings profiles.

ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3– This function makes it possible to restore the BIOS from a USB flash drive containing the firmware file.

ASUS EZ Flash 2- the EZ Flash 2 function allows you to update the BIOS directly through its settings menu.

C.P.R.– restores BIOS settings after unsuccessful overclocking, ensuring the system can start.

Equipment

In the box with the motherboard you can find a fairly rich set of components, which is not surprising for motherboards of this class. We note the presence of a separate SupremeFX II sound card based on the 8-channel HDA codec ADI AD1988B, which should please fans high-quality sound. Also included in the package:

• 6 x SATA cables;
• 1 x adapter for 2 SATA power ports;
• 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable;
• 1 x FDD cable;
• 1 x module with two USB 2.0 ports and one IEEE1394;
• 1 x plug for the rear panel of the ASUS Q-Shield case;
• 1 x DVD with drivers;
• additional turbine-type fan;
• instructions and user manual.

Layout

Let's talk about the layout of the motherboard. ASUS P5E Deluxe is soldered onto a PCB form factor ATX (305 mm x 244 mm). No significant deficiencies were found. The only thing worth paying attention to is the horizontal arrangement of all SATA connectors and IDE.

The cooling system looks impressive. Radiators are installed on the north and south bridges, as well as on the power stabilizer, and are connected to each other by heat pipes. There is also a copper plate on the back of the board, which helps lower the temperature.

But, despite all the efforts of the ASUS developers, the cooling system got quite hot during testing, so the turbine fan included in the kit comes in very handy.

The Intel ICH9R chip acts as the south bridge. This chip is not the newest, but this cannot be considered a disadvantage, since there are no fundamental differences between it and the ICH10R. The South Bridge supports 6 SATA ports (red), located to the right of the chip itself. On these SATA ports you can organize a RAID array of levels 1, 0, 5, 1+0. Above them is a single IDE connector, controlled by a JMicron JMB368 PATA controller. And under the SATA ports in the lower right corner you can see the front panel connector.

The ICH9R southbridge supports 12 USB 2.0 ports, half of which are routed to the I/O panel, and the rest are internally connected. To reset the BIOS settings, instead of the usual jumper, a small switch located to the left of the south bridge is used.

ASUS P5E Deluxe motherboard supports 7 different expansion slots:

• Three PCI-Express x1 slots: one black is for the included audio card.
• Two PCI slots.
• Two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots with support for ATI CrossFireX technology in x16 to x16 mode.

Below the expansion slots is an internal IEEE 1394 port. The VIA VT6308P controller that controls it is located to the left of the PCI-Express x1 slots.

The power stabilizer is eight-phase and supports ASUS EPU technology. Without the use of an EPU, all eight phases operate even when the system is idle, when such power is not needed. When ASUS EPU is running, it reduces the number of phases involved based on processor load. The processor socket is surrounded by radiators, but they will not interfere with the installation of a large cooler.

The following connectors are located on the I/O panel:

• optical S/PDIF output;
• six USB ports;
• IEEE 1394a port;
• RJ-45 (LAN) port;
• coaxial S/PDIF output;
• PS/2 port for keyboard.

The ASUS P5E Deluxe motherboard uses an AMI BIOS with quite large set settings. Basic parameters related to overclocking and fine tuning, are collected in the following table.

Parameter	Menu name	Range
Control processor technologies	C1E, Limit CPUID MaxVal, Vanderpool Technology, CPU TM, Execute Disable Bit, Intel SpeedStep
CPU multiplier	CPU Ratio Settings		1 and 0.5 for 45 nm models
System bus frequency
PCI-e bus frequency
Northbridge delay set	FSB Strap to North Bridge
Memory frequency		533-1066 1600* 1800*
Timings	CAS Latency, tRCD, tRP, tRAS, RAS to RAS, Row Refresh, Write Recovery, Read to Precharge
Subtimings	READ to WRITE, Write to Read, Read to Read, WRITE to PRE, PRE to PRE, ALL PRE to ACT, ALL PRE to REF
Memory subsystem operation settings	DRAM Static Read Control	Auto, Enable, Disable.
CPU voltage
PLL chip operating voltage
	CPU GTL Voltage Reference
FSB bus signal level	FSB Termination Voltage
RAM voltage
Northbridge voltage		1.25 V – 1.75 V
Southbridge voltage
Voltage drop compensation function during load	LoadLine Calibration	Auto, Enable, Disable.
Function that reduces background electromagnetic radiation	CPU Spread Spectrum, PCIE Spread Spectrum

Basic settings related to overclocking, such as setting timings and delays, frequencies and voltages on the main nodes, are located in the AI ​​Tweaker tab.

You can configure processor technologies in the Advanced tab.

On the Power tab you can monitor the following parameters:

• voltage on the main lines of the power supply 3.3V, 5V, 12V and on the processor;
• temperature of the motherboard and processor;
• rotation speed of all five fans.

Proprietary technologies such as ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS O.C. Profile and Ai NET 2, can be found on the Tools tab.

We have tested overclocking capabilities this board. Mainly the voltage on the processor, northbridge and FSB was increased. The voltages on the remaining nodes were forced to nominal values ​​so that the BIOS did not change them independently. The voltage compensation function on the processor (Loadline Calibration) was activated and the main memory timings were set manually. When overclocking the bus with a quad-core processor to 1.6 V, the CPU PLL voltage increased.

As a result, we were able to increase the system bus frequency to 533 MHz when using a dual-core processor.

When installing a quad-core processor, the system bus frequency rose to 480 MHz.

Based on these indicators, we can safely say that ASUS P5E Deluxe has good overclocking potential, which, in principle, is typical for many motherboards based on Intel fourth series chipsets.

Testing

The following equipment was used to test the performance of the motherboard:

CPU	Core 2 Duo E6300 (LGA775, 1.86 GHz, L2 2 MB)
	Thermaltake Sonic Tower (CL-P0071) + Akasa AK-183-L2B 120 mm
RAM	2x DDR2-800 1024 MB PQI PC6400
Video card	EVGA GeForce 8600GTS 256 MB DDR3 PCI-E
HDD	Samsung HD080HJ, 80 GB, SATA-300
Optical drive	ASUS DRW-1814BLT SATA
power unit	Chieftec CFT-500-A12S 500W, 120 mm fan
	CODEGEN M603 MidiTower, 2x 120 mm in/out fans

Results:

Based on the test results, we conclude that the “heroine” of our review does not differ in performance from other solutions in the same class.

Included sound card SupremeFX II on the 8-channel ADI AD1988B HDA codec was tested in two modes.

Operating mode 16-bit, 44 kHz

Noise level, dB (A)
Dynamic range, dB (A)
Harmonic distortion, %
Intermodulation at 10 kHz, %
Overall rating		Fine

Operating mode 32-bit, 192 kHz

Frequency response unevenness (in the range 40 Hz - 15 kHz), dB		Very good
Noise level, dB (A)
Dynamic range, dB (A)
Harmonic distortion, %
Harmonic distortion + noise, dB(A)
Intermodulation distortion + noise, %		Very good
Interpenetration of channels, dB		Very good
Intermodulation at 10 kHz, %		Very good
Overall rating		Very good

conclusions

The ASUS P5E Deluxe motherboard is a striking representative of the high-end class. The manufacturer positions it as the basis for high-end multimedia and gaming systems. Also, this board will become good choice for overclocking enthusiasts, which is confirmed by the tests performed. It should be noted big set proprietary technologies that are implemented in this product, and an enviable package typical of high-end motherboards. Also in the plus column of the ASUS P5E Deluxe is support for DDR2 RAM, since the main chipset manufacturers Intel and NVIDIA have clearly set a course for popularizing the more expensive DDR3. The only thing that may put potential buyers off is the price of the motherboard, but do not forget that this indicator must be considered only together with the quality characteristics.

Advantages:

• official support for 1600 MHz system bus;
• excellent overclocking capabilities;
• two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots with the ability to implement ATI CrossFireX technology in x16 to x16 mode;
• 8-phase power stabilizer using EPU technology;
• a large set of proprietary ASUS technologies;
• 6 SATA connectors supporting RAID 0, 1, 5, 1+0;
• additional cooler included;
• "external" audio card SupremeFX II.

Flaws:

• need for additional cooling;
• lack of a PS/2 mouse connector.

We would like to express our gratitude to PF Service LLC (Dnepropetrovsk) for the motherboards provided for testing.

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Well, at least because the majority of users usually save on money and do not know what it threatens them with and why, in fact, it cannot be done. And he saves precisely because he does not understand what the difference is between a cheap and expensive motherboard, if the capabilities seem to be the same. It’s these things that I’ll mention in passing in this article, in addition to the free-form review of the P5E Deluxe from Asus. Go.

Photo and a few words about the motherboard itself

Somehow it happened that last year, for a number of reasons, I decided to change the motherboard and my choice fell on the P5E Deluxe from Asus. The price, of course, was definitely biting and biting harder than usual, but I’m not used to saving on such things. Why? Because the motherboard is the basis of the entire computer. It is she who is responsible for the operation of buses and paths, for compatibility, expandability, performance and the absence of any type of problems, i.e. for stability and the time period during which the computer will last, and so on and so forth. Again, the possibility largely depends on the board, and personally this is very important to me, because, among other things, I do overclocking (i.e. overclocking). In short, in terms of the offered capabilities, I was satisfied with everything in the description, the reviews I read also seemed to please me and..

This happiness looks like this when assembled (clickable):

What’s also good is that we hardly kill the boards and it resets itself if the settings are incorrect. Again, if anything, it can be restored from external media, the network, and, it seems, is even simply duplicated by a second chip (I could be wrong).

What else is there... And, of course, energy saving technology. Payment due to built-in modules and software very smartly controls the processor multiplier, voltages and all that other stuff, which saves a lot of energy. Pleasant, honestly, savings.

Speaking of technology. In normal boards of average or higher price segment Usually there is a set of all sorts of different extremely nice technologies (software and hardware) that significantly expand the capabilities of the board, the quality and stability of its operation. I’ll list from the manufacturer’s website which of them the P5E Deluxe has:

ASUS EPU is a chip that is used to monitor and adjust processor power settings, which provides an optimal balance of performance and power consumption. Thanks to the processor voltage management system, it provides complete control of power consumption at any load level. In addition, it allows you to achieve the most efficient energy use, up to 80.23%, when working with applications that do not require processor resources.

ASUS 3rd Generation 8-phase Power – 8-phase processor power module that can operate at temperatures up to 15°C lower than traditional solutions. Lowering the temperature makes it possible to reduce the fan speed to ensure quiet, stable system operation and improve overclocking capabilities. 8-phase power reduces input/output voltage fluctuations, ensuring processor and power supply safety and extending component life.

ASUS AI Nap – With AI Nap, users can instantly put their computer into power saving mode without leaving applications. During the user's absence, the system will continue to operate silently, consuming a minimum amount of energy.

ASUS Fanless Design: Heat-pipe - Heat pipes conduct the heat generated by the chipset to heatsinks, which are located next to the processor fan. As a result, the speed of the system fans is reduced, which guarantees silent operation with good stability and long component life.

ASUS Fanless Design: Stack Cool 2- expansion of the cooling system, thanks to a special printed circuit board, which promotes uniform heat distribution from heating elements.

ASUS Q-Fan 2 - intelligently adjusts the processor and case fans depending on the load (heating of the elements) of the system, ensuring silent operation.

ASUS Q-Connector – modules that allow you to easily connect buttons and LEDs on the front panel of the case. As well as USB and FireWire connectors.

ASUS Q-Shield is a convenient cover for the I/O connector panel that protects the motherboard from static electricity.

ASUS AI NET 2 – tests network connections without loading the OS. Remotely determines whether the connection is correct when the PC is turned on

ASUS O.C. Profile – allows you to save BIOS settings in CMOS or in a separate file, allowing users to share overclocking settings profiles.

ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 – this function allows you to restore the BIOS from a USB flash drive containing the firmware file.

ASUS EZ Flash 2 - the EZ Flash 2 function allows you to update the BIOS directly through its settings menu.

C.P.R. – restores BIOS settings after unsuccessful overclocking, ensuring the system can start.

What is somewhat surprising is that almost all of the above is necessary and works. Except that I don’t use Q-Fan because I have a rheobass with which I manually adjust the speeds of the coolers I need.

What made me doubly happy was the gigabit built-in LAN card and.. attached external sound. In general, the equipment of the board is excellent - here you have all 6 SATA cables and a turbine cooler and a chic blank bracket and whatnot. As for the sound, it looks like this (by the way, it’s nice to glow with blue inscription in the dark):

This card significantly surpassed the sound quality of the sound card I had once purchased from Creative. Such care for users cannot but please :-) You may also ask why I was happy about the gigabit network if providers do not yet offer such tariffs? Well, at least because I’m sure that the transition from 100 MB/s to 1GB/s is just around the corner, and, secondly, local network no one has canceled it yet. The newly purchased N16 (by the way, also from ASUS) perfectly supports gigabit speed, which is convenient when working with local and general file sharing on the network.

Okay, somehow I signed too much.. :-)
It's probably time to wind down.

Afterword and small summary

And so, actually, about why expensive boards are needed and what exactly are the advantages of P5E Deluxe:

• high stability and low temperatures
• high quality and service life
• huge overclocking potential (and official support for the 1600 MHz system bus);
• good scope for upgrades (two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots with the ability to implement ATI CrossFireX technology on them in x16 to x16 mode, as well as support for a huge number of processors);
• magical energy saving (8-phase power stabilizer using EPU technology);
• a large set of proprietary ASUS technologies that expand functionality;
• 6 SATA connectors supporting 0, 1, 5, 1+0;
• wonderful cooling system (additional cooler included);
• "external" audio card SupremeFX II.

What to pay attention to when choosing a purchase:

• availability of the functions you need (obviously :-))
• price (too low price often (though not always) = average/low quality)
• "drawing" of the cooling system
• quality of board wiring
• equipment
• availability of drivers for all operating systems and their updates
• Availability of BIOS updates
• reviews about performance and stability

Socket LGA775 Supported processors Intel Celeron Conroe-L/Core 2 Duo/Core 2 Extreme/Core 2 Quad/Pentium 4/Pentium D/Pentium Extreme System bus 800 MHz - 1600 MHz Hyper-Threading support There is Multi-core processor support There is

Chipset

Chipset Intel X38 BIOS AMI with disaster recovery capability SLI/CrossFire support CrossFire

Memory

Memory DDR2 DIMM, 667 - 1200 MHz Number of memory slots 4 Dual channel support There is Maximum memory capacity 8 GB

Disk controllers

IDE number of slots: 1, UltraDMA 133, RAID: no SATA number of SATA 3Gb/s connectors: 6, RAID: 0, 1, 5, 10

Expansion slots

Expansion slots 2xPCI-E x16, 3xPCI-E x1, 2xPCI PCI Express 2.0 support There is

Audio Video

Sound 7.1CH, HDA, based on ADI AD1988B

Net

Ethernet 1000 Mbps, based on Marvell88E8056

Connection

Availability of interfaces 12 USB, 2xFireWire (IEEE1394a), S/PDIF output, Ethernet, PS/2 (keyboard) Rear Connectors 6 USB, 1xFireWire (IEEE1394a), coaxial output, optical output, Ethernet, PS/2 (keyboard) Main power connector 24-pin

Extra options

Form factor ATX Contents 1 bracket for 2 USB2.0/1x EEE1394a ports, UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable, FDD cable, 3 in 1 Q-connector, ASUS Q-shield, SupremeFX II Audio card, 6 SATA cables, cable for connecting power to SATA devices Additional Information 2 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector, bus frequency 1600MHz and DDR21200MHz are not documented for this chipset

Please check before purchasing specifications and equipment from the seller

Taking into account the growing interest in gaming platforms built on several video accelerators, we suggest considering the ASUS P5E3 motherboard based on the Intel X38 chipset. If we compare all ASUS models, it turns out that ASUS P5E3 is almost the cheapest solution of this level. But support for “progressive” DDR3 memory presupposes that the buyer has the funds to purchase it. So, for example, if you are planning to create a powerful gaming platform, you can pay attention to the ASUS Maximus Formula motherboard we reviewed earlier, which works with DDR2 memory. Although the latter looks and is positioned as a more expensive solution, purchasing cheaper DDR2 memory can offset the costs. Well, for those who are trying to keep up with all the trends in the digital world, there is a reason to evaluate the capabilities of the ASUS P5E3.

ASUS P5E3 motherboard specification:

Manufacturer
	Intel X38/Intel ICH9R
CPU socket
Supported processors	Intel Core 2 Quad / Core 2 Extreme / Core 2 Duo / Pentium Extreme / Pentium D / Pentium 4 Support for 45nm CPU family
System bus, MHz	1600/ 1333 /1066 / 800 MHz
Memory used	DDR3 1800* / 1600* / 1333 / 1066 / 800 MHz * - during acceleration
Memory support	4 x 240-pin DIMMs, dual-channel architecture up to 8 GB
Expansion slots	2 x PCIe2.0 x16 (both x16) CrossFire support 2 x PCI-E x1 2 x PCI 2.2
Disk subsystem	Southbridge ICH9R supports: 6 x Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s support SATA RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 Additional controller Marvell 88SE6111 supports: 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 1 x External SATA (SATA On-the-Go)
Sound subsystem	8-channel High-Definition Audio codec Realtek ALC 883, coaxial/optical S/PDIF; ASUS Noise Filter
	Controller Agere L-FW3227 2 IEEE 1394a ports
	Gigabit LAN controller Marvell88E8056 with AI NET 2 support
	24-pin ATX power connector 4-pin ATX12V power connector
Cooling	Heatpipe system based on chipset and MOSFET of VRM node
Fan connectors	1 x CPU 3 x case fans
External I/O ports	1 x PS/2 port for connecting a keyboard 1 x S/PDIF output (coaxial + optical) 1 x IEEE1394a 1 x External SATA 6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports 1 x LAN (RJ45) 8 channel audio output
Internal I/O ports	6 x USB 1 x FDD 6 x SATA 1 x IDE 1 x IEEE1394a 1 x S/PDIF output 1 x COM CD audio input system panel connector
	8 Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3, ACPI 2.0a, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
Overclocking options	Frequency change: FSB, PCI-Express, memory. Change of voltage on: processor, memory, FSB bus, north bridge, south bridge, etc.
Proprietary technologies	ASUS EPU (Energy Processing Unit) ASUS AI Nap ASUS 3rd Generation 8-phase Power ASUS Fanless Design: Pure Copper Heat-pipe solution ASUS Q-Fan 2 ASUS Noise Filter ASUS Q-Connector ASUS O.C. Profile ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 ASUS EZ Flash 2 ASUS AI Slot Detector ASUS MyLogo 3 ASUS AI Booster Utility ASUS C.P.R.
Equipment	Instructions and user guide ASUS Turbine Fan 6 x SATA cable 2 x SATA power adapter SATA 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable 1 x FDD cable 1 x ASUS Q-Connector (USB, system panel, IEEE1394a) Remote control and IR receiver ASUS AI Remote DVD with drivers and software ASUS Q-shield plug
Form factor Dimensions, mm	ATX 12"x 9.6" 305 x 244
Products webpage	The new version of BIOS and drivers can be downloaded from the official page.
average price

The ASUS P5E3 motherboard came to us for testing in a simple package, without its outer part filled with information.

ASUS P5E3 motherboard contents:

• DVD with drivers and software;
• user manual on English language, brief instructions installation instructions, as well as instructions for AI Remote;
• ASUS Q-Connector adapters (system panel, USB, IEEE1394a);
• ASUS Q-Shield I/O panel cover;
• FDD cable,
• cable UltraDMA 133/100/66;

• two power adapters for SATA devices;
• six SATA cables;

• turbine fan ADDA AD4512LX-D03 on a hydrodynamic bearing;

(There are twelve buttons on the remote control. With the AI ​​Remote, you can launch and control various multimedia applications, put your computer into AI Nap sleep mode, switch ASUS AI Gear 3 modes, and more.)

• IR signal receiver remote control ASUS AI Remote, connected to a USB port, and a battery.

The layout of the ASUS P5E3 motherboard is quite well done. Among the shortcomings that will interfere with the assembly of the computer, we can note: the SATA and IDE slots deployed parallel to the board, which will be very inconvenient to connect to in small cases, as well as the fact that a long video card inserted into the top PCI-E x16 slot will impair freedom of access to the latches of the RAM slots. In addition, the COM port located in the upper right corner is not entirely suitable for connection.

On the ASUS P5E3 motherboard, the heat pipe cooling system deserves special attention. Heat pipes combine radiators on the south and north bridges, as well as on half of the power stabilizer phases. A separate radiator is installed on the remaining four phases. Despite the relatively high class of the board, only a 4-pin ATX12V connector is used to supply power to the processor.

The cooling system involves installing an active element - a turbine-type fan - on a radiator near the I/O panel. Apparently, this is why the entire system, although made of copper, still does not seem very massive. The small heatsink on the northbridge on top is decorated with a shiny metal cover with the ASUS inscription.

The cooling system is very securely and rigidly attached due to thrust metal plates on the back side of the ASUS P5E3 motherboard.

The Intel ICH9R Southbridge supports six SATA II ports, with the ability to form RAID arrays 0, 1, 5, 10. And to support IDE devices and one external SATA connector, an additional Marvell 88SE6111 controller is installed. The ASUS P5E3 motherboard has six internal USB ports, four of which are located in the lower right corner of the board, and two more near the external connector panel. In the right corner of the ASUS P5E3 there is a system panel connector, a standby power indicator and a BIOS reset jumper.

The ASUS P5E3 motherboard has two PCI slots, two PCIE x1 and two PCIE x16 slots (PCI Express 2.0), with which you can combine AMD/ATI video accelerators in CrossFire x16+x16 mode. Other features of the board include the Marvell88E8056 gigabit network controller, the Agere L-FW3227 FireWire controller, which supports two ports, as well as the 8-channel Realtek ALC 883 HDA audio codec, the front panel connector of which supports connections in HDA and AC`97 formats.

The layout of the ASUS P5E3 board suggests the ability to connect to two USB ports, near the I/O connector panel, module wireless network ASUS WiFi-AP Solo, but this feature is not implemented on the tested model.

The VRM processor power regulator on the board is 8-channel, and supports energy-saving EPU (Energy Processing Unit) technology. The ASUS EPU chip exercises full control over the processor load level and, depending on this, adjusts power parameters, achieving increased energy efficiency. In applications that do not require processor resources, the technology allows saving up to 80.23% of energy by turning off four phases of the power stabilizer.

The following ports are located on the rear panel: one PS/2 for keyboard, six USB connectors, IEEE 1394a port, RJ45 connector for network connections, coaxial and optical S/PDIF, one External SATA port and six connectors for 8-channel audio output.

The ASUS P5E3 motherboard has four fan connectors, one 4-pin for the processor cooler and three 3-pin for case fans. All connectors are fairly evenly distributed across different parts boards, which allows you to more conveniently choose the location for connecting the cooling.

Near all PCI slots there are small indicators that indicate that the device is not installed correctly in the slot (AI Slot Detector technology).

The ASUS P5E3 motherboard uses a “multilingual” version of the AMI BIOS, with a large set of settings. The BIOS has a function for saving user settings to a profile (ASUS O.C. Profile technology), and also has a built-in EZ Flash 2 utility for flashing new firmware versions and supports AI Net 2 technology, which helps determine the location of a network cable break.

Overclocking settings are located in the “AI Tweaker” section:

Parameter	Menu name	Range
Processor Technology Management	C1E, Max CPUID Value Limit, Vanderpool Technology, CPU TM, Execute Disable Bit, Intel SpeedStep
CPU multiplier	CPU Ratio Setting
Strap frequency	FSB Strap to North Bridge	Auto/200/266/333
System bus frequency
PCI Express Bus Frequency
Memory divider		533/639/667/709/800/852/887/1066
Command Execution Delay	DRAM Command Rate
Timings	CAS Latency, RAS to CAS, RAS Precharge, RAS Active Time, RAS to RAS, REF Cycle Time, Write Recovery Time, Read to PRE Time
Subtimings	Read to Write Delay (S/D), Write to Read Delay (S/D), Write to Read Delay (S), Write to Read Delay (D), Read to Read Delay (S), Read to Read Delay (D), Write to Read Delay (S), Write to Read Delay (D)
Speeding up the memory controller	DRAM Static Read Control	Enable – allows acceleration
	DRAM Dynamic Write Control
Memory settings	AI Clock Twister	Auto, Moderate, Light, Strong
	AI Clock Skew for Channel A	Advance 350ps – Delay 350ps
	AI Clock Skew for Channel B	Advance 350ps – Delay 350ps
Setting sub-timings	Transaction Booster	Boost Level 0-8 Relax Level 0-8
CPU voltage
Supply voltage of timing circuits		1.5 V – 2.78 V
FSB bus voltage	FSB Termination Voltage	1.2 V – 1.5 V
	CPU Voltage Reference	0.63x, 0.61x, 0.59x, 0.57x
Memory module voltage		1.5 V – 2.3 V
Northbridge voltage	North Bridge Voltage	1.25 V – 1.75 V
Southbridge voltage	South Bridge Voltage
	Clock Over-Charging Voltage
Reducing voltage drop on the processor under load	Loadline Calibration	Enable – enables the function
Processor power supply mode	CPU GTL Voltage Reference	0.67x, 0.65x, 0.63x, 0.62x
Northbridge power supply mode	NB GTL Voltage Reference
Reducing background radiation from the system bus	CPU Spread Spectrum

In order to more accurately adjust the memory frequency in the BIOS, there are eight dividers, which for a 266 MHz system bus will correspond to memory frequencies of 533, 639, 667, 709, 800, 852, 887, 1066 MHz.

IN Motherboard BIOS ASUS P5E3 boards can configure timings and sub-timings of DDR3 RAM. In addition, the current timings and sub-timings are shown on the screen, which is very convenient when setting up.

To overclock and increase system stability, the BIOS has a large number of settings that change the voltage on the main components in a very wide range and in small increments, which is determined by the implementation of Precision Tweaker 2 technology. For convenience and better clarity, information about the adjustment range, step and standard voltage of a particular component is provided in the upper right corner of the screen. In addition, for convenience during overclocking, voltages of different levels are highlighted in different colors. Thus, blue font indicates safe values, yellow indicates high values, and red indicates critically high values.

BIOS monitoring

In the Hardware Monitor window you can monitor:
- temperature of the motherboard and processor;
- rotation speed of the processor cooler and three case fans;
- voltage on the processor and main power lines 3.3 V; 5 V; 12V.

For the processor cooler and case fans connected to CHA_FAN 1-2 connectors, you can use the function automatic control Q-Fan. The control range for the cooler is set by selecting a specific profile, and for case fans by determining the minimum speed and limit temperature as a percentage (60% - 90%) (from 28ºC to 46ºC in 3ºC increments).

Carrying out a standard procedure for testing the capabilities of the system bus, we were able to increase its frequency to 495 MHz. But there is an assumption that the board’s full potential was prevented from being revealed by an incorrectly working BIOS or some features of the sample tested.

Testing

The following equipment was used to test the capabilities of motherboards.

CPU	Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 (LGA775, 1.86 GHz, L2 2 MB)
	Thermaltake Sonic Tower (CL-P0071) + Akasa AK-183-L2B 120 mm
RAM	2x DDR2-800 1024 MB PQI PC6400
Video card	EVGA GeForce 8600GTS 256 MB DDR3 PCI-E
HDD	Samsung HD080HJ, 80 GB, SATA-300
Optical drive	ASUS DRW-1814BLT SATA
power unit	Chieftec CFT-500-A12S 500W, 120 mm fan
	CODEGEN M603 MidiTower, 2x 120 mm in/out fans

Some performance gains in system tests with the ASUS P5E3 motherboard were caused by the use of a different, faster DDR3 RAM. If we compare it with ASUS P5K3 Deluxe/WiFi-AP on the Intel P35 Express chipset, which also worked with DDR3 memory, the slight difference in results is mainly due to measurement error.

conclusions

The ASUS P5E3 motherboard can be an excellent basis for a high-performance gaming system with two AMD/ATI 3D accelerators combined in CrossFire x16+x16 mode and features PCI Express 2.0 support. ASUS P5E3 works with DDR3 memory, so the future owner should be prepared to buy quite expensive RAM as well. ASUS P5E3 motherboard has good opportunities overclocking and increasing stability - I especially liked the implementation of settings with highlighting in different colors and indicating standard values, although system monitoring in the BIOS is completely standard.

The ASUS P5E3 features an 8-phase power stabilizer with the much-advertised EPU energy-saving technology. The copper cooling system on heat pipes together with the fan should cope with cooling the productive and overclocked platform. The absence of an 8-pin connector for supplying power to the processor indicates the positioning of the ASUS P5E3 more as a gaming and multimedia offering, which is confirmed by the AI ​​Remote present in the kit.

Advantages:

• high performance;
• excellent overclocking capabilities;
• CrossFire x16+x16 support;
• PCI Express 2.0 bus support;
• 8-phase power stabilizer using EPU;
• 6 SATA connectors supporting RAID 0, 1, 5, 10;
• External SATA port on the rear panel;
• Heat pipe cooling system with fan included;
• ASUS AI Remote;
• built-in FireWire controller;
• 8-channel High Definition Audio.

Flaws:

• no PS/2 mouse connector;
• 4-pin processor power connector.

We would like to express our gratitude to PF Service LLC (Dnepropetrovsk) for the motherboards provided for testing.

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