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- Date:
- Wednesday, February 21, 2007
- Author:
- Morry Teitelman
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
ASUS P5N32-E SLI PLUS
With the rising popularity of the NVIDIA Intel 6 series chipset, it is only natural that ASUS would want to revisit previous design wins to make them stronger and overall better products. The P5N32-E SLI PLUS is new again.
Introduction
ASUS is one of the best known tier one component manufacturers in the computer industry, with a large and very loyal customer base. Since its inception, ASUS has strived to design the most high performance and stable parts available, quickly propelling them to the top of the market spot they are in today.
Their new Intel based board is no different, marrying the latest 6 series NVIDIA chipset designs with the Intel LGA775.
The P5N32-E SLI PLUS is ASUS’ latest Intel based motherboard design, featuring the NVIDIA 650i based chipset. The version of the 650i chipset used on the P5N32-E SLI PLUS supports current Intel LGA775 style processors including thier Quad-core line, DDR2 DRAM operating at 800MHz, SLI-ready DDR2 modules, as well as dual PCI Express based x16 video cards operating at full x16 SLI mode. The board itself is a feature complete solution, require the minimal number of additional components for a working system: an Intel LGA 775 style processor, DDR2 memory, drives, and a PSU. ASUS chose to integrate the following into the P5N32-E PLUS’ design: 1 ATA-133 IDE port and 6 SATA II ports (RAID 0, 1, 0+1, and 5 capable) on the NVIDIA controller; 10 USB 2.0 capable ports (4 in rear panel, and 3 onboard headers supporting 2 ports each); 2 IEEE 1394 capable ports (1 in rear panel, and 1 onboard header); 2 NVIDIA GigE Ethernet ports in the rear panel; Realtek 8-channel audio codec featuring an S/PDIF component and optical output ports; and PS/2 and parallel port support in the rear panel.
Main Specifications Overview:
Detailed Mainboard Specification List:
Packaging
ASUS chose to use their standard Ai Lifestyle box design for the P5N32-E SLI PLUS’ box, featuring the board name on a black background. However, neither the chipset nor the support processors are listed anywhere on the box front. ASUS packages in the following components with the motherboard: ATA-133 and floppy ribbon cables; SATA drive and dual ended power cables; the rear panel shield; SLI video card interconnect cable; the normal complement of driver CDs and manuals; rear panel brackets with USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 port support; the 7.1 Audio riser card; and the Q-Connector modules. The Q-Connector modules allow for an easy interface for connecting in to the motherboard headers. You simply plug in your front panel jumpers in to the white connector and the USB 2.0 jumpers in to the blue connector block, and then plug both blocks in to the motherboard headers. It makes for a much easier install for those typically hard to reach header areas.
Board Layout
As expected, ASUS’ design and layout of the P5N32-E SLI Plus is superb, with adequate space provided around all board components. ASUS even chose to include 2 independent heat pipe cooling systems for the Northbridge and Southbridge chipsets. The board revision is marked on a sticker just above the DIMM slots, while the serial number is marked on a sticker along the lower edge of the board in between the SATA 2 ports and the ATX 24-pin power connector. For board capacitors, ASUS chose to use all high quality solid-state capacitors for the entire board’s power needs.
The area around the CPU socket is entirely cleared of obstacles, allowing for the use of the larger heat sink and water cooling mechanisms. ASUS chose to use the standard 4 hole based LGA775 hold down mechanism for attaching the CPU cooling to the board. The Northbridge chipset is located directly to the left of the CPU socket, covered by a massive copper cooler that acts as one end of a heat pipe cooling mechanism. The Northbridge’s heat pipe terminates with a finely finned copper cooler just above the CPU socket. Both coolers are held to the board with 2 push-pins. The audio riser card slot, which resembles a PCI Express x1 slot, the OPT_FAN2, CHA_FAN1, and USB headers are located above the Northbridge chipset. To the upper left of the CPU socket is the 8-pin ATX12V power connector. Just below the ATX12V connector is the terminating end of the Southbridge’s heat pipe, which is a thin finned copper cooler similar in design to that of the Northbridge heat pipe cooler.
The 4 DDR2 DIMM slots are located just below the CPU socket and Northbridge chipsets, arranged in a bi-colored 2-by-2 configuration. To enable Dual Channel memory mode, you must place like memory modules in same colored slots across the sets. To the right of the DIMM slots is the CPU_FAN header, while the IDE and floppy ports, in addition to the 24-pin ATX power connector, are located below them.
The NVIDIA Southbridge chipset is situated directly below the tertiary PCI Express x16 slot, which is white in color. The Southbridge is cooled by a low profile copper cooler, connected to a heat pipe mechanism which terminates by the CPU socket. The cooler is held in place by 2 push-pins. The CMOS battery is located directly above the chipset, while the chipset’s 6 SATA 2 ports are located directly below it. Notice that the SATA 2 ports are oriented parallel to the plane of the board, making for easier use of those ports. To the left of the SATA 2 ports are the OPT_FAN4, OPT_FAN5, and front panel headers. To the upper left of the SATA 2 ports are the CMOS clear jumper and the chassis intrusion header. Two of the onboard USB headers are located just below the left most PCI slot.
The P5N32-E SLI PLUS is designed with a total of 3 PCI Express x16 video card slots, 1 PCI Express x1 slot, 1 audio riser card port, and 2 PCI slots. The blue colored PCI Express x16 slots are for the primary and secondary video cards for SLI operation, while the white PCI Express x16 slot can be used for a video add-on board, such as a dedicated physics processing card. To the outside of PCI slot 2 are the OPT_FAN3, audio front panel, IEEE 1394, and S/PDIF output headers. The OPT_FAN1 header is located just above the third PCI Express x16 slot.
ASUS chose to integrate the following ports in to the P5N32-E SLI PLUS’ rear panel: PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports; 4 USB 2.0 ports; 1 IEEE 1394 port; 2 NVIDIA Gigabit LAN Ethernet port; 6 analogue audio ports (via the audio riser card) and S/PDIF component and optical output ports.
AiBooster
ASUS chose to include their AiBooster Windows based overclocking utility in with the board drivers. The version of AiBooster shown is 2.03.11. The AiBooster software supports a variety of functions including real time display of system voltages, fan speeds, temperatures, CPU FSB and speed, and multiple overclocking methods to choose from. The NOS button allows you to activate the dynamic overclocking technology, which will manipulate system voltages and FSB speeds in order to push the system to the desired overclocking level when needed. The Performance Mode option allows you to pick a static overclocking level based on percentages only. Note that both the Performance Mode and NOS options offer the same percentages for overclocking. The Tuning menu allows for full manual control of CPU FSB, multiplier, voltages, and FAN control. For voltage, CPU FSB, and fan control manipulation, all supported options can be selected from a pull down master list.