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ASUS P5B Premium

The P5B Premium is ASUS’ latest introduction in their P5B series, touting full Windows Vista Trusted Platform support. With the stellar performance seen with the rest of the P5B series, this board shows lots of promise.

Introduction

ASUS is among the top computer component manufacturer in the world, well known in both mainstream and enthusiast circles. Since its inception, ASUS has made its mission clear – to provide the best performing, most stable, and highest quality computer components available. ASUS uses a combination of award winning design techniques as well as cutting edge customized technology to bring their vision to life. Their latest P5B series motherboard is a definite testament to this ideology.

The P5B Premium is the latest introduction in ASUS’ line of Intel 965P chipset based boards. The Intel 965P chipset includes in built support for the following technologies: all LGA 775 type processors; DDR2 DRAM modules operating in Dual Channel mode up to 800MHz officially; as well as dual card ATI based CrossFire support for ATI based PCI Express based x16 graphics cards. The P5B Premium board is a feature complete solution, requiring the addition of an Intel LGA 775 style processor, DDR2 memory, drives, and a PSU for an operation system. ASUS chose to integrate the following components in to the P5B Premium: 6 SATA II ports (RAID 0, 1, 0+1 and 5 capable) on the Intel ICH8R controller; 1 ATA-133 IDE port, 1 SATA II port, and 1 e-SATA port (RAID 0 and 1 capable) on the JMicron controller; 8 USB 2.0 capable ports (4 in rear panel, and 2 onboard headers supporting 2 ports each); 2 IEEE 1394 capable ports (1 in rear panel, and 1 onboard header); 2 Marvell Yukon GigE Ethernet ports in the rear panel; ADI 8-channel HD audio codec featuring an S/PDIF RCA component and optical output ports; and COM and PS/2 port support in the rear panel.

Main Specifications Overview:

Detailed Mainboard Specification List:

Packaging

ASUS chose the simple route with the P5B Premium box, simply showing the AI Lifestyle logo and board name on the box top. Unfortunately, the board’s supported technologies are not clearly marked on the top of the box at all. The following accessories are packaged in with the P5B Premium board: ATA-133 and floppy ribbon cables; SATA driver and dual ended power cables; the rear panel shield; rear brackets for USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 ports; a clip-on cooling fan for the integrated heat pipe cooler; the SoundMax Superbeam microphone; board remote control and USB wireless sensor; ASUS ScreenDUO visualization device and USB cable; the Q-Connector modules; and the normal complement of manuals and drivers discs. Note that the included driver disk is a DVD-ROM disk, not a CD-ROM disk. The included remote control unit offers remote based operation of several features including hibernation, computer sleep mode with active wireless connection, system power off and on, and audio app startup and control. The ScreenDUO device allows for viewing of important information via a secondary display module with the computer powered down. Note that in order to use this functionality, you must first synchronize data between the computer and the ScreenDUO device through the provided synchronization software. 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

The P5B Premium’s layout is simple and well thought out, with only a single questionable placement evident on the entire board. While there is adequate space between most ports and onboard headers, gaining access to the onboard JMicron SATA port may be tricky with a PCI Express x16 card seated in the primary video slot. The board’s name and revision are silk screened on the surface in between the CPU socket and DIMM slots, with a revision 1.01G being used for testing. The board serial number is on a green sticker just above the name and revision markings. As proof of their good intentions with this board, ASUS chose to use high quality all metal solid state capacitors throughout the entire board.

The area surrounding the CPU socket is entirely free of obstructions, with low profile capacitors used in close proximity to the socket to alleviate any cooler mounting issues. For hold down of the CPU cooler, ASUS chose to use the standard 5-hole LGA775 based design. The Northbridge chipset is covered by a good size copper heat sink, which in turn is connected to a heat pipe mechanism terminating directly above the CPU socket. The heat pipe termination point is a thin finned copper heat sink covering some of the onboard power MOSFETs. Both copper heat sinks are held to the board by spring loaded push pins. The 8-pin ATX12V power connector is located to the upper right of the CPU socket along the upper edge of the board.

The boards 4 DDR2 memory slots are directly below the CPU socket and Northbridge chipset area, arranged in a bi-colored 2-by-2 configuration. Dual Channel memory mode is activated by placing memory modules in like colored slots across the sets. To the right of the DIMM slots and along the edge of the board is the 4-pin CPU_FAN header. The 24-pin ATX power connector, onboard floppy port, and PWR_FAN header are located directly below the bottom set of DIMM slots.

The Southbridge chipset is located directly below the secondary PCI Express x16 slot, covered by a low profile copper heat sink. The heat sink is held to the chipset by spring loaded push pins. The CMOS battery is located to the right of the chipset, with the chassis intrusion and CMOS reset jumpers, as well as the primary ATA-133 port, to the chipset’s lower right. The ICH8R supported SATA 2 ports are located to its lower left, with the CHA_FAN3 and front panel jumpers to the lower left of these ports. Just above the front panel header are the board status and power LEDs, the CHA_FAN1 header, and the onboard USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 headers. Note that the LEDs are imbedded in a transparent ASUS logo, which glows blue when am active power source is connected to the board, and blue and red when the board is powered on.

ASUS includes 2 PCI Express x16 slots, 1 PCI Express x1 slot, and 3 PCI slots on the P5B Premium. Along the outside edge of PCI slot 3 is the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) header, with the CD_IN and front panel audio headers located directly above it. The onboard S/PDIF output header is located above PCI slot 2, while the JMicron SATA 2 port and CHA_FAN2 header are located to the upper right of the primary PCI Express x16 slot.

ASUS integrated the following device ports in to the P5B Premium’s rear panel: PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports; a serial port; 1 IEEE 1394 port; 4 USB 2.0 ports; 1 e-SATA port; 2 Marvell Yukon GigE Ethernet ports; 6 analogue and S/PDIF RCA component and optical output audio ports.

AiSuite

ASUS chose to include their newly redesigned AiSuite Windows based monitoring utility in with the board drivers. The version of AiSuite shown is 1.01.24. The AiSuite utility supports a variety of monitoring and configuration settings including real time display of system voltages, fan speeds, temperatures, CPU FSB and speed, as well as multiple supported overclocking methods. 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 AiBooster button gives access to the AiBooster interface, allowing for automated or full manual control of CPU FSB and multiplier, and system voltages. The Performance screen allows for selection of a preconfigured overclocking level, where the system controls the voltages and various FSB settings, while the Advanced screen allows for full manual control. Note that for all voltage, CPU FSB and multiplier manipulation, supported options can be selected from a pull down master list. Note that the AiBooster interface allows for selection and saving of pre-configured user profiles as well. The Q-Fan button within the main AiSuite window allows for operational configuration of all fan headers through preset options.

ScreenDUO

The included ScreenDUO device driver software allows you to configure and synchronize the included ASUS ScreenDUO device for offline use. Note that the ScreenDUO device itself does not have an external power source, and must be connected to a system USB port in order to operate correctly. The ScreenDUO software driver is divided in to several sections – Gadgets, Preferences, and Update. The Gadgets screen determines which programs are currently loaded and active on the ScreenDUO device, with each program individually configurable via the Settings button. The Preferences screen is used to configure the ScreenDUO device behavior. The devices buttons can be customized with via the AP Trigger screen for a multitude of functions. Through the Off-line Setting option, you can custom configure how many items can be viewed or used on a per application basis, with items referenced as Gadget pages in the interface. The Update screen allows you to synchronize data between the computer and the ScreenDUO device for the currently active and configured applications present as gadgets on the ScreenDUO device.