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- Date:
- Wednesday, October 31, 2007
- Author:
- Morry Teitelman
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
ASUS P5E3 Deluxe
ASUS boldly steps in to the ring with their latest Deluxe series motherboard offering support for the newly introduced Intel X38 chipset and DDR3 memory. The board holds a lot of promise, but will it be enough to fend off the current top performers.
Introduction
ASUS is one of the best known and respected top tier component vendors in the computing industry. They continue to produce top quality and high end performance products nearly without falter, giving them a leg up on most of the competition in consumer and enthusiast circles alike. Technologically and design-wise, their products come second to none. Their latest Intel based motherboard is a testament to this trend.
The P5E3 Deluxe is the newest member of the ASUS motherboard lineup, based on the newly released latest Intel X38 Express chipset. This chipset boasts full support for all LGA 775 type processors, DDR3 DRAM modules operating in Dual Channel mode up to 1333MHz officially, and dual card ATI CrossFire support with matching ATI graphics cards installed.
The board itself is a feature complete solution, requiring only the addition of an Intel LGA 775 processor, DDR3 memory, hard drive, and a PSU for an operational system. ASUS chose to integrate the following features in to the P5E3 Deluxe’s design: 6 SATA II ports (RAID 0, 1, 0+1 and 5 capable) on the Intel ICH9R controller; 1 ATA-133 IDE port and 2 eSATA ports (RAID 0 and 1 capable) on the JMicron controller; 12 USB 2.0 capable ports (6 in rear panel and 3 onboard headers supporting 2 ports each); 2 IEEE 1394 capable ports (1 in rear panel and 1 onboard header); a Realtek GigE Ethernet port and a Marvell Yukon GigE Ethernet port, both in the rear panel; ASUS 802.11n wireless Ethernet port 2-in-1 solution in the rear panel; ADI 8-channel HD audio codec featuring an S/PDIF RCA component and optical output ports; and PS/2 keyboard port support in the rear panel.
Main Specifications Overview:
Detailed Mainboard Specification List:
Packaging
ASUS chose to use their standard black-box design for the P5E3 Deluxe, prominently featuring their AI Lifestyle logo on the board front with support chipset and CPU technologies listed in the lower left corner. The P5E3 comes with the following bundled accessories: 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; 2 clip-on cooling fans for the integrated heat pipe cooling solution; 2 WiFi antennas; the Q-Connector modules; and the normal compliment of manuals and driver discs. Note that the included driver disk is a DVD-ROM disk, not a CD-ROM disk. 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. 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
Keeping with their known layout patterns, ASUS did a phenomenal job with board component placement, with no real tight areas on the board. The area surrounding the CPU socket may seem tight at first glance since it is fully surrounded by the heat pipe, but is spacious enough for most any cooler. ASUS silk screened the board name and revision in between the primary PCI and PCI Express x16 slots. As shown, the board used for testing was a version 1.03G board. As is common practice with higher end boards, ASUS chose to use all metal solid state capacitors with the P5E3 Deluxe.
ASUS implemented the CPU socket area layout masterfully, balancing component placement and CPU cooler space needs almost perfectly. The heat-pipe surrounding the CPU socket is far enough back to not become an issue with most cooling block use. ( I highly suggest getting specifics if you plan to use a water cooler on this board. The heatsinks around the CPU are somewhat confining. – Ed.) All power components used in the surround are of a low profile type design. The board uses the standard LGA775 based CPU cooler mounting mechanism. The X38 Northbridge chipset is located to the lower left of the CPU, under a massive copper cooler that stretches along the entire left side of the CPU socket. The cooler is held fast to the board via screws attaching to an under-board mounting bracket for added support. The heat pipe system terminates in 3 places – a low profile cooler on the Southbridge, and 2 massive copper coolers covering the CPU power circuitry above and to the right of the CPU socket. The CHA_FAN1 header is located to the upper left of the CPU socket, while the 8-pin ATX12V power connector is located to the upper right of the socket area.
The bi-colored DDR3 memory slots are located directly below the Northbridge chipset and CPU socket, with the upper slot paralleled by copper heat pipes. Dual Channel memory mode is enabled with memory modules in like colored slots. The CHA_FAN2, PWR_FAN, and chassis open alert jumper are located directly below the lower set of DIMM slots, along with the ATX 24-pin power connector, the onboard floppy port, and 2 of the ICH9R controlled SATA2 ports. The CPU_FAN header is located to the upper right of the DIMM slots, along the board’s edge.
The board’s ICH9R Southbridge chipset, which itself is covered by a low profile copper cooler, is located directly below the secondary PCI-Express x16 slot. The Southbridge cooler acts as one end of the heat pipe loop, and is held to the chipset via screws mounted to an under-board support mechanism. Four of the 6 supported SATA2 ports are located directly below the chipset. These ports are oriented in a horizontal fashion for easy cable engagement. The JMicron ATA-133 port is to the lower left of the chipset, with the SB_PWR LED, primary IDE port, CHA_FAN4 header, and front panel header to its lower left. The LED illuminates with an active power source connected to the board. The CMOS battery, CMOS reset jumper, and CHA_FAN3 header are located to the direct left of the chipset with the onboard USB 2.0 and IEEE1394 headers just above.
The P5E3 Deluxe includes 3 PCI Express x16 slots, 2 PCI Express x1 slots, and 2 PCI slots integrated in to its design. The front panel audio, SPDIF_OUT, and COM1 headers are located to the upper left of the tertiary PCI-Express x16 slot, with the CD_IN header directly above the secondary PCI-Express x1 slot.
ASUS chose to integrate the following ports in to the P5E3 Deluxe: PS/2 keyboard port; 1 IEEE 1394 port; 6 USB 2.0 ports; 2 e-SATA ports; 1 Marvell Yukon GigE Ethernet port; 1 Realtek GigE Ethernet port; Realtek 802.11n wireless Ethernet ports; 6 analogue, S/PDIF RCA component and optical output audio ports.