[H]ard|OCP

Navigation

• [H] Forums
• Archives
• Search
• [H] Folding

ASUS P5Q3 Deluxe

Based on the newly introduced Intel P45 chipset, the P5Q3 Deluxe board seems to have a good mix of power and features. ASUS looks to have a winner on their hands with this one, but does the P45 offer anything that the X35, X38, or X48 do not?

Introduction

ASUS is one of the best known and revered Tier 1 computer component manufacturers throughout the world. Since its inception, the company has strived to release the highest quality and performing products resulting in some of the most stable boards on the planet. ASUS continues to push the limits of stability and performance through their innovative use of BIOS and cooling technologies. Their latest motherboard introduction seems well worthy of the ASUS namesake.

The ASUS P5Q3 Deluxe is the latest board to be released based on the Intel 4x series chipset. The board itself uses a combination of the Intel P45 Northbridge and ICH10R Southbridge chipsets, offering support for the following technologies: all current Intel LGA 775 processors, DDR3 memory operating in Dual Channel mode up to 1600MHz officially, and dual card CrossFire graphics mode using matched ATI graphics cards. ASUS designed the P5Q3 Deluxe as an out of the box feature complete solution, requiring the following minimal component set for an operational system: an Intel LGA 775 processor, DDR3 memory, a video card, drives, and a PSU.

The following integrated devices are designed in to the P5Q3 Deluxe: 6 SATA II ports (RAID 0, 1, 0+1 and 5 capable) on the Intel ICH10R controller; 1 ATA-133 IDE port, 2 SATA II ports, and 1 eSATA port on the Marvell controller; 10 USB 2.0 capable ports (6 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 x Marvell GigE Ethernet ports in the rear panel; ASUS 802.11n WiFi-AP wireless Ethernet ports in the rear panel; ADI 8-channel HD audio codec featuring an S/PDIF optical and component output ports; and onboard power and reset buttons.

Main Specifications Overview:

Detailed Mainboard Specification List:

Packaging

ASUS went the minimalist route with the P5Q3 Deluxe’ box art. The board name and supported technologies are clearly marked on the box front, superimposed on a blue diamond patterned background. ASUS chose to include the following accessories in the P5Q3 Deluxe’ packaging: 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; 1 clip-on cooling fan for the integrated heat pipe cooling solution; 2 Wi-Fi antennas; the Q-Connector modules; and the normal complement of manuals and drivers discs. 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

With a few minor areas of note, ASUS did an excellent job with the P5Q3 Deluxe board layout and design. The most glaring space related issue is the proximity of the DIMM slots to the primary PCI-Express x16 slot. Removing and inserting memory modules may be tricky with a larger video card installed in the system. The board name and revision are silk-screened on the surface just under the let set of DIMM slots, while the serial number is located on a green sticker just above the upper set of DIMM slots. In a nod to the power user crowd, ASUS chose to use high quality all metal solid-state capacitors throughout the board.

The CPU socket area is packed full of cooling devices and power components, none of which get in the way of even a larger CPU cooler amazingly enough. The CPU cooler is held to the socket via the standard 4-hole based LGA775 design. The P45 Northbridge chipset is located to the left of the socket, covered by a massive copper heat sink, which also acts as the middle of the board’s chipset heat pipe cooling loop. The heat pipe ends in a large, thin-finned copper heat sink just above the CPU socket which covers the CPU power circuitry. Another large copper heat sink, not attached to the board heat pipe, is located to the right of the CPU socket, also cooling critical CPU power circuitry. The 8-pin ATX12V power connector is located to the upper right of the CPU socket, with the 4-pin CPU fan header to the lower left of the socket.

The board’s 4 DDR3 based DIMM slots are located just under the Northbridge chipset, in a bi-colored 2-by-2 configuration. Dual Channel memory mode is enabled with memory modules seated in like colored slots across sets. Notice that ASUS chose to shift the DIMM slots slightly to the left on the board’s surface, putting them in closer proximity to the primary PCI-Express x16 slot, and opening up valuable surface area to their right. Just under the DIMM slots are the 6 onboard SATA 2 ports tied to the Intel ICH10R Southbridge chipset, the 24-pin ATX power connector, the onboard floppy port, and the chassis intrusion jumper. To the lower right of the DIMM slots are a set of jumpers controlling voltage overclocking of the CPU and Northbridge voltages. When enabled, the jumpers allow for a higher top end voltage for the base CPU and Northbridge voltages.

The board’s ICH10R Southbridge chipset is located under the PCI slot, covered by a low profile copper heat sink. This sink acts as a terminated end of the onboard heat pipe cooling solution. Directly under the chipset are the CHA_FAN1 header, and the ATA-133 IDE port. The Marvell controlled SATA 2 ports are to the left of the IDE port, while those controlled by the ICH10R chipset are to its right. Notice that the IDE port and several of the SATA 2 ports have been rotated 90 degrees, so that the cables sit parallel to the board’s plane when engaged. The front panel header is in the lower left corner of the board, with the CMOS reset jumper and the CHA_FAN3 header to its upper right. The reset and power buttons, TPM header, and onboard USB 2.0 headers are located just above the front panel header along the left edge of the board.

The P5Q3 Deluxe board has a total of 3 PCI-Express x16 slots, 2 PCI-Express x1 slots, and 1 PCI slot. The onboard COM and IEEE 1394 headers are located along the outer edge of the tertiary PCI-Express x16 slot, with the CD_IN, SPDIF_OUT, and front panel audio headers to the port’s upper left.

ASUS chose to integrate the following in to the P5Q3 Deluxe’ rear panel: a single PS/2 port to be used for a mouse or keyboard; 1 IEEE 1394 port; 6 USB 2.0 ports; 2 Marvell GigE Ethernet ports; ASUS 802.11n WiFi-AP wireless Ethernet antenna ports; 1 eSATA port; and 6 analogue audio and S/PDIF optical and component output audio ports. Note that the board requires the use of 2 Wi-Fi antennas connected to the board when using the wireless interface at 802.11n speeds. A single antenna only is required when using the wireless interface at 802.11g/b/a operating speeds.

AiSuite

ASUS chose to include their newly redesigned AiSuite Windows based monitoring utility in with the board drivers. The version of AiSuite shown is 1.04.07. 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 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 Fan Xpert button within the main AiSuite window allows for operational configuration of all fan headers through a combination of preset options and direct operational threshold manipulation via a representational interface.