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ASUS P6T7 WS SuperComputer

ASUS' latest X58 chipset motherboard from its extremely popular workstation board series, the P6T7 WS SuperComputer is poised to impress many folks looking for more PCIe lanes than the next guy.

Introduction

ASUS stands alone among the top tier computer component vendors, both for its long history of producing quality parts as well as its long love affair with the the enthusiast computer builder. ASUS is well established throughout the world for their dedication to quality and performance, and consistently delivers some of the most stable and high performance parts in the industry. More recently, it has successfully split its motherboard products into very different product lines, each tailor-made to entice a certain slice of the market. Their newest edition of the "Workstation" line of boards looks to have much appeal indeed.

The ASUS P6T7 WS SuperComputer motherboard offers innate support for the latest generation of Intel processors through the Intel X58 chipset. This chipset integrates the following technological support in to the board: the Intel LGA1366 Core i7 processor line, DDR3 memory operating in Triple Channel memory mode up to 1333MHz officially, and either NVIDIA SLI and ATI CrossFireX graphics mode using matched video cards. ASUS designed the P6T7 WS SuperComputer to be a feature complete solution, requiring the minimal amount of additional components to function: an Intel LGA1366 Core i7 processor, DDR3 memory, a video card, drives, and a PSU. The following ports have been integrated in to the P6T7 WS SuperComputer’s design: 6 SATA II ports (RAID 0, 1, 0+1 and 5 capable) on the Intel ICH10R controller; 2 SATA II ports (RAID 0 and 1) Marvell SAS controller; 2 e-SATA ports on the Marvell SATA controller; 12 USB 2.0 capable ports (6 in rear panel, and 3 onboard headers supporting 2 ports each); 1 IEEE 1394 capable port (1 onboard header supporting 1 port each); 2 Realtek GigE Ethernet ports in the rear panel; ADI 8-channel HD audio codec with integrated S/PDIF optical and RCA component output ports; integrated power, system reset, and CMOS reset buttons; 2-digit LED diagnostic display; and a PS/2 keyboard/mouse port in the rear panel.

Main Specifications Overview:

Detailed Mainboard Specification List:

Packaging

ASUS’s box art design features a graphical representation of the board’s function, showing a lone computer in the forefront of a typical server room. The supported technologies are very clearly shown all across the front of the box. The following accessories are bundled in with the board: locking connector SATA drive cables and double header power cables; SATA to e-SATA converter cables with power connection; the rear panel shield; a 2-way and 3-way SLI connectors; a rear panel bracket with USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 ports; the GP Diagnosis Card; 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. The G.P. Diagnosis card plugs in to the onboard trusted module header and provides onboard power and system reset buttons, as well as a 2-digit LED diagnostic display. This display can be used to trouble shoot system initialization related issues using the manual to decipher the 2 digit code displayed when the initialization problem occurs.

Board Layout

The P6T7 WS SuperComputer is another superb design win by ASUS. There are no real tight areas on the board, and every single solitary hot spot is covered by a thin-finned cooler which are all connected via heat pipe. While I could not find a clearly marked serial number on the board, the board’s revision number is silk screened to the surface in between the fourth and fifth PCI-Express x16 slot, with the revision of the tested board being 1.00G. As is common with ASUS’ higher end boards, the P6T7 WS SuperComputer comes standard with all high quality aluminum solid-state capacitors.

The CPU socket area is devoid of any potential obstructions, with the close in power circuitry all of a low profile design. As expected, the CPU cooler is held in place using the standard 4 hole based LGA1366 mechanism. In an unprecedented design decision made to help clear space around the CPU socket, ASUS chose to relocate the X58 Northbridge chipset to the area under the PCI-Express slot bank. To the upper right of the CPU socket is the 8-pin ATX12V power connector, with the 4-pin CPU fan header to the lower right of the socket.

The onboard DDR3 DIMM slots are located just below the CPU socket area, bordered on both sides by heat pipes. The heat pipes themselves do not inhibit DIM placement in the least. Just below the DIMM slots are the 24-pin ATX power connector, the DRAM bus and DRAM/QPI over volt jumpers, the PWR_FAN header, and the CPU over volt jumper. When enabled, the over volt jumpers allow for higher voltage ceilings for the respective voltage setting in the BIOS.

Both board chipsets, the Intel X58 Northbridge and ICH10R Southbridge, are hidden under a massive silver low profile heat sink below the onboard PCI-Express x16 slots. The CHA_FAN2 header, as well as all 8 onboard SATA II ports, are located just below the chipset heat sink. Note that the Marvell SAS SATA II ports are the black colored ports, while the blue ones are tied to the ICH10R Southbridge chipset. To the lower left of the chipset heat sink are the CHA_FAN3 header, the chassis intrusion and CMOS reset jumpers, the standby power LED, and the front panel header. Note that the standby power LED illuminates with an active power source connected to the board. Just above the front panel header are the CMOS battery, Trust Power Module headers, and the onboard USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 port headers.

Similar in design to the other ASUS workstation boards, the P6T7 WS SuperComputer comes stock with PCI-Express x16 capable slots only, 7 in total. The CD-IN header, S/PDIF output header, and front panel audio header are to the upper left of PCI-Express x16 slot 7. The CHA_FAN1 header is to the upper right of the primary PCI-Express x16 slot.

ASUS packed the following ports in to the board’s rear panel: 1 PS/2 keyboard/mouse port; 6 USB 2.0 ports; 2 Realtek GigE Ethernet ports; 2 e-SATA ports; and 6 analogue and S/PDIF optical and RCA component audio output ports.

TurboV

Included on the installation DVD is ASUS’ overclocking applet TurboV, with version 1.00.29 included with the board. From the main screen, you have the ability to manually control board voltage settings and the speed setting of the BCLK bus. Clicking on the More Settings button allows for configuration of additional CPU, chipset, and DRAM related voltages. The Save Profile button allows for saving and retrieval of custom named profiles.