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- Date:
- Thursday , June 09, 2011
- Author:
- Morry Teitelman
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Share:
ASUS P6X58-E WS Workstation Motherboard Review
ASUS' X58 member of its Workstation line of motherboards, the P6X58-E WS motherboard, looks to offer an appealing mix of features and functions. With its use of both the Intel X58 and NVIDIA NF200 chipsets, the board offers the potential for unparalleled gaming performance.
Introduction
ASUS is one among the elite computer component manufacturers in the space, surviving in a tough market where many of its other competitors have vanished. The company has a reputation for high quality and high performance components, with its reputation garnered from years of superior product introductions and a legion of loyal supporters. ASUS uses a fusion of hardware and software technological innovation to remain ahead of its competitors and dear to the hearts of its enthusiast loyalists. Its new P67 based member of the much vaunted Workstation line of boards offers a great example of ASUS' design practices in motion.
The ASUS P6X58-E WS motherboard combines the Intel X58 and ICH10R chipsets with the NVIDIA NF200 chipset to offer support for an unparalleled computing experience. The chipset combination supports the following technologies: the Intel LGA11366 i7 processor line; DDR3 memory operating in Triple Channel memory mode up to 1333MHz officially; and either NVIDIA 3-Way SLI or AMD Quad-CrossFireX graphics mode using matched video cards. ASUS integrated the following onboard devices in to the P6X58-E WS: 6 SATA II 3Gb/s ports (RAID 0, 1, 0+1 and 5 capable) on the Intel ICH10R controller; 2 SATA III 6Gb/s ports on the Marvell controller; 12 USB 2.0 capable ports (6 in rear panel, and 3 onboard header supporting 2 ports each); 2 USB 3.0 capable ports (2 in rear panel); 2 IEEE 1394 ports (1 in rear panel, and 1 onboard header supporting 1 port each); 2 Intel GigE Ethernet ports in the rear panel; Realtek 8-channel HD audio codec with integrated S/PDIF optical and RCA output ports; and a PS/2 keyboard / mouse port in the rear panel.
Main Specifications Overview:
Detailed Mainboard Specification List:
Packaging
ASUS kept the box art simple with the P6X58-E WS, with the board name and supported technologies showcased on a dimpled black background. The following components are included with the board: locking connector SATA drive cables and dual headed SATA power cables; a 3-Way NVIDIA SLI connector; a 2-Way AMD CrossFire connector; rear panel bracket with 2 USB and 1 IEEE 1394 ports; the rear panel shield; the Q-Connector modules; the G.P. 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 board's TPM (Trusted Platform Module) header, with 2-digit diagnostic LED display and power and reset buttons integrated in to its design. The diagnostic LED display displays BIOS post codes while the system boots, useful for troubleshooting system boot related issues.
Board Layout
ASUS designed the P6X58-E WS' layout masterfully, with no tight areas evident in the board's layout. The board's revision is located in between PCI-Express x16 slots 4 and 5, with the board version used in testing being a revision 1.01. While the serial number was not found anywhere on the board's surface, it is located on a sticker along the outside edge of the box. As is normal with its higher end board lines, ASUS integrated high quality polymer solid-electrolyte capacitors and metal alloy chokes into the board's design.
The board's CPU socket is clear of unnecessary obstructions with all close-in components of a small form factor design leaving CPU cooler mounting unimpeded. To fix the cooler to the CPU, the board uses the standard Intel LGA1366 style mounting design. To the left of the CPU socket is the Intel X58 Northbridge chipset, covered by a large thin-finned heat sink. This chipset sits in the center of the on-board heat pipe dissipation path, making for optimized dispersal of the chipset's heat. The CHA_FAN1 header is located just above the Northbridge chipset. The 8-pin ATX12V power connector is located to the upper right of the CPU socket, with the CPU_FAN header located to the socket's lower right.
The P6X58-E WS' 6 integrated DDR3 memory slots are placed directly below the CPU socket and Northbridge chipset, arranged in a bi-colored, 3-by-2 configuration. The blue colored slots are the recommended primary use slots, with Triple Channel memory mode active with module populating all slots of the same color. The 24-pin ATX power connector, MOLEX-style EZ Plug power connector, PWR_FAN header, and OV_CPU jumper are located directly below the DIMM slot block. The EZ Plug connector can be used to provide extra power to seated video cards when 2 or more cards are in use. The OV_CPU jumper enables user access to higher level voltage settings in the BIOS for the CPU voltage, with the ceiling raised from 1.70V to 2.10V with the jumper enabled.
The Intel ICH10R Southbridge and NVIDIA NF200 chipsets are located underneath a massive low-profile heat sink below PCI-Express x16 slots 2 - 5. All onboard SATA slots are located directly below the chipset heat sink, with the blue colored slots of the SATA II variety and belonging to the Intel ICH10R 3G controller. The white colored SATA slots are of the SATA III variety, controlled by the Marvell 6G controller. To right of the SATA port block are the OV_DRAM_BUS and OV_QPI_DRAM jumpers, and the CHA_FAN2 header. The OV_DRAM BUS jumper unlocks additional voltage settings for the DRAM voltage setting, while the OV_QPI_DRAM jumper does the same for the QPI voltage setting in the BIOS. With the jumpers enabled, the DRAM voltage option is boosted from 1.90V to 2.46V and the QPI voltage setting is boosted to 1.90V, from 1.70V. To the lower left of the chipset sink are the standby power LED, the chassis intrusion and CMOS clear jumpers, and the front panel header. Just above the front panel header are the CMOS battery, the CHAFAN_SEL jumper, and the CHA_FAN3, TPM, and USB 2.0 headers. The CHAFAN_SEL jumper determines the operational nature for the onboard chassis fan headers, with supported settings for PWM or DC fan operation. Note that the standby power LED illuminates when an active power source is connected to the board's power connectors.
For the P6X58-E WS, ASUS integrated 6 total ports in to the board's layout: 5 PCI-Express x16 slots, and 1 PCI-Express x1 slot. Along the upper left edge of the board are the USB 2.0, IEEE 1394, S/PDIF output, and front panel audio headers. The CHA_FAN1 header is located to the upper right of the primary PCI-Express x16.
ASUS included the following ports in to the P6X58-E WS' rear panel: a PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo-port; 6 USB 2.0 ports; 2 USB 3.0 ports (blue colored USB style ports); 2 Intel GigE Ethernet ports; and 6 analogue and S/PDIF optical and RCA audio output ports.
TurboV EVO
For overclocking the P6X58-E WS board from within windows, ASUS provides the TurboV EVO application, with version 1.00.70 provided on the installation DVD. TurboV EVO integrates seamlessly in to their AI Suite utility, which offers many other system monitoring related applications as well.
The TurboV EVO applet is accessed via the Tool button after opening the AI Suite application. Notice the CPU bar along the right side of the app window as well. The TurboV tab displays current system voltage and bus speed settings, allowing for configuration of all displayed settings. Within the Advanced Mode tab are other adjustable system voltages. For all settings listed in the applet, the configurable settings shown mimic the settings available through the BIOS menus.