Motherboard Asus P5K: specifications and reviews

Intel X38 chipset , which is the basis of ASUS P5K, is the flagship model, but this is its main disadvantage. It is quite obvious that the motherboards with them will have a sufficiently large number of various functions necessary for the user to some extent, and will also differ in the mass of additional controllers and a rich bundle. But the result of all this will also be a fairly high price. And if literally a few years ago it was quite possible to imagine that any producer of the second type will start releasing motherboards on a serious chipset in the absence of superfluous functions and at an optimal cost, today it is hardly worth counting on that.

What is the reason?

Manufacturers often refuse to work with flagship chipsets, and so long ago they did not release something really worthwhile attention of the public. If we talk about the advantages of this chipset, which it received in comparison with the P35 model, it is worth highlighting that it supports simultaneously two full-speed PCI Express x16 slots. For most record-breakers, these results are quite worthwhile, but they are unlikely to satisfy users who prefer more practicality.

Thus, after its release, the P35 Express chipset was the best option exclusively for overclockers, as it provides full support for the processors with full support for the 333 MHz processors that were just starting to appear at this time, and with it it was possible to provide efficient overclocking Devices. In this regard, using the P35 Express chipset, it was possible to maximize the effect of the invested funds. Of course, all this was available only if it was provided for by the features of the motherboard.

What is such a fee?

Series of motherboards ASUS P5K was announced almost immediately after the release of this chipset, which is another confirmation in favor of how important and priority was its way out. However, many people did not manage to familiarize themselves with this device in due time and understand how effective it is.

Models ASUS P5K are designed for semi-professional use. Depending on the modification you are using, there may be a device supporting specialized PCI-X server slots, or simply a device with four PCI Express x16. Of course, both options are pretty optimal, but at the same time, it was equally obvious that this product was not mass, but a niche one.

What to choose?

The flagship of the entire lineup is the ASUS P5K Deluxe / Wi-Fi-AP, which gained wide popularity by using intertwined heat pipes in the cooling system.

Many believe that this product is an image product and was used exclusively for exhibitions or people who use systems with RDRAM memory, although in fact there were faster and cheaper offers. In fact, of course, it's hardly worth denying that this is a fee for those users for whom speed does not come first, and it is important to buy an expensive device, but it is an ideal device for comparison.

The differences between P5K and P5K3

Unlike its analog (ASUS P5K3) ASUS P5K Deluxe is not just an option for reckless users, but more for those who prefer practicality in everything. In this board there is a huge number of functions, and even a little more for those people who are really ready for this pleasure to pay.

This board has exactly the same serious capabilities as the other cards in this series. If we talk about opportunities, they are the same, but without a certain redundancy. The absence of a second network card in the system, which is absolutely unnecessary for the majority of users, can hardly be called a disadvantage, it only allows to significantly reduce the price. Again, as an advantage, there are also certain differences in cooling systems and standard equipment. Without exception, any serious components, in the end you get a flagship product with no overstatement of the price, and if this is not an ideal option, you can definitely say that he is close to him.

Separately from these devices is the ASUS P5K SE board, as well as the P5K-C, which supports two memory options - DDR2 and DDR3.

Who do they need?

Such products are often used by efficient economical users, who prefer not to completely change after their devices become obsolete, but only gradually to improve the system they use. Of course, given the constant change in the field of computer technology, this choice is far from the most optimal.

If you use a system that has a LGA775 processor and DDR2 memory, then you can try using any ASUS P5K VM, and then change the processor to a more modern one, and the RAM to replace the more modern DDR3. But in fact, there is no special need for this, because your board hardly has something that the new one will offer you, at the same time there are a lot of more interesting products for today.

If you think that everything in the entire series of motherboards based on the Intel P35 Express chipset is extremely clear, then for you the most optimal option will be ASUS P5K SE. For its time, this is quite a modern payment, which was one of the most advanced in the whole market and was practically useless for ordinary users. At the same time, it is worth noting the fact that at first there was not even any information about it from the standard description to the management.

In this case, we will not consider the ASUS P5K VM and other advanced modifications, but let's talk about the standard R5K starting board.

Equipment

The box of this motherboard is extremely simple, that is, there are no falshkobki, transparent windows or pens. On its reverse side you can find detailed information about what technologies the motherboard supports, as well as familiarize with its main features.

The board paid special attention to the fact that the front side of the box, in which the ASUS P5K was supplied, "talked" about the fact that this device is 75% faster than similar devices from other manufacturers and provides such a serious advantage when Help the original technology of Super Memspeed Technology. Of course, such an advantage immediately seemed too big to eventually turn out to be true, but in fact the developers did not leave everything in words and provided users with a sufficiently large amount of a wide variety of evidence that this really is true.

What did it look like?

During the testing it was determined that the Intel Core 2 Duo processor was operating at a nominal frequency of 3 GHz, while the memory was increased due to the use of a boost divider, and the device started on the basis of the ASUS P5K EPU at a frequency of 1372 MHz. It seemed really a serious achievement, because not all modules were capable of this. However, in fact this was not such a serious breakthrough, since memory, characterized by small timings and concealment, can equalize in speed with a high-frequency device, if its stealthiness and timings are high.

Of course, no one says that the ASUS P5K EPU and other models were not the fastest at the time. But in fact, this difference was far from a 75% advantage, which was really achieved only in the laboratory.

How were the tests conducted?

For modern overclockers, the most optimal are those that do not increase, but rather lower the memory divisors. The minimum starting memory frequency is not frightening, as it will increase proportionally during the overclocking process by increasing the FSB with participation. At the same time, weak memory does not represent a limiting factor, so that overclocking the processor to the maximum possible value becomes more affordable and affordable - the main thing is to control at least through the ASUS P5K BIOS.

I am glad that after the release of this device, the practice was renewed to provide a lot of software bundled with motherboards, and some utilities are more than interesting.

Design and functions

Latches designed for different memory slots can not be overridden by the installed video card. Separate attention deserves the increased distance between the PCI-E connectors, as well as three PCI slots and a convenient location of the power connectors.

Slots for capacitors are initially empty, but all polymer ones, which significantly influenced the overall cost of the ASUS P5K motherboard, but it allowed to achieve higher stability and longevity of the device with optimal parameters. In the motherboard there are four connectors at the same time, to which fans can be connected, which is enough for a standard card that does not pretend to any records.

Power and cooling system

The three-phase power supply system of the processor, which motherboard ASUS P5K uses, can hardly be called an advantage of this device, but it is not a drawback either. The undoubted advantage is the cooling system, in which there are no fans, so that absolutely silent operation of this equipment is achieved. Instead of fans, a special heat pipe is used here.

The radiator, which is installed in the ASUS P5K Pro in the field of MOSFET transistors and is located on the airflow path from the CPU cooler, allows to significantly reduce the working temperature of the radiator on the north bridge.

The South Bridge of the chipset also significantly warms up during operation, and a small heatsink is used to cool it.

Controllers

Although ASUS P5K E is a low-end model, it has enough space for an additional controller, which simultaneously supports two ports of the IEEE 1394a standard . Like most modern motherboards based on Intel chipsets, ASUS was forced to add another controller, which supports only one SATA port, which is located inside not in the most convenient way.

How important are the connectors?

This inconvenient arrangement of the internal SATA connector in the ASUS P5K Pro is not so critical, although it can be almost completely shut down after installing a video card that uses a dual-slot cooling system, but in the majority of cases, the users are satisfied with four standard SATA chipset connectors. But at the same time, the PATA connector located in the lower left corner of the board will be a significant drawback of the layout of this motherboard, as it is under the slots for expansion cards. If you are still using the old format HDD, then this disadvantage is not too critical for you, but when connecting optical drives with PATA interface you will face serious problems.

Thus, the ASUS P5K E board is suitable for the majority of users, allowing them to solve the main tasks, and serves as the main for a lot of modern devices. That's why it is popular to this day.