ASUS has introduced a new ATX gaming motherboard for Intel's 6th-generation Xeon E3-1200 server processors, offering premium desktop gaming features on a board built with Intel's C232 chipset.
The board is built with Intel's C232 chipset, needed to support the Xeon E3-1200 processors (not compatible with desktop chipsets). Intel's C232 product page lists a maximum of only 8 PCI Express lanes, so (as pointed out in the comments) the E3-1200 and desktop Skylake processors will provide 16 lanes to the first PCIe slot, with the C232 providing up to 8 more for the other slots. (Intel's C236 chipset, the other chipset supporting these new Skylake Xeon CPUs, supports 20 PCIe lanes.)
The E3 Pro Gaming V5 supports not only E3-1200 series Xeon processors, but 6th-generation Intel Core and Pentium/Celeron CPUs as well with its LGA1151 socket. Why exactly would a server CPU be an attractive option for a gaming rig anyway? For one thing the 4 core/8 thread Skylake desktop CPU (the i7-6700K) is difficult to find and currently $419.99 on Newegg (and out of stock). A Skylake Xeon E3-1230 v5 on the other hand (all models above E3-1220/1225 are 4 core/8 thread) starts at $274.99 (Newegg).
Here are some of the specifications from ASUS:
- CPU: Intel Socket 1151 for Xeon E3-1200 v5 and 6th genereation Core, Pentium and Celeron Processors
- Chipset: Intel C232
- Memory: 4x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR4 2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory, Dual-Channel Memory Architecture
- Supports Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
- Expansion Slots:
- 1x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 mode)
- 1x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode)
- 2x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1
- 2x PCI
- Multi-GPU Support: Supports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX Technology, AMD 2-Way CrossFireX Technology
- Storage: (Intel C232 chipset) 1x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key design, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (Supports both SATA & PCIE SSD), 6x SATA 6Gb/s ports, support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
- Intel Rapid Storage Technology Enterprise support
- LAN: Intel I219LM, 1x Gigabit LAN Controller, GameFirst technology, Anti-surge LANGuard
- Audio: SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio
- USB Ports:
- (ASMedia USB 3.1 controller) 1x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.1 Type-C
- (Intel C232 chipset) 6x USB 3.0/2.0 ports
- Form Factor: ATX (12 inch x 9.6 inch)
Availability for the U.S.A. was not specified, but according to the press release (accessed via Vortez here) it will be offered in the UK with an MSRP of £118.10, or approximately $175 US.
The xeon you linked is only 4
The xeon you linked is only 4 threads you have to go up to the E3-1230 v5 if you want hyperthreading and thats 260 usd.
My mistake, corrected!
My mistake, corrected!
“Intel’s C232 product page
“Intel’s C232 product page lists a maximum of only 8 PCI Express lanes, though the E3-1200 and desktop Skylake processors support 16 lanes. The specs for the board indicate x16 PCIe support for the first slot, so this is a bit unclear.”
Sebastian, in order to clear up your confusion, realize that the “Max # of PCI Express Lanes” listed on Intel’s ARK site for the PCH refers to the maximum number of lanes provided by the PCH. This in no way limits the motherboard’s total available lanes. The first x16 slot on the motherboard is provided by the CPU’s 16 PCIe lanes. The 8 lanes from the PCH are used to power the other slots/components.
That makes a lot more sense.
That makes a lot more sense. So this would have up to 24 lanes total with the Xeon, though the second slot on the board is limited to x4 so no x8/x8 dual GPU setups with this chipset (I think?).
wait so this is a board for
wait so this is a board for us residents that cant wait for stock and willingly get hamstrung by limited pci-e lanes.
sounds stupid to me skylake is not that impressive that you should put yourself out.
“Memory: 4x DIMM, Max. 64GB,
“Memory: 4x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR4 2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory, Dual-Channel Memory Architecture”
Is there any reason at all to use a Xeon if you aren’t going to use ECC?
I personally don’t see a
I personally don’t see a reason to use a Xenon board if the most taxing thing you’re going to do is gaming. You could make an argument for the extra PCI lanes for multi GPU setups, but the performance differences are so…minimal.
This seems to imply that
This seems to imply that desktop LGA1151 boards won’t support LGA1151 Xeons. Is that really the case? I really think they will, unless Intel has changed something in recent years.
Pretty sure they made the
Pretty sure they made the server chipset a requirement for running xeons with the v5 series (skylake).
It appears so. Why would they
It appears so. Why would they release a server board with the ‘Pro Gamer’ label if not?
I look at this board and
I look at this board and think, is baseclock OC possible? If so, a 1230 v5 OCed seems awfully cheap and tempting
On some motherboards it is
On some motherboards it is indeed possible Now when the pci and cpu bus are seperated. happy Overclocking!
Very few Capacitors on this
Very few Capacitors on this MOBO, hope you have a great PSU… wow…