Introduction and Specifications

The Asus P5B Deluxe was one of the first motherboards to use the Intel 965 chipset. Just recently, a new ATI drive and BIOS from Asus have enabled CrossFire support on it, right as we were finishing up testing. Does this board have what it takes to make it as your Core 2 motherboard?

Introduction

Back during Computex in Taipei this past summer, Intel officially unveiled their latest core logic solution, the 965 chipset.  While not targeted to replace the 975X chipset as the enthusiast platform of choice for Intel processors, the P965 chipset is making its way into enthusiast class motherboards such as this Asus P5B Deluxe.  Our review sample came with the WiFi-AP moniker, indicating that the board also comes with integrated wireless networking features.

But does the board have what it takes to live up the 975X chipset in performance?  And can it make itself attractive enough to make into your new Core 2 Duo system?

Specifications (from Asus.com)

CPU
LGA775 socket for Intel® Core™2 Extreme / Core™2 Duo / Pentium® Extreme / Pentium® D / Pentium® 4 / Celeron® D Processors
Compatible with Intel® 05B/05A/06B processors
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology ready
* Refer to http://www.asus.com/ for Intel CPU support list
Chipset

Intel® P965 / ICH8R with Intel® Fast Memory Access Technology

Front Side Bus
1066 / 800 / 533 MHz
Memory

4 x DIMM, max. 8GB, DDR2 800 / 667 / 533 MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered memory
Dual channel memory architecture
* Refer to http://www.asus.com/ or user manual for Memory QVL (Qualify Vendor List)

Expansion Slots
2 x PCI-E x16 (blue @  x16 mode, black @ x2 or x4 mode)
1 x PCI-E x1 (x1 or diabled mode)
3 x PCI 2.2

Storage

Southbridge
 – 6 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports
 – Intel Matrix Storage Technology supports  RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10.
JMicron® JMB363 PATA and SATA controller
 – 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 for up to 2 PATA devices
 – 1 x Internal SATA 3.0 Gb/s port
 – 1 x External SATA 3.0 Gb/s port (SATA On-the-Go)
 – Support SATA RAID 0, 1 and JBOD

LAN
Dual Gigabit LAN controllers, both featuring AI NET2
Marvell® PCI-E and PCI Gigabit LAN controllers
Wireless LAN

ASUS WiFi-AP Solo
54 Mbps IEEE 802.11g and backwards compatible with 11 Mbps IEEE 802.11b
 – Software Access point mode
 – Station mode : Infrastruceure mode and Ad-Hoc mode

Audio

ADI® AD1988B 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC
 – Support Jack-Sensing, Enumeration, Multi-streaming and Jack-Retasking
 – Coaxial / Optical S/PDIF out ports at back I/O
 – ASUS Noise Filter
 – ASUS Array Mic

IEEE 1394
TI® 1394a controller supports 2 x IEEE 1394a ports (one at midboard; one at back panel)
USB
8 x USB2.0 ports (4 ports at mid-board, 4 ports at back panel)
ASUS AI Lifestyle Features
ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution:
 – ASUS AI Gear
 – ASUS AI Nap
 – ASUS 8-Phase Power Design
 – ASUS Fanless Design: Heat-pipe solution
 – ASUS Fanless Design: Stack Cool 2
 – ASUS Q-Fan 2
 – ASUS Optional Fan for Water-cooling or Passive-Cooling only
ASUS Crystal Sound:
 – ASUS Noise Filter
 – ASUS Array Mic
ASUS EZ DIY:
 – ASUS Q-Connector
 – ASUS O.C. Profile
 – ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
 – ASUS EZ Flash 2
 – ASUS Power LED
ASUS WiFi@Home:
 – ASUS WiFi-AP Solo
Other ASUS Special Features

ASUS MyLogo 2
Multi-language BIOS

Overclocking Features

Intelligent overclocking tools:
 – AI NOS™ (Non-delay Overclocking System)
 – AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner)
 – ASUS PEG Link – Automatically performance tuning for graphics card
 – ASUS AI Booster utility
Precision Tweaker:
 – vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.00625V increment
 – vDIMM: 13-step DRAM voltage control
 – vChipset: 4-step Chipset voltage control
SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection)
 – FSB tuning from 100MHz up to 650MHz at 1MHz increment
 – Memory tuning from 533MHz up to 1066MHz
 – PCI Express frequency tuning from 100MHz up to 150MHz at 1MHz increment
Overclocking Protection:
 – ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)

Back Panel I/O Ports
1 x PS/2 Keyboard
1 x PS/2 Mouse
1 x Serial port
1 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial + Optical)
1 x External SATA
1 x IEEE1394a
2 x RJ45 port
4 x USB 2.0/1.1
1 x WiFi-AP Solo antenna jack
8-Channel Audio I/O
Internal I/O Connectors
2 x USB connectors support additional 4 USB ports
1 x Floppy disk drive connector
1 x IDE connector
7 x SATA connectors
1 x CPU Fan connector
5 x Chassis Fan connector
1 x Power Fan connector
1 x IEEE1394a connector
Front panel audio connector
1 x Azalia Digital Header
1 x S/PDIF Out Header
Chassis Intrusion connector
CD audio in
24-pin ATX Power connector
2 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector
System Panel
BIOS
8 Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3, ACPI 2.0a, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2,  ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
Manageability
WfM 2.0, DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME, PXE
Accessories

UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
FDD cable
SATA cables
SATA power cables
I/O Shield
User’s manual
USB2.0 port module
3 in 1 Q-connector
IEEE1394 port module
InterVideo® Media Launcher (OEM version)
Optional Fan for Water-Cooling or Passive-Cooling only
ASUS WiFi-AP Solo omni-directional antenna
Array Mic

Support CD
Drivers
ASUS PC Probe II
ASUS Update
AI Booster
ASUS AI Suite
ASUS WiFi-AP Solo Wizard
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
Form Factor
ATX Form Factor, 12″x 9.6″ (30.5cm x 24.5cm)

« PreviousNext »