Introduction and Specifications

Asus has sent over its 955X motherboard solution for the new dual core Intel processors. Does it have enough to offer to make you want to upgrade that aging system of yours?

Introduction

In April of this year Intel first introduced their dual core processors and their new core logic chipset to power them.  It is now the end of July and we are still seeing a very slow market for Intel’s product lines.  Since the introduction of AMD’s dual core line up, Intel has once again found themselves in the back seat of the performance bus; at least when it comes to pure gaming applications.

Other areas of computing might not see such big advantages with the Athlon X2 processors over Pentium D and Pentium XE options.  A full look at the performance of the latest dual core processors from both AMD and Intel can be found by looking over our processor section of PC Perspective.

What we have here today on the bench is a motherboard option for you should you decide to go down the path with Intel.  Powered by Intel’s own 955X chipset, the Asus P5WD2 is a board that seems to have it all together.

Specifications (from Asus website)

Asus P5WD2 Premium 955X Motherboard Review - Motherboards 68
CPU – LGA775 socket for Intel® Pentium 4/Celeron CPU
– Intel Pentium® Processor Extreme Edition & Intel
Pentium® D Processor ready
– Compatible with Intel® 05B/ 05A and 04B/04A processors
– Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology ready
Chipset Intel 955X
Intel ICH7R
Front Side Bus 1066/ 800/ 533 MHz
Memory Dual channel memory architecture
4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets support max. 8GB DDR2 800/ 667/ 533 ECC and non-ECC memory
Native DDR2 800 Support
Intel MPT (Intel Memory Pipeline Technology)
Expansion Slots 1 x PCI Express x16 slot for discrete graphics card
1 x Universal PCI-E Slot ( x4 mode)
1 x PCI Express x1
3 x PCI
Storage/ RAID Intel ICH7R South Bridge:
*1 x UltraDMA 100/66/33
*4 x Serial ATA I/II 3.0Gb/s with Intel Matrix Storage Technology with RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 support

Silicon Image 3132 SATA controller:
*1 x Internal Serial ATA I/II
*1 x External Serial ATA

ITE IDE controller:
* 2 x UltraDMA 133/100/66
LAN Dual Gigabit LAN controllers:
*1 x Intel PCIe Gigabit LAN Controller
*1 x Marvell 88E8001 Gigabit LAN Controller, featuring AI NET2
Audio Realtek ALC882D High Definition Audio 8-channel CODEC
Support Multi-streaming, Jack-sensing and Jack-retasking functions
Coaxial, Optical S/PDIF out on back I/O port
Features Dolby Digital Live technology
IEEE 1394 TI 1394 controller supports 2 x 1394 ports
USB Max. 8 USB2.0/1.1 ports
ASUS AI Life Features WiFi-TV PCI card (optional)
-Digital TV(DVB-T only), Analog TV, FM
-WiFi@home 802.11a/b/g
Stack Cool 2 patented fanless cooling system
“SATA on the Go” External SATA connector
AI Quiet
Overclocking features AI NOS (Non-delay Overclocking System)
ASUS CPU Lock Free
Precision Tweaker:
– vDIMM: 8-step DRAM voltage control
– vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.0125 increment
– SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection): allowing FSB tuning from 100MHz up to 400MHz at 1MHz increment
– PCIe x16 Frequency: allowing PCIe x16 frequency from 100MHz up to 200MHz at 1MHz increment
AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner)
Adjustable FSB/DDR ratio. Fixed PCI/PCIe frequencies.
ASUS AI Booster utility
ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
Other ASUS Special Features CrashFree BIOS 2
Q-Fan2
Multi-language BIOS
MyLogo2
BIOS 8 Mb Flash ROM,AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3
Manageability WOL by PME,WOR by PME, Chassis Intrusion
Back Panel I/O Ports 1 x Parallel
1 x Optical + 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Output
1 x PS/2 Keyboard
1 x PS/2 Mouse
2 x RJ45
4 x USB 2.0/1.1
1 x IEEE1394a
1 x External SATA port
8-Channel Audio I/O
Internal I/O Connectors 2 x USB 2.0 connectors supports additional 4 USB 2.0 ports
1 x IEEE1394a connectors
1 x COM connector
1 x GAME/MIDI connector
CPU / 2 x Chassis / Power Fan connectors
Front panel High Definition Audio connector
Chassis Intrusion connector
CD audio-in connector
24-pin ATX Power connector
4-pin ASUS EZ Plug connector
8-pin ATX 12V Power connector
Support CD Drivers
ASUS PC Probe 2
ASUS LiveUpdate Utility
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
Accessories InterVideo WinDVD Suite (OEM version)
1 x IEEE1394 port module
5 x SATA cables
SATA power cable for 5 devices
1 x 2-port USB2.0 / Game module
1 x COM Port module
1 x GT Soft Bridge for future upgrade
2 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
1 x IDE cable
1 x FDD cable
1 x I/O Shield
User’ s manual
WiFi-TV Accessories (bundle version only): CyberLink PowerCinema (OEM version)
PAL to NTSC Adapter
1 x Omnidirectional dual-band wireless antenna
1 x FM Antenna
1 x Remote control + USB Receiver
WiFi-TV User’s Manual
Form Factor ATX Form Factor, 12″x 9.6″(30.5cm x 24.5cm)
Asus P5WD2 Premium 955X Motherboard Review - Motherboards 69

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