ASUS P5E64 WS Evolution and MSI P45D3 Platinum
Author:
Date: 28.08.2008 |
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ASUS P5E64 WS Evolution |
MSI P45D3 Platinum |
| Chipset |
Intel X48 |
Intel P45 |
| CPU |
LGA775 Pentium 4 FSB 1333/1066/800/533MHz Celeron Conroe/Prescott FSB 800/533МГц Dual-Core Pentium4 Smithfield/Presler Quad-Core (Yorkfield/Kentsfield), Dual-Core (Wolfdale/Conroe) FSB 1600/1333/1066/800MHz HyperThreading |
| Memory |
DDR3 800/1066/1333
1600/1800* |
DDR3 800/1066/1333 |
| HDD |
1x UltraDMA/133
10x SerialATA(2xRAID) |
1x UltraDMA/133
8x SerialATA(2xRAID) |
| Extras |
2 IEEE-1394a
Audio Intel HDA
12 USB 2.0
2x Gigabit Ethernet |
| Price: |
~350~370$ (Price.ru) |
~185~205$ (Price.ru) |
Release of the Intel P45 chipset has complicated the user choice as never before and minimized the functional differences between the high-end and mainstream Intel chipsets. First, the most recent high-end X48 officially supports the 1600 MHz QPB bus, whereas the P45 - only the 1333 MHz bus. Nevertheless, the overclocking capability of P45 is so high that various manufacturers are absolutely safely declaring support for future 1600 MHz processors. Secondly, X48 is equipped with various versions of the south bridge ICH9, whereas P45 operates with the ICH10. But, despite the differences in figures, the expansion options of both the bridges are fully identical. Thirdly, the most essential difference: the X48 chipset supports two PCI Express x16 version v2.0 slots, with 16 lanes allocated to each. The P45 also supports 2 slots, and also v2.0 specifications. However, 8 bus lanes are allocated to each of the slots. But since the bandwidth of the PCI-E v2.0 is twice as high than in the previous specification, the CrossFire on P45 also runs as fast. In the end, we make a conclusion that a motherboard based on the X48 chipset is needed only to those users who use the video subsystem that comprises at least three video cores (e.g., two "dual" video cards merged into the CrossFire). Another option is a system with more than two video cards. But that example is not so visual since with the Intel P45 chipset the manufacturers manage to produce motherboards having more than two PCI-E x16 slots (see the review of the motherboard ASUS P5Q Deluxe with three PCI-E x16 slots).
What conclusion should we make? First, after the release of Intel P45, motherboards based on the X48 are turning to be niche products. Secondly, any motherboard based on the P45 chipset with two PCI-E x16 slots will suit to the CrossFire technology. Therefore, we are comparing ASUS P5E64 WS Evolution (X48) versus MSI P45D3 Platinum (P45).
Specifications
 
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ASUS P5E64 WS Evolution |
MSI P45D3 Platinum |
| CPU |
- Intel Pentium 4 (Prescott (2M)/Gallatin/CedarMill) with the bus speeds 1066/800/533 MHz;
- Dual-core Intel Pentium D/EE (Smithfield/Presler) with the bus speeds 800/1066 MHz;
- Intel Celeron-D (Conroe-L, Prescott) with the bus speeds 800/533 MHz;
- Support for Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad (Kentsfield, Conroe) with the bus speeds 333/1066/800 MHz;
- Support for Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad (Yorkfield, Wolfdale) with the bus speeds 1600/1333/1066 MHz;
- Socket LGA775;
- Support for HyperThreading processors; |
| Chipset |
- North bridge Intel X48 (MCH);
- South bridge Intel ICH9R;
- Interbridge communication: DMI; |
- North bridge Intel P45 (MCH);
- South bridge Intel ICH10R;
- Interbridge communications: DMI; |
| System memory |
- Four 240-pin slots for DDR3 SDRAM DIMM;
- Maximum memory capacity 8 GB;
- Supported memory DDR3 800/1066/1333/1600/1800*;
- Dual-channel memory access;
- Onboard power indicator; |
- Four 240-pin slots for DDR3 SDRAM DIMM;
- Maximum memory capacity 8 GB;
- Supported memory DDR3 800/1066/1333;
- Dual-channel memory access;
- Onboard power indicator; |
| Graphics |
- Four PCI Express x16 slots; |
- Two PCI Express x16 slots; |
| Expansion options |
- Two 32-bit PCI Bus Master slots;
- PCI Express x4 slot;
- Twelve USB 2.0 (6 integrated + 6 additional) ports;
- Two IEEE1394 ports (FireWire; one integrated + one additional);
- Integrated High Definition Audio 7.1;
- Two Gigabit Ethernet LAN controllers; |
- Two 32-bit PCI Bus Master slots;
- Two PCI Express x1 slots;
- Twelve USB 2.0 (6 integrated + 6 additional) ports;
- Two IEEE1394 ports (FireWire; one integrated + one additional);
- Integrated High Definition Audio 7.1;
- Two Gigabit Ethernet LAN controllers; |
| Overclocking options |
- FSB adjustable within 200 to 800 MHz in 1 MHz increments; adjustable multiplier;
- Adjustable voltage on the CPU, memory, FSB, PLL, and the chipset (NB + SB);
- ASUS AiBooster; |
- FSB adjustable within 133 to 800 MHz in 1 MHz increments; adjustable multiplier;
- Adjustable voltages on the CPU, memory, FSB, and the chipset (NB + SB);
- MSI D.O.T;
- Dual CoreCenter; |
| Disk subsystem |
- 1 link for UltraDMA133/100/66/33 Bus Master IDE (Marvell 88SE6145; with support for up to 2 ATAPI devices);
- Support for SerialATA II (6 links - ICH9R, with support for RAID);
- Support for SerialATA II (4 links - Marvell 88SE6145, with support for RAID 0,1,0+1, and JBOD);
- Support for LS-120 / ZIP / ATAPI CD-ROM; |
- 1 link for UltraDMA133/100/66/33 Bus Master IDE (JMicron JMB 363; with support for up to 2 ATAPI devices);
- Support for SerialATA II (6 links - ICH10R, with support for RAID);
- Support for SerialATA II (2 links - JMicron JMB 363, with support for RAID 0,1, JBOD);
- Support for SerialATA II (1 link - JMicron JMB 362);
- Support for LS-120 / ZIP / ATAPI CD-ROM; |
| BIOS |
- 16 Mbit Flash ROM; - AMI BIOS with support for Enhanced ACPI, DMI, Green, PnP Features;
- ASUS EZ Flash 2;
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3;
- ASUS MyLogo 2;
- ASUS OC Profile;
- Multi-languages BIOS; |
- 32 Mbit Flash ROM;
- AMI BIOS with support for Enhanced ACPI, DMI, Green, PnP Features;
- MSI POST; |
| Misc |
One port for FDD, one serial port, port for PS/2 keyboard;
- STR (Suspend to RAM);
- SPDIF Out; |
- One port for FDD, one serial port, ports for PS/2 mouse and keyboard;
- STR (Suspend to RAM);
- SPDIF Out; |
| Power management |
- Wake up on modem, mouse, keyboard, LAN, timer and USB;
- Main 24-pin ATX power connector;
- Additional 8-pin power connector; |
- Wake-up on modem, mouse, keyboard, LAN, timer, and USB;
- Main 24-pin ATX power connector;
- Additional 8-pin power connector;
- Additional 4-pin Molex power connector; |
| Monitoring |
- Monitoring the temperatures of the CPU, system, voltages, rotational speeds of the five fans;
- Q-Fan 2;
- ASUS EPU, AI Nap;
- ASUS PC Probe II; |
- Monitoring the temperature of the CPU, system, chipset, voltages, rotational speeds of the three fans;
- GreenPower (+ support for GreenPower Genie);
- Smart Fan; |
| Dimensions |
- ATX form factor, 245mm x 305mm (9.63" x 12"); |
Packaging
We note that the box for the MSI board has a handle to carry it around.
Package bundle
- ASUS P5E64 WS Evolution
- motherboard;
- User's Manual in English;
- drivers and utilities DVD;
- one ATA-133 cable, one FDD cable;
- 8x SerialATA cables + 2x power supply adapters (4 connectors);
- a cap for the rear panel of the housing (with noise-proof coating);
- kit of additional connectors;
- bracket for an additional FireWire port and 2 USB 2.0 ports;
- a bracket for a COM port;
- ASUS corporate logo sticker;
- diagnostic module G.P.;
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- MSI P45D3 Platinum
- motherboard;
- User's Manual in English + brief usage guide;
- 2x CDs with software & drivers (for XP and Vista);
- CD with a backup utility + user's manual;
- one ATA-133 cable, one FDD cable;
- 4x SerialATA cables + 2x power supply adapters (2 connectors);
- a cap for the rear panel of the housing;
- kit of additional connectors;
- bracket for 2 USB 2.0 and one Firewire ports;
- a bridge for the CrossFire;
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All the drivers, utilities, and third-party software for the ASUS board are written on one DVD. The third-party software includes suites like Ulead Burn.Now, Corel MediaOne Starter, Ulead PhotoImpact 12 SE, CyberLink PowerBackup, WinZip 11, as well as Norton Internet Security. Besides, ASUS P5E64 WS Evolution comes bundled with quite a thick user's manual that gives a detailed coverage of all the system assembly and setup stages.
The user's manual for MSI P45D3 Platinum is almost as thick and is complemented with a brief manual. All the software is written on three CDs: one for Windows XP, the second one for Vista, and the third one has a backup utility (with a separate leaflet attached).
The ASUS board offers a bit more of standard items.
In all the remaining, there is an equality.
Both the boards come bundled with a bracket for two USB2.0 and one FireWire ports, as well as a kit of connectors to facilitate plugging in the board to the buttons of the housing. The package bundles differ in only one thing: the MSI board uses a CrossFire bridge, and the ASUS board should have a G.P. diagnostic module. We did not find out why it was missing on the board in question, but it looks like this:
Considering the retail prices, we rate the package bundles as follows: ASUS P5E64 WS Evolution - "4 of 5-", and MSI P45D3 Platinum - "4.5 of 5".
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