Intel X58 and ASUS P6T Deluxe
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Date: 21.12.2008 |
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ASUS P6T Deluxe: Layout and Features
From the viewpoint of the developer of the motherboard, the PCB design with the LGA 1366 socket is somehow more complicated than the design of LGA775 boards. The area allocated for the CPU socket is much larger. Besides, a lot of space on the board is taken by six slots for memory modules. Finally, high-performance processors require a high-rated power converter. All that substantially reduces the usable area on the board, however, engineers at ASUS on the example of P6T Deluxe have proved that even with these restrictions it is possible to develop a motherboard of wide functionality.
To save space the battery cell is positioned vertically
The engineers have also taken care of the convenience of system assembly. In particular, there is no blocking of DIMM slots latches by the PCI Express video card, with the power connectors positioned conveniently over the board's edges: 24-pin - on the bottom edge, with a 8-pin on the right-hand.
Note that the board has retained a backward compatibility to the "old" PSUs and allows using them with 20+4 cables. At the same time, the unused pins of the additional connector are closed with a plastic cap.
Near the CPU socket, there is a 4-pin CPU_FAN connector for a matching cooler.
Besides that, there are four more 3-pin connectors: PWR_FAN and CHA_FAN1 - on the bottom edge of the board, CHA_FAN2 - near the "north bridge", and CHA_FAN3 - near the "south".
On the north bridge, there is a massive radiator connected to the radiator on the power supply module with a heat pipe. Also, using the heat pipe the heat from the south bridge is transferred to the north bridge.
Moreover, the cooling efficiency can be improved through installation of an additional radiator which should be available in the package bundle.
Under the north bridge, there are six 240-pin DIMM slots for DDR3 memory modules. They are partitioned into groups of two slots, with the alternating colors. In the end, to enable the triple-channel mode, you've got to install modules into slots of the same color (an option with three modules).
The board supports DDR3-1066/1333/1600 memory, and the maximum memory capacity makes 12 GB. Once voltage is applied to the board, illumination of Power and Reset buttons installed on the left-hand edge of the board lights up. Once the board has started up, an illumination of the "south bridge" with the ASUS logo lights up.
There are three PCI Express Graphic slots (all with latches) onboard, which are meant for video cards.
Installation of video cards should be started from the first slot (the blue one). With one video card installed, 16 lanes of the PCI Express v2.0 bus are allocated to it, and eight lanes - to the second and third slots. Expansion cards can be installed into them. In installing two video cards, 16 PCI Express v2.0 bus lanes are allocated to them, and only one - to the third PEG slot. Therefore, the scheme of lanes distribution over the slots looks like 16+16+1. With the installation of three video cards the 16+16+1 scheme is also possible, but the most optimum mode in terms of performance is the 16+8+8 scheme of lanes distribution.
lanes allocation to the second and third PEG slots
We also note that hardcore enthusiasts may install four(!) video cards on the board. But to install the fourth video card into the PCI Express x4 slot which has no rear wall, the cooling system has got to be modified somehow. But some freaks may install even six video cards! However, in that case two video cards must be of the PCI standard.
By the way, if you do need a system with a LGA1366 CPU and six video cards, it makes sense to wait until the ASUS P6T6 WS Revolution (Intel X58) motherboard is released.
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