Asus P5AD2-E i925XE Motherboard

Refinements and performance optimizations in PC motherboard designs often track chipset re-spins and tweaks, as a new base architecture matures.  Intel is absolutely famous (or shall we say infamous) for releasing a new chipset only to set sail with a re-spin or further characterization of the product, just a few months later.  Such was the case for Intel's i925X chipset.  PC Motherboard OEMs first to market with new i925X "Alderwood" offerings are now trying to shift gears and react to Intel's characterization and branding of the chip at 1066MHz Front Side Bus speeds.  The i925X now has an "E" revision denoting "official" support for this new higher speed system bus, only its the exact same die in that Northbridge package, just validated to perform at 1066MHz. 

The i925XE, as it is known now, is another step down Intel's roadmap and any user looking at a motherboard based on the i925X chipset would be advised to seriously consider only motherboards based on the "E" flavor of the chip.  Next generation high end CPUs from Intel will be running on a 1066MHz FSB, so it makes little sense going with a "non-E" version motherboard.  Having said that, we're sure some motherboard manufacturers are planning on releasing BIOS updates that allow for overclocking bus speeds to this level, even on a standard i925X chipset design.  But why run "unofficially" when i925XE offerings are right around the corner?  Our sentiments exactly...

Asus steps up to the plate today with one of the first i925XE boards to hit our labs, the P5AD2-E Premium.  We're fairly certain you couldn't tell the difference physically in the "E" version versus the "non-E" version of this motherboard that we tested here not long ago, save for the model number silk screened on the PCB.  However, it will be very interesting to see what a little maturity in the chipset and BIOS revisions of the past few months, bring us in terms of performance improvements.  Not to mention faster, lower latency DDR2 memory that is available now as well.  We'll give you some insight into all of these areas in the pages ahead.  

Specifications & Features of The Asus P5AD2-E Motherboard Everything but the kitchen sink

Processor •_Designed for Intel 90nm Pentium 4 LGA775 processors •_Supports 1066/800MHz FSB •_Supports Intel Hyper-Threading Technology Chipset •_Intel 925XE/Intel ICH6R Express Chipset Memory •_Four 240-pin DIMM sockets •_Supports Dual channel DDR2 533/400 Unbuffered Non-ECC memory •_Supports maximum memory capacity up to 4GB Asus AI Proactive Features • AI NOS (Non-delay Overclocking System) •_AI NET2 network diagnosis before entering OS •_WiFi-g powered by WiFi@HOME technology •_Stack Cool patented fanless cooling system Overclocking Features • AI NOS (Non-delay Overclocking System) •_AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner) •_CPU, Memory, and PCIe x16 voltage adjustable •_SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection) from • 100MHz up to 400MHz at 1MHz increment •_Adjustable FSB/DDR ratio. Fixed PCI/PCIe frequencies. •_ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall) •_CrashFree BIOS 2 •_Q-Fan2 •_Post Reporter •_Multi-language BIOS • MyLogo2 PCI-E X16 graphic •_Delivers up to 8GB/s per direction for 3.5 times more bandwidth than AGP8X SATA RAID • Intel ICH6R South Bridge: - 1 x UltraDMA 100/66/33 - 4 x Serial ATA with Intel Matrix Storage Technology with RAID 0, 1 support •_Silicon Image 3114R RAID controller: - 4 x Serial ATA, RAID 0, 1, 10, 5 (RAID 5 software patch available, no WHQL) •_ITE IDE RAID controller: - 2 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 with JBOD, RAID 0, 1, 0+1 support Dual LAN • 2 x Marvell PCIe 88E8053 Gigabit LAN Controller, features AI NET2 Wireless LAN: WiFi-g • 54 Mbps IEEE 802.11g and backwards compatible with 11 Mbps 802.11b - Access Point function (under WinXP, 2003) - Bundle an external antenna - One-touch wizard - Wireless bridge, a.k.a. WDS or wireless repeater (under WinXP, 2003) IEEE1394 •_TI 1394b controller supports - 2 x 1394b ports @ 800 Mbps speed - 1 x 1394a ports @ 400 Mbps speed Audio (Dolby Digital Live support) •_C-Media High Definition Audio 8-channel CODEC •_Coaxial, Optical S/PDIF out on back I/O port •_Features Dolby Digital Live technology

Internal I/O Connectors • 2 x USB 2.0 connectors supports additional 4 USB •_2.0 ports •_1 x LAN connector •_2 x IEEE1394 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 ATX 12V Power connector Back Panel I/O •_1 x Parallel •_1 x WLAN antenna jack (optional) •_1 x Optical + 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Output •_1 x PS/2 Keyboard •_1 x PS/2 Mouse •_1 x RJ45 •_4 x USB 2.0/1.1 •_1 x IEEE1394a •_8-Channel Audio I/O Packaging Content • InterVideo WinDVD Suite (OEM version) •_1 x Wireless LAN antenna (optional) •_1 x 2-port IEEE1394b / 1-port RJ45 module •_10 x Serial ATA cables •_1 x SATA Extension module for external devices •_4 x 2-port SATA power cable •_1 x 2-port USB2.0 / Game module •_1 x COM Port module •_2 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable •_1 x IDE cable •_1 x FDD cable •_1 x I/O Shield •_User's manual Dimension •_ATX Form Factor, 12"x 9.6"(30.5cm x 24.5cm)

Asus bundles in quite an offering with their "Premium" line of motherboards.  Asus sent in their P5AD2-E Premium Wireless Edition bundle, which among a myriad of other features has integrated 802.11g /b wireless LAN connectivity with supported software enabled Access Point features.  Pictured above is the P5AD2-E's WiFi antenna that screws on to a small co-ax connector on the IO back-plate of the board.  The board also comes with Dual Gigabit Ethernet controllers one of which is made available through a slot bracket that also has two Firewire ports on it.  In addition, Asus also bundled in an external 2 port SATA extension bracket with a Molex power connector, for external Serial ATA hard drive support.  The board also comes with 10 SATA cables which almost seems like overkill but we're not levying any complaints.

Of course the P5AD2-E also brings with it all the benefits of Intel's i925XE chipset, including support for a 1066MHz Front Side Bus speed, DDR2 System Memory, PCI Express Graphics and High Definition 8 channel Audio, which is supported by C-Media's High-Def Audio Codec on this motherboard in particular.