Motherboards. Review and testing of the motherboard ASUS X79-DELUXE X79 motherboard lga2011

In connection with the recent announcement of new processors from the Intel Ivy Bridge-E family, with one of whose representatives we have already introduced you, it is quite logical that interest in motherboards of the Socket LGA2011 platform has increased. Despite the fact that virtually all solutions previously released on the basis of the Intel X79 Express chipset are compatible with new processors after updating the BIOS firmware, many manufacturers have decided to update their model lines. Thus, a motherboard was born that replaced the previously reviewed ASUS P9X79 DELUXE. Let's see what, in addition to updating the design and a new Dual technology Intelligent Processors 4, distinguishes the heroine of our review from her predecessor:

external / internal
external / internal
RAM
	x16 + x8 + x8 + x4	x16 + x8 + x8 + x8
Audio outputs	5 Optical S / PDIF-out	6 Optical S / PDIF-out
SATA 6Gb / s
SATA 3Gb / s
	IEEE 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac	IEEE 802.11 a / b / g / n
	Yes, version 4.0	Yes, version 3.0

In general, ASUS X79-DELUXE looks like a logical update of the line to please modern requirements. As you can see in the above comparison table, the new product stands out for the better thanks to the support of the modern high-speed IEEE 802.11ac standard, as well as more SATA 6 Gb / s ports. As we know, the Intel X79 Express chipset only supports two SATA interface 6 Gbps, which gives it out advanced age by the standards of the IT industry, so to implement an additional six ports, the manufacturer had to go to the trick of connecting one of the corresponding controllers to four of the forty available PCI Express 3.0 processor lanes. For this reason, when working with four graphics accelerators, we will get the scheme x16 + x8 + x8 + x4, and not x16 + x8 + x8 + x8, as in ASUS P9X79 DELUXE.

Also, do not forget that ASUS X79-DELUXE is more modern solution, accordingly, it received an updated element base and a "top", at the time of writing the review, an audio codec from Realtek. And now we propose to go directly to the review of the novelty, and start it, according to tradition, by studying the specifications.

Motherboard specifications ASUS boards X79-DELUXE:

Manufacturer
	X79-DELUXE (rev 1.0)
	Intel X79 Express
CPU socket
Supported processors	Intel Core i7 Extreme of the Intel Sandy Bridge-E and Ivy Bridge-E families
Memory frequency	2800 (O.C.) / 2400 (O.C.) / 2133 (O.C.) / 1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz
Memory support	8 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM slots supporting up to 64GB memory
Expansion slots	4 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 (CPU)	x16 + x8 + x8 + x4
	2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1
Disk subsystem	Intel X79 Express Chipset Supports: 2 x SATA 6Gb / s 4 x SATA 3Gb / s RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 support Two ASMedia ASM1061 controllers support: 2 x SATA 6Gb / s 2 x eSATA 6Gb / s The Marvell 88SE9230 controller supports: 4 x SATA 6Gb / s
	1 x Intel 82579V (10/100/1000 Mb / s) 1 x Realtek 8111GR (10/100/1000 Mb / s)
	Dual band 802.11a / b / g / n / ac (2.4 and 5 GHz)
Sound subsystem	Realtek ALC1150 Codec 8-channel audio
	24-pin ATX power connector 8 pin ATX12V power connector
Fans	2 x CPU fan connectors (4-pin) 4 x system fan connectors (4-pin)
Cooling	Aluminum heatsink on MOSFET connected by a heat pipe with an additional heatsink Aluminum heatsink on the chipset connected by a heat pipe with an additional heatsink
External I / O ports	1 x Optical S / PDIF out 5 x audio ports 2 x connectors for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas 1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button
Internal I / O ports	1 x USB 3.0 with support for two USB 3.0 (19-pin) connections 4 x USB 2.0, each supporting two USB 2.0 connections 8 x SATA 6Gb / s 4 x SATA 3Gb / s 1 x front panel audio connector 1 x Front Panel Connector Block 1 x CMOS Clear Jumper 1 x MemOK Button! 1 x DRCT connector 1 x Direct Key Button 1 x Power Button 1 x reset button 1 x TPU switch 1 x EPU switch
	64 Mb UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.7, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 5.0
Equipment	user guide warranty brochure CD with drivers and utilities 1 x ASUS Q-Connectors set 4 x SATA 3Gb / s Cables 6 x SATA 6Gb / s Cables 1 x 2-Way NVIDIA SLI Bridge 1 x 3-Way NVIDIA SLI Bridge 1 x Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo antenna 1 x interface panel cover
Form factor, dimensions, mm
Products webpage

Packaging and equipment

On the back of the box, the main advantages of the novelty are re-noted, as well as its schematic representation and a brief specification.

The delivery package of the ASUS X79-DELUXE motherboard is quite consistent with its high level. In addition to the usual CD with software, user manuals and interface panel plugs, we found in the box:

• four SATA 3 Gb / s cables;
• six SATA 6 Gb / s cables;
• a set of ASUS Q-Connectors, which greatly facilitate the process of connecting the front panel of the PC case;
• 2-Way NVIDIA SLI bridge;
• 3-Way NVIDIA SLI bridge;
• combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antenna.

Board design and features

The motherboard is made on a black ATX PCB. Both the design and the layout of the onboard elements did not cause any comments from us. All main ports and connectors are located in optimal places and will not cause inconvenience during assembly and further operation of the system.

Taking a look at the reverse side of the printed circuit board, you can pay attention to the reinforcing plate of the processor socket and a low-profile aluminum heatsink, which is responsible not only for cooling the power elements, but also acts as a support plate for the heatsink that cools the field-effect transistors. It can also be noted that all radiators are securely fixed with screws.

At the bottom of the ASUS X79-DELUXE model, there are the following elements: a POST code indicator, TPM and S / PDIF out connectors, a header for connecting front panel audio connectors, power and reset buttons, a DirectKey button for quick access to BIOS and four pads for connecting USB 2.0 ports. In total, the chipset supports twelve USB 2.0 ports on the board: eight internal and four on the interface panel.

Two small switches deserve special mention: TPU and EPU. The first has three positions: "Off", "1" (automatic acceleration of the system by increasing the multiplier) and "2" (automatic acceleration by increasing the frequency system bus and processor multiplier). It should also be remembered that the overclocking function must be activated before turning on the PC.

The second toggle switch has only two positions and is responsible for activating the energy saving function (EPU).

ASUS X79-DELUXE motherboard is equipped with eight DIMM slots for DDR3 memory modules, which are equipped with latches on one side only for greater convenience. The RAM can work in four-channel mode. To implement it, the modules must be installed according to the following scheme.

Modules operating at frequencies from 1066 to 1866 MHz in nominal mode and up to 2800 MHz in overclocking are supported. The maximum memory capacity can be up to 64 GB, which will be enough for any given task. We also note the presence of the MemOK! Button, which allows you to automatically select the necessary parameters for the operation of the RAM for a successful start of the system.

The cooling system of the board under consideration consists of two sets of radiators (two in each), connected by a heat pipe. One pair removes heat from the chipset, while the other cools the processor power circuit elements.

The above image clearly shows that the thermal interface is applied to only one heatsink in a pair, it is he who is installed directly on the field-effect transistors, while the second is used exclusively to increase the heat dissipation area. All heatsinks are securely fixed to the board with screws. During testing, their temperature did not exceed 37.5 ° C, which is a good result.

The processor is powered according to a reinforced 10-phase scheme for computing cores and additional nodes. Another two phases are reserved for powering two groups of DIMM slots. The converter itself is based on the ASP1103 PWM controller with an integrated DIGI + power management system. All components of the processor power unit are highly reliable - Japanese solid-state capacitors and chokes with a ferrite core are used. The main 24-pin and additional 8-pin connectors are designed to supply the power supply to the ASUS X79-DELUXE.

The possibilities for expanding the functionality of the motherboard are represented by six slots: four PCI Express x16 and two PCI Express x1. As for the connectors for installing graphics accelerators, they are all connected to the processor and share 36 out of 40 lines with each other (the controller for additional SATA ports is connected to four). Taking into account support for AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI technologies, when installing multiple graphics adapters, the lines are distributed according to the following schemes:

• x16 + x16;
• x16 + x8 + x8;
• x16 + x8 + x8 + x4.

As you can see, the most productive use case will be the installation of two high-performance video cards in x16 + x16 mode, for which the manufacturer suggests using gray slots. Their location on printed circuit board will allow you to connect a pair of three-slot graphics accelerators, for example, the ASUS Radeon HD 7970 MATRIX PLATINUM, and at the same time you will still have access to one PCI Express x16 slot, which will operate in x4 mode.

Multi I / O capabilities are provided by the NUVOTON NCT6791D chip, which controls the operation of the system fans and also provides monitoring.

Two gigabit LAN controllers are used to support network connections: Intel WG82579V and Realtek 8111GR.

The operation of four SATA 6 Gb / s ports is implemented using a Marvell 88SE9230 controller connected to four PCI Express 3.0 processor lines.

The operation of two SATA 6 Gb / s ports and two eSATA 6 Gb / s ports located on the interface panel is carried out by two ASMedia ASM1061 controllers.

The operation of eight USB 3.0 ports is provided using the ASMedia ASM 1074 chip and two ASMedia ASM 1042 controllers

The sound subsystem of the motherboard in question is based on the 8-channel HDA codec Realtek ALC1150, which supports 2/4 / 5.1 / 7.1 audio systems. It boasts the ability to play lossless audio with a sampling rate of 192 kHz and a resolution of 24-bit, support for DTS Ultra PC II technologies, DTS Connect and BD Audio Layer Content Protection, and the presence of an S / PDIF out port on the interface panel.

The interface panel of the ASUS X79-DELUXE model includes the following ports:

• 2 x LAN (RJ45);
• 6 x USB 3.0;
• 4 x USB 2.0;
• 2 x eSATA;
• 1 x Optical S / PDIF out;
• 2 x connectors for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas;
• 1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button;
• 5 x audio ports.

The layout of the interface panel can be described as almost ideal, because there is not only a very large number of USB ports, but also two eSATA, two LAN interfaces, as well as an integrated Wi-Fi a / b / g / n / ac + Bluetooth 4.0 module, main feature which is support for the IEEE 802.11ac standard. According to official information, it is capable of transmitting data at speeds up to 867 Mbps, which is three times higher than the capabilities of the IEEE 802.11n standard. At the same time, the support of two frequency ranges(2.4 and 5 GHz) allows you to use the former to browse the web, and the latter to download high-quality HD video content. Also, do not forget about Cloud features GO !, Remote Control and Media Streaming Hub, which will greatly simplify file sharing in home network between compatible devices.

We are pleased to remind that the interface panel in accordance with the 5X PROTECTION concept is made of high quality stainless steel with a chromium oxide coating, which makes it more durable.

The possibilities of organizing cooling inside the system case of ASUS X79-DELUXE are quite wide. There are six 4-pin fan headers, two of which are for the CPU cooling system, while the other four are for system turntables.

ASUS X79-DELUXE motherboard uses a state-of-the-art UEFI GUI preloader that can be configured using the mouse. The main screen of the UEFI BIOS displays monitoring of temperatures and voltages on the lines of the power supply and processor. Also in this section you can see the BIOS version, processor model and the amount of installed RAM.

All settings related to the overclocking of the system are located in the "Ai Tweaker" tab.

The memory multiplier allows you to set its frequency in the range from 800 to 3200 MHz, although the specification only indicates support for modules with speeds from 1066 to 2800 MHz.

Also, if necessary, you can access the memory delay adjustments.

To increase stability during overclocking, the DIGI + digital power system control settings can be used.

The settings required to optimize the system are summarized in the table:

Parameter	Menu name	Range
		Auto, 100, 125, 166, 250
System bus frequency
CPU multiplier
RAM frequency		800, 1066, 1333, 1600, 1866, 2133, 2400, 2666, 2933, 3200
RAM timings	DRAM Timing Control	CAS, RAS to CAS, RAS Pre Time, RAS ACT Time, DRAM Command Rate, RAS to RAS REF Cycle Time, Refresh Interval Time, WRITE Recovery Time, READ to PRE Time, FOUR ACT WIN Time WRITE to READ Delay, DRAM Write Latency , tRRDR, tRRDD, tWWDR, ​​tWWDD, tRWDR, tRWDD, tWRDR, tWRDD, tRWSR, tCCD, tCCDWR
	CPU Current Capability
	CPU VCORE Boot Up Voltage
	VCCSA Current Capability
	CPU VCCSA Boot Up Voltage
	CPU Fixed Frequency
	DRAM-AB Current Capability
	DRAM-AB Fixed Frequency
	DRAM-CD Current Capability
	DRAM-CD Fixed Frequency
	Long Duration Power Limit
	Long Duration Maintained
	Short Duration Power Limit
	Additional Turbo Voltage
	CPU Core Current Limit	0,125 - 1023,875
	CPU VCORE Manual Voltage
	CPU VCCSA Manual Voltage
Voltage on RAM modules (channels A and B)	DRAM Voltage (CHA, CHB)
Voltage on RAM modules (channels C and D)	DRAM Voltage (CHC, CHD)
		1,20000 - 2,40000
		1,05000 - 1,70000
	PCH 1.1V Voltage	1,10000 - 1,70000
	PCH 1.5V Voltage	1,50000 - 1,80000
	Initial PLL Termination Voltage	0,20000 - 2,50000
	Eventual PLL Termination Voltage	0,20000 - 2,50000
	VTTDR Voltage (CHA, CHB)	0,62500 - 1,10000
	VTTDR Voltage (CHC, CHD)	0,62500 - 1,10000
	DRAM CTRL REF Voltage (CHA)	0,39500 - 0,63000
	DRAM DATA REF Voltage (CHA)	0,39500 - 0,63000
	DRAM CTRL REF Voltage (CHB)	0,39500 - 0,63000
	DRAM DATA REF Voltage (CHB)	0,39500 - 0,63000
	DRAM CTRL REF Voltage (CHC)	0,39500 - 0,63000
	DRAM DATA REF Voltage (CHC)	0,39500 - 0,63000
	DRAM CTRL REF Voltage (CHD)	0,39500 - 0,63000
	DRAM DATA REF Voltage (CHD)	0,39500 - 0,63000
	DRAM Read REF Voltage (CHA)	0,38500 - 0,61500
	DRAM Read REF Voltage (CHB)	0,38500 - 0,61500
	DRAM Read REF Voltage (CHC)	0,38500 - 0,61500
	DRAM Read REF Voltage (CHD)	0,38500 - 0,61500	The "Monitor" section provides access to monitoring the temperature of the processor and chipset, as well as the rotational speed of the installed fans. Additionally in this section you can follow: processor core voltage; voltage on the power lines + 12V, + 5V and + 3.3V. Unfortunately, the ability to monitor the voltage supply of memory modules is not implemented. Separately, it is worth noting the ability to take screenshots in the BIOS and support for the Russian language. Utilities Together with motherboard utility supplied AI Suite III. Its interface includes five main sections: 4-Way Optimization, TPU, EPU, DIGI + Power Control, and Fan Xpert 2. In the first of them (the most interesting, given the presence of the 4-Way Optimization logo on the front side of the package), you get general information about the current state of the system, data on CPU overclocking, power saving, as well as a brief summary of the installed fans. By clicking on the "4-Way Optimization" logo you will get access to smart settings general scheme PC work. So, you can choose between maximum performance, maximum cooling and minimum energy savings, or combine these parameters in search of optimal operation. In the "TPU" section, you get access to manual overclocking of the system without having to go to BIOS. After selecting the desired values, they can be saved in a separate profile, and in the future, simply switch between them, activating the preset settings. As you might guess, in the "EPU" section you can configure the parameters that are responsible for the power consumption of the system. Here you can change the time after which the computer goes into sleep mode, as well as select the operating mode of the fans, the high speed of rotation of the blades of which may be unnecessary when the system is idle. Section "DIGI + Power Control" provides an opportunity fine tuning power management of the CPU and RAM, in which you can adjust the CPU Load-line Calibration, the frequencies of the converters for the processor and memory, as well as some other parameters. In the last section, you will get ample opportunities to customize the cooling system. So, the most interesting function is automatic creation the graph of the change in the rotation speed of the fan blades depending on the temperature of certain components. If you do not want to set all the parameters manually, you have a choice of four ready-made schemes. Overclocking capabilities As a result of manual overclocking of the Intel Core i7-4960X processor, by increasing the multiplier and voltage to 1.408 V, its stable operating frequency was 4600 MHz, which is a good result. Using the capabilities of the ASUS X79-DELUXE model for automatic overclocking with the TPU switch set to the "1" position, it was possible to increase the frequency of the test CPU to 4200 MHz. At the same time, the computational cores of the processor actually worked at different frequencies: from 4100 to 4300 MHz. In position "2", as you can see, the system focused on increasing the reference frequency of the system bus, which ultimately gave us a CPU frequency of 4125 MHz. The bundled AI Suite III software also provides the user with automatic performance overclocking options. In the overclocking priority mode in terms of the system bus frequency, in addition to the processor frequency increased to 4257 MHz, the memory frequency also increased, which eventually amounted to 2400 MHz. In the automatic overclocking mode with the priority of increasing the multiplier, the CPU frequency was 4400 MHz, and the speed of the RAM dropped to 2133 MHz. Manually increasing the system bus frequency allowed us to achieve a result of 142.00 MHz, which is a good indicator. Testing To test the capabilities of the ASUS X79-DELUXE motherboard, the following equipment was used: CPU Intel Core i7-4960X (LGA2011, 3.6 GHz, L3 15MB) Turbo Boost: enable Scythe Kama Angle Rev.B RAM 4x 4GB DDR3-2400 TwinMOS TwiSTER 9DHCGN4B-HAWP Video card AMD Radeon HD 6970 2GB GDDR5 HDD Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB SATA-300 NCQ Optical drive ASUS DRW-1814BLT SATA Power Supply Seasonic X-660 Gold (SS-660KM Active PFC) CODEGEN M603 MidiTower (2x 120 mm blowing / blowing fans) Test results Judging by the results of testing, the new product from ASUS demonstrates results typical for high-quality solutions, which confirms great quality execution and high level optimizing BIOS settings. Testing the audio path based on the Realtek ALC1150 codec RightMark Audio Analyzer Test Report 16-bit, 44.1 kHz Noise level, dB (A) Very good Dynamic range, dB (A) Very good Harmonic distortion,% Very good Very good Intermodulation at 10 kHz,% Very good Overall score Very good Operating mode 24-bit, 192 kHz Frequency response (in the range 40 Hz - 15 kHz), dB Noise level, dB (A) Dynamic range, dB (A) Harmonic distortion,% Very good Harmonic distortion + noise, dB (A) Intermodulation distortion + noise,% Interpenetration of channels, dB Intermodulation at 10 kHz,% Overall score Very good As a result, the integrated Realtek ALC1150 codec demonstrates very high quality sound reproduction that is more than enough for everyday use. conclusions As a result, the motherboard is an excellent update of the well-deserved "veteran" ASUS P9X79 DELUXE, which has not only changed outwardly for the better, but also received support for a modern audio codec and high-speed wireless standard IEEE 802.11ac. Also, four additional SATA 6 Gb / s ports and a large number of modern technologies from ASUS will not be superfluous. As for the advantages of ASUS X79-DELUXE over competitors from other manufacturers, first of all I would like to highlight such an interesting function as “4-Way Optimization” in AI Suite III software. With its help, you have the opportunity to customize the operation of the system solely for your needs, in terms of such parameters as: performance, temperature and power consumption. Far from the last place in the list of advantages of the novelty is occupied by a high-quality element base corresponding to the 5X PROTECTION concept, thanks to which ASUS X79-DELUXE has increased reliability and protection against damage caused by electrostatics, overcurrent or short circuit... Also note the large number of USB 3.0 ports, which became possible to implement only by third-party controllers. ASUS deserves special thanks for the excellent layout of the interface panel, which includes an additional gigabit network port, wireless interfaces Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, plus two eSATA ports. Thanks to the enhanced 10-phase power supply system and excellent overclocking potential, the new product will be appreciated by overclockers, and thirty-six PCI Express lanes make ASUS X79-DELUXE an excellent choice for gamers who want to build an uncompromising game system with two "top" video cards. As a result, the ASUS X79-DELUXE motherboard is really a very high-quality solution for building high-performance systems using the latest Intel Ivy Bridge-E processors. Advantages: reinforced digital system DIGI + power supply; improved hardware components and compliance with the 5X PROTECTION concept for more reliable and stable operation of the motherboard; support for a large number of USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gb / s ports; use of high-quality audio codec; excellent layout of the interface panel; good overclocking potential; the presence of TPU and EPU switches, which are responsible for automatic overclocking and optimization of power consumption of the system; the presence of a DirectKey button for quick access to BIOS settings; the presence of a BIOS Flashback button for updating the BIOS firmware; the presence of an integrated two-band Wi-Fi + Bluetooth module; support for high-speed IEEE 802.11ac standard; support for AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI technologies; function "4-Way Optimization"; support for a number of useful proprietary technologies: MemOK !, USB Charger +, USB 3.0 Boost, Network iControl and others. We express our gratitude to the Ukrainian representative office of the companyASUS for the motherboard provided for testing. We express our gratitude to the companies Intel , Kingston , MSI and SeaSonic for provided for test bench equipment. Article read 12246 times Subscribe to our channels

ASUS now has eight motherboards on the Intel X79 chipset. More than half of them belong to exclusive series such as TUF or ROG, and one is intended exclusively for professional users. As a result, only three motherboards have been developed for ordinary users without any special complaints: P9X79, P9X79 Pro and P9X79 Deluxe. Although the names of the boards are similar, the PCB of the P9X79 is not at all the same as that of the Pro and Deluxe boards. In particular, the principle of reasonable sufficiency was applied in its design. As a result, this model turned out to be the simplest in comparison with the others, although the key characteristics of the chipset were not subjected to any reductions. This board has three PCI Express x16 slots versus 5-6 on other models. Controllers - the required minimum: sound and network chip, FireWire and USB 3.0 controllers.

But the board supports a full set of proprietary technologies and system ASUS utilities, which, given the high quality of implementation of these functions, is one of the most important advantages of this product. In addition, we note that the board supports a full set of overclocking functions, and its power converters are in no way inferior to those in more expensive models. So we can hope for quite decent overclocking (more on that later) at a lower price. By the way, speaking of the price - in April 2012 they asked for an average of 8,000 rubles for ASUS P9X79, which is a very good offer for products of this level.

⇡ ASUS P9X79 Specification

ASUS P9X79
CPU	Socket LGA2011 Support Intel technology Turbo Boost v2.0
Chipset	Intel X79 Processor connection: DMI 20 Gb / s
System memory	Eight 240-pin DDR3 SDRAM DIMM slots Maximum memory 64 GB Supports DDR3 1066/1333/1600/1866 * / 2133 * / 2400 * memory Four-channel memory access possible Intel XMP Technology Support Power indicator
Graphics	Three PCI Express x16 slots Support NVIDIA technologies SLI, 3-Way SLI Supports AMD CrossFireX Technology
Expansion options	One 32-bit PCI Bus Master slot Two PCI Express x1 slots Fourteen USB 2.0 ports (six built-in, eight optional) Four built-in USB 3.0 ports One built-in IEEE1394 (FireWire) port High Definition Audio 7.1 Gigabit Ethernet Network Controller
Overclocking capabilities	Changing the Bclk frequency from 80 to 300 MHz in 1 MHz steps, changing the multiplier Changing the voltage on the processor, memory, CSA, PLL, VTT and chipset (PCH) ASUS TurboV EVO Utility
Disk subsystem	SerialATA 6 Gb / s protocol support (two channels - X79, with RAID support) SerialATA 3 Gb / s protocol support (four channels - X79, with RAID support) SerialATA 6 Gb / s protocol support (two channels - ASMedia ASM1061, with RAID support on the rear panel)
Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI)	Shell ASUS EFI BIOS 64 Mbit Flash ROM BIOS with Enhanced ACPI, DMI, Green, PnP Features support ASUS EZ Flash 2 Technology ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 Technology ASUS MyLogo 2 technology ASUS USB BIOS Flashback Support ASUS USB 3.0 Boost support ASUS OC Profile support Multi-languages ​​BIOS
Miscellaneous	One serial port, port for PS / 2 keyboard or mouse MemOK button, USB BIOS Flashback button TPU, EPU switches Multifunctional utility AI Suite II STR (Suspend to RAM) S / P-DIF Out
Power management	Wake up from modem, mouse, keyboard, network, timer and USB Main 24-pin ATX power connector Additional 8-pin power connector
Monitoring	Tracking temperature of cpu, system, voltages, speed rotation of all fans (6) ASUS Q-Fan technology ASUS EPU technology ASUS PC Probe II Utility
Size, mm	ATX Form Factor, 244x304.8 (9.6 "x 12")

Above on the box with the board is a description of some proprietary technologies.

The buyer can see the board through the transparent window; the rest of the complete set are located under it:

The following can be found in the box:

• motherboard;
• user manual in English;
• DVD with software and drivers;
• four SerialATA cables;
• a set of additional connectors;
• plug on back panel hulls;
• CrossFire bridge.

The principle of reasonable sufficiency was also used in the formation of the complete set. As a result, the user gets only a few SerialATA cables and one connecting bridge for two AMD video cards. We approve the first point, since the rest of the bars (with USB ports 2.0), cables and adapters can be bought in a store, but we absolutely disagree with the absence of bridges for NVIDIA SLI and 3-Way SLI technology.

As for the documentation, there are no complaints about it: traditionally for ASUS products, the user manual is as detailed and detailed as possible. Qualitatively implemented and software: DVD contains full set of drivers, proprietary utilities ASUS and trial version antivirus. All of the listed software has the following installation shell:

Separately, we note the excellent installer of the multifunctional utility AI Suite II, in which the user can select all or individual components of the package.

⇡ ASUS P9X79 Board

The general configuration of the ASUS P9X79 board can be called standard both in terms of the location of the main components and their number. In particular, the board has eight DIMM slots, which are divided into two groups and located on either side of the processor socket. Thus, there is only one place for the power converter - to the right of the processor.

The number of PCI Express x16 slots is also "standard" - there are three of them. In this case, 16 bus lines are allocated for the first two slots, and only eight for the third.

Besides, ASUS P9X79 has two PCI Express x1 slots (both lines are taken from the chipset) and one PCI slot. Interestingly, the latest generations of Intel chipsets lack built-in support for the PCI bus. However, it is retained in the X79 chipset. In our opinion, this is a consequence of the server-side origin of this platform.

The large number of DIMM slots, as well as the card's support for two-, three- and four-channel access, can make it difficult to configure memory modules not only for a beginner, but also for an experienced user. Therefore, consultation with the user manual will be mandatory.

Note that the board supports DDR3-1066 / 1333/1600 memory (DDR3-1866 / 2133/2400 - in overclocked mode), and the maximum memory capacity reaches 64 GB. And as soon as voltage is applied to the board, the large green LED located in the lower left corner of the board lights up.

As for the power connectors, they are installed very conveniently (a characteristic feature of ASUS motherboards): the main 24-pin connector is located on the bottom edge of the board, and the additional 8-pin connector is located on the right edge.

A few words about the cooling system. The board has two heatsinks: one on the main PWM and one on the chipset. The user can connect five additional fans to the board. In total, the P9X79 has six 4-pin fan headers, of which one is reserved for the CPU cooler.

⇡ Expansion options

The ASUS P9X79 board, thanks to the Intel X79 chipset, supports four SerialATA 3 Gb / s links and two SerialATA 6 Gb / s links. All ports are located near the chipset and are oriented parallel to the board plane. In this case, 6 Gb / s ports are colored in White color and the 3 Gb / s ports are blue.

In addition, an additional ASMedia ASM1061 chip is installed on the board, which supports two SerialATA 6 Gb / s channels. Both corresponding ports are routed to the rear panel.

As a result, the total number of connected drives has been brought to eight (four SerialATA 3 Gb / s and four SerialATA 6 Gb / s). The board also has 14 USB 2.0 ports: six are located on the rear panel, and the rest (eight) are connected using brackets (not included in the bundle). In addition, the board supports USB bus 3.0 using two dual-port ASMedia ASM1042 controllers. All ports are routed to the rear panel of the board.

There are two such chips installed on the board.

Using advanced modes of operation this controller ASUS has developed USB 3.0 Boost technology, which increases the bandwidth of the interface by 1.7 times.

Besides, the board supports another type of serial bus - IEEE1394 (FireWire). To do this, ASUS P9X79 is equipped with a VT6315N controller manufactured by VIA. Despite the fact that this chip supports two FireWire ports, only one is implemented on the board (located on the rear panel). It is difficult to call this a serious drawback. - FireWire is losing its relevance every day.

The ASUS P9X79 board supports eight-channel audio, and the ALC892 chip is used as the codec.

The board also has a gigabit Network Controller Intel 82579V. This chip is connected to a separate PCI Express bus line, and the corresponding connector (RJ-45) is routed to the rear panel.

As a result, the panel looks like this:

A special feature of the panel is the presence of the USB BIOS Flashback button, which launches the function of BIOS firmware recovery of the same name. The user needs to write the firmware image to the USB flash drive (renaming it in accordance with the user's manual), insert the USB flash drive into the white USB port and start the board, holding the button pressed for three seconds. By the way, the difference between the white USB port and the others lies in the fact that a standby voltage is always supplied to it, which allows you to charge various mobile devices from it even when the computer is turned off. And to charge Apple gadgets, the Windows utility ASUS Ai Charger is used.

Traditional PCB Component Layout:

From additional functions it is worth noting the MemOK button, which guarantees a successful start on secure settings memory in case of overclocking of the latter.

In addition, we note two dip-switches, one of which activates the TPU function (automatic overclocking of the processor), and the other activates the EPU function (power saving).

⇡ UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface)

The P9X79 motherboard supports the UEFI interface with a very user-friendly graphical interface, which is already well known to our readers.

The main screen (photo above) is focused on the most important information about the operation of the system, and for a more fine-tuning of the parameters, the user needs to switch to the "advanced" mode. Let's pay a little attention to the latter. For example, let's look at the memory section:

The memory frequency setting is located in the overclocking section,

as well as setting the CPU multiplier:

Consider the section on system monitoring.

The board monitors the current temperature of the processor and system, voltages on the main components, and the speed of all six fans. In addition, the user can control the speed of the coolers using the Q-Fan 2 function.

Sensor information can also be obtained using the AI ​​Suite II,

and using the FanXpert function, the user can adjust the operation of the fans in an optimal way:

The board supports the function of replacing the startup image (POST-screen) of MyLogo 2, as well as CrashFree BIOS 3, which allows you to recover a damaged BIOS using an image on a floppy disk, on a CD-ROM or on a USB flash drive.

To update the BIOS firmware, you can use the built-in EZ Flash 2 utility, which thanks to graphical interface looks and works very nice.

You can also use a similar utility from the AI ​​Suite:

It is worth paying attention to the small, but rather useful function instant transition to the desired section BIOS. By pressing the F3 key, the user is taken to the Shortcuts menu with a list of frequently used sections:

Finally, we note the traditional ASUS technology called OC Profile, which allows you to save all BIOS settings in memory and load them if necessary. ASUS P9X79 supports eight independent profiles:

⇡ Overclocking and stability

Before moving on to overclocking, let's take a look at the processor power converter. It has a 10-phase circuit (8 + 2), in which five 270 μF capacitors and 12 560 μF capacitors are installed.

By the way, the memory subsystem power converter is made according to a four-phase (2 + 2) scheme.

Immediately, we note that the AI ​​Suite II package has a new application Digi + VRM, which allows the user to adjust the operating mode of the power converter, depending on the type of expected load (of course, with a certain "foolproof").

A similar feature is called EPU and is designed to save energy:

Overclocking functions are concentrated in the AI ​​Tweaker section.

Overclocking function list:

Pay	ASUS P9X79
Changing the CPU multiplier	+
Bclk change	80 to 300 MHz (1)
Vcore change	0.8 V to 1.7 V (0.005 V)
Vmem change	1.2 V to 1.99 V (0.005 V)
Vtt change	1.05 V to 1.7 V (0.00625 V)
Vсsa change	0.8 V to 1.7 V (0.005 V)
Vpch change	1.1 V to 1.7 V (0.00625 V)
Vpll change	1.8 V to 2.1 V (0.00625 V)

By overclocking the processor by increasing the multiplier, we reached a stable frequency of 4.4 GHz.

The board also has an automatic overclocking function - OC Tuner, which overclocks both by increasing the multiplier and by increasing the Bclk frequency. On practice this function has two modes of operation: "on" and "off". And for our configuration, OC Tuner has set the following combination of multiplier and Bclk.

At the beginning of 2017, there were several varieties of x79 / c602 boards manufactured in China. Despite the external differences, they are all built on the same type of hardware and have common disadvantages:

• there is no memory overclocking (on the latest bios builds it is already there, some have timing management)
• limited multiplier for unlocked processors
• there is no system overclocking by fsb
• simplified piping of the mult, and as a result, incorrect readings in thermal monitoring [Improvement of monitoring]
• lack of support for nvme ssd (on the latest modifications it is present out of the box)
• Not working "Sleep" (there are already models with full sleep support)

The boards have similar BIOSes. Almost all trim levels have adapters for mounting the cooling system socket 1366, some have a full-fledged lga2011 with screw mounts.

First group of boards- mini-atx (~ 280x210) rectangular boards of the huanan brand and its unnamed clones, made on the same PCB, more often than outdated revisions. Are marked x79 rev2.xx(with two pcie x1) or x79z rev 2.xx(1 pci and 1 pcie x1). All revisions have connectors for external USB 3.0 ports. The first revisions of these boards (2.01) do not support Ecc reg memory, have a less convenient arrangement of sata3 connectors and have problems with AMD video cards. Depending on the revision and manufacturer, the boards may have an msata connector (sata2), pc speaker, 64 Mbps Spi flash can be either on the socket or soldered into the board. The boards differ in Vrm heatsinks (they may be absent on clones) and hub heatsinks: on clones they are often of a different shape and can interfere with the pcie x16 latch. Despite a lot of differences, these boards have compatible Bios (except for very old revisions). It is not recommended to buy boards of old revisions if you are interested in overclocking. On boards revision 2.47 there are problems with updating Bios in afudos

Revision boards 3.xx appeared. There are instances with very low overclocking potential => therefore, before buying, we consult on the forum.

X79-m - dimensions 240mm * 190mm, 2xDDR3, 1xPCI-Ex16, 2xPCI-Ex1, 2xSATA 3.0, 2xSATA 2.0, USB 3.0
3.2a, 3.2b, 3.2c - differ in the presence of 3-ex pci. The hub is installed C204 (Instead of C602).
3.5a-c - microatx form factor, 4xDDR3, 1xPCI-Ex16, 2xPCI-Ex1, 1xSATA 3.0, 3xSATA 2.0, USB 3.0
3.3A - microatx form factor, 2xDDR3, 1xPCI-Ex16, 2xPCI-Ex1, 2xSATA 3.0, 2xSATA 2.0, USB 3.0

On boards with revisions up to 2.4s and 2.47 inclusive, we checked overclocking by a Xeon e5-1660 multiplier with a tdp of 130 W up to 4.4 GHz (overclocking did not significantly affect the VRM temperature), overclocking systems by FSB and overclocking RAM on DRAM dividers: FSB Ratio 28 : 3 (1866), 32: 3 (2133).

Second group of boards- boards of the second wave of the huanan brand, such as:

• x79 new gaming delux - 3 x PCI-e x16, 1 x PCI-e X4, 1 x PCI-e X1, 2 x SATA 3.0, 4 x SATA 2.0, 1 x mSATA 2.0 ATX, 285 * 220 mm
• X79Z v161 bitcoin motherboard - 8 x DDR3 DIMM, 4 x PCI-e x16, 3 x PCI-e X1, 2 x SATA 3.0, 4 x SATA 2.0, ATX, 320 * 245 mm
• X79Z VB10 - 8 x DDR3 DIMM, 2 x PCI-e x16, 2 x PCI-e x8, 3 x PCI-e X1, 2 x SATA 3.0, 4 x SATA 2.0, ATX, 320 * 245mm

On some x79 new, it is difficult to overclock the processor by a multiplier higher than the nominal, so before buying, we consult on the forum. There are problems with fsb overclocking. DRAM overclocking was tested on these boards: FSB Ratio 28: 3 (1866).

Sata connectors and cooling radiators are conveniently located. The native mount is used for the 2011 socket coolers, not the 1366. The 32 Mbit Spi flash is usually soldered into the board. The latest modifications of the boards are out of the box flashed with more advanced bios with sleep support and RAM timing controls.

The third group of boards- micro-atx boards of a square shape (~ 245x245), made of red PCB, marked G218a... The boards support dd3 ecc reg memory, have connectors for external USB 3.0 ports, are equipped with two pcie x16 and two pcie x1. Due to the fact that the boards of this group have more compact size, there is less space for the processor cooling system than for the boards of the first group. There are several revisions of the boards that differ in the layout and location of the Sata connectors. Also, some manufacturers do not install VRM heatsinks. 32 Mbps Spi flash is usually soldered to the board.

E5-1650 works stably at nominal frequencies and overclocked to 4.3 GHz.

Fourth group of boards- micro-atx boards of a square shape (~ 245x245), made of green PCB, marked ms-7777... All revisions of these boards do not support Ecc reg memory, do not have connectors for external Usb 3 ports and have only one pcie x1. Only USB on the JUSB1 comb can be rubble. Processors with tdp 130 W (e5-1620, e5-1650) do not work stably on early revisions of the boards. There are problems with AMD graphics cards. Due to the fact that the boards of this group have more compact dimensions, there is less space for the processor cooling system than for the boards of the first group. Ddr3L memory on these boards works only at 1333 MHz and cannot be overclocked. There are no problems with ordinary dd3 memory. 32 Mbps Spi flash is usually soldered into the board. Early revisions of such boards are not worth buying.

Overclocking DRAM RAM was tested on these boards: FSB Ratio 28: 3 (1866) and system overclocking via fsb.

Fifth group of boards- boards marked YW-X79-E. They support dd3 ecc reg memory, have connectors for external USB 3.0 ports, equipped with two pcie x16, one pcie x1 and one pci. Spi flash is sealed and has a size of 32Mbit. The smartphone is missing.

Overclocking DRAM RAM was tested on these boards: FSB Ratio 28: 3 (1866) and system overclocking via fsb.

Be sure to make backups!

Some boards may have problems updating Bios with afudos.
First, it is better to upload patched FullFlash Bios to such boards using fpt (fpt -f new.rom). If fpt refuses to flash Bios, only then use afudos (select files with a size of 6,291,456 bytes)
If the Bios flashing started but ended with an error, flash the Bios again with the same dump. Some boards are sewn the second time.

afudos beckup.rom / o - reads BIOS and saves to file
afudos newbios.rom / gan - writes

Also, it will not be superfluous to make a full flash backup. This is done - Intel Flash Programming Tool [mirror]
Get hold of all files from \ Intel ME System Tools v8 r1 \ Flash Programming Tool \ DOS \ and put on a DOS flash drive.
fpt -d fullbackup.rom

Fpt -f new.rom - write fullflash (Doesn't work on old revisions)

After updating the Bios, make a return to the factory settings.

In order to get a dump from fullflash suitable for flooding with afudos, you need to select an area in Hex Workshop from 200000h to the end of the file and save it to a new file. The file size should be equal to 6291456 bytes for 64 Mbit flash drives.

If your board is of a new revision, post the dumps in the conference

For a safe BIOS update, select a dump with the board revision, build date and time the same as the native ones.

DB not responding, please try again later.

5.1 sound

The drivers built into the window do not correctly output 5.1 sound to the front panel. To fix this problem, you need to download the latest drivers from the realtek website.

Raid setup

To activate Raid, in the Bios in the properties of the Sata controller, you need to enable the raid mode. To enter the Raid settings or create a new array, hold CTRL + l when turning on the computer. BIOS update, factory reset does not make any changes to the Raid array.

Windows Installer 10 does not have required drivers, so they need to be copied to a USB flash drive in advance.
In many torrent distributions of Windows 10, raid support has been removed.

Nvme ssd

To enable booting from nvme ssd disks, you need to add the NvmExpressDxE_2.ffs module to Bios.
In some recent builds, the Chinese from the factory include support for nvm ssd.

Pcie x16 3.0 mode activation

Run this file with administrator rights and restart the computer.

Hackintosh Mac OS Sierra on Chinese motherboard Huanan X79 2.46 + Xeon

Sevastopol 2020 © [email protected]

A new Chinese motherboard for socket 2011 labeled X79A1 went on sale in early winter 2017. The fee is much cheaper than most other Chinese, which attracts those who want to save money. The exact name of the manufacturer is unknown, some sellers point to a previously unseen brand Ebamaz.

Specifications

Model	X79A1
Socket	LGA 2011
Chipset	H61 / C602
Supported processors	Intel Core I7, Xeon 1600, 2600 (v1, v2)
Supported RAM	4 x DDR3 DIMMs, 32GB max, 4 channels, ECC and ECC support
Timing management	No
Expansion slots	3 x PCI-e x16, 1 x PCI-e X1
Nvidia SLI	No
ATI CrossFireX	No
Disk subsystem	4 x SATA 2.0, 2 x SATA 3.0 (may vary depending on revision)
Fan connectors	1 x for cpu cooler, 1 x for case fans
Ports	2 x PS / 2 ports for keyboard or mouse, 8 x USB 2.0, 1 x LAN (RJ45), 3 audio connectors
Form factor and Dimensions, mm	Micro-ATX, 253 * 185mm
approximate price	3000 - 4000 rub.

The first thing that catches your eye is the H61 chipset, which was previously used in motherboards based on lga 1155. Yes, the Chinese crossed a snake and a hedgehog, as a result of which they received the most budgetary board.

There are different revisions of the board, the main differences: the c602 chipset and the presence of sata 3.0 ports. Please check the specifications carefully before purchasing!

The X79A1 has only sata version 2.0 on board, usb 3.0 is also absent, but at least they can be connected via the front panel connector. There is no radiator above the vrm, and the chipset has only a tiny piece of black aluminum. Also, the location of the 8 and 24-pin connectors of the power supply was not pleased, it is very inconvenient to insert and remove them.

The board has 8 phases, 5 of them are responsible for powering the processor (7 for most Chinese), which clearly hints at an extremely weak overclocking potential. Although the entire line is supported Xeon processors e5 v1 and v2, it is not recommended to install stones with a large tdp in X79A1.

Some motherboards are already sold with a modified BIOS that allows you to overclock the memory up to 1866 MHz and raise the processor multiplier (if it is unlocked), but there are also models with locked overclocking. In this case, you will have to bios yourself.

In general, the board is suitable for the most budgetary assemblies. You should not expect miracles from it, the most suitable processors are: e5 2620 - 2670. In other cases, it is better to pay a little extra and take a more reliable motherboard.

Where can I buy

Currently, the model is almost never on sale.

The board is sold on aliexpress, you can choose delivery from Russia, which will significantly reduce the delivery time. Verified sellers can be found at the following links:

• First
• Second

In connection with the upcoming NG decided to make himself a gift and buy home something computer.

But on my ancient LGA775 platform, I did everything I could for a long time - there is a four-core Intel Xeon X5460, there are 8 gigabytes of RAM, SSD 250gb, GeForce GTX 1060 3gb, and Quad HD monitor.

And sometimes the performance is no longer enough.

Therefore, I decided to radically change the platform, from 775 to 2011.

I had to buy a lot - a new motherboard,
used server RAM:


(Cooler ID-Cooling SE-213V2 took from the old system, on LGA2011 it will not get up without additional fastening,):


If you want to buy a new cooler for the motherboard for 2011, and do not fool around with adapters, I recommend Xilence M403:


Learn more about the motherboard.

Already, probably, any computer geek knows that the Chinese have begun to massively release their motherboards for Intel Xeon LGA2011 processors decommissioned from servers.

I chose a model. Made by Shenzhen Xinlizhi technology co., LTD.

The cutout on the lower radiator is striking. It is not needed here, but the Chinese still have radiators from version 2.4E, do not throw it away:


Reviews on the net about X79Z in bulk (), but they are all about boards with old revisions. I have the newest - 2.4F, so this review will be the very first.

Fortunately, the divorce is almost perfect. (Do previous version, 2.4E - there was a very strange and inconvenient wiring, through holes for mounting the cooling system from LGA1366, and there was no radiator on the mosfets):


Came to Novosibirsk in 3 weeks. For another week I tried to get it from the damned "Courier Service Express". Blatant courier delivery and incompetent telephone support. (I thought earlier that the Russian Post was terrible. How stupid and naive I was!).

The motherboard came in an ordinary gray envelope wrapped around the perimeter with yellow tape. Inside, in a soft package, there was a cardboard box with a board:


Above. Some kind of vague graphics:


Below. Illiterate and vague marketing promises. ("REDOCN"? !!):


And here it is - the content. Looks strict, but cute:


Below. Under the flash, a poorly washed flux became visible, and Chinese fingerprints:


Sideways. There is USB 3.0. (Class, I missed you). But there are no optical outputs from the built-in sound, it's a pity:


Content. Disc and instructions in English (the manual is general and formal, there is not even a circuit board inside). Stamped cap, but no embossed markings. Two SATA cables in black, and a yellow rubber ring:


The lower radiator, with a square cutout, with thermal tape. We remove, apply thermal paste, and put it back:


Be sure to see how the radiators are installed on your motherboard! And it often happens like this:


Having removed the upper radiator, on the mosfets, I found what the early reviews were about - thermal tape is glued to the radiator not only for mosfets, but also for chokes that heat less and tolerate heating well:


We remove the extra thermal tape. Threaded holes, 4 pieces. But the heatsink is only fixed with two screws. The other two do not fit the existing holes in the motherboard. (Have you taken the "left" radiator again?):


Something mosfets badly imprinted on it:


We fasten the radiator to the mosfets and remove. We look at the imprint. Much better:


But for some reason the screws are tightly screwed into the radiator, do not go all the way, and stand obliquely.

The Chinese, however, could not think of fixing a radiator with a "metric" thread with screws with "inch" ...

Checking.

Yes!!! We could !!! Think of it !!!

"Native", pretty and shiny screws (on the right), will soon fly into the trash. We find in the zagashnik two condo screws made in the USSR with a diameter of 2 mm and a length of 10 mm (on the left):


We attach the radiator to the found screws through two fiberglass washers produced by the same USSR. Perfectly screwed in! Now the radiator is pulled tightly to the motherboard:


All perfectly. Sturdy and reliable.

Better home "kolkhoz" than "kolkhoz" conveyor.

Installed on this motherboard an Intel Xeon E5-2690 V2 processor and 32 GB DDR3 server memory (four strips in a four-channel mode).

BIOS from American Megatrends v. 4.6.5.4:


does not allow overclocking this processor over the bus, (there are settings from memory, and they work):


While checking on the default settings.

To my surprise, everything worked immediately and perfectly. I connected my SSD from an old system with Windows 7 64 bit, updated the drivers with Snappy Driver Installer Origin v.1.4.8, and again everything works fine.

I ran several tests, the result:
Cinebench 10 - 41225.
Cinebench 11.5 - 16.32.
Cinebench 15 - 1477.
Cinebench 20 - 3133.

Corona test results.
Result - 2 min 11 sec:


The "System Assessment" in Windows 7 showed the following:


The benchmark built into the CPU-Z utility placed the Intel Xeon E5-2690 V2 processor between the AMD Ryzen 7 1700 and AMD Ryzen 7 1700X:




Testing in CPU Queen with AIDA64 Extreme 5.99.4900 (fifth place, not sickly):


System test in the PerfomanceTest program:


The top heatsink on the motherboard, which caused trouble, heats up very weakly during normal operation with this processor. In stress tests, it heats up much more, so that even a finger burns. I do not recommend turning it on without a radiator.

There is one more drawback - the upper right hole of the motherboard is partially covered by a heatsink, and it will be impossible to screw in a screw there:


(So ​​either do not screw the screw in there, or use a file to grind off the radiator).

P.S: After 4 months of trouble-free operation, this motherboard stopped turning on one morning. It was not possible to find a seller and make a claim, since his store disappeared from Ebei. Repair at my own expense cost me 2800 rubles. The master said that "something burned out there along the power supply circuit of the RAM."

I brought it home, turned it on, everything works except the built-in network card. I called the master, the repair will cost another 1,700 rubles. Advised to use external network card... And so he did. (I bought Rtl8111E for PCI-E. Cheap - 200 rubles, and works great).

Attempts to find out what exactly disabled the motherboard, I could not.

In this regard, I do not know if it is worth recommending it to you. Maybe only I was so “lucky”, and the breakdown is not her fault.

I plan to buy +26 Add to favourites I liked the review +47 +81