The Asus P9X79-E WS is probably one of the most fully featured workstation motherboard on the planet. It’s considered as the “Ultimate X79 Motherboard”, and is definitely geared towards PC Enthusiasts and System Builders who are looking to fully maximize every bit of hardware they got, and do more things/ multiple things, on their system. The Asus P9X79-E WS is based on Intel X79 chipset with LGA 2011 socket supporting Intel Core i7 and Intel Xeon E5 processors, Quad Channel 8 DIMM memory slots, better networking with new dual server-grade Intel I210 Ethernet, high speed storage and data transfer with Asus SSD Caching II, and can run 4-way SLI and CrossFireX in x16 links. Check out the rest of its specs, features, price as well as where you can buy one. Be sure to watch the review below.
If you are looking for an Ultimate workstation motherboard, then the Asus P9X79-E WS is one of the motherboard you definitely need to consider. It features the best performance for 4-way SLI and CrossFireX, which will run natively on x16. It has Asus Dr. Power that detects, diagnose, and monitor your power supply’s health. It even supports Xeon Phi 3100 processors and NVIDIA Tesla K20C graphics processors.
According to Asus: “the ASUS Workstation Series is the ideal foundation for a powerful PC. It delivers awesome power, dependable performance and unmatched multiple I/O scalability for the most demanding tasks and future upgrades. The ASUS Workstation Series intelligently reduces operating noise and dissipates heat through advanced and environmentally friendly methods to accommodate user needs. ASUS Workstation Series motherboards also bring you ultimate reliability and quality through our 24×24 initiative, which means 24-hour non-stop operation and a 24-month life cycle supply guarantee so you don´t change computers so often. Instead, let the ASUS Workstation Series improve the quality of your work and life.”
I don’t have firsthand experience with this motherboard, other than I know that this comes with a hefty price tag, but you can build a really kick ass system with this board. So please watch the Asus P9X79-E WS review below done by LinusTechTips. He has done a really good job defining this motherboard, so check it out below.
Asus P9X79-E WS Specifications
| Processor | Intel® Socket 2011 Core i7 Processors Intel® Socket 2011 for Xeon® E5-1600/E5-1600 v2 processors Intel® Socket 2011 for Xeon® E5-2600/E5-2600 v2 processors Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 |
| Chipset | Intel® X79 |
| Memory | 8 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR3 2400(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz ECC, Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory Quad Channel Memory Architecture Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) |
| Multi-GPU Support | Supports NVIDIA® 4-Way SLI Technology Supports AMD 4-Way CrossFireX Technology |
| Expansion Slots | 7 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (single x16 or dual x16/x16 or triple x16/x16/x16 or quad x16/x16/x16/x16 or seven x16/x8/x8/x8/x16/x8/x8, black+blue) *2 |
| Storage | Intel® X79 chipset : 2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), white 4 x SATA 3Gb/s port(s), blue Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 Marvell® PCIe 9230 controller : 4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), white Support Raid 0, 1, 10 ASMedia® PCIe SATA controller : 2 x eSATA 6Gb/s port(s), red Support port multiplier support |
| LAN | Intel® I210, 2 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s) |
| Audio | Realtek® ALC1150 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking Audio Feature : Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC Optical S/PDIF out port(S) at back Panel |
| IEEE 1394 | VIA® 6315N controller 1 x IEEE 1394a port(s) |
| USB Ports | ASMedia® USB 3.0 controller : 4 x USB 3.0/2.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board) Intel® X79 chipset : 13 x USB 2.0 port(s) (10 at back panel, black, 3 at mid-board) |
| Workstation Feature | Quick Gate: 1 x vertical USB 2.0 on board ASUS WS Diag. LED ASUS Dr. Power |
| Special Features | ASUS Xtreme Design : ASUS TPU : - TPU switch ASUS EPU : - EPU ASUS Digital Power Design : - Industry leading Digital 8 + 2 Phase CPU Power Design - Industry leading Digital 2 + 2 Phase DRAM Power Design - CPU Power Utility - DRAM Power Utility ASUS Exclusive Features : - MemOK! - AI Suite II - Ai Charger+ - Front Panel USB 3.0 Support - ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring friendly graphics user interface - ASUS SSD Caching II - USB 3.0 Boost ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution : - Stylish Fanless Design Heat-pipe solution - ASUS Fan Xpert+ ASUS EZ DIY : - USB BIOS Flashback - ASUS O.C. Profile - ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 - ASUS EZ Flash 2 - ASUS MyLogo 2 - Multi-language BIOS ASUS Q-Design : - ASUS Q-Shield - ASUS Q-Code - ASUS Q-Slot - ASUS Q-DIMM - ASUS Q-Connector |
| Back I/O Ports | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s) 2 x eSATA 6Gb/s 2 x LAN (RJ45) port(s) 2 x USB 3.0 (blue) 10 x USB 2.0 (one port can be switched to USB BIOS Flashback) 1 x Optical S/PDIF out 8 x Audio jack(s) 1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button(s) |
| Internal I/O Ports | 1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s) (19-pin) 1 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 2.0 port(s) 1 x Vertical USB 2.0 port(s) 1 x TPM connector(s) 1 x COM port(s) connector(s) 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s) 4 x SATA 3Gb/s connector(s) 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (4 -pin) 1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) (4 -pin) 4 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (4 -pin) 1 x S/PDIF out header(s) 1 x 8-pin EATX 12 V Power connector 1 x 6-pin EATX 12 V_1 Power connector(s) 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s) 1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP) 1 x System panel(s) (Q-Connector) 1 x Chassis Intrusion connector(s) 1 x MemOK! button(s) 1 x TPU switch(es) 1 x EPU switch(es) 1 x Power-on button(s) 1 x Reset button(s) 1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s) 1 x Dr.Power switch(es) |
| Accessories | User's manual I/O Shield 1 x COM port cable(s) 4 x SATA 3Gb/s cable(s) 6 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s) 1 x 3-Way SLI bridge(s) 1 x 4-Way SLI bridge(s) 1 x SLI bridge(s) 1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1) |
| BIOS | 64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.6, ACPI 2.0a, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 |
| Manageability | WfM 2.0, DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME, PXE |
| Operating System | Fedora 17 Windows® 8 32/64-bit Windows® 7 32/64-bit RedHat® Enterprise Linux WS 6.3 32/64-bit Open SUSE 12.2 Ubuntu Desktop 12.10 |
| Form Factor | CEB Form Factor 12 inch x 10.5 inch ( 30.48 cm x 26.67 cm ) |
Price and Where to Buy
The Asus P9X79-E WS is now available, and you can order one online now for $522. But before you order, be sure to watch the P9X79-E WS review below so that you would now what are you getting, and if this is the board for you. This is not a cheap motherboard and it would be a waste if you invest on this, and not even use even 50% of its capabilities.
Good review but IMHO it would help if you talked slower even if it made the video longer. Thanks.
Just as a followup for those who are think about getting one, I would not recommend this board to anyone thinking of running the Server 2012 OS. I have bought this board and am terribly disapponted with the lack of support from Asus, you would think that when a company such as Asus that make a workstation board that supports the latest R socket E5-1600 and E5-2600 server CPU’s that they would provide support for the l2012 OS, Well you would be very wrong!!!!
Here I have a 1 week old board and Asus only has drivers for Windows 8.1 so whilst I am able to run Server 2012 and also 2012 R2 on it, there are about 37 devices listed in the Device manager that do not have drivers for that OS, and none on Asus’s support site. Windows 8.1 drivers do not work either. I have contacted the support people and their canned responce was:
—————————————————————-
Dear Ed,
Thank you for contacting ASUS Service Care.
My name is Merlin and it’s my pleasure to help you with your problem.
We
are sorry to say this motherboard doesn’t have any drivers to support
the win2012 R2. In order to guarantee the stability of system, we have
to test if OS can work well. It will cost a very long time.
Sorry again for all of the inconvenience caused to you and thank you for your cooperation.
If you have any further questions, comments, or concerns please do not hesitate to let
us know. We will be more than happy to assist you.
Thanks!
Wish you a nice day!
Best regards
Merlin
Customer Service Center
ASUSTek Computer Inc.
So since Server 2012 has been released for about 2 years and no doubt Microsoft would have supplied Asus with a preliminary version of it about 12 months earlier to test their products against it, they have had 2-3 years to make the drivers, so how much time does Asus need ?
Even my 7 year old Gigabyte motherboard had drivers for it that I could use for 2012 R2 even though it used the old X64 drivers, they still work very well.
So at the end of the day Asus expects that buyers of this board will be happy to use a 6 year old Server OS ??? I will be taking this matter further with the appropriate authorities in my country (Australia) if Asus does’t give me a satisfactory result or a time frame for the new drivers.
Anyway rant over, I will be posting this info on other sites so that other potential buyers are aware of the lack of driver support. At least then you will be able to make an informed decision on whether on not you want to run an old OS.
Regards
Ed.