ASUS P5K3 Deluxe Motherboard

Market forecasts predict DDR3 memory poised to replace its predecessor DDR2 as the main volume product this year. Already aware of this, memory chip manufacturers like Micron Technology, Samsung Semiconductor, Hynix Semiconductor and Qimonda have begun tooling up for mass production. As a result we should finally start to see the dizzying prices of DDR3 come down - being affordable will no doubt help to spur adoption in the market. With price drops looming, many will be looking for quality motherboards suitable for high-speed DDR3. With this in mind Benchmark Reviews thought it would be of interest to examine one of the more mature DDR3 based motherboard offerings on the market today; the ASUS P5K3 Deluxe Wi-Fi-AP Motherboard based on the Intel P35 chipset.

The ASUS P5K3 Deluxe Motherboard with Intel's82-P35 Express Memory Controller Hub (MCH) is the first motherboard built to officially support DDR3-1066. For the P5K3 Deluxe however, ASUS has managed improve upon this by building in native DDR3-1333 support. With high-speed DDR3 and ASUS overclocking tools, the P5K3 Deluxe able to overclock to an ultra high frequency achieving DDR3-2000.

With that said, let's take a look at the many features of ASUS' first P35 based DDR3 motherboard: The P5K3 Deluxe Wi-Fi AP.

The ASUS P5K3 Deluxe Wi-Fi-AP P35 Motherboard is among the top of ASUS' lineup built around Intel's P35 Express chipset. Considered an overclockers board the P5K3 Deluxe features a base FSB of 667MHz, native support for DDR3 SDRAM operating in Dual Channel mode at 1333MHz, and is CrossFire ready with support for dual PCI Express (PCIe) based x16 graphics cards. With so many features built into it the P5K3 Deluxe is blatantly a design intended for enthusiasts. However, its innovation and ease of use should make it appealing to even first time buyers.

ASUS establishes the P5K3 as a "Deluxe" motherboard by offering the following integrated features:

About the company: ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated (ASUS)

Perhaps best known by enthusiasts for their motherboards, ASUS is a company recognized for high-quality and innovation in the consumer electronics industry. A leading provider of computer components and peripherals, ASUS offers an ever expanding product portfolio hoping to bring their level of expertise to a wide market.

From Wikipedia:

ASUS was founded in 1989 in Taiwan by TH Tung, Ted Hsu, Wayne Hsieh and MT Liao - all four were computer engineers from Acer. The current CEO and Chairman of ASUS, Jonney Shih, joined the company in 1994. According to the ASUS sales manager, Alexander Kim, the name ASUS originated from Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology. The first three letters of the word were dropped to give the resulting name a high position in alphabetical listings.

From the ASUS website:

The philosophy of ASUS product development is to do the fundamentals well first before moving forward. Started with computer components such as motherboards, graphic cards, and optical storage devices, ASUS now has now over 16 product lines, including desktop barebone systems, servers, notebooks, handhelds, network devices, broadband communications, LCD monitors, TVs, wireless applications, and CPT (chassis, power supply and thermal) products.

ASUS P5K3 Technology Summary

As mentioned earlier, 2008 is to be the year of widespread DDR3 adoption. Starting the trend is the mass production of 1GB chip densities already in full swing. Continuing with 2GB chip density production slated to begin in the first half of this year. As 2GB chip production matures consumers will begin to see 2GB modules become the standard module size replacing current 1GB modules. Following this trend the price of 2GB modules will start dropping off as manufacturers such as Micron move from the current 78nm process to a their more efficient 68nm process later this year.

The ASUS P5K3 Deluxe is the first motherboard from ASUS to exclusively utilize DDR3, and is incompatible with older DDR2 both electrically and physically. With its DIMM slots keyed differently to prevent unintentional use that would damage either the RAM or motherboard. However, there are two variants of this board, with the ASUS P5K, and P5KC supporting older DDR2.

DDR3, as defined by Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JDEC). "DDR3 SDRAM is a high-speed dynamic random-access memory internally configured as an eight-bank DRAM. The DDR3 SDRAM uses an 8n Prefetch architecture to achieve high-speed operation. The 8n Prefetch architecture is combined with an interface designed to transfer two data words per clock cycle at the I/O pins (double data rate-DDR). With a single read or write operation for the DDR3 SDRAM consisting of a single 8n-bit wide, four clock data transfer at the internal DRAM core and two corresponding n-bit wide, and one-half clock cycle data transfers at the I/O pins."

DDR Comparison Chart

Before we delve into some of the details of the ASUS P5K3, let me preface with a brief overview of some DDR3 features, and what sets its performance apart from older memory types. DDR3 by design is the next generation of memory, and the designated successor to DDR2. DDR3 is made to offer greater bandwidth and lower latencies Doing so by increases the Prefetch Buffer size from 4-bits (DDR2) to 8-bits (DDR3), while also increasing the operating frequency; resulting in higher data transfer rates than its predecessors. In addition to the increased data transfer rate, memory voltages have also been dropped from 1.8v to 1.5v, helping offset the heating effects caused by the higher frequency. The performance goal of DDR3 memory, compared to older DRAM, is to increase the Prefetch Buffer size and chip operating frequency, in turn lowering the operational voltage level to compensate for heat. In addition to the higher frequency and lower voltage, DDR3 features a memory reset (Master Reset) option which DDR2 and DDR1 both lack. The memory reset feature allows the memory to be completely cleared via a software reset action. Older memory types (DDR1/DDR2) do not have this feature meaning the memory state is uncertain after a system reboot. The Master Reset feature of DDR3 insures that the memory will be clean (empty) after a reboot allowing for a more stable system.

To best show how DDR's design affects performance requires an understanding of how the Prefetch Buffer works. Modern memory chips operate at extremely high frequencies inside their physical chip structure. Comparably, the frequencies of the individual electronic logic transistors inside the chip operate at a much higher frequency than the outside connections, such as the FBS. To accommodate for this, data is positioned into a buffer located on the memory chip and then waits for the proper time to transfer to the motherboards bus. The entire operation is referred to as the Memory Prefetch (Prefetch Buffer). To describe its value in terms of performance Prefetch is followed by the lower case letter "n" and a number, which represents the number of data bits. For example, DDR1 has a Prefetch of 2n, which means it can store 2-bits of data in each Prefetch Buffer. DDR2 uses a Prefetch 4n or 4-bits to buffer, thus doubling the amount of data transferred from the buffer compared to DDR1. DDR3 for example, uses a Prefetch of 8n which in turn doubles the size of the Prefetch used on DDR2. This increased size of the Prefetch buffer, and the increased memory bus operational frequency lets each generation of DDR increase its overall throughput. However, the rated throughput of the various DDR RAM speed is only a theoretical throughput, and even though DDR3 is expressed as exact values such as 14.9 GB (1866MHz effective), it does not account for other devices using the bus. Therefore, the theoretical speed value is used simply to compare the various DDR RAM types (i.e. DDR1 PC3200) and classifications.

The key advantage of DDR3 is its ability to offer twice the data rate 8n (8-bits) on the rising edge, and the falling edge of the digital clock signal as opposed to DDR2's 4n (4-bit) and DDR1's 2n (2-bit). This paired with clock frequencies well and above that attainable by DDR2 allow for a tremendous amount of bandwidth to the MCH eliminating any potential for bottlenecks from the memory subsystem. This in addition to the Master Reset, optional Thermal Sensor, and programmable SPD's should definitely make this an interesting year for DDR3 as it becomes more affordable and competition in the segment heats up.

Note: DDR3 is both electrical and physically incompatible with previous versions of DDR RAM. Physically, DDR3 has 240 pins (the same as DDR2), but the notched key is located in a different position relative to the DIMM socket, thus preventing it's insertion into a motherboard DIMM socket designed for older DDR2.

Intel P35 Block Diagram

As shown the P35 MCH offers nearly all the same amenities of the X38, with the only exception being the lack of 16 PCIe lanes from the MCH, limiting CrossFire (CF) operation of 16x/4x; though the affect on CF performance will be negligible at best. In addition, the P35 shares the same support for a 1333MHz front-side bus, and is also compatible with the mainstream 45nm "Penryn" processors that are expected to make their debut early this year. The P35 and X38/48 MCH chips are built on the same 90nm scale as the 975/965, as such there is no reduction in the P35's TDP, and in fact it's slightly higher. The higher TDP is likely due to increased operating frequency, though well below that of the X38/48. The same is true for the ICH9R SB IC that is fabricated at 130nm, identical to that on the X38/X48 MCH.

Intel 82P35 MCH Summary

ASUS P5K3 Deluxe Contents

Most of us take for granted a products packaging, that is till the day we receive something that's been damaged in transit due to lack of, or improper packaging. Equally important to protection is proper labeling. For these reasons Benchmark Reviews is always critical of how companies pack their product. Asking: Is the item well labeled and Informative? Is it secured enough to make the punishing journey through shipping? As such, we will always spend time in reviews on what most people will probably throw away without a second thought.

For their packaging ASUS has utilized a black double carton box design for the P5K3, with an attractive outside shell that features a flip up panel to provide further details and specification. In addition to the well labeled box, ASUS has included a convenient built in handle allowing the entire package to be carried as if it were a briefcase.

As for accessories you won't find the P5K3 lacking in any way compared to other high-end motherboards. However, I would like to have seen more than two 90 degree SATA cables included, as there are three SATA ports placed along the edge. It should also be noted here that the driver disc included is a DVD-Rom.

Included in the package are:

• Six red SATA cables, two with 90 degree connectors
• One black IDE cable
• One black floppy cable
• ASUS Q-Connector
• ASUS additional fan for heatpipes
• Wireless antenna
• Metal rear I/O
• PCI bracket supporting two USB 2.0 ports and one 6-pin Firewire port
• Wi-Fi AP Manual, general motherboard manual and driver DVD

ASUS P5K3 Deluxe Component Layout

ASUS has used their popular black painted circuit board (PCB) for the P5K3. Using a simple and tasteful color scheme. ASUS has tagged every slot and port a different color for easy location and identification. It is an attractive design with none of the garish color schemes other board makers recently seem fond of, and should mesh seamlessly with most case styles.

The general layout of the P5K3 is dominated by the extensive heatpipe/heatsink system that links the SB, NB, and Power Management. And although it's seemingly passive the set-up is dependent on either the CPU heatsink fan, or in the case of water-cooling a dedicated fan; included in the package. However, ASUS recommends not using the additional fan when running Intel's stock cooler since it will interfere with the air flow and potentially increase temperatures.

Here is a topographical map of integrated chips and ports I have put together to help give an idea what their general layout is (something I have always found useful). Regarding the layout I have to admit some irritation with the placement of the Clear CMOS Jumper located between the PCIe x16 slots, thus complicating matters if the need to reset the BIOS occurs. Also, the placement of the EIDE along the bottom edge will force those with legacy optical drives to route IDE cables that will interfere with long PCIe video cards.

ASUS has wrapped the entire CPU socket area with their pure copper "Heat Pipe". The Heatpipes and Fin Arrays presents a bit of a hassle when installing wide aftermarket coolers, such as the one I have chose to use on this review a Zalman CNPS8700 LED, though it is compatible the latest LGA775 style coolers on the market, it does make for a tight squeeze. The heatpipes array system ASUS has used ensures an adequate and noise free stock cooling solution, however, it also presents an issue for those wishing to install any aftermarket cooling; i.e. the whole array would have to be removed if one would want to cool the NB chipset.

Here are pictured the six onboard SATA; they feature a secure locking clip that guarantees piece of mind when using RAID arrays. However, don't expect to remove any with a long video card such as the ATI HD3870 installed, as it will cover the inner three ports. It would have been nice to see ASUS use edge mounted 90 degree SATA ports on the P5K3 Deluxe that have become standard on many of their designs.

The P5K3 Deluxe has seven expansion slots in total; two PCIe 1.1 operating at x1 (White), three standard PCI v2.3 slots (White), and two PCIe 1.1 with one slot running at x16 (Blue) and the other at x4 (Black). A note here on the PCIe operation: If the Black PCIe x4 slot is used at full speed (i.e. CrossFire) you will lose functionality of both the White PCIe 1x slot, a minor limitation since PCIe x1 devices are still rare, but a limitation none the less. However, there is a BIOS setting to force x1 operation of the Black slot retaining the use of both White x1 slots. ASUS has also included a handy feature on the P5K3 Deluxe, called the AI Slot Detector, which reports if a PCIe/PCI device isn't seated properly via bright red LEDs located at the edge of each slot.

Shown here is the P5K3's DDR3 DIMM slots, each color coded and arranged in a 2-by-2 configuration, with Dual Channel mode enabled by inserting modules in like colored slots. For performance memory (DDR-1500+) ASUS recommends using the Black DIMM slots labeled A2 and B2. As a cautionary note here there could be potential interference from the heatpipes when using memory modules that have an overly large heat-spreader installed in slot A1.

ASUS P5K3 Integrated Components

Here we have the Realtek 802.11g Wi-Fi card, it connects to the P5K3 by USB 2.0 to via onboard pin header, taking up two of the twelve USB ports afforded by the chipset. However, with only one screw to hold it in place it is easily removable should you need all twelve USB ports.

As we turn things over we can see the ASUS "Stack Cool 2" logo, a built in feature of the P5K3's PCB. Part of the 6 layer PCB design, the Stack Cool feature consists of a thermally conductive metal substrate layer added to help dissipate heat away from the CPU socket area. ASUS claims a 20°c drop in operating temperature with the added bonus of lowered electrical impedance. Additionally, we can see that eight of the power management phases have been moved to the back; separating them I assume to again dissipate heat and lower impedance.

For power management ASUS has used an 8-Phase Power Design, intended to reduce input ripple current, and output ripple voltage; keeping the CPU and power modules from the risk of high power stress. As a result, the lifespan of CPU and power modules should be much longer and the system more stable in overclocking. Essentially, splitting the load over more power phases lowers individual phase temperature, and allows for quick transient response and dependability. 8-Phase will respond faster than typical 4-phase power designs, acting to stabilize output current and voltage. This is especially useful when the CPU requires immediate current when under load or overclocking, also reducing over-current when the CPU comes off a heavy load, further stabilizing the system.

In addition to ASUS' use of 8-Phase Power, they have used all-solid capacitors (Caps) as opposed to the liquid electrolyte ones used on mainstream motherboards. While both Caps store and discharge electricity when needed, Solid Caps contain a "solid" organic polymer as opposed to the liquid electrolyte used in mainstream Caps. The advantage of Solid Caps over their liquid counterparts, in terms of performance, is that Solid Caps will generally last longer than electrolytic ones while maintaining lower operating temperatures. For example, at 65 degrees Celsius the average lifespan for a solid capacitor is more than six times greater than an electrolytic capacitor, lasting more than twenty years, compared to only three for electrolytic capacitors. Additionally, they have a better tolerance for high temperatures while also performing better at higher frequencies and higher current than electrolytic capacitors. Their superior heat resistance and better electric conductivity allow enthusiasts to tweak the highest levels of performance from their system without fear of component wear or the infamous exploding Caps.

Here is ASUS' piece de resistance on the P5K3, the Intel 82P35 Express MCH (Northbridge). Intel's P35 MCH features support for a 1333MHz FSB and is fully provisioned for DDR3 RAM. The P35 MCH has been engineered to offer more efficient memory access while offering lower latencies, and when paired with DDR3's high-bandwidth makes the P5K3 Deluxe primed to take advantage of the soon to be released 45-nm "Penryn" Multi-Core CPUs Intel will soon be launching.

Here is the ICH9R (Southbridge), the P35's little brother on the P5K3 Deluxe, and completing the chipset. The ICH9R brings support for an unheard of 12 USB 2.0 ports and houses 6 individual PCIe lanes; for a total of 22 PCIe lanes on the P5K3 when paired with the P35's x16 PCIe. Additionally, the ICH9R bring integrated support for Intel's Matrix Storage Technology; marketing jargon for onboard RAID.

The rear I/O panel of the P5K3 includes no less than six USB ports, a PS/2 keyboard port (no PS/2 mouse support), optical and RCA digital S/PDIF, two eSATA ports, a 6-pin Firewire socket and two Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports. The upper Gigabit port is controlled by the Marvell chipset attached to the P35's PCI-Express, whereas the lower Gigabit port is run through the ICH9R PCI-based Realtek chipset.

The wireless Realtek card is located at the end next to the six 3.5mm audio jacks that provide the 7.1 (8) channel audio as well as separate microphone and line in ports.

ASUS P5K3 American Megatrends BIOS

For their BIOS design on the P5K3 ASUS has used American Megatrends, Inc. (AMI). ASUS has not use any hidden menus and everything in their BIOS is straight-forward with navigation and setting values both easy and intuitive. For the scope of this review I have elected to skip over most of the BIOS options regarding basic set-up to instead focus primarily on performance options.

To get right to the heart of the P5K3 Deluxe overclocking we will begin at the Advanced tab. For this article we are going to look at the Performance options within the JumperFree Configuration sub menu.

As with most of ASUS latest mid-range to high-end motherboards, they have included and Auto-Overclocking feature, termed "AI Overclocking". This feature dynamically adjusts CPU ratios and voltages and has a software counterpart that runs within Windows, allowing the user limited control over voltages and CPU Ratios. For the scope of this article we will be omitting testing the AI Overclocking in favor of a more hands on approach; though the examples here can be applied to software based overclocking too.

With AI Overclocking and CPU Ratio Control set to manual a wide assortment of options are presented. The ASUS P5K3 Deluxe offers unlocked CPU multipliers (Down) for Intel Core 2 Duo line of CPUs, and fully unlocked (UP/Down) multipliers for all compatible Extreme Edition CPUs. This is a great aid when overclocking as you can lower the multiplier and stay in range of your max CPUs frequency while increasing the FSB.

For the P5K3 Deluxe ASUS has added the option to control the FSB Straps, which in turn controls integral latencies within the Northbridge, and directly affects the available RAM ratios.

FSB Straps & Their DRAM Ratios

When set to Auto the FSB Strap defaults to 266, drastically limiting the overclock attainable to the realm of ~450 FSB. Loosening up the Strap to 333 allows for a much higher overclock well past 450 FSB, whereas, the 200 FSB setting offers inadequate overclock potential being too constrictive to consider worth using.

ASUS P5K3 BIOS Overclocking

Unlike previous chipsets there are no longer the penalties associated with using a higher FSB strap. With the ability to manually configure the Static Read Control Delay (tRD), termed Performance Level by the industry and "Transaction Booster" by ASUS, overclockers are freed from FSB Strap limitations on memory bandwidth. For example; increasing the Transaction Booster Level in BIOS, which in turn lowers the actual tRD value, translates into higher memory performance while at a lower FSB. Additionally, tRD gives users the option of higher FSB Straps for stable operation at higher FSB speeds without loss of performance.

MemSet is a tweaking tool which allows to changing memory timings under Windows. You can read principal and secondary timings, and even change these timings values.

Using an application called MemSet, it's possible to manually adjust the performance level setting from within Windows.

The P35 MCH offers a lot of memory divider options to choose from, however, the only dividers that have shown potential classically have been 1:1, 5:4, and for DDR3 2:1.

The settings on lower portion of the BIOS screen under the Jumper Free tab allows for significant control over different voltage levels. ASUS has introduced a new feature on the P5K3, termed Load Line Calibration. Also known as Voltage Dampener, Load Line Calibration almost eliminates Vdroop; very useful when overclocking a CPU. On past motherboards if you set a CPU's Vcore value in BIOS there has been a large difference between the voltage shown in the BIOS, and what value you actually receive, especially under load, this effect is known as Vdroop. Load Line Calibration reduces Vdroop significantly from as much as .1 volts to .008 volts.

Jumper Free Settings Summary

In order to help with tweaking the P5K3 Deluxe ASUS has included a BIOS utility called O.C. Profile. This tool allows the user to save up to two snapshots of their BIOS settings, enabling easy switching between two profiles (i.e. Overcloked and Stock).

As mentioned earlier regarding PCIe operation, here are the BIOS setting to force x1 operation of the Black PCIe slot. Forcing this setting will allow the two White PCIe slots to stay active even when the Black PCIe slot is used for CrossFire. Disabling this option will subsequently disable the two PCIe x1 slots when the Black x16 PCIe slot is used.

ASUS P5K3 Deluxe Motherboard Testing

Testing Methodology:

For testing we used an Intel E6600 as our base processor as it's a CPU that reflects a vast majority of Core 2 Duo systems at the present. With its wide range of multipliers (6x-9x) the E6600 can easily remain within its stable clock range while simultaneously allowing for a very high FSB. The E6600 has a stock FSB of 1066; though compatible with a 1066FSB the ASUS P5K3 Deluxe has been designed for a FSB of 1333. To remedy this we raised the FSB to 333 leaving the multiplier and voltage at default. This is essentially a free 25% overclock anyone with this set-up can benefit from, allowing everything in the system to run at stock values. Putting our mainstream E6600 CPU on par with the more expensive E6850's performance.

For our operating system (OS) we chose a fresh install of Windows XP with Service Pack 3 RC1 (SP3). Microsoft's Service Pack 3 rolls out some new features; however, it is essentially a cumulative update for all of Microsoft's hotfixes and updates. Although we had the option to test on a newer OS, we wanted the results to reflect better with real-world users, and according to a recent survey more than 90% of users still run Windows XP.

To minimize the effect of GPU bottlenecks, all of the game tests were ran at 800x600 resolutions; better demonstrating potential CPU and Memory related gains. All benchmarks tests were repeated five times to gain an average reproducible result.

Test Setup:

• Motherboard: ASUS P5K3 Deluxe Wi-Fi-AP Intel P35 Chipset (BIOS 810)
• Processor: Intel E6600 Core 2 Duo 2.44GHz ~1.4v (9x333/7x485 MHz FSB) 3.0Ghz/3.4Ghz
• Cooling: Zalman CNPS8700 LED
• Memory: 2 GB (1,024 MB x2 modules) Patriot PC3-15000 DDR3 @ 1333Mhz/1940Mhz
• Video: Diamond Multimedia Viper HD3870 512MB @ Stock w/ ATI Catalyst v7.12
• Audio: Sound Blaster X-Fi
• Hard Disk: 2xWD RAPTOR 74GB 16MB Cache Raid 0 10,000rpm, 1x WDC WD4000AAJS-00YFA0 (372 GB, IDE)
• Optical Drive: SONY DVD RW DRU-830A SCSI Cd-Rom Device, HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDRH10N (16x/48x DVD-ROM)
• Enclosure: Ultra m998 Aluminum Mid-Tower ATX Case ULT40069
• PSU: Ultra X3 1000 watt modular cables
• Operating System: Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3, v.3264 with IE7 (OS Version 5.1.2600 WinXP Retail)

BIOS OC Settings:

CPU-Z Setting Confirmation:

EVEREST Ultimate Edition is an industry leading system diagnostics and benchmarking solution for enthusiasts PC users, based on the award-winning EVEREST Technology. During system optimizations and tweaking it provides essential system and overclock information, advanced hardware monitoring and diagnostics capabilities to check the effects of the applied settings. CPU, FPU and memory benchmarks are available to measure the actual system performance and compare it to previous states or other systems. Furthermore, complete software, operating system and security information makes EVEREST Ultimate Edition a comprehensive system diagnostics tool that offers a total of 100 pages of information about your PC.

9x333

7x485

7x499

As mentioned when discussing tRD, a higher FSB doesn't always translate into higher memory performance. Such is the case with memory reads when moving from 7x485 to 7x499.

ASUS P5K3 Deluxe Test Results

SiSoftware's SiSoft Sandra has long been a standard for testing and benchmarking components in a system.

The program easily allows you to test each component separately with results given as a theoretical performance that none-the-less allows you to spot bottlenecks in a system.

Cinebench 10 is a real-world test suite that assesses your computer's performance capabilities. MAXON CINEBENCH is based on MAXON's animation software CINEMA 4D, which is used extensively by studios and production houses worldwide for 3D content creation. MAXON CINEBENCH runs several tests on your computer to measure the performance of the main processor and the graphics card under real world circumstances. The benchmark application makes use of up to 16 CPUs or CPU cores and is available for Windows (32- and 64-Bit).

"The CPU test suite is a collection of tests that are run to isolate the performance of the CPU. The CPU Test Suite also includes multi-threading: two of the test scenarios are run multi-threaded; the other including two simultaneous tests and the other running four tests simultaneously. The remaining six tests are run single threaded. Operations include, File Compression/Decompression, Encryption/Decryption, Image Decompression, and Audio Compression" - Courtesy FutureMark Corp.

"The Memory test suite is a collection of tests that isolate the performance of the memory subsystem. The memory subsystem consists of various devices on the PC. This includes the main memory, the CPU internal cache (known as the L1 cache) and the external cache (known as the L2 cache). As it is difficult to find applications that only stress the memory, we explicitly developed a set of tests geared for this purpose. The tests are written in C++ and assembly. They include: Reading data blocks from memory, writing data blocks to memory performing copy operations on data blocks, random access to data items and latency testing." - Courtesy FutureMark Corp

ASUS P5K3 Deluxe Test Results

3DMark06 is the worldwide standard in advanced 3D game performance benchmarking. A fundamental tool for every company in the PC industry as well as PC users and gamers, 3DMark06 uses advanced real-time 3D game workloads to measure PC performance using a suite of DirectX 9 3D graphics tests, CPU tests, and 3D feature tests. 3DMark06 tests include all new HDR/SM3.0 graphics tests, SM2.0 graphics tests, AI and physics driven single and multiple cores or processor CPU tests and a collection of comprehensive feature tests to reliably measure next generation gaming performance today. Futuremark's exclusive Online Result Browser web service tracks and compares 3DMark06 scores.

Crysis is a science fiction first-person shooter computer game developed by German company Crytek and published by Electronic Arts Crysis uses a new engine-the CryENGINE2-that is the successor to Far Cry's CryENGINE. CryENGINE2 is among the first engines to use the Direct3D 10 (DirectX 10) framework of Windows Vista, but can also run using DirectX 9, both on Vista and Windows XP.

HD Tach RW tests the sequential read, random access and interface burst speeds of attached storage devices (hard drive, flash drive, removable drive, etc). All drive technologies such as SCSI, IDE/ATA, 1394, USB, SATA and RAID are supported. Test results from HD Tach can be used to confirm manufacturer specs, analyze systems for proper performance, and compare performance with others. HD Tach is very easy to use, quick, and presents data in easy to read graphs, including the ability to compare two storage devices on screen at the same time for easy analysis.

JMicron JMB36X SATA RAID Controller Performance

Intel ICH9R SATA RAID Controller Performance

WinRAR is one of the most popular compression programs today. It even includes an internal benchmark program that measures the performance of the RAR compression and decompression algorithm using a demanding worst-case data set.

This multi-threaded benchmark offers a data throughput rating, and while it does not relate specifically to cache or memory transfers, it's found that the overall throughput numbers adhere closely to the overall architecture. A faster processor speed certainly helps, but the score also ties in closely with memory, cache and CPU performance.

Final Thoughts:

With Intel on the brink of releasing their faster 1600MHz FSB 45nm CPU "Penryn" and with affordable DDR3 right around the corner, there's definite appeal for motherboards like the P5K3 Deluxe that offer tough-to-beat features, performance on par with new chipsets, and have undergone long-term market testing.

Regarding its overclocking capabilities, the P5K3 Deluxe offers "free upgrading" with the effortless ability to bring all 1066-FSB CPU's to 1333-FSB with a slight bump from the default 266FSB to 333 without any voltage increases. When encountering a failed overclock the P5K3 Deluxe does requires a cold boot to re-enter BIOS, however, ASUS' CPU Parameter Recall (C.P.R.) keeps your last BIOS setting allowing quick work of stability adjustments. ASUS' C.P.R. also makes the Clear CMOS jumper placement a non-issue.

Nearly eight months on the market as of this review, the ASUS P5K3 Deluxe is a polished example of what a motherboard should be. Receiving several BIOS updates in that time make it by far the most "established" DDR3 based motherboard available today. The ASUS P5K3 offers excellent overclocking capabilities and rock solid performance that is on par or better than current X38/X48 motherboards while suffering none of the issues related to Intel's flagship chipset.

P5K3 Deluxe Conclusion:

ASUS has loaded their familiar "AI styled" retail box with all the relevant information. Clearly showing the P5K3's features and supported technologies. The box is not overly large or awkward, none-the-less there is a sturdy plastic handle built right into the top of it for easy transportation.

Regarding layout, the P5K3 Deluxe has a clean well laid design. Its aesthetic leaves nothing to be desired with a tasteful color scheme that also serves to help quickly identify each port and socket. However, the design is not without flaws as there are minor interference issues related to port placement.

The P5K3 Deluxe uses high grade components such as all-solid caps and a sturdy 6 layered PCB. The sample I reviewed had zero noticeable defects; a testament to ASUS high level of quality control.

As one of ASUS' top motherboards it's expected the P5K3 Deluxe will perform well. And perform well it does. Reaching DDR3-2000 speeds without breaking a sweat, the P5K3 Deluxe easily allowed both the CPU and RAM used here to attain their maximum overclock.

Using the Benchmark Reviews Price Comparison site you can find some very good deals on the P5K3 Deluxe Wi-Fi motherboard. NewEgg.com presently offers a great price on the P5K3 Deluxe for $219.99. I personally consider this a bargain keeping in mind all the features that come built into the design, such as integrated 8-channel audio, dual eSATA, dual GB LAN, and onboard 802.11g Wi-Fi.

To sum it up, ASUS has developed and maintained a board that offers superb stability and performance with many levels of flexibility and an extensive feature set. Paired with high-speed DDR3 the P5K3 Deluxe is ready and waiting for the next generation of CPU's to take advantage of the ultra-high bandwidth it allows.

Pros:

+ Rock Solid Stability
+ Out of box Compatibility
+ Maintenance Free Stock Cooling
+ Rich Onboard feature set
+ Incredible Overclocking Capability
+ Support for Intel's Upcoming 45nm CPU's
+ Built in Overclocking Support Features
+ Future Proof Design via DDR3 support

Cons:

- Poor Placement of CMOS Clear Jumper and IDE Port
- Lack of Additional 90 degree SATA Cable
- SATA Port Interference with Long Video Cards
- Limited Aftermarket Chipset Cooling Options
- Heatpipe complicates CPU cooler installation

Ratings:

• Presentation: 9.00
• Appearance: 9.00
• Construction: 9.00
• Functionality: 9.25
• Value: 8.75

Final Score: 9.0 out of 10.

Excellence Achievement: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.

Professional notice: This product was not furnished by ASUS for review. Like many of the products featured on Benchmark Reviews, this product was purchased at the reviewers expense.

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