ASUS Previews USB 3.0/SATA 6G Motherboards

Terry Olaes

Terry Olaes

I Used to be the [H] News Guy
Joined
Nov 27, 2006
Messages
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We've got some pics of upcoming motherboards from ASUS that feature USB 3.0 and SATA 6G capabilities: the P7P55D-E Premium and the P6X58D Premium. ASUS tells us that these are “coming soon” so watch for more details as they become available.

See Front page for pics.
 
I can't wait until they stop putting IDE and FDC controllers on mobos.

And I can't wait until Intel and AMD finally put SATA6/ USB3 in their chipsets. This is why I'm holding off on the P55 line - I'll go next gen hardware when I finally get my next-gen transfer communication.
 
Friggin great
I was about to pull the trigger on a New build...
and you had to go and do that!
Any time frame on the release?
 
And the PCI slots? There's only 6 total expansion slots instead of the 7 many boards have, and 2 double slot video cards would reduce the free slots to 2, and only one PCI-E. Not even any 4x or 8x slots either just 2 16's and 2 1's...

Interesting but pass until they fix the expansion slots.
 
im assuming the x58 variant of this board will have triple channel memory capability? im perfectly happy with my p6td-deluxe but it would be nice to have the option to upgrade that down the line
 
Anybody care to guess how much these boards are gonna cost when they are first released?

As for the SATA3, onlt SSDs and HW RAM drives will benefit.

And the USB3 ports will need devices that support USB 3 to see any speed increase.

Until USB3 and SATA3 really starts becoming a standard I don't see many things being made that will be able to utilize the extra speed available.
 
Sexy as hell, but I want a mATX version. And Intel is delaying USB 3 until 2011, so......what gives with this?
 
ashmelev75 said:
For the love of god, why they keep using these floppy and IDE connectors?
Click to expand...

Not to mention the PS/2 connectors on the back. Do mobo manufacturers seriously think someone's going to spend hundreds of dollars on the latest mobo, CPU and memory, only to plug in a 10 year old PS/2 keyboard????? Seriously, give us 2 more USB 2.0 connections and call it done.
 
48 frick'n phases? My money is on Gigabyte shooting back with 64. Good grief.

cyclone3d said:
Until USB3 and SATA3 really starts becoming a standard I don't see many things being made that will be able to utilize the extra speed available.
Click to expand...
Chicken & Egg. If you want USB3 or SATA6gbps devices on the market, you need to have computers that can use them. Even if Intel's next IO "chipset" isn't scheduled until 2011 it will still help to have these things coming out now. And if you're the kind of guy who only upgrades every three years, why not get something forward-looking?
 
ProphetSix said:
Not to mention the PS/2 connectors on the back. Do mobo manufacturers seriously think someone's going to spend hundreds of dollars on the latest mobo, CPU and memory, only to plug in a 10 year old PS/2 keyboard????? Seriously, give us 2 more USB 2.0 connections and call it done.
Click to expand...

You obviously don't know about the IBM Model M keyboard, which uses a PS/2 (or AT) connector.
 
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-Dragon- said:
And the PCI slots? There's only 6 total expansion slots instead of the 7 many boards have, and 2 double slot video cards would reduce the free slots to 2, and only one PCI-E. Not even any 4x or 8x slots either just 2 16's and 2 1's...

Interesting but pass until they fix the expansion slots.
Click to expand...

This is my biggest beef with the board, I actually had to automatically disqualify every asus option for my x58 build because the layout just wouldnt work with what I had, I would basically either be forced to choose between my video card and sound card, or buy a new video card to use the sound card.
 
Its funny we just got a story about USB 3.0 getting delayed till 2011. Is the spec finalized? Sata 6Gbps has been delayed And I have been holding off on buying a new PC for these 2 technologies. I want a pc that is a bit future proof for the next 3 years. I am also waiting for nvidia's answer to the 5800. The GT300.

I figure the best time to buy will be After CES 2010. Everything will be out and prices should stabilize by February. That's when I'm buying.
 
Kaldskryke said:
48 frick'n phases? My money is on Gigabyte shooting back with 64. Good grief.

Chicken & Egg. If you want USB3 or SATA6gbps devices on the market, you need to have computers that can use them. Even if Intel's next IO "chipset" isn't scheduled until 2011 it will still help to have these things coming out now. And if you're the kind of guy who only upgrades every three years, why not get something forward-looking?
Click to expand...

True, true, but how much of a demand for those tings is there really going to be if only a small number of computers are out that support them?

If the manufacturers don't see a profit in making them until there is a considerable amount of hardware available to run them on, then the devices will not be on the market anyhow.

I also can't see paying a premium for a board with those features until I need it... and by that time, prices on boards that have that tech will have dropped a bit.

Do you remember the whole wireless G and then wireless N draft crap that wen't on? G was super buggy and unreliable for about 2 years after it first appeared.. Wireless N wasn't quite as bad.. but there were so many different "standards" out there that you had to make sure that you got stuff that was all compatible with each other.
 
adonn78 said:
Its funny we just got a story about USB 3.0 getting delayed till 2011. Is the spec finalized? Sata 6Gbps has been delayed And I have been holding off on buying a new PC for these 2 technologies. I want a pc that is a bit future proof for the next 3 years. I am also waiting for nvidia's answer to the 5800. The GT300.

I figure the best time to buy will be After CES 2010. Everything will be out and prices should stabilize by February. That's when I'm buying.
Click to expand...

It's not that USB 3 itself is delayed until 2011 - it's that Intel's plans to integrate USB 3 in their chipsets is delayed until 2011.

Manufacturers will still be able to release USB 3-capable motherboards, they'll just use a 3rd party controller on the board for now.
 
I haven't used a floppy for years now. Last time I actualy used one was just before USB flash drive hit the market bout 5 years ago now me thinks...
 
On the bright side, if they keep up like this, you won't have to worry about getting an I/O plate with it. It will just take up the whole space.:)
 
Terry Olaes said:
We've got some pics of upcoming motherboards from ASUS that feature USB 3.0 and SATA 6G capabilities: the P7P55D-E Premium and the P6X58D Premium. ASUS tells us that these are “coming soon” so watch for more details as they become available.

See Front page for pics.
Click to expand...

Terry when will we see amd motherboards with this support
 
ProphetSix said:
Not to mention the PS/2 connectors on the back. Do mobo manufacturers seriously think someone's going to spend hundreds of dollars on the latest mobo, CPU and memory, only to plug in a 10 year old PS/2 keyboard????? Seriously, give us 2 more USB 2.0 connections and call it done.
Click to expand...

You can get more simultaneous keypresses out of a ps/2 interface than USB. In that regard, ps/2 is actually superior. A lot of good keyboards still offer ps/2 as an option.
 
As you can tell by the ads all over the [H], it's out now at around $280-300

not worth it IMO
 
ProphetSix said:
Not to mention the PS/2 connectors on the back. Do mobo manufacturers seriously think someone's going to spend hundreds of dollars on the latest mobo, CPU and memory, only to plug in a 10 year old PS/2 keyboard????? Seriously, give us 2 more USB 2.0 connections and call it done.
Click to expand...

My keyboard is 13 years old and I'm not giving it up.

Just leave me one PS2... I get get buy with that.
 
ProphetSix said:
Not to mention the PS/2 connectors on the back. Do mobo manufacturers seriously think someone's going to spend hundreds of dollars on the latest mobo, CPU and memory, only to plug in a 10 year old PS/2 keyboard????? Seriously, give us 2 more USB 2.0 connections and call it done.
Click to expand...

I spent thousands of dollars on my rig, and I still use one and only one keyboard, its one of the ergonomic ones that is better on your wrists, and the exact key layout I use only comes in the PS/2 variant.

Its made by Microsoft fyi
 
JaYp146 said:
You obviously don't know about the IBM Model M keyboard, which uses a PS/2 (or AT) connector.
Click to expand...

And PS/2 to USB connectors are about $5. No excuses. PS/2 plugs are a waste of board realestate. You also can buy modern builds of the Model M that have USB on the end.

http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/customizer.html

ThisMonsterLives said:
Where is the serial port? :(
Click to expand...

It's gone. Get used to it.

-Dragon- said:
And the PCI slots? There's only 6 total expansion slots instead of the 7 many boards have, and 2 double slot video cards would reduce the free slots to 2, and only one PCI-E. Not even any 4x or 8x slots either just 2 16's and 2 1's...

Interesting but pass until they fix the expansion slots.
Click to expand...

This is the big thing that keeps me from liking as many boards as I could... The slot ordering is horrendous if there's going to be any double video installs done.

I thought it took a while for boards to become simplified again after dropping ISA and all the different memory types out there... but they're sure taking a damned long time to get rid of parallel, serial, ps/2, IDE and the frickin' floppy of all things. There's even a version of WinXP out there with a Vista installer, which means it can install from USB! LET THE FLOPPY DIE!
 
I'd prefere it with more PCIe slots and no PCI, but at least the first double width graphics card blocks a useless (to me) PCI rather than a PCIe slot (like most motherboards today). I generally prefere X58 boards as I could (without penalty) put the first graphics card in whichever slot is more convenient.
 
Here are the specs we received from ASUS. No word on availability, price, or comparable AMD products:

P7P55D-E Premium
Note: The specifications are subject to change without notice.

CPU
LGA1156 socket for Intel® Core™ i7/Core™ i5 Processors
Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology

Chipset
Intel® P55 Express Chipset

Memory
4 x DIMM, max. 16GB, DDR3 2200(OC)*/1600/1333/1066 MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered memory
Dual channel memory architecture
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
*Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs. Some hyper DIMMs only support one DIMM per channel. Please refer to Memory QVL for details.
*Refer to www.asus.com or the user manual for the Memory QVL(Qualified Vendors Lists).

Expansion Slots
2 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots (single at x16 or dual at x8/x8 mode)
2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots (2.5GT/s)
2 x PCI slots

Multi-GPU support
Supports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI™ Technology
Supports ATI® Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology

Storage
Intel® P55 Express Chipset
- 6 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports
- Intel Matrix Storage Technology supports RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10
JMicron® JMB368 PATA controller
- 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 for up to 2 PATA devices
Marvell® SATA 6Gb/s controller:
- 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports (gray)

LAN
Dual Gigabit LAN controllers
Realtek® 8112L / 8110SC Gigabit LAN controller featuring AI NET2 and Teaming

Audio
VIA® VT2020 10-channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Absolute Pitch BD192/24 featuring ENVY HD
- DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC
- Supports Jack-Detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-Retasking
- Coaxial / Optical S/PDIF out ports at back I/O

IEEE 1394
VIA® 6308P controller supports 2 x IEEE 1394a ports (one at mid-board; one at back panel)

USB
NEC® USB 3.0 controller:
- 2 x USB 3.0 ports (blue; at back panel)
Intel® P55 Express Chipset:
- 10 x USB 2.0 ports (4 ports at mid-board, 8 ports at back panel)

ASUS Unique Features
ASUS Hybrid Processor - TurboV EVO
- Auto Tuning, TurboV and Turbo Key
- TurboV Remote
ASUS Hybrid Phase
- T.Probe Technology for Active Cooling
- Hybrid 32+3 Phase Power Design
ASUS Hybrid OS - Express Gate SSD
ASUS Xtreme Design
ASUS Exclusive Features
- MemOK!
- ASUS EPU
ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution
- ASUS Fanless Design: Heat-pipe solution
- ASUS Fanless Design: Stack Cool 3+
- ASUS Fan Xpert
ASUS Crystal Sound
- ASUS Noise Filter
ASUS EZ DIY
- ASUS Q-Shield
- ASUS Q-Connector
- ASUS O.C. Profile
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 2
- ASUS MyLogo 2
- Multi-language BIOS

ASUS Q-Design
ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)
ASUS Q-Slot
ASUS Q-DIMM

ASUS Exclusive Overclocking Features
Precision Tweaker 2:
- vCore: Adjustable CPU voltage at 0.00625V increment
- vIMC: Adjustable IMC voltage at 0.00625V increment
- vDRAM Bus: 81-step DRAM voltage control
- vPCH: 2-step chipset voltage control
- vCPU_PLL: 4-step reference voltage control
SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection)
- Internal Base Clock tuning from 80MHz up to 500MHz at 1MHz increment
- PCI Express frequency tuning from 100MHz up to 200MHz at 1MHz increment
Overclocking Protection:
- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)

Back Panel I/O Ports
1 x PS/2 Keyboard port (Purple)
1 x PS/2 mouse port (Green)
1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Output
1 x Optical S/PDIF Output
1 x Clear CMOS switch
1 x IEEE1394a
2 x RJ45 ports
2 x USB 3.0 ports
6 x USB 2.0/1.1
10-channel Audio I/O

Internal I/O Connectors
2 x USB connectors support additional 4 USB ports
1 x IDE connector
1 x COM connector
6 x SATA 3.0Gb/s connectors (blue)
2 x SATA 6.0Gb/s connectors (gray)
1 x CPU Fan connector
2 x Chassis Fan connector (1x4-pin, 1x3-pin)
1 x Power Fan connector
1 x IEEE1394a connector
1 x TPM connector
Front panel audio connector
1 x S/PDIF Out Header
1 x CD audio in
1 x 24-pin ATX Power connector
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector
System Panel(Q-Connector)
1 x TURBO_CON header (for TurboV Remote)
1 x MemOK! button
1 x Power on switch
1 x Reset switch

BIOS
16 Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.5, 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

Accessories
1 x TurboV Remote
1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable
2 x Serial ATA 6.0Gb/s cables
4 x Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s cables
1 x 2-port USB and eSATA module
ASUS Q-Shield
User's manual
2 in 1 Q-connector
1 x ASUS SLI bridge connector

Support DVD
Drivers
ASUS Utilities
ASUS Update
Anti-virus software (OEM version)

Form Factor
ATX Form Factor, 12”x 9.6” (30.5cm x 24.4cm)

We didn't get a spec sheet for the P6X58D Premium unfortunately.
 
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Maybe it'll change when we see retail boards, but I fail to see the point (and cost savings) of including the second GbE Ethernet port... from a different supplier on the P55 board. Both VIA and Realtek? What gives?

EDIT: Nvm, saw the specs above stating they will both be Realtek. Interesting that the stock photo clearly shows one from each vendor.
 
i have got to say ( i know the dude was joking about the serial but) there is some older/newer hardware out there that doesn't support the serial to usb adapters, and by hardware i mean printers/plotters/cads/xrite/scanners/those old goofy switches for printers/etc. hell, if they made my printer with 1394 and supported x64bit os, i'd be in heaven but unfortunately it's like the other guy said about so many standards.

while most of you think about your setups as you are enthusiasts being boys with your toys, there are some of us out there that actually build these monsters to produce work. it's great that most of these intense setups allow us to have fun, personally i use it to crank out [H]ard processing power.

also consider this, these mobos aren't just used in america. there are third party companies that make products for businesses out of korea, india, canada, japan, russia, etc. and those companies build proprietary parts for that hardware i mentioned before. why don't they use USB instead of parallel or serial or 1394a? it's simple. usb on a x64bit os operating with more than 4Gb of ram just doesn't work for some third party hardware not to mention the royalty you gotta pay. it's just simpler to use something else of an older standard or make your own.

that said. while the atx x58 looks interesting, i'll have to assume that somebody is going to release a usb 3.0/sata 3.0 pci-e card in the future, having just built a asus p6t6 i can only hope they start making pci-e x16 cards that have more than just support for GPUs. that WS board has 6 pci-e x16 slots, and right now only using on physical slot for the new 5870. any word on that sort of support?
 
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Meh, how many USB 3.0 and SATA III devices on the market? I think Seagate is the only company that has a SATA III device. Very cool though since USB 2.0 has been around for a really long time. I'm more thrilled with USB3 because I have a lot of data backed up externally.
 
I actually have little to no interest in USB 3.0. All of my external drives use eSATA now.

I'll wait until Intel has them on chipset before I worry about getting a motherboard with them. I've been burned more than one buying a board that early adopted new standards with 3ed party chips sucking and giving really poor performance.


The reason I purchased my current work laptop model is because it had a Serial Port. I still use serial cables on an almost daily basis. I don't go anywhere at work without my normal serial, and null model serial cables...
 
brom42 said:
I actually have little to no interest in USB 3.0. All of my external drives use eSATA now.

I'll wait until Intel has them on chipset before I worry about getting a motherboard with them. I've been burned more than one buying a board that early adopted new standards with 3ed party chips sucking and giving really poor performance.


The reason I purchased my current work laptop model is because it had a Serial Port. I still use serial cables on an almost daily basis. I don't go anywhere at work without my normal serial, and null model serial cables...
Click to expand...

+1

I've always had crappy luck with early adopting 3rd party adapters as well. I still use serial connections when I troubleshoot KVH TracVision systems. They have USB on some of their newer stuff, but I still use serial connections. They still use COM ports to communicate with their software. Works like a champ!
 
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