Product Listing

ASUS P5N-T Deluxe (NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI)

By Zachary Chan - 25 Jan 2008

ASUS P5N-T Deluxe

Features

The premium pricing of the nForce 680i SLI made it impossible to have mid-range motherboards back in its day, but with the nForce 780i SLI, we're not only seeing the usual high-end models, but more mainstream boards, even from the likes of ASUS, who offers both the gamer class Striker II Formula and the more generic P5N-T Deluxe, which is the focus of this review.

One of the best things we loved about the nForce 680i SLI was that no matter what configuration you find it in, even if a motherboard was totally bare with just the chipset alone, it would already be considered packed with features. Since the nForce 780i SLI is basically the same thing, we found ourselves looking at a mid-range board that isn't so mid-range after all. In terms of features and technology, expect everything that you know from the nForce 780i SLI to be available here. This includes 3-Way SLI, SLI Memory, 10 USB 2.0 ports and MediaShield storage support. Unlike newer Intel chipsets, the nForce 780i SLI comes with six SATA 3.0Gbps ports and still has native support for IDE drives. In addition, the board features a Marvell 88SE6111 controller for its eSATA port.

3-chip formula.

With 3-Way SLI, you've got to compromise on available expansion slots. For those that swear by a discrete sound card, you've got only one PCI slot, so use it wisely.

Like all current ASUS motherboards, the P5N-T Deluxe utilizes an AD1988B HD Audio CODEC, with analog surround and S/PDIF output connectivity. FireWire-400 is a standard feature here and is controlled by a VIA VIA6308P chipset.

The P5N-T Deluxe also features ASUS' new EPU (Energy Processing Unit) functionality that was introduced with the ASUS P5E3 Deluxe (Intel X38) . As a short recap, the EPU is really an ASUS designed Vcore regulator with more hardware level control and functionality when used with its bundled software. The board is also supposed to feature a third generation ASUS PWM design, which by its description, looks like they're also using Ferrite chokes and Low RDS(on) MOSFETs in addition to full solid capacitors. These are all high-end features that usually don't filter down to mainstream motherboard models.

the ASP0700 is ASUS' own Vcore regulator that powers their EPU engine. The AS3336G is also an ASUS IC to augment its 8-phase PWM.

The only evidence that the board is meant for a 'lower end' segment is its support for only one Gigabit LAN port (Marvell 88E1116) instead of two the chipset is capable of. This means that the board will not feature any of the advanced DualNET network functionality of the chipset.


Layout

As usual for an ASUS motherboard, the layout for the P5N-T Deluxe is pretty optimal. Connectors are easily accessible, though the front portion of the board near the DIMM slots are a little too busy with connectors. In general, the heat-pipe cooling on this board isn't any more elaborate than other ASUS boards, and the new nForce 200 chip does not hog any more space. What you'd have to keep a note of however, is the close proximity of the rear heat-pipe fins (the one cooling the MOSFETs) to the CPU socket. We've managed to nick our fingers more than once taking off the CPU heatsink because of it.

Just be careful of the sharp ridges on the fins of the top heat-pipe cooler, whch is very close to the retention holes. 

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