14 DAY TRIAL // Since Intel is going to launch the Ivy Bridge-EP series of central processing units later this year, ASUS, like many other motherboard makers, has prepared platforms featuring the LGA2011 socket.
ASUS didn't do what ASRock did. Which is to say, it didn't leak the entire lineup of upcoming CPUs in its support list.
What it did do was launch, at long last, the P9X79-E WS socket LGA2011 motherboard, which first made the news back in January.
Built in the 305 x 267 mm SSI-CEB form-factor (12 x 10.51 inches), it uses a 10-phase VRM to power the LGA 2011 socket, with 2+2 phase memory.
The socket is wired to eight DDR3 DIMM memory slot, four on either side. The total memory capacity can go as high as 64 GB, when quad-channel kits are used (DDR3-2133).
Two SATA 6 Gbps ports are available through the X79 PCH, along with four more through a Marvell-made 4-port SATA 6 Gb/s AHCI/RAID controller.
Add to those four SATA 3 Gbps ports and two eSATA 6 Gbps connectors (ASMedia-made controller) and you have more than the necessary share of storage capabilities. To say the least.
The number of expansion slots is high as well. ASUS tossed in no fewer than seven PCI Express x16 slots, for 4-way SLI and AMD crossfire and lots more besides.
Other than all that, the company included a pair of Gigabit Ethernet LAN interfaces (a single one would have been too pedestrian), 8-channel HD audio, four USB 3.0 ports, PS/2 and RS232 COM interfaces (header), and BIOS-based and on-board overclocking features.
Anyone thinking of making an overpowered computer in the third quarter of the year (Q3 2013) can buy the ASUS P9X79-E WS for $499.99. That's somewhere between €375 (exchange rate conversion) and €499.99 (the more likely sum in Europe).