14 DAY TRIAL // You would think that high-end gaming motherboards would be the best and brightest of all mainboards, but there is one level above that, specifically the market segment of workstation platforms.
ASUS has just released a workstation motherboard, which lives up to its label by having the same general performance limits (or lack thereof) as gaming motherboards, but featuring more expansion capabilities and interfaces.
For one thing, there are four PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, enabling quad-SLI and quad-CrossfireX multi-GPU configurations.
And yes, the slots can all work in x16 mode, unless you populate all of them, in which case you'll need to make do with x8. It still allows for a ludicrous video performance though.
And why not, since this is a workstation motherboard, it's likely to do well in virtual currency mining. AMD Radeon video cards seem to be especially adept at rooting out Bitcoins and the like.
In addition to the four PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, there are three PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots, miniature ones, for add-in sound and network boards, or Thunderbolt adapters, etc.
One the other side of the motherboard, there are located four DDR3 DIMM memory slots, for up to 32 GB – 64 GB RAM.
Then, there's the back I/O panel, with six USB 3.0 ports, 5.1 channel audio, and dual Gigabit Ethernet LAN, among other things.
The real kicker, though, is the host of efficiency- and stability-enhancing features, like integrated Dr MOS MOSFET, ultra-durable 12K solid capacitors (Japanese-made capacitors that are able to withstand up to 12,000 hours of temperatures as high as 105°C), and Beat Thermal Chokes.
Between those parts and the ASUS ProCool power connectors, the ASUS Z97-WS workstation/gaming motherboard should produce a lot less heat and waste much less power than other platforms aiming for the same general customer base.
ASUS has even included the Q-Code Logger, a troubleshooter that will let you check the system status at any time just by touching a single controller. Finally, the ASUS Dr. power utility always measures power supply status and brings any incoming issues to your attention.
All in all, it's a shame that ASUS hasn't revealed the price of the Z97-WS. You should be able to find it in retail stores though. Availability was supposed to begin on May 11, but a cursory search hasn't turned out anything concrete. Presumably, though, the tag is of around $280 / €280, like for the ASUS Z87-WS that it's essentially replacing.