The Intel X38 chipset , which is the basis of the ASUS P5K, is the flagship model, but this is precisely its main drawback. It is quite obvious that the motherboards with them will have a fairly large number of various functions that the user needs to one degree or another, and will also differ in the mass of additional controllers and rich equipment. But the result of all this will also be a rather high price. And if just a few years ago it was quite possible to imagine that some kind of manufacturer of the second type would start producing motherboards on a serious chipset in the absence of unnecessary functions and at an optimal cost, today it is hardly worth counting on this.
What is the reason?
Manufacturers often refuse to work with flagship chipsets, and therefore, long ago, they did not release something really worthy of public attention. If we talk about the advantages of this chipset, which it received in comparison with the P35 model, it is worth highlighting that it has support for two full-speed PCI Express x16 slots simultaneously. For most record lovers, such results are quite worthwhile, but they are unlikely to satisfy users who prefer more practicality.
Thus, after its release, the P35 Express chipset became the best option exclusively for overclockers, as it provides full processor support, full support for processors with a 333 MHz bus, which were just starting to appear at that time, and with it, it was possible to provide effective overclocking devices. In this regard, using the P35 Express chipset, it was possible to maximize the effect of invested funds. Of course, all this was available only if it was provided for by the features of the motherboard.
What is such a board?
The ASUS P5K motherboard series was announced almost immediately after the release of this chipset, which is another confirmation in favor of how important and priority its release was. However, many people did not have time to familiarize themselves with this device and understand how effective it is.
ASUS P5K models are designed for semi-professional use. Depending on the modification you are using, there may be a device that supports specialized PCI-X server slots, or just a device with four PCI Express x16. Of course, both options are quite optimal, but at the same time it was equally obvious that this product is not mass, but namely a niche one.
What to choose?
The flagship of the entire line is the model ASUS P5K Deluxe / Wi-Fi-AP, which has gained wide popularity due to the use of intertwined heat pipes in the cooling system.
Many believe that this product is an image product and was used exclusively for exhibitions or people who use systems with RDRAM, although in fact there were faster and cheaper offers. In fact, of course, it is hardly worth denying that this is a board for those users for whom speed is not in the first place, and it is important to buy just an expensive device, but at the same time it is an ideal device for comparison.
Differences between P5K and P5K3
Unlike its counterpart (ASUS P5K3), the ASUS P5K Deluxe is not just an option for reckless users, but more for those who prefer practicality in everything. This board has a huge number of functions, and even a little more for those people who are really ready to pay for this pleasure.
This board has exactly the same serious capabilities as other boards present in this series. If we talk about opportunities, then they are the same, but without a certain redundancy. The absence of a second network card in the system, which is absolutely unnecessary for the vast majority of users, can hardly be called a drawback, it only allows you to significantly reduce the price. Again, as an advantage, it is worth highlighting certain differences in cooling systems and standard equipment. Without exception of any serious components, in the end you get a flagship product in the complete absence of overpricing, and if this is not an ideal option, then we can definitely say that it is close to it.
Apart from these devices is the ASUS P5K SE, as well as the P5K-C, in which there is support for two memory options - DDR2 and DDR3.
Who needs them?
Such products are often used by prudent, frugal users, who, after their devices are out of date, prefer not to completely change, but only to gradually improve the system they use. Of course, given the constant changes in the field of computer technology, such a choice is far from the most optimal.
If you use a system that has a LGA775 processor, as well as DDR2 RAM, then you can try using some kind of ASUS P5K VM, and later change the processor to a more modern one and change the RAM to a more modern DDR3. But in fact, this is not particularly necessary, since your motherboard is unlikely to have something that a new one will offer you, while today there are a lot of more interesting products.
If you think that everything is extremely clear in the entire series of motherboards based on the Intel P35 Express chipset, then the ASUS P5K SE will be the best option for you. For its time, this is a fairly modern motherboard, which was one of the most advanced in the whole market and was practically useless for ordinary users. At the same time, it is worth noting the fact that at first there was not even any information about her, from the standard description to the manual.
In this case, we will not consider the ASUS P5K VM and other advanced modifications, but rather talk about the standard P5K starting board.
Equipment
The box of this motherboard is extremely simple, that is, it does not contain any false boxes, transparent windows or handles. On its reverse side, you can find detailed information about what technologies this motherboard supports, as well as get acquainted with its main features.
This motherboard attracted special attention of users because the front side of the box in which the ASUS P5K motherboard was shipped said that this device is 75% faster than similar devices from other manufacturers, and this provides a significant advantage when using the original Super Memspeed Technology. Of course, such an advantage immediately seemed too big to ultimately turn out to be true, but in fact, the developers did not leave everything in words and provided users with a fairly large number of the most diverse evidence that this is really true.
What did it look like?
During testing, it was determined that the Intel Core 2 Duo processor operates at almost the nominal frequency of 3 GHz, while the memory was increased by using an up-divider, and as a result, the ASUS P5K EPU-based device started operating at 1372 MHz This seemed really a major achievement, since not all modules were capable of it. However, in reality this was not such a major breakthrough, since memory, characterized by small timings and stealth, can equal speed with a high-frequency device if its stealth and timings are high.
Of course, no one says that the ASUS P5K EPU and other models were not the fastest in their time. But in fact, this difference was far from the 75% advantage, which was really achieved exclusively in the laboratory.
How were the tests conducted?
For modern overclockers, the most optimal are not increasing, but rather lowering memory dividers. The minimum starting memory frequency is not scary, as it will proportionally increase during overclocking by increasing the FSB with participation. At the same time, weak memory is not a limiting factor, as a result of which overclocking the processor to the maximum possible value becomes more possible and affordable - the main thing is to control everything at least through the ASUS P5K BIOS.
It is encouraging that after the release of this device, the practice of providing bundled software with motherboards was resumed, and some utilities are more than interesting.
Design and features
Latches designed for different memory slots cannot be blocked by the installed video card. Of particular note is the increased distance between the PCI-E slots, as well as three PCI slots and the convenient location of the power connectors.
The slots for the capacitors are initially empty, but all polymer, which significantly affected the total cost at which the ASUS P5K motherboard is purchased, but it allowed to achieve higher stability and durability of the device with optimal parameters. In the motherboard there are four connectors at the same time, to which fans can be connected, which is enough for the standard board, which does not claim any records.
Power and cooling system
The three-phase processor power system used by the ASUS P5K motherboard can hardly be called an advantage of this device, but it is not its drawback. An undoubted advantage is the cooling system, in which there are no fans, due to which absolutely silent operation of this equipment is achieved. Instead of fans, a specialized heat pipe is used here.
The heatsink, which is installed in the ASUS P5K Pro in the area of MOSFET transistors and is located on the air flow path from the processor cooler, can significantly reduce the heatsink's operating temperature on the north bridge.
The south bridge of the chipset also heats up significantly during operation, and a small heatsink is used to cool it.
Controllers
Although the ASUS P5K E is a younger model, there is enough space on it to accommodate an additional controller, which provides support for two IEEE 1394a ports simultaneously . As with most modern motherboards based on Intel chipsets, ASUS was forced to add another controller that supports only one SATA port, which is not located in the most convenient way inside.
How important are the connectors?
Such an inconvenient location of the internal SATA connector in the ASUS P5K Pro is not so critical, although it can be almost completely blocked after installing a video card that uses a dual-slot cooling system, however, in the majority of cases, four standard chipset SATA connectors are enough for users. But at the same time, the PATA connector located in the lower left corner of the board will be a significant drawback of the wiring of this motherboard, since it is located under the expansion card slots. If you still use an old-format HDD, then this drawback is not too critical for you, but when connecting optical drives with a PATA interface, you will have to face serious problems.
Thus, the ASUS P5K E is suitable for the vast majority of users, allowing them to solve basic problems, and serves as the basis for many modern devices. That is why it is popular to this day.