Introduction
As always ASUS is at the forefront of motherboard innovation and technology, their track record of late certainly speaks for itself still being The No1 Motherboard Manufacturer in the World it is no surprise that they have Brought to use the ASUS sabertoothP55i Motherboard.
Specifications
CPU
Intel® Socket 1156 Core™ i7 Processor/Core™ i5 Processor Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
Chipset:
Intel® P55 Express Chipset
Memory:
4 x DIMM, Max. 16 GB, DDR3 2000/1800/1600/1333/1066 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. Refer to Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors List) for details.
Please visit Asus Compiuter or refer to the user manual for the Memory QVL.
Expansion Slots
2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (single at x16 or dual at x8/x8 mode)
3 x PCIe 2.0 x1 (2.5GT/s)
2 x PCI
Multi-GPU Support:
Supports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI™ Technology
Supports ATI® Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology
Storage:
Intel® P55 Express Chipset built-in
6 xSATA 3.0 Gb/s ports (black)
Intel Matrix Storage Technology Support RAID 0,1,5,10
JMicron® JMB363 PATA and SATA controller
1 xUltraDMA 133/100/66 for up to 2 PATA devices
1 xExternal SATA (SATA On-the-Go)
JMicron® JMB322 (DriveXpert Technology)
2 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports (orange and white )
Supports EZ Backup and SuperSpeed functions
Drive Xpert function is available only when the hard disk drives are set as data drives
LAN
Realtek® 8112L PCIe Gigabit LAN controller featuring AI NET2
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
Optical S/PDIF out port at back I/O
ASUS Noise Filter
IEEE 1394
VIA® 6308P controller supports 2 x 1394a ports (one at mid-board; one at back panel)
USB
14 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports at mid-board, 8 ports at back panel)
ASUS Unique Features
Exclusive TUF Features
TUF ENGINE!" Power Design
12-phase CPU Power
2-phase Memory Power
2-phase VTT_CPU Power
E.S.P. : Efficient Switching Power Design for 3VSB/1.8V/1.05V
TUF Cap. & MOSFET (certified by military-standard)
Ultimate COOL!" Thermal Solution
CeraM!X Heatsink Coating Tech.
CoolMem!
T.Probe Technology
ASUS Fan Xpert
Safe & Stable!-Guardian Angel
MemOK!
Drive Xpert
ESD Guards
EMI Eliminator
Special Features
ASUS Q-Connector
ASUS Q-Shield
ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)
ASUS Q-Slot
ASUS Q-DIMM
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS MyLogo 2
ASUS O.C. Profile
Multi-language BIOS
Back Panel I/O Ports
1 x PS/2 Keyboard (Purple)
1 x PS/2 mouse port (Green)
1 x Optical S/PDIF Output
1 x IEEE1394a
1 x LAN (RJ45) port
1 x External SATA port
8 x USB 2.0/1.1
10-channel Audio I/O
Internal I/O Connectors
3 x USB connectors support additional 6 USB ports
1 x IDE connector
6 x SATA connectors
1 x IEEE 1394a connector
1 x CPU Fan connector
1 x Power Fan connector
2 x Drive Xpert SATA connectors (orange and white)
2 x Chassis Fan connector (1x4-pin, 1x3-pin)
1 x Mem Fan connector
1 x COM port
Front panel audio connector
1 x S/PDIF Out Header
CD audio in
24-pin ATX Power connector
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector
System Panel(Q-Connector)
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,
Manageability
WfM 2.0,DMI 2.0,WOL by PME,WOR by PME,PXE
Form Factor
ATX Form Factor
12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )
Front, rear cover and inside of the packaging that houses the ASUS Sabertooth P55i Motherboard.
Accessories .
6 x SATA 3.0 GB/s cables
1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable
1 x 2-port USB 2.0 and 1 port eSATA module
Driver/support DVD
1x ASUS SLI bridge connector
1x 2-in-1 ASUS Q-Connector kit
1x ASUS Q-Shield
1x CoolMem frame, fan not included
User Guide
The ASUS SABERTOOTH P55 Motherboard.
In the review I will be taking a close look at all the facts and features that the ASUS SABERTOOTH 55i Motherboard has to offer over the rest of the ASUS range of P55 of motherboards, so Let's take a Look around this board and see what it has to offer.
The newly-developed "TUF" (The Ultimate Force) Series socket LGA1156 for Intel® Core™ i7/Core™ i5 Processors, Intel® P55 Express chipset supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and equipped with the new Ceramic heatsink's which delivers exceptional cooling to active components and outstanding system stability even under the most intense operating conditions, designed around the "Marine Cool" concept, the TUF Series triumphs to deliver top notch performance at all times.
The SABERTOOTH 55i motherboard delivers E.S.P. (Efficient Switching Power) to all major components for system efficiency.
Besides delivering efficient power to the CPU and memory, the power design also applies the same level of efficient power to the PCIex16 expansion slots and IC, This intern improves overall power efficiency and reduces the amount of heat generated resulting in cooler and a more reliable operation.
Unique CeraM!X Microfin Coating
The ceramics replace traditional anti-oxidant compounds to create a microfin surface texture for enhanced cooling, This rough surface offers an expanded area for heat induction into the surrounding air and as a result, more heat is rapidly conducted away from the active system—allowing users to enjoy previously unattainable levels of stability, all its capacitors and VRM MOSFETs have been certified for military-level use through stringent testing.
The ASUS SABERTOOTH 55i motherboard, equipped with the new CeraM!X heatsink, delivers exceptional cooling to active components and
The heasink over the PCH on the bottom side of the board
There is also a very good layout around the socket area.
ASUS have included four DIMM Slots which can accommodate up to 4 x DIMM, max. 16GB, DDR3 2000/1800/1600/1333/1066MHz, non-ECC, unbuffered memory Dual channel memory architecture
Supporting Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
The memory retention method is a bit different from what has been used over the past, on one end the locking mechanism pushes straight down rather than rotating into place.
MemOK button.
ASUS has come up with MemOK button, ASUS refers to MemOK as a “memory rescue tool”. Simply push the MemOK button on the motherboard and the technology automatically determines the failsafe memory settings needed to boot the motherboard.
The P55 Express chipset natively support six SATA ports which this board has four black in the sideways facing orientation and two at the bottom of the board, This prevents any large video card from interfering with the SATA ports .
There are also 2 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s JMicron® JMB322 (DriveXpert Technology) ports (orange and white ) which Supports EZ Backup and SuperSpeed functions
There are two full-length PCIEX x16 slots that supports both ATI Quad-GPU CrossfireX and nVidia Quad-GPU SLI PCI Express 2.0 x16 support single at x16 or dual at x8 mode, the board also has three PCI Express x1 slots and two legacy PCI slots.
Nice easy access to the power and reset buttons at the bottom of the motherboard.
Onboard sound on the motherboard is provided
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 , Optical S/PDIF out port at back I/O, ASUS Noise Filter.
The rear Panel I/O Ports
1 x PS/2 Keyboard (Purple), 1 x PS/2 mouse port (Green), 1 x Optical S/PDIF Output, 1 x IEEE1394a, 1 x LAN (RJ45) port, 1 x External SATA port, 8 x USB 2.0/1.1, 10-channel Audio I/O.