TUF: The Ultimate Force. ASUS' most steady and reliable motherboard is backed by the industry's greatest five-year warranty. To attain this honor, the ASUS SABERTOOTH X79 motherboard endures extreme critical environmental testing that covers low to high chamber room temperatures up to 55°C at 90% humidity. TUF Thermal Armor combined with US mil-spec electronic components ensures this motherboard will remain mission-ready regardless of how extreme an overclocking experiment gets. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the ASUS SABERTOOTH X79 TUF motherboard with Intel's Core i7 3960X Extreme Edition CPU.
Designed to support second-generation Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition processors for the LGA2011 socket, Intel's Sandy Bridge Extreme X79 Express motherboards raise the standard for performance computers. ASUSTek, the largest of Intel's partners, is using this occasion to debut some impressive technology of their own: the ASUS SSBERTOOTH X79 TUF motherboard. Standard are features such as SuperSpeed USB 3.0, SATA 6Gb/s, 14-phase digital power, and PCI-Express 3.0 compatibility. Complete with quad-channel DDR3 1866MHz system memory support, ASUS enables SSD caching and RAM-disk opportunities for high-demand tasks. A fresh new UEFI (BIOS) allows risk-free USB flashback, while digital power regulators now control every voltage on the system.Based on more than a decade's worth of experience building computer systems with ASUS components, it seemed as though the ASUS P8P67 EVO Motherboard was a crowning achievement that offered so many robust features it would be a very long time before it was outdone. ASUS needed just under a year, since they've managed to pack so many new proprietary features in the ASUS SABERTOOTH X79 TUF motherboard, once again setting the bar impossibly high for competing manufacturers. This review will focus on these new technologies, and explain how they integrate into the technical demands of hardware enthusiasts.
Of the many new features available on the ASUS Sabertooth X79 TUF motherboard, the most notable are:
Specifications:
CPU:
Of the many new features available on the ASUS Sabertooth X79 TUF motherboard, the most notable are:
> 3-Way NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX support
> Quad-channel DDR3 1866MHz XMP 1.3 system memory support
> SuperSpeed USB 3.0 for both front panel and rear IO ports
> Native and supplemental SATA 6Gb/s ports
> PCI-Express 3.0 support on compatible devices for up to 32GB/s
> Digital voltage regulator units for both CPU and RAM
Beyond these platform improvement, some ASUS-specific motherboard features include:
>DIGI+ Power Control voltage regulator modules for precision tuning and control
>TUF Thermal Armor provides direct wind-tunnel airflow onto heat-critical components
>TurboV Processing Unit (TPU) advanced monitoring enables expanded overclocking
>ASUS SSD Caching uses a SATA-based SSD or RAM-Disk with any hard drive to boost system performance
>USB BIOS Flashback enables firmware updates without any CPU/RAM/GPU present
Specifications:
CPU:
Intel® Socket 2011 for 2nd Generation Core™ i7 Processors
Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2
Chipset: Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2
Intel® X79
Memory: 8 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR3 1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
Quad Channel Memory Architecture
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
* Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs.
Multi-GPU Support: Supports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI™ Technology
Supports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology
Expansion Slots:
2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (dual x16) *1
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x8 mode) *1
2 x PCIe 2.0 x1
1 x PCI
Storage: Intel® X79 chipset :
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), brown
4 x SATA 3Gb/s port(s), black
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Marvell® PCIe 9128 controller :
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
ASMedia® ASM1061 controller :
1 x Power eSATA 6Gb/s port(s), green
1 x eSATA 6Gb/s port(s), red
LAN: Intel® 82579V, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)
Audio:
- ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)
- ASUS Q-Slot
- ASUS Q-DIMM
- ASUS Q-Connector
Back I/O Ports:
Realtek® ALC892 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
Audio Feature :
- Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound
- Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
IEEE 1394: - Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
Audio Feature :
- Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound
- Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
VIA® 6315N controller
1 x IEEE 1394a port(s)
(1 at back panel)
USB Ports: 1 x IEEE 1394a port(s)
(1 at back panel)
ASMedia® USB 3.0 controller :
6 x USB 3.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board)
Intel® X79 chipset :
14 x USB 2.0 port(s) (6 at back panel, black, 8 at mid-board)
Special Features: 6 x USB 3.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board)
Intel® X79 chipset :
14 x USB 2.0 port(s) (6 at back panel, black, 8 at mid-board)
TUF ENGINE! Power Design :
- 8 +2 +2 +2 Digital Phase Power Design
- TUF Components (Choke, Cap. & MOSFET; certified by military-standard)
- ASUS DIGI+ Power Control Utility
- 8 +2 +2 +2 Digital Phase Power Design
- TUF Components (Choke, Cap. & MOSFET; certified by military-standard)
- ASUS DIGI+ Power Control Utility
Ultimate COOL! Thermal Solution :
- TUF Thermal Armor
- TUF Thermal Radar
- TUF Thermal Armor
- TUF Thermal Radar
ASUS Exclusive Features :
- MemOK!
- AI Suite II
- Anti-Surge
- ESD Guards
- ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring friendly graphics user interface
- ASUS SSD Caching
- USB 3.0 Boost
- MemOK!
- AI Suite II
- Anti-Surge
- ESD Guards
- ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring friendly graphics user interface
- ASUS SSD Caching
- USB 3.0 Boost
ASUS EZ DIY :
- USB BIOS Flashback
- ASUS Q-Shield
- ASUS O.C. Profile
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 2
- ASUS MyLogo 2
- Multi-language BIOS
ASUS Q-Design :- USB BIOS Flashback
- ASUS Q-Shield
- ASUS O.C. Profile
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 2
- ASUS MyLogo 2
- Multi-language BIOS
- ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)
- ASUS Q-Slot
- ASUS Q-DIMM
- ASUS Q-Connector
Back I/O Ports:
1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s)
1 x eSATA 6Gb/s
1 x Power eSATA 6Gb/s
1 x IEEE 1394a
1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
4 x USB 3.0
6 x USB 2.0
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
6 x Audio jack(s)
1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button(s)
1 x eSATA 6Gb/s
1 x Power eSATA 6Gb/s
1 x IEEE 1394a
1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
4 x USB 3.0
6 x USB 2.0
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
6 x Audio jack(s)
1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button(s)
Internal I/O Ports:
1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s) (19-pin, moss green)
4 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 8 USB 2.0 port(s)
1 x COM port(s) connector(s)
4 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
4 x SATA 3Gb/s connector(s)
1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (4 -pin)
4 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (4 -pin)
1 x Optional Fan connector(s) (4 -pin)
1 x Assistant Fan connector(s) (4 -pin)
1 x S/PDIF out header(s)
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP)
1 x System panel(s) (Q-Connector)
1 x MemOK! button(s)
1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s)
4 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 8 USB 2.0 port(s)
1 x COM port(s) connector(s)
4 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
4 x SATA 3Gb/s connector(s)
1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (4 -pin)
4 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (4 -pin)
1 x Optional Fan connector(s) (4 -pin)
1 x Assistant Fan connector(s) (4 -pin)
1 x S/PDIF out header(s)
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP)
1 x System panel(s) (Q-Connector)
1 x MemOK! button(s)
1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s)
Accessories:
User's manual
ASUS Q-Shield
2 x SATA 3Gb/s cable(s)
4 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)
1 x SLI bridge(s)
1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1)
1 x I/O Cover Fan(s)
1 x TUF Certification card(s)
1 x TUF 5 Year Warranty manual(s) (by region)
ASUS Q-Shield
2 x SATA 3Gb/s cable(s)
4 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)
1 x SLI bridge(s)
1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1)
1 x I/O Cover Fan(s)
1 x TUF Certification card(s)
1 x TUF 5 Year Warranty manual(s) (by region)
BIOS:
64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.6, ACPI 2.0a, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
Manageability:
WfM 2.0, DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME, PXE
Support Disc:
Drivers
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
ASUS Update
ASUS Utilities
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
ASUS Update
ASUS Utilities
Form Factor:
ATX Form Factor
12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )
12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )
ASUS SABERTOOTH X79
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