11-Way P45 Motherboard Shootout

By Thomas Soderstrom
published

P5Q Deluxe Software And Accessories

Asus includes the same overclocking and system management utilities found in our Maximus II Formula description, and these work just as well on the P5Q-Deluxe. But the P5Q Deluxe has one feature not found on the Maximus II Extreme : a built-in operating system.

The Splashtop OS comes pre-loaded on Asus’ Express Gate SSD, but the SSD itself bears more resemblance to a thumb drive than one of those expensive laptop devices. There’s no room on it to store downloaded files, for example, and the pre-loaded OS is only a few megabytes in size.

The most useful function of this pre-loaded OS would be to download a new BIOS file, and this version now supports USB flash drives for storage. Unfortunately, we never found a way for the Splashtop OS to unzip the BIOS file we retrieved from the Asus Web site, so we still have to give a thumbs down to its functionality even though it does support Web browsing, Skype, the Pidgin IM client, a photo browser, and several useful configuration settings for the browser itself.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Documentation & SoftwareMotherboard Manual
Motherboard Driver DVD
Chipset Fan Instructions
Asus Case Badge
Hardware8x SATA Data Cable
Heatpipe Cooling Fan (Supplemental)
1x Asus Q-Connector Kit
2x 4-pin to SATA power adapter (two-device)
1x 80-conductor Ultra ATA cable
1x Floppy Cable
1x Port Breakout Plate (2x USB, 1x IEEE-1394)
1x I/O Panel Shield

The P5Q Deluxe even has a slightly more elaborate cable kit, with the full eight internal SATA cables and support for running four SATA power connectors from two 4-pin inputs. The P5Q Deluxe also includes a supplemental chipset cooling fan for use with liquid-cooled-processor configurations, plus the ever-present Asus Q-Connector quick front panel connection kit.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
55 Comments Comment from the forums
  • nickchalk
    Where are the lower price P45 M/B ?
    Asus P5Q pro is out for €110 and P5Q deluxe for €165 the price difference is about 70$ in Greece.
    Reply
  • nihility
    51 pages... You won't be upset if I read just the last 3 pages right?
    Reply
  • Proximon
    I suppose I can get some good from having read this. Did you get paid by the word? Maybe next time you could just put together a complete features chart so that we can have some convenient comparison? You know, so someone could go to a chart and see at a glance which boards had eSATA or firewire, or 8 USB.

    Reply
  • JPForums
    I'd rather have the overabundance of information than a lack of information. Presentation could use a little refining (I.E. comparison charts and the likes), but having the relevant information available at least is a good thing.
    Reply
  • the introduction and specifics are nice, the comparision isn't. so, why don't you test with an 8500 or qx9650? 6850 are outdated... and a mobo handling a c2d doesn't mean it can handle a quad too, see P5K for example (it stinks when it comes to a q6600).
    Reply
  • Crashman
    procithe introduction and specifics are nice, the comparision isn't. so, why don't you test with an 8500 or qx9650? 6850 are outdated... and a mobo handling a c2d doesn't mean it can handle a quad too, see P5K for example (it stinks when it comes to a q6600).
    Tom's Hardware wants the performance of current articles to reflect that of recent articles, so a "standard test platform" was chosen a while ago. It will get updated, but probably not before the new socket becomes widely available.
    Reply
  • zenmaster
    I would have liked to see something such as a P35 and an X48 as controls to help analyze the P45 Performance.

    In otherwords, What is the P45 Gaining me over the older P35.
    What would I gain by going to the X48. (Or Lose)
    Reply
  • Crashman
    zenmasterI would have liked to see something such as a P35 and an X48 as controls to help analyze the P45 Performance.In otherwords, What is the P45 Gaining me over the older P35.What would I gain by going to the X48. (Or Lose)http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-p45-chipset,1961.html
    Reply
  • johnbilicki
    The first 17 pages were filled with nothing but junk from ASUS. Do us a favor: don't even bother featuring or *MENTIONING* anything for any reason from a company that refuses to RMA 200-400 dollar brand new motherboards with anything other then used and usually broken junk. It destroyed my enthusiasm for the article.
    Reply
  • dobby
    nickchalkWhere are the lower price P45 M/B ?Asus P5Q pro is out for €110 and P5Q deluxe for €165 the price difference is about 70$ in Greece.
    the p5q PRo is a p43 board, i should know i have one
    Reply