ASUS New 975x Motherboard P5WDG2-WS Pro Support Conroe Kentsfield

[Raja@ASUS]

for servers PCIX is common place for raid setups, though we are now seeing PCIE versions of these cards with potential higher bandwidth. I suppsoe only 1 PCI slot will be useable on the p5w64 if running Crossfire, that's where the decision will lie for some.

[Natalia]

You wold need a 2" SLI Bridge for this board correct?

Also, isn't it 16X even with 2 cards?

[sierra_bound]

People keep forgetting these are workstation boards that just happen to have enthusiast features. Large companies probably wouldn't even think twice about the cost of the board and peripherals.

[Dynasty]

Crossfire + raid card is no problems.

Slot 2 and 4 use crossfire. Slot 1 use PCIE raid card.

On P5W64 WS can use the following for Crossfire - 8/8:
Slot 1 (blue) & Slot 4 (black - furthest pci-e slot from NB).....

[Raja@ASUS]

yeah, the primary aim of these boards is really for big companies running at stock. Luckily they seem to have hit home on both fronts, with the early bios releases doing great for overclocks. The only board that can rival these for features is the potential ATI 600 chipset npards in developmnt at DFI.

[aamsel]

SO CONFUSED, sorry!!
OK, I just came home from FRY's with what appears to be the wrong board. I intended to get a WS Pro but it just says P5WDG2-WS. Which model is this?
I can't even find a WS Pro listed on ASUS' USA website, just the WS (that I got) and the P5W2-E Premium.
This one at newegg does say "Professional" on the box
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131039
and this appears to be the right one:
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-P5WDG2P

So, my question is: (finally!!)
Is the one I brought home, the P5WDG2-WS (non-Pro) the same thing except for not having PCI-X ????
Or should I go for the Pro anyhow (i.e. are there other differences?)

Thanks,
Andrew

[AndreYang]

SO CONFUSED, sorry!!
OK, I just came home from FRY's with what appears to be the wrong board. I intended to get a WS Pro but it just says P5WDG2-WS. Which model is this?
I can't even find a WS Pro listed on ASUS' USA website, just the WS (that I got) and the P5W2-E Premium.
This one at newegg does say "Professional" on the box
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131039
and this appears to be the right one:
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-P5WDG2P

So, my question is: (finally!!)
Is the one I brought home, the P5WDG2-WS (non-Pro) the same thing except for not having PCI-X ????
Or should I go for the Pro anyhow (i.e. are there other differences?)

Thanks,
Andrew

Pro support Intel core 2 , but non pro doesn't.

[aamsel]

Well, since I want to run an E6600 on it, that WOULD be a huge difference!!
Glad I haven't opened the one from FRY's!!!
Thank you very much!!!

Four questions:

1.) Since this is a "server class" motherboard, does ASUS fully support XP on it?

2.) Has there been a BIOS released for WS Pro since the 0206 initial release?

3.) Do you have to use FUDOS to update the BIOS or is ASUS Update supported on the WS Pro?

4.) Compared to the P5W DH Deluxe, does the WS Pro overall have a better build list of components on it? Other than the PCI-X on the WS Pro and the "bells and whistles" that come with the DH Deluxe, what are the true differences??? Generally, it looks like most of the chips are the same? Am I wrong???

Thanks,
Andrew

Pro support Intel core 2 , but non pro doesn't.

[AndreYang]

Well, since I want to run an E6600 on it, that WOULD be a huge difference!!
Glad I haven't opened the one from FRY's!!!
Thank you very much!!!

Four questions:

1.) Since this is a "server class" motherboard, does ASUS fully support XP on it?

2.) Has there been a BIOS released for WS Pro since the 0206 initial release?

3.) Do you have to use FUDOS to update the BIOS or is ASUS Update supported on the WS Pro?

4.) Compared to the P5W DH Deluxe, does the WS Pro overall have a better build list of components on it? Other than the PCI-X on the WS Pro and the "bells and whistles" that come with the DH Deluxe, what are the true differences??? Generally, it looks like most of the chips are the same? Am I wrong???

Thanks,
Andrew

1. sure, support XP.
2 and 3. I have 0004 beta Bios for X6800 opne multi and I always DOS afudos to update Bios.
4. The same chip for sure, but some server mobos have PCI-X because it needs PCI-X raid card or net work card. If you don't need PCI-X, you would be chosen P5W DH.

[Ace-a-Rue]

come on...if it supports conroe, it supports XP....the board is a work station board...it allows additional hardware devices to be utilized on it that normally are not found on other mainstream boards.

[aamsel]

OK, so other than PCI-X, there is little to no difference from DH Pro? This was not what I had gathered from the other posts in this and other threads about the WS Pro. My understanding was that the WS Pro offered a more robust, more stable overall setup for a Conroe than with a P5W DH. Is this not the case? I have gone down the list of components comparing the WS Pro to the DH Pro, and there are very few differences. Also, the 8 phase power circuitry appears to be the same. Am I correct or wrong?? I don't plan to run any PCI-X, but I am not concerned about getting best value for my dollar. I just want the best overclocking, most stable motherboard.

Andrew

1. sure, support XP.
2 and 3. I have 0004 beta Bios for X6800 opne multi and I always DOS afudos to update Bios.
4. The same chip for sure, but some server mobos have PCI-X because it needs PCI-X raid card or net work card. If you don't need PCI-X, you would be chosen P5W DH.

[aamsel]

Yes, I see on the global ASUS site that they have drivers for all platforms. Just didn't want to get stuck with a motherboard that had drivers primarily for Server 2003 and the like. Of course, you are absolutely correct...if Conroe, then XP. Wasn't thinking, sorry.

Andrew

come on...if it supports conroe, it supports XP....the board is a work station board...it allows additional hardware devices to be utilized on it that normally are not found on other mainstream boards.

[camouflage]

1. sure, support XP.
2 and 3. I have 0004 beta Bios for X6800 opne multi and I always DOS afudos to update Bios.
4. The same chip for sure, but some server mobos have PCI-X because it needs PCI-X raid card or net work card. If you don't need PCI-X, you would be chosen P5W DH.

Maybe not - You forgot to mention the higher MCH voltage on the P5WDG2-WS Pro ........., so it should be the better clocker.

[catscit]

1. sure, support XP.
2 and 3. I have 0004 beta Bios for X6800 opne multi and I always DOS afudos to update Bios.
4. The same chip for sure, but some server mobos have PCI-X because it needs PCI-X raid card or net work card. If you don't need PCI-X, you would be chosen P5W DH.

or p5w64 if you wan't to be future proof. Most new raid cards are pci-e, not pci-x anymore.

I think people choosing the pci-x board already have pci-x cards.

[Anemone]

I'm aiming P5W64 I think or maybe P5B - seems far apart but for my uses it's not entirely...

[Devious]

I notice the P5W64 WS PRO has just one 12v connector ( like the P5W DH ) rather than the 2 on the P5WDG2 WS PRO. I wonder if this will mean vdroop ?

[Simon]

Hmpf - maybe stupid question, but can I build a RAID 0 without a additional RAID card?

I mean the old way - by using RAID controller from the chipset software?

Yes, the board has an Intel ICH7R SATA/RAID controller.

I have a RAID 0 on the P5WDG2 WS board, which has the same RAID controller.

[VL125]

Maybe not - You forgot to mention the higher MCH voltage on the P5WDG2-WS Pro ........., so it should be the better clocker.

There is an Rev 1.02G on his way, so the P5W could work at 1.85.

[Simon]

I´m looking for a P5WDG2-WS Pro BIOS, if got one.

There is a link ( http://edu.tchsien.com/CBB/coolaler/...S-PRO-0004.rar ) to BIOS 0004 in the following thread:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...=110126&page=2

[Poodle]

PCI-X is backwards compatible. So you can use the PCI-X slots for PCI cards.

The "X" stands for extended. I believe PCI-X was developed by several companies, including IBM and Hewlett-Packard. It's basically just a faster version of PCI.

Isn't there a Fpu card for pci-x? Heard something about it some months ago. 100Gflops i think it was. Maybe just a paper realese


A bit offtopic though. But would be nice in a high end ws or server.


Nice board

[camouflage]

Yes, the board has an Intel ICH7R SATA/RAID controller.

I have a RAID 0 on the P5WDG2 WS board, which has the same RAID controller.

Thank You Simon - good news.

@VL125 :

Fine - "on the way" means in 4 weeks, this year, next year ???

BTW there is another advantage of the P5WDG2 WS PRO - the 8-pin power supply.

More stability = higher overclock. But the truth will only be shown in a compario review.

[anani]

What would be the best suggestion DDR2 for the Asus P5WDG2-WS Pro?

Will the Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5 make any difference?

or should one stick with the 6400 DDR2?

What is your suggestion for the best preformance memory!

Not just overclocking!

Thanks

[Ace-a-Rue]

the Pro is a very nice board..i can overclock the PCIe bus up to 130 MHz (haven't tried any higher)...the Marvell controller will stay online but intel's controller drops off line above 120 MHz....at least it is an improvement over the 865/875 days where anything above 100 or 101 was drop off time.

[camouflage]

What would be the best suggestion DDR2 for the Asus P5WDG2-WS Pro?

Will the Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5 make any difference?

or should one stick with the 6400 DDR2?

What is your suggestion for the best preformance memory!

Not just overclocking!

Thanks

I ordered a a 2GIG pair CORSAIRs 8500 - will give it a try.

These days almost all brands of DDR2 RAM are very close together, it's also a matter of luck like catching a fine CPU....

But I think for its price it is a nice buy cause the chances are high to reach DDR 1200 - 1250 cause CORSAIR uses handpicked D9 chips for this RAM.

Remember it is programed DDR 1066 at stock.

Let's see when it comes to switch from C4 to C5.........

[VL125]

No it means, it will arrive in 1-2 Days ^^


@Simon

thx for the Link