ASUS P8P67 WS Revolution Motherboard Review @ [H]

FrgMstr

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ASUS P8P67 WS Revolution Motherboard Review - Intel has launched the new P67 chipset for LGA1155 socket motherboards. ASUS expands its product portfolio once again with the P8P67 WS Revolution. While targeted towards workstation use as the name implies, it offers quite a bit for the enthusiast as well.
 
So many nice boards to choose from for Sandy Bridge... Kyle, shouldn't you be in Vegas at CES?
 
So many nice boards to choose from for Sandy Bridge... Kyle, shouldn't you be in Vegas at CES?

I don't go to CES anymore. Media coverage is saturated, so many people there you cant get to your meetings. Nothing exclusive for us, and therefore no ROI. Might go to party, but that would be about it.
 
Great review, as always. It's getting hard to decide on what mobo I'm going to want for my SB upgrade, luckily I have until March to decide. :)
 
Great review. This was the board I was thinking about buying as it seems to be the cheapest one to support triple sli and crossfire. If retail stores sell it at it's MSRP then this will be the board I get for my SB build.
 
Thanks for the review Kyle and Dan!

I was planning on getting this board a few days ago but found a nice deal on the Pro and went with that. :eek:

Also, thanks reviewing the NIC ports. Rare to find such detail on some reviews nowadays.
 
Hi Kyle and Dan,

Great review, making my choice of P67 motherboard that little bit easier. I have a question for you guys ...

I'm planning on using two 6970 in CF along with a RocketRaid 3510 (pci-e 8x). My plan was to put the gfx card in the blue slots and use the bottom brown slot for the RAID controller.

Do you guys see any issues with this?

I noticed this board has the aux power connector, which my current x58 board does not (and it's now dead); I'm hoping that the aux power connector will help this issue also (I suspect the death was from too much PCI-E power usage).

Thanks guys,

BD
 
Good review.

Personally, I'm liking the Pro version of this seriew (as opposed to the WS), which lacks the nForce MCP and second gig NIC, but has two PS2 supports (for us legacy KVM users) and packs a ton of features into what looks like it will be a very reasonably priced board.

Also has two PCI slots (routed through a PCIe-to-PCI bridge chip). Better to avoid using them since it's slower than earlier boards, but if you have a PCI card you can't do without, you have an option.
 
Hi Kyle and Dan,

Great review, making my choice of P67 motherboard that little bit easier. I have a question for you guys ...

I'm planning on using two 6970 in CF along with a RocketRaid 3510 (pci-e 8x). My plan was to put the gfx card in the blue slots and use the bottom brown slot for the RAID controller.

Do you guys see any issues with this?

I noticed this board has the aux power connector, which my current x58 board does not (and it's now dead); I'm hoping that the aux power connector will help this issue also (I suspect the death was from too much PCI-E power usage).

Thanks guys,

BD

That should work just fine. They will be running at x8 electrically then, but it makes little to no difference in real world gaming.


As for more direct PCIe power, take advantage of it if it is available.
 
Thanks for the review. I'm quite happy with my single GTX580 so I think I'm going to avoid boards with the NF200 chip on them.
 
the heatsinks on this board look much better than 'flashy' blue anodized sinks on the ASUS P8P67 PRO, but i'm not willing to pay the extra cost (for added features i wont use). seems like a nice board for anyone that will make use of it.

thanks for the review Dan and Kyle
 
The keyboard issue is no suprise to me, I had issues with my G15 keyboard on my P6T Deluxe until a they released a BIOS update to fix it.
 
Thanks for the review. I'm quite happy with my single GTX580 so I think I'm going to avoid boards with the NF200 chip on them.

Kyle can correct me if I'm wrong, but I know that Lynnfield and Westmere's PCIe controller is limited to only two host devices regardless of how many lanes they use. The nForce 200MCP interfaces directly with the PCIe controller in either a south bridge or a CPU though 16 PCI-Express lanes. Anything installed into an nForce 200MCP equipped board essentially goes through the nForce chip first. The CPU itself or rather it's PCIe controller essentially only sees one device. The nForce 200 MCP. In other words it's still multiplexing the lanes, so you don't get any additional bandwidth in reality, but it does work around the PCIe controller's two device limit.

I don't know this for certain but I believe that Sandy Bridge's PCI-Express controller has the same limitation. Additionally the nForce 200 MCP does add some latency but on the plus side it offers flexibility in that it allows for more dynamic allocation of PCI-Express lanes to the slots than the native PCI-Express controller offers. The motherboard manufacturers don't have to add any switching chips or switch cards to reallocate lanes to slots because the nForce 200MCP can do that on it's own.

Some points on this

  • The X58 chipset sees little to no benefit from the nForce 200MCP. It's PCI-Express controller doesn't have the same host limitations as the built in PCIe controllers in Lynnfield / Westmere or Sandy Bridge Core processors. All you get is dynamic lane configuration for multiple slots.
  • While there is a benefit to the P55 / P67 platforms to having the nForce 200MCP, non-SLI users or even users with only two graphics cards need not apply. All you'll get is added latency, increased power usage and heat due to the presence of the nForce 200MCP.
 
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I'm probably just confused here, but nearly every P67 motherboard I've seen claims SLI at 8x for each card. Is this board claiming SLI at 16x for each card? What does 2 x16 or x8 mean?
 
Anyone know the availability of this in retail/etail? Need a board but really would rather get this over Gigabyte's offering.
 
Image snip........................

I'm probably just confused here, but nearly every P67 motherboard I've seen claims SLI at 8x for each card. Is this board claiming SLI at 16x for each card? What does 2 x16 or x8 mean?

That's how ASUS wrote the specs on the back of the board box so that's how I wrote it in the table. The blue slots run at x8 mode. Either slot can run a graphics card with all 16 lanes but not more than one. The brown slots are x8 only. If I understand the literature correctly the system can handle 3-Way SLI with x8 for each slot or 4 Tesla cards.
 
Kyle can correct me if I'm wrong, but I know that Lynnfield and Westmere's PCIe controller is limited to only two host devices regardless of how many lanes they use. The nForce 200MCP interfaces directly with the PCIe controller in either a south bridge or a CPU though 16 PCI-Express lanes. Anything installed into an nForce 200MCP equipped board essentially goes through the nForce chip first. The CPU itself or rather it's PCIe controller essentially only sees one device. The nForce 200 MCP. In other words it's still multiplexing the lanes, so you don't get any additional bandwidth in reality, but it does work around the PCIe controller's two device limit.

I don't know this for certain but I believe that Sandy Bridge's PCI-Express controller has the same limitation. Additionally the nForce 200 MCP does add some latency but on the plus side it offers flexibility in that it allows for more dynamic allocation of PCI-Express lanes to the slots than the native PCI-Express controller offers. The motherboard manufacturers don't have to add any switching chips or switch cards to reallocate lanes to slots because the nForce 200MCP can do that on it's own.

Some points on this

  • The X58 chipset sees little to no benefit from the nForce 200MCP. It's PCI-Express controller doesn't have the same host limitations as the built in PCIe controllers in Lynnfield / Westmere or Sandy Bridge Core processors. All you get is dynamic lane configuration for multiple slots.
  • While there is a benefit to the P55 / P67 platforms to having the nForce 200MCP, non-SLI users or even users with only two graphics cards need not apply. All you'll get is added latency, increased power usage and heat due to the presence of the nForce 200MCP.
Very interesting... thanks for the info. There's more to it than I knew :)
 
Good review.

I found a small typo (first page): "USB 2.0/1,1 ports" should be "USB 2.0/1.1 ports"
 
Kyle have you tested the OC on this with the 1000 bios? It seems quite a few are grabbing the ASUS P8P67 mobos for their build and I'd be interested in your findings.. I do find it strange they sent you the WS instead of the Deluxe, EVO, or Pro..
 
Kyle have you tested the OC on this with the 1000 bios? It seems quite a few are grabbing the ASUS P8P67 mobos for their build and I'd be interested in your findings.. I do find it strange they sent you the WS instead of the Deluxe, EVO, or Pro..

I'd say not since I just delivered the board back to him late last night. I know I didn't test that because I didn't have a 2500K or 2600K on hand to test with.
 
Actually looks pretty good, and I'm normally not the biggest fan of Asus branded motherboards.
 
Is this the RAM you guys used for the review?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144

I was hoping not to spend that much on RAM but I seem to have the worst luck with buying memory that always ends up slightly incompatible so I prefer not to be left to my own devices.

ASUS' certified memory chart isn't all the helpful- I can't seem to find most of the RAM at my preferred vendors.

I had picked this RAM for a UD4 build since it was on Gigabyte's memory list - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314 but I'm now leaning towards the P8P67 PRO.
 
Is this the RAM you guys used for the review?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144

I was hoping not to spend that much on RAM but I seem to have the worst luck with buying memory that always ends up slightly incompatible so I prefer not to be left to my own devices.

ASUS' certified memory chart isn't all the helpful- I can't seem to find most of the RAM at my preferred vendors.

I had picked this RAM for a UD4 build since it was on Gigabyte's memory list - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314 but I'm now leaning towards the P8P67 PRO.

I believe that is the kit [H] used for their reviews.

Also, you can strangely get those sticks cheaper if you buy them separately.

They should be compatible with both boards. Manufacturers don't have the time and manpower to test every single kit/stick out on the market.
 
I believe that is the kit [H] used for their reviews.

Also, you can strangely get those sticks cheaper if you buy them separately.

They should be compatible with both boards. Manufacturers don't have the time and manpower to test every single kit/stick out on the market.


That's odd, though that's new egg for you.

Thanks, I'm probably going to build the same system that [H] used for the MSI P67A-GD65 review.

Unless I can find something better for the same/similar price.
 
That's indeed the memory we ended up using. Damn the stuff is cheap.
 
I'm liking the Pro version of this seriew (as opposed to the WS), which lacks the nForce MCP and second gig NIC, but has two PS2 supports (for us legacy KVM users)

The PS/2 port on the WS is colored both green and purple. Does that mean it'll support both a keyboard and a mouse if you use a PS/2 splitter (like how some older laptops could)? If so that'd overcome the KVM issue I also share. I've had very, very poor luck trying to use usb-ps/2 adapters with ps/2-based KVMs.

I also see that the WS has just been listed on the Asus website: http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=dzgoion0wgHoT7tp But none of the links for CPU, Memory or downloads (like for the manual) appear to work yet.
 
Hi Kyle and Dan,

Sorry, I just want to make sure... does the motherboard NOT come with any usb 3.0 panel, to be able to add usb 3.0 connectors into an expansion bay at the front of a case? You didn't mention it, but there seemed to be more things in the little baggies in the pics than what you mentioned...

If there isn't one included, you know any boards that do come with it beside's asrock's extreme4? I would like something like the one asrock included. Sure I could buy it separately but avoiding the hassle is nice.

Thanks!
 
Hi Kyle and Dan,

Sorry, I just want to make sure... does the motherboard NOT come with any usb 3.0 panel, to be able to add usb 3.0 connectors into an expansion bay at the front of a case? You didn't mention it, but there seemed to be more things in the little baggies in the pics than what you mentioned...

If there isn't one included, you know any boards that do come with it beside's asrock's extreme4? I would like something like the one asrock included. Sure I could buy it separately but avoiding the hassle is nice.

Thanks!

There are no USB 3.0 headers if that's what you are asking.
 
Is this the RAM you guys used for the review?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233144

I was hoping not to spend that much on RAM but I seem to have the worst luck with buying memory that always ends up slightly incompatible so I prefer not to be left to my own devices.

ASUS' certified memory chart isn't all the helpful- I can't seem to find most of the RAM at my preferred vendors.

I had picked this RAM for a UD4 build since it was on Gigabyte's memory list - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314 but I'm now leaning towards the P8P67 PRO.

I snagged 4 of them up seperatley for 200 when they were on sale, works like a charm!
 
What's not to like? No ECC on a workstation board for one.

It's not as if we are talking about a server board or a high end workstation board. In this particular class, it's OK. Maybe not 100% desirable, but OK. The trade off here of course is that you've got the ability to run more graphics cards / SAS controllers / network cards or whatever than typical workstation or server class boards would allow.
 
EDITED, see later post: http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1036731527&postcount=55

The PS/2 port on the WS is colored both green and purple. Does that mean it'll support both a keyboard and a mouse if you use a PS/2 splitter (like how some older laptops could)?

So I opened a ticket and asked Asus. Here's my question:
Can the PS/2 port be split and allow use of both a PS/2 keyboard and a PS/2 mouse? The port has two colors. This sometimes means that a separate splitter can be
purchased that will allow using both devices with the single port. Is this possible with the new P8P67 boards that have this dual-colored PS/2 port?


And here's their (incorrect) reply:
Yes, The p8p67 Deluxe motherboard does have one this kind of PS/2 port.

So if it's true then a splitter would let me use both a PS/2 mouse and keyboard off the same port. This would be a BIG win for KVM users.
 
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Thnx guys for an excellent overall heads-up on SB. As you pointed out in a previous article, 8x for SLI is fine, all-in-all SB seems excellent news for those who avoided gen1 i3/5/7 line and are looking for an upgrade that is more affordable and recent. Those high b/marks numbers are something I could never have imagined when I was banging away X odd years ago on my shiny new 66dx2, playing Quake(s/ware) @around 40 frames, thinking what a pc god i had become with my new machine and it's massive 8megs of ram ffs!!! 8!!!! MB you could add Quake3d to the suite, see what crazy fps is possible:rolleyes:;););) Sorry, being silly now i am...
again, love your work, wd guys!!!!:cool::cool::cool:
 
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