ASUS P5E3 Deluxe/WiFi-AP and ROG Maximus Extreme X38 motherboards launched

ASUS today unveiled its first two Intel X38 chipset based motherboards. The P5E3 Deluxe/WiFi-AP debuts with the world’s first energy-saving design, featuring embedded Energy Processing Unit (EPU), high-efficiency power management, and an Internet-ready onboard utility suite. Its sibling and the new addition to the Republic of Gamers (ROG) series, the Maximus Extreme, entices Do-It-Yourself (DIY) gamers with an advanced thermal design, versatile tweaking options, and intuitive threshold indicators for safer overclocking.

P5E3 Deluxe/WiFi-AP: The World's Most Energy Efficient Motherboard
P5E3 Deluxe/WiFi-AP utilizes two proprietary technologies for maximum energy efficiency. ASUS EPU is the first hardware-based on-demand power-saving IC controller utilizing hybrid power technology. When alternating between light and heavy CPU loads, ASUS EPU intelligently switches between 4 and 8-phase modes, improving voltage regulator module (VRM) efficiency. Users can save nearly 60% on CPU power consumption, stabilize voltages for longer CPU lifespan, and benefit from quicker transient responses.

The industry-leading ASUS third generation 8-phase power design provides up to 95% power efficiency – outperforming competing 12-phase solutions. Extended system life and reduced power loss are ensured using durable power components throughout the motherboard, such as ferrite core chokes for reduced hysteresis loss, and resilient conductive polymer capacitors from Japan.

Based on the Splashtop technology from DeviceVM, ASUS Express Gate provides a quick alternative for accessing applications such as Skype, Microsoft Instant Messenger, browsers, web based mail and media playback from an onboard utility suite. ASUS Express Gate runs commonly used tasks in seconds, reducing the need to leave a computer on 24/7.

Republic of Gamers' Maximus Extreme: The Ultimate Gaming Platform
The ASUS Republic of Gamers motherboard series emphasizes specialized features for the ultimate PC DIY experience, such as onboard power/clear CMOS switches, system status indicators, and a rich suite of BIOS options that reflect enthusiast-minded design.

Taking the ROG heat pipe design one step further to provide optimal cooling, the new Maximus Extreme comes with a factory-installed Fusion Block System. The revolutionary Fusion Block utilizes a fin-pin heat sink that fits most water-cooling systems. It dissipates heat drawn from the north bridge, south bridge, ASUS Crosslinx, and voltage regulator modules (VRM). The optional water-cooling capability guarantees enhanced overclockability, resulting in higher system performance and a more engaging user experience.

The ROG Maximus Extreme comes with two unique features that allow flexible CPU overclocking. The ASUS CPU Level Up feature allows easy CPU performance upgrades without prior overclocking knowledge. By simply selecting a desired processor speed, the motherboard calculates and modifies the appropriate settings. Enthusiasts can adjust the CPU Level Up settings for even higher frequencies with Extreme Tweaker, ASUS’ one-stop shop for fine-tuned optimal frequencies, over-voltage settings and memory timings.

Over-voltage adjustment is crucial to pursuing the best performance. However, this practice can damage expensive components. Analogous to a tachometer's "red zone", the ROG exclusive Voltiminder LED displays updated voltage status for the CPU, north bridge, south bridge, and memory in an intuitive color-coded scheme. This provides vital information for overclockers without needing to enter the BIOS. Additionally, the innovative Component Overheat Protection (COP) EX allows increased chipset voltages by monitoring and preventing overheating GPUs. With the Voltiminder LED and the COP EX as protection mechanisms, users can safely explore their system’s overclocking limits and pursue maximum hardware performance.

Full-Featured Motherboards for the Discerning Enthusiasts
Both the P5E3 Deluxe/WiFi-AP and Maximus Extreme take full advantage of the Intel X38 chipset, which shows noticeable gains over the previous P35 chipset in CPU and memory performance. The motherboards are the first Intel platforms to support three PCI-E 2.0 slots, offering twice the bandwidth of PCI-E 1.0 while maintaining backward compatibility.

Both series of ASUS motherboards support exclusive Crosslinx technology. The ASUS Crosslinx technology optimizes bandwidth allocation across dual x8 lanes. All PCI-e lanes come from the north bridge without creating load-balance bottlenecks, resulting in higher frame rates, smoother game play, and new 3DMark world records. Both motherboards support DDR3-1333/1066/800 memory in dual channel mode, with the ability to overclock memory up to 1800 MHz. Also available are ASUS' DDR2 variants, the Maximus Formula and P5E.