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ASUS Sabertooth Z87 motherboard review
ASUS AMD SaberTooth motherboard with PCI Express 3.0
ASUS introduces the Sabertooth 990FX/GEN3 R2.0, a new motherboard it claims is world's first AMD-based motherboard with PCI Express 3.0 support. The board is available in the US and EU beginning today. ASUS today announced the TUF Series SABERTOOTH 990FX/GEN3 R2.0, the world’s first AMD-based motherboard to feature PCI Express 3.0 An interesting release as I'm not even sure of AMD's processors are PCI Express 3.0 compatible, which is a requirement.
For use with next generation high performance graphics cards. Up to three DirectX 11 graphics cards with 28nm GPU technology can be used via NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFireX to create desktop PCs with formidable graphics performance.
SABERTOOTH 990FX/GEN3 R2.0 also features renowned ASUS TUF Series thermal design for superior heat removal. Like all TUF Series motherboards, it undergoes military and server-grade testing to ensure absolute stability, reliability, and longevity. SABERTOOTH 990FX/GEN3 R2.0 is backed by a five-year warranty.
Military-grade components for superior reliability
SABERTOOTH 990FX/GEN3 R2.0 meets strict TUF Series quality assurance standards, which consist of multiple-stage military and server-grade tests. TUF-certified alloy chokes, together with solid state capacitors and MOSFETs, ensure complete reliability even when the motherboard is subjected to intense use for prolonged periods. Four DIMM slots support up to 32GB DDR3 memory at frequencies up to 2400MHz, aided by an eight-layered PCB that promotes faster memory performance while ensuring stability and compatibility with improved cross-component signal quality.
Sophisticated thermal management copes with extreme heat
TUF Series motherboards are designed to provide absolute stability and reliability under harsh operating conditions, and feature sophisticated thermal management to handle extreme heat. Both the Northbridge and Southbridge use dual-heatpipe heatsinks with CeraM!X micro-ridged coating that increases the effective heat dissipation surface area by around 50%.
SABERTOOTH 990FX/GEN3 R2.0 also features TUF Thermal Radar, which uses multiple heat sensors across the motherboard for real time temperature monitoring. Independent and automatic fan speed control then allows components to be cooled individually for maximum efficiency and operating stability.
Specifications:
Supported processors: AMD Socket AM3+ FX series (up to 8-core) / AMD Socket AM3 for Phenom™ II/Athlon™ II/Sempron™ 100
Chipset: AMD 990FX/SB950
Memory slots: 4 x 1866MHz/1600MHz/1333MHz/1066MHz DDR3 DIMM (32GB max), ECC and non-ECC unbuffered
Expansion slots: 3 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 (dual x16/x16, triple x16/x8/x8)
Graphics card support: Up to quad-GPU NVIDIA® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™
LAN: Realtek® Gigabit Ethernet controller
USB ports: 6 x USB 3.0, 12 x USB 2.0
SATA ports: 8 x SATA 6Gbit/s, 2 x eSATA 6Gbit/s
Form factor: ATX, 30.5cm x 24.4cm
WhiteLightning
Ancient Guru
Posts: 20604
Joined: 2007-09-19
Ancient Guru
Posts: 20604
Joined: 2007-09-19
#4531390 Posted on: 02/19/2013 12:33 PM
Nice board!
Nice board!
antonyfrn
Master Guru
Posts: 420
Joined: 2007-04-17
Master Guru
Posts: 420
Joined: 2007-04-17
#4531396 Posted on: 02/19/2013 12:38 PM
I got the R2 board and its rock-solid very nice mobo kind of shame about this saw it just before Xmass on Asus forums after I got my Sabertooth R2
I got the R2 board and its rock-solid very nice mobo kind of shame about this saw it just before Xmass on Asus forums after I got my Sabertooth R2
orac2
Newbie
Posts: 38
Joined: 2008-06-07
Newbie
Posts: 38
Joined: 2008-06-07
#4533975 Posted on: 02/21/2013 05:12 PM
have the rev 2.0 board here too,looking at the new board it has no pci x1 slot.which i use for my ASUS Xonar sound card?................
have the rev 2.0 board here too,looking at the new board it has no pci x1 slot.which i use for my ASUS Xonar sound card?................
Mr_ALLroy
Maha Guru
Posts: 1650
Joined: 2004-02-11
Maha Guru
Posts: 1650
Joined: 2004-02-11
#4534615 Posted on: 02/22/2013 02:02 AM
You can still use a pci x8 or pci x16 slot. My pci x1 is covered with my sli so I use the available two for my nic and for my soundcard.
As for PCI-E 3.0 vs PCI-E 2.0 , I've read there is little to no improvements going from 2 to 3 with the current gpu tech.
have the rev 2.0 board here too,looking at the new board it has no pci x1 slot.which i use for my ASUS Xonar sound card?................
You can still use a pci x8 or pci x16 slot. My pci x1 is covered with my sli so I use the available two for my nic and for my soundcard.
As for PCI-E 3.0 vs PCI-E 2.0 , I've read there is little to no improvements going from 2 to 3 with the current gpu tech.
sykozis
Ancient Guru
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Joined: 2008-07-14
Ancient Guru
Posts: 13628
Joined: 2008-07-14
#4534701 Posted on: 02/22/2013 04:23 AM
Does AMD use an integrated PCIe controller now? If not, what difference would the processor make?
Does AMD use an integrated PCIe controller now? If not, what difference would the processor make?
Pill Monster
Ancient Guru
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Joined: 2007-08-23
Ancient Guru
Posts: 20851
Joined: 2007-08-23
#4534907 Posted on: 02/22/2013 12:00 PM
That's what I was wondering since afaik the PCI-E controller isn't on the CPU...
Does AMD use an integrated PCIe controller now? If not, what difference would the processor make?
That's what I was wondering since afaik the PCI-E controller isn't on the CPU...
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Ancient Guru
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Joined: 2010-10-17
I saw somewhere they may have used 3 splitter chips to combine the two x16 gen 2 lanes into one gen3 x16 lane somehow, which can then be divided into 2 x 8 gen 3 lanes.