ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX Motherboard Review @ OCWORKBENCH

ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX Motherboard Review – Intro
Bluetooth 7 Jun 2011

At Computex Taipei 2011, ASUS launched a few 9 series motherboards for the upcoming 8 core AM3+ processor from AMD. Based on the AMD 990FX+SB950 chipsets, the chipset doesn’t bring about much difference from it’s previous generation 890FX+SB850 chipsets. Although the processor is not available, the new series of motherboards are highly sought after due to it’s compatibility with exisiting AM3 processors. You don’t even need to change your exisiting AM3 heatsink as it will fit the brackets.

AMD 990FX Chipset is designed to support up to 5.2GT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 (HT 3.0) interface speed and dual PCI Express™ 2.0 x16 graphics. It is optimized with AMD latest AM3+ and multi-core CPUs to provide excellent system performance and overclocking capabilities.

AMD boards has always been CrossFire X enabled. This isn’t the case for SABERTOOTH 990FX. This board supports multi-GPU configurations through both SLI™ and CrossFireX using the 4 full length PCIe slots.  This motherboard features the powerful AMD® 990FX/SB950 platform, optimizing PCIe allocation in multiple GPU configurations. Expect a brand new gaming style like you’ve never experienced before!

Other features include ASmedia USB 3.0, SATA 6Gbps support, front panel USB, UEFI BIOS, eSATA, 8 ch audio, VIA 1394.

On first sight, this TUF board looks different from it’s predessor. The SABERTOOTH board which we saw earlier comes with a jacket. The 990FX SABERTOOTH doesn’t have that.

The TUF always stress DURABILITY. That is why ASUS gave it a 5 years warranty. Some of these features include :

CeraM!X – Heatsink Coating Tech – 50% Larger area for heat dissipation with the revolutionary ceramics-coating technology Innovative ceramics effectively conducts heat away from the system. It replaces traditional anti-oxidant to dissipate heat better with its microscopic irregular surface and enlarged area. Better cooling leads to overall improvement in system stability.

TUF Thermal Radar

Real Time Temp Detection and Heat Removal

The TUF Thermal Radar monitors temps in critical parts of the motherboard in real time, automatically adjusting fan speeds to make sure the system maintains high stability without overheating. It consists of multiple sensors for various components on the motherboard, giving users the ability to monitor each one individually. The Thermal Radar automatically calculates ideal fan speeds based on different parameters selected by users for each component, keeping everything cooler and longer lasting.

“TUF ENGINE!” Power Design

DIGI+ VRM

Herald the Arrival of a New Digital Power Design Era

The new ASUS DIGI+ VRM design upgrades motherboard power delivery to a digital standard. The 8+2 digital architecture provides the highest power efficiency, generating less heat to enhance longer component lifespan and ensure minimal powerloss. With ASUS DIGI+ VRM, users can easily adjust power phase performance, enabling new PWM voltage and frequency modulation controls. Digital 8+2 power phase design also expands the modulation spectrum for improved stability and lower VRM switching noise by dynamically detecting system load, empowering users with superior flexibility and perfect precision to ensure optimized performance, extreme system stability, and greater power efficiency.

E.S.P. Efficient Switching Power Design

Optimal power efficiency for key components

Exclusively for this motherboard, the switching power design is provided not only for the CPU and memory, but also for other key components such as graphics cards, LAN and USB 3.0. E.S.P. dramatically improves system efficiency and reduces heat generation.

TUF Components (Alloy Choke, Cap. & MOSFET; Certified by Military-standard)

Certified for Tough Duty

Get rugged performance even in the most challenging conditions with robust TUF chokes, solid capacitors, and MOSFETs–certified through third-party, military-grade testing. TUF Chokes, also known as the “Alloy Choke”, is a made of a compound of various types of metal instead standard iron, enables the support of up to a massive 40A of rated current, 25% higher than conventional component. Furthermore, the single piece packaing also elimates the emission of virbation noise, delivering superb charactoristics as well as durability under extreme conditions.