ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe WiFi

Introduced back on May 23, 2006 was AMD's Socket AM2. While these processors really did not bring too much to the table other then a DDR2-800 memory controller several motherboard vendors began offering up their new AM2 supportive products. One of the manufacturers that had began offering new products in late May and early June during Computex Taipei 2006 was ASUSTek Computer Inc. ASUS is certainly no newcomer to Phoronix as we have had their products in our labs in the past, and they are renowned with computer enthusiasts and gamers. While the AM2 processors at this time do not deliver too many direct benefits over Socket 939, in front of us today is the M2N32-SLI Deluxe WiFi motherboard, which does deliver on several new ASUSTek enhancements. Not only does this motherboard come with all the usual ASUS innovations we have been accustom to seeing for some time now on their enthusiast products, but also they are now making it more versatile than ever before. Of the extras is an array microphone, 802.11g WiFi-AP Solo, Q-Connector Kit, and the ATX motherboard being powered by an NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI Chipset. With all of the features as well as the price tag for this beast ASUS is certainly targeting the high-end enthusiast market. However, is it a hit or a miss for this award winning company?

Features:

Processor
· Support AMD Socket AM2 Athlon 64 X2/Athlon 64 FX/Athlon 64/Sempron
· AMD Cool 'n' Quiet Technology
· AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing
· AMD Live! Ready

Chipset
· NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP
· NVIDIA LinkBoost Technology

Memory
· Dual channel memory architecture
· 4 x DIMM, max. 8GB, DDR2-800/667/533, ECC and non-ECC, un-buffered memory

LAN
· Dual Gigabit LAN controllers support NVIDIA DualNet technology
· NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP built-in dual Gigabit MAC with external Marvell PHY

Audio
· ADI 1988B 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC
· Support Jack-Sensing, Enumeration, Multi-streaming and Jack-Retasking
· Coaxial, Optical S/PDIF out on back I/O port
· Support DTS Connect function

Wireless LAN
· WiFi-AP Solo USB wireless module supports IEEE802.11b/g

IEEE 1394a
· TI 1394 controller supports 2 x 1394a ports

Form Factor
· ATX Form Factor, 12"x 9.6" (30.5cm x 24.5cm)

Front Side Bus
· 2000/1600 MT/s

Contents:

Like many of ASUS' past motherboards such as the P5LD2 and P5WD2, the M2N32-SLI Deluxe WiFi is packed to the brim in accessories. Of the components were the Deluxe WiFi motherboard itself, IEEE-1394a expansion bracket, USB 2.0 expansion bracket, six Serial ATA data cables, three Serial ATA power cables (dual heads), one IDE ribbon cable, one FDD ribbon cable, one wireless antenna, I/O shield, ASUS SLI bridge, array microphone, optional fan, Q-Connector kit, motherboard support CD, InterVideo Media Launcher, and finally the ASUS user guide. Even with all of these components, everything had arrived safely and in pristine condition. On the ASUS CD, on top of the Windows drivers and other software are Linux drivers for the Chipset and Sil3132. Drivers are available on the CD for RHEL3_U6, RHEL4_U2, SLES9_SP3, Redhat32bit, Redhat64bit, and SuSE64bit. Though these drivers can be easily downloaded from the Internet as source or packages for any distribution. It was nice to see ASUS bundle these Linux drivers on their support CD, as they had done with products in the past.