For the power supply needs ASUS used a new 24-pin connector. However, there is no need to panic: these connectors are compatible with the old 20-pin plugs, so if you still have an older PSU, there is no need to worry and rush to the store.

The voltage regulator of the ASUS A8V-E Deluxe is designed as a three-channel solution. MOSFETs of the power circuitry are cooled with an aluminum heatsink. Even due to this fairly simple cooling solution, MOSFETs temperature remains pretty low: our measurements indicated 40-45oC in different work modes. As for the capacitors, ASUS used Nippon Chemi-Con components. The same high-quality capacitors were used on ASUS P4P800 and P4C800 mainboard series. That is why there is no cause for concern here.

According to our practical tests the VIA K8T890 chipset North Bridge heats up pretty tangibly. That is why ASUS used an active cooler for it. Although I wouldn?t call the cooler design successful.

The thing is that the heatsink surface area is quite small, however, ASUS used a high-speed fan with the rotation speed up to 8,000rpm. The fan rotation speed is permanent, so the working mainboard produces very noticeable unpleasant noise. Moreover, I would also question the efficiency of this fan because the North Bridge temperature remained within 50-60oC range throughout the entire test session.

The rear panel of ASUS A8V-E Deluxe mainboard looks somewhat unusual. It carried: two PS/2 ports for keyboard and mouse, 6-pin IEEE1394 connector, RJ45 network connector with LED indicators, six audio jacks, an optical and coaxial SPDIF port, a connector for WiFi antenna and a LED indicating the WiFi connection activity. Note that there are no serial ports, however, one COM port is laid out on the mainboard as a pin-connector and there is a special bracket with the COM port enclosed into the package.