PCB Design

The ASUS A8R32-MVP and the ASUS A8N32-SLI look similar as all multi-GPU-supporting mainboards do. That is, the two full-size PCI Express x16 slots catch your eyes at once.

Both these mainboards use two-piece chipsets, too. They do differ a lot otherwise, but the component layout of the A8R32-MVP Deluxe is none the worse for it.

There are 6 expansion slots here: two PCI Express x16, one PCI Express x1 and three PCI. The position of the PCI slots should be noted: even if there are two graphics cards with dual-slot coolers installed in the system, two out of the three PCI slots will still be available to the user (on the ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe, a single PCI slot would be available in that case). The mainboard’s single PCI Express x1 slot will also be blocked, but it’s not a big problem as there are virtually no PCI Express peripherals yet and, moreover, the mainboard belongs to the enhanced-functionality Deluxe series.

Despite the obvious targeting at PC enthusiasts, there is a three-channel CPU voltage regulator on the mainboard, although the A8N32-SLI Deluxe uses a more complex eight-channel one. ASUS must have thought it sufficient considering the relatively low power consumption of AMD processors, even of the senior models Athlon 64 X2 4800+ and Athlon 64 FX-60. The power transistors of the voltage regulators are cooled with a simple aluminum heatsink. The regulator is based on high-quality capacitors from United Chemi-Con and Sanyo and encapsulated choke coils, so we have no complaints about this section of the mainboard.

The CPU socket has been shifted closer to the top edge of the PCB on the A8R32-MVP in comparison with the A8N32-SLI, but you can still have some troubles installing a cooler whose dimensions are much larger than the fastening plate because the chipset’s North Bridge is quite near this plate and bears a rather tall heatsink. So, both the mentioned mainboards have this problem. The sole of the chipset heatsink has a special soft frame to prevent the North Bridge from chipping.

The power connectors are placed properly, however. The PSU cables won’t hinder the CPU cooler from working normally. There’s a small gap between the first Parallel ATA slot and the 24-pin ATX 2.0 connector and the latch of the latter connector is located on the opposite side, so there’s nothing wrong in the close location of these two connectors. Next to them, there is a place left for a 4-pin EZ_Plug connector which is, however, missing on the PCB. ASUS’s engineers must have thought it unnecessary because most other multi-GPU-compatible mainboard can do well without additional powering of the graphical slots. The FDD slot is turned by 90 degrees. A contemporary top-end computer system is likely to lack a floppy drive at all, but if you do have one, you will see that this placement of the connector makes it easier to lay the interface cables inside the system case.

The DIMM slots are placed properly. They are above the first PCI Express x16 slot and a long graphics card won’t block their latches. The slots are divided in two groups, each belonging to one memory channel. You should put your DIMMs into same-colored slots to enable dual-channel memory access. The PCI Express x16 slots have simple molded latches unlike on the ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe where more complex detachable latches are used. A low needled heatsink that cools the South Bridge can be seen in between them. Its size is too small to interfere with graphics cards installation.

There is one visual diagnostics tool on the mainboard ?a standby voltage LED indicator. There is a place for a miniature PC speaker and an ITE IT8712F-A chip nearby. The chip is an all-purpose controller that is responsible for the COM, LPT and Game ports, FDD slot and PS/2 connectors, and also performs system monitoring and fan speed management functions (ASUS Q-Fan technology). The following parameters are monitored by the mainboard:

• CPU voltage
• Voltages on the +3.3V, +5V and +12V lines
• Rotation speeds of three fans
• CPU and mainboard temperatures

There are four fan connectors on the PCB. The COM and Game headers are located in the bottom right corner of the PCB. This is not very convenient because the cables may get in your way as you’re installing expansion cards. On the other hand, there’s a very low probability that these legacy will ever be used at all in a modern computer. The Clear CMOS jumper is accessible, but not quite easily if you’ve inserted a graphics card with a dual-slot cooling system in the bottom PCI Express x16 slot.

Stack Cool 2 technology should be mentioned, too. It means that the A8R32-MVP Deluxe has an additional metallized layer for better heat takeoff from the mainboard’s components.

The PCB design of the ASUS A8R32-MVP Deluxe is overall much better than that of the A8N32-SLI Deluxe model, mostly because they didn’t install that bulky chipset cooling system here. The CrossFire Xpress 3200 features low power consumption and heat dissipation, so it is quite satisfied with simple passive heatsinks. The second important plus of the A8R32-MVP is that you always have at least two PCI slots available, even if graphics cards with massive coolers are installed, and do not face the choice of using either an add-in audio card or a TV-tuner, for example.

It’s quite a daunting task to develop a multi-GPU-compatible mainboard, but ASUS’s engineers are quite successful at it again. They’ve done even better than the last time!