ASUS M2N32-SLI & Epox MF570SLI: AM2 Wunderkinder

ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe: Basic Features & Board Layout

ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe
CPU Interface	Socket AM2
Chipset	NVIDIA 590 SLI MCP (ID0360) + NVIDIA 590 SLI SPP (C51-GeForce 6100/6150)
Bus Speeds	200 to 425 in 1MHz Increments
Memory Speeds	DDR2 at Auto, 400, 533, 667, 800
PCIe Speeds	100 to 200 in 1MHz Increments (Separate Adjustments for each X16 PCIe slot)
AI Tuning	Manual, Auto, Standard, AI Overclock, AI N.O.S.
Core Voltage	Auto, 0.8V to 1.5625V in 0.0025V increments PLUS 0.2V CPU Offset (Max 1.8625V)
PEG Link Mode	Auto, Disabled, Normal, Fast, Faster
CPU Clock Multiplier	Auto, 4x-25x in 1X increments
DRAM Voltage	1.8V to 2.5V in .025v increments
DDR2 Termination Voltage	1.5v, 1.6v
1T/2T Memory	Auto, 1T, 2T
AI Clock Skew	Auto, Manual
Manual Clock Skew	Normal, Advance or Delay 150, 300, 450, 600, 750, 900ps for EACH Channel
Advanced Memory Timings	23 Options
DRAM Timing Control	10 Options
Output Driver Control	7 Options
SLI Ready Memory	Disabled, Optimal, High Performance, High Frequency
HyperTransport Frequency	1000MHz (1GHz) (Stable in overclocking to 1500+ HT)
HyperTransport Multiplier	Auto, 1X to 5X
NB to SB HT	Auto, 200 to 400 in 1MHz increments
CPU to NB HT	Auto, 1X to 5X CPU Frequency
NB to SB HT	1x to 5x NB to SB Frequency
SB to NB HT	1x to 5x SB to NB Frequency
CPU to NB HT Width	8up/down, 16up/down
NB to SB HT Width	4up/down, 8up/down, 16up/down
NVIDIA GPU EX	Auto, Disabled
CPU to NB Voltage	Auto, 1.200v to 1.500v in 0.025v increments
NB to SB Voltage	Auto, 1.300v to 1.500v in 0.025v increments
NB Core/PCIe Voltage	Auto, 1.200v to 1.400v in 0.05v increments
SB Core/PCIe Voltage	Auto, 1.200v to 1.400v in 0.05v increments
SB Standby Voltage	1.5v, 1.6v, 1.7v
AMD Live!	Disabled, Enabled
AMD Cool'n'Quiet	Disabled, Enabled
Memory Slots	Four 240-pin DDR2 DIMM Slots Dual-Channel Configuration Regular Unbuffered ECC/non ECC Memory to 16GB Total
Expansion Slots	2 PCIe X16 1 PCIe X4 3 PCI Slots
Onboard SATA/RAID	6 SATA2 Drives by MCP (RAID 0, 1, 1+0, 10, JBOD) PLUS 2 SATA2 Drives by Silicon Image 3132 (RAID 0, 1) (1 internal, 1 external)
Onboard IDE/IDE RAID	One Standard ATA133/100/66 (2 drives)
Onboard USB 2.0/IEEE-1394	10 USB 2.0 ports supported by MCP 590 2 Firewire 1394a by TI
Onboard LAN	DUAL PCIe Gigabit by Marvel PHY for AI Net2 PLUS WiFi 802.11b/g by Realtek RTL8187L
Onboard Audio	Azalia HD Audio by Soundmax ADI AD1988B 8 channel codec
BIOS Revision	Award 504 - June 14, 2006

Current thinking in overclocking options is to provide very fine adjustments for voltages over a very wide range of control. ASUS certainly meets these expectations in the BIOS options for their new AM2 board. Memory voltage extends from 1.8V to 2.5V, but just as important is the very fine granularity of .025V increments. This provides very fine tweaking of the voltage to get the most from the memory with the least prospect for memory damage.

Similar attention to detail is evident throughout the BIOS options and feature set. Adjustable voltages are provided for just about any chip and any HT link available on the board. CPU range is 200 to 425, and each PCIe slot can have the slot speed individually controlled.

ASUS continues to set their own standards by using the ADI Soundmax Azalia HD codec instead of the more common Realtek family chips. ASUS tells us ADI has dramatically improved real-world performance of the Soundmax, and we will check this in our review on page 12.

The other unique feature of the M2N32-SLI Deluxe is the inclusion of an on-board wireless connector supporting 802.11 b/g WiFi. Not only do you get two full Gigabit LAN chips with the nForce590, you get a 3^rd wireless internet connection. With the number of users building wireless home networks this is a very welcome feature for many people.


As a top-of the-line 590 board, ASUS builds on the outstanding reputation of the last-generation A8N32-SLI Deluxe. This starts with the box and logos, which are the same family design as the A8N32-SLI Deluxe.

Click to enlarge

The dual X16 A8N32-SLI Deluxe was the first full 8-phase design we have tested, and ASUS continues the 8-phase design in the M2N32-SLI Deluxe. The layout is generally superb and typically ASUS, with the bulky ATX connector on the right board edge as we prefer. The 4-pin connector is in the less-desired center board location, but the copper heatsinks surrounding the CPU socket do make it a little easier to route the 4-pin cable between the heatsink and rear IO connectors to minimize interference with on-board components.

IDE/floppy connectors are in the ideal right board edge location. You will only find ONE IDE connector, however, so you will have to use SATA or USB peripherals in general. ASUS did provide the standard 6 SATA2 ports supported by 590 plus 2 more SATA2 ports supported by a Silicon Image 3132 connector.


The ASUS 8-phase heatpipe and heatsink cooling system provided effective and completely passive cooling on the M2N32-SLI Deluxe. ASUS has been a proponent of passive board cooling for many years, and ASUS has managed to continue to provide passive solutions even as the chipset cooling requirements have continued to increase.


The rear IO ports combine many useful connectors. You won't find a parallel port, but you will find both optical and coaxial S/PDIF connectors along with 6 programmable mini-jacks for the High Definition sound. There is also an external SATA2 connector, an IEEE1394a Firewire port, PS/2 mouse and keyboard ports, serial port, 2 Gigabit LAN connectors, 4 USB ports, and a connector for the included antenna for the wireless LAN. Whatever you need to connect is more than likely supported on this top-of-the-line ASUS board.