ASUS A8N5X is an entry-level motherboard within the Socket 939 computing platform. Back in 2005, this solution made it possible to build the most productive PCs with 64-bit computing support, but today this processor socket is completely outdated. Its resources are sufficient only to create the most budget office computers. It is about this computer component from the eminent manufacturer of computer technology that we will discuss further.
What market segment is this board focused on?
The motherboard ASUS A8N5X , as noted earlier, made it possible to create computer systems ultimatum in terms of performance. At the same time, the cost of the computer was minimal. But all this was true for 2005, when the Socket 939 platform provided unprecedented high performance and was dominant in the niche of high-performance computer systems. Now, such computing solutions can be used in office systems, where the simplest tasks are solved. These include office suites, browsing the Internet, and playing multimedia information.
Equipment
The presence of the following delivery set boasts the solution considered within the framework of this material:
Motherboard ASUS A8N5X.
Installation and setup instructions. Also, BIOS parameters are given here and recommendations are given regarding its configuration.
Coupon with a warranty period of 36 months.
A disk with a set of software. The latter include drivers, diagnostic utilities, and programs for monitoring and overclocking. Also on this disc is a user manual.
Metal strip with 2 external USB ports rev.2.0.
Two IDE loops for connecting legacy drives.
Two SATA wires for switching with next-generation hard drives and drives.
Metal panel for mounting in a computer case.
Chipset. Its specifications. Socket
One of the best chipsets for Socket 939 was used in the ASUS A8N5X. The characteristics of this product indicated that this is NForce 4 from NVidia. It had good technical characteristics and allowed to fully and fully reveal the potential of any processor device for such a computing platform. The processor socket in this motherboard is PGA939.
Processors
An impressive list of supported models of central processors boasts this solution. This list includes the following chips for Socket 939:
Sempron 3000 series.
Athlon 64.
Athlon 64 FX.
Athlon 64 Dual Core.
Opteron.
Opteron Dual Core.
Again, it should be noted that all the chips should be designed to be installed in the processor socket Socket 939, which is used in the ASUS A8N5X. BIOS in some cases will have to be flashed. Moreover, there should not be any special problems when performing this rather simple operation.
Integrated ports
A sufficiently large number of ports were equipped with ASUS A8N5X , which included the following:
USB 2.0. There were 4 of them. Two of them were soldered directly to the motherboard, and two were placed on a separate metal strip, which came bundled with the motherboard in question. The main purpose of these ports is to connect any modern peripheral device or flash drive.
Two PS / 2 format ports. As you might guess, they only allowed to connect a mouse and keyboard to a PC.
One LPT port. With its help, switching outdated types of scanners or printers was implemented.
6 audio jacks for connecting various modifications of external speakers.
One port of the RJ-45 standard allowed such a PC to connect to a computer network without additional devices.
Expansion slots
This solution is made in the ATX format, and this allowed the developers to equip it immediately with 4 slots for installing memory modules. As soon as the standard DDR strips can be installed in the ASUS A8N5X. Instructions indicate that their frequency may be 200, 266, 333 and even 400 MHz. The higher the frequency of RAM, the higher the final speed of the computing system. Only one GB of RAM can be installed in one slot. In total, this motherboard can address 4 GB of RAM. Separately, it is necessary to note the RAM controller. In this case, it is two-channel. Therefore, it is preferable to use two reduced memory modules than one large one. For example, instead of one bracket for 1 GB, it is better to install 2 modules of 512 MB. This will allow you to get an increase in performance up to 15%.
Among other expansion slots, it is necessary to note the presence of PCI. There are 3 of them. With their help, the computer system can be supplemented with outdated modifications of external controllers. It can be both a TV tuner and a peripheral device controller. Also, this motherboard is equipped with 2 PCI-E 1X slots. Already modern modifications of expansion controllers are installed in them. Another type of expansion slot is PCI-E 4X. Well and complements this list PCI-E rev.16X. A discrete graphic video card is installed in it, which in the composition of such a PC can be only one. About some SLI modes from NVidia or CrossFire from AMD, there can be no talk for the reason that there is only one slot for a video accelerator.
Reviews Strengths and major weaknesses. Cost. Computing Platform Perspectives
At the time of the start of sales, the ASUS A8N5X could be purchased at a price of about $ 100-110. Since then, a lot of time has passed. The hardware platform itself is completely out of date. AMD has also repeatedly updated its processor families. Therefore, the stock of this computer component has long been sold out, and in a new state it is no longer possible to purchase it. In a used state, such a motherboard is quite capable of being found on various trading floors in the Global Web. Moreover, the price of it is in the range from 300 to 750 rubles. Given the positioning, there were no significant shortcomings in the solution considered in this material. This is once again confirmed by the reviews of the owners who have been operating it for more than one year. The pluses include excellent functionality, a wide range of supported processor devices and the ability to create even entry-level servers. But all this is true for 2005-2009, when Socket 939 occupied a leading position in the computing market. Now, as noted earlier, this computer platform is hopelessly outdated.
Summary
At the same time, affordable, functional and universal solution was the motherboard ASUS A8N5X. It could both underlie a budget computer with low speed and perform the functions of an entry-level server. Such flexibility did not leave any significant chances to competing products from other, no less well-known manufacturers of computer equipment. And even now it’s not so rare to see computers based on such a motherboard.