ASUS WS X299 SAGE Motherboard Review
Till date we have mostly reviewed motherboards made to target desktop, gamer and enthusiast market, featuring the needs and use of these type of users. But today we are reviewing a motherboard from ASUS especially targeted towards commercial Servers and Workstation environment, the ASUS WS X299 SAGE Motherboard.
ASUS WS X299 SAGE Motherboard is an Intel LGA 2066 socket and X299 chipset motherboard in a CEB Form Factor. Specially designed for exclusive Workstation type use with lot of features and massive amount of PCIe connectivity.
Now let's see what ASUS Workstation board have for us.
Features
Intel LGA 2066 CEB motherboard with quad-GPU support, DDR4 4200MHz, dual M.2 & U.2, USB 3.1 Gen 2 connectors, and ASUS Control Center
- Quad-GPU graphics power: Fits up to four dual-slot graphics cards and supports 4-way NVIDIA® SLI™ or AMD CrossFireX™ GPU configurations.
- 5-Way Optimization: One-click, system-wide tuning, delivers optimized overclocking and intelligent cooling for a diverse range of workloads.
- Industry-leading cooling options: Comprehensive controls for fans and water pumps, via Fan Xpert 4 software or the acclaimed ASUS UEFI.
- Ultra-efficient VRM heatsink: Metal-fin-array design maximizes surface area for heat dissipation to enable unthrottled performance.
- ASUS Control Center: A software utility that provides convenient, secure and cost-saving centralized IT management for small- and medium-sized businesses.
- Ultra-fast storage: Up to 32Gbps dual M.2 and U.2, plus up to 10Gbps USB 3.1 Gen 2 with Type-A and Type-C ports onboard and a front-panel connector.
Multi-GPU support - WS X299 Sage fits up to four dual-slot graphics cards and supports both NVIDIA® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™ 4-way configurations to enable multi-GPU setups that harness the full power of the latest graphics technologies, including NVIDIA® Quadro®. With performance beyond 15.23 TFLOPS*, NVIDIA Quadro is the perfect complement to WS X299 Sage, delivering the best performance for design, modeling, medical research, and processing-intensive simulation and rendering applications.
ASUS Control Center - WS X299 Sage features ASUS Control Center (ACC), a centralized and integrated IT management platform for monitoring and controlling ASUS commercial products, including servers, workstations and digital signage. ACC enables remote BIOS updates, monitoring of multiple systems via mobile devices, and one-click software updates and dispatching, allowing easier server management for any IT infrastructure.
5-Way Optimization - One-click overclocking and cooling. ASUS 5-Way Optimization makes your workstation smart. One click takes care of complex tuning, dynamically optimizing essential aspects of the system to provide overclocking and cooling profiles that are tailored for your rig.
Media-acclaimed UEFI BIOS - The smoothest, slickest mouse-controllable graphical BIOS has been improved to make it even more appealing. Whether you're a PC novice or a seasoned overclocker, EZ and Advanced modes will help you find your way with ease.
Server-grade memory validation - WS X299 Sage supports up to 128GB of quad-channel DDR4 RAM to readily handle the larger data sets found in professional workloads. Strict validation with a wide variety of memory types and operating conditions — including factors such as time, temperature and voltage ranges — ensures that WS X299 Sage provides the reliability and stability professionals depend upon to get their work done.
Flexible Cooling Controls - WS X299 Sage features the most comprehensive cooling controls ever, configurable via Fan Xpert 4 or the UEFI BIOS.
Ultra-efficient VRM Heatsink - Designed for the powerful Intel Core X-series processor with up to 18 cores, WS X299 Sage features a capable thermal design to ensure maximum performance with no CPU throttling. Consisting of an ultra-efficient VRM heatsink with a metal fin array design that maximizes surface area for heat dissipation, plus an additional heatsink and connecting heatpipe to further increase cooling performance, this innovative thermal design ensures WS X299 Sage is always ready to handle any task, no matter how demanding.
Specifications
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CPU
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Intel® Socket 2066 Core™ X-Series
Processors
Supports Intel® Virtual RAID on CPU (VROC)
* The Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 support depends on the CPU types
* Refer to www.asus.com for CPU
support list
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Chipset
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Intel® X299
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Memory
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Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
(6-core above)
8 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR4
4200(O.C.)/4133(O.C.)/4000(O.C.)/3600(O.C.)/2666/2400/2133 MHz Non-ECC,
Un-buffered Memory
Intel® Core™ X-series Processors
(4-core)
4 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR4
4200(O.C.)/4133(O.C.)/4000(O.C.)/3600(O.C.)/2666/2400/2133 MHz Non-ECC,
Un-buffered Memory
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
* Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual
CPUs.
* Actual memory frequency differs from Intel CPU types and memory module.
Please check Intel official site for more detail about the memory types
supported by each CPU.
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Multi-GPU Support
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Supports NVIDIA® 4-Way SLI™
Technology
Supports AMD 4-Way CrossFireX Technology
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Expansion Slots
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7 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (single x16 or
dual x16/x16 or triple x16/x16/x16 or quad x16/x16/x16/x16 or seven
x16/x8/x8/x8/x8/x8/x8)
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Storage
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Intel® X299 Chipset :
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices
support (PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support
(PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
8 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s)
2 x U.2 connector*1
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Support Intel® Rapid Storage Technology enterprise 5.1 for
X-Series(6-core and above) CPU RAID
Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology
Intel® Rapid Storage Technology 15 support
Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready
Intel® Virtual RAID (VROC) support for CPU RAID
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LAN
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Intel® I210-AT, 1 x Gigabit LAN
Controller(s)
Intel® I219-LM , 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)
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Audio
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Realtek® ALC S1220A 7.1-Channel High
Definition Audio CODEC
- Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs
- Internal audio Amplifier to enhance the highest quality sound for headphone
and speakers
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel MIC Jack-retasking
- High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output (Line-out at rear) and 113
dB (Line-in)
Audio Feature :
- DTS Connect
- DTS Headphone:X
- Audio amplifier: Provides the highest-quality sound for headphone and
speakers
- Premium Japanese-made audio capacitors: Provide warm, natural and immersive
sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity
- Unique de-pop circuit: Reduces start-up popping noise to audio outputs
Separate layer for left and right track, ensuring both sound deliver equal
quality
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USB Ports
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Intel® X299 Chipset :
8 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 port(s) (6 at back panel, , 2 at mid-board)
Intel® X299 Chipset :
4 x USB 2.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, )
ASMedia® USB 3.1 Gen 2 controller :
2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port(s) (2 at back panel, , Type-A + USB Type-CTM)
ASMedia® USB 3.1 Gen 2 controller :
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port(s) (1 at mid-board)
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Special Features
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OC Design - ASUS PRO Clock II
Technology
5-Way Optimization by Dual
Intelligent Processors 5
- 5-Way Optimization tuning key perfectly consolidates TPU, EPU, DIGI+ VRM,
Fan Xpert 4, and Turbo Core App
TPU
Fan Xpert4
- Fan Xpert 4 featuring Fan Auto Tuning function and multiple thermistors
selection for optimized system cooling control
ASUS 5X Protection III :
- ASUS SafeSlot Core: Fortified PCIe Slot prevents damage
- ASUS Overvoltage Protection: World-class circuit-protecting power design
- ASUS Stainless-Steel Back I/O: 3X corrosion-resistance for greater
durability!
- ASUS Enhanced DRAM Overcurrent Protection - Short circuit damage
prevention
- ASUS ESD Guards - Enhanced ESD protection
ASUS EPU :
- EPU
ASUS Digital Power Design :
- Industry leading Digital 8 Phase CPU Power Design
- Industry leading Digital 2 Phase DRAM Power Design
AURA :
- Aura RGB Strip Headers
- Aura Addressable Strip Header(s)
ASUS Exclusive Features :
- AI Suite 3
- Ai Charger+
- Crystal Sound 3
ASUS EZ DIY :
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS
- ASUS EZ Flash
- ASUS USB BIOS Flashback
- Multi-language BIOS
ASUS Q-Design :
- ASUS Q-Shield
- ASUS Q-Code
- ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)
- ASUS Q-Slot
- ASUS Q-DIMM
- ASUS Q-Connector
M.2 and U.2 Onboard (The Latest
Transfer Technology with up to 32Gb/s Data-transfer Speeds for M.2 and U.2)
Asus Control Center (ACC) IT management software supported
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Operating System Support
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Windows® 10 64-bit
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Back I/O Ports
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2 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (teal blue)Type-A
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (black)USB Type-CTM
6 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (blue)
4 x USB 2.0 (one port can be switched to USB BIOS Flashback)
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button(s)
1 x 8-channel Audio I/O
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Internal I/O Ports
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1 x Aura Addressable Strip Header(s)
2 x U.2 port
1 x AAFP connector
1 x Aura RGB Strip Header
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1
port(s)
1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support
(PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices
support (PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
1 x TPM header
1 x COM port(s) connector(s)
8 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
1 x VROC_HW_Key
1 x CPU Fan connector(s)
1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s)
2 x Chassis Fan connector(s)
1 x AIO_PUMP connector
1 x Thunderbolt header(s)
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
1 x 6-pin ATX Power connector
2 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x EZ XMP switch
1 x 5-pin EXT_FAN(Extension Fan) connector
1 x Power-on button(s)
1 x Reset button(s)
1 x Clear CMOS button(s)
1 x Water Pump header (4-pin)
1 x System panel connector
1 x Thermal sensor connector
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 front panel connector
1 x CPU_OV jumper
1 x MemOK! Button
1 x M.2 Fan Header
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Accessories
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User's manual
ASUS Q-Shield
1 x Vertical M.2 bracket set
1 x COM port cable(s)
8 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)
1 x M.2 screws
1 x Supporting DVD
1 x MOS Cooling kit (fan bracket and 40mm x 40mm fan)
1 x 3-Way SLI bridge(s)
1 x 4-Way SLI bridge(s)
1 x SLI HB BRIDGE(2-WAY-M)
1 x Q-Connector
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Form Factor
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CEB Form Factor
12 inch x 10.5 inch ( 30.5 cm x 26.7 cm )
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Weight
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Color Box(3-in-1)
Net Weight: 5.55kg
Gross Weight: 8.06kg
Bulk Pack(5-in-1)
Net Weight: 6.99kg
Gross Weight: 9.37kg
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Environment
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Operation temperature: 10℃
Comments
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