Asus Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE LGA 4677 EEB Workstation Motherboard Review: A Powerhouse for Professionals
Asus Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE LGA 4677 EEB Workstation Motherboard Review
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Asus Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE LGA 4677 EEB Workstation Motherboard is a top-tier offering from Asus designed specifically for demanding workloads. This motherboard boasts an impressive feature set, including support for Intel’s latest Xeon W-3400 and W-2400 series processors, ample DDR5 memory capacity, and multiple PCIe 5.0 slots, making it an ideal choice for creative professionals, engineers, and power users.
I’ve had the opportunity to put this motherboard through its paces, testing its performance with various demanding applications and benchmarks. This review will delve into its key features, performance, and overall value, offering a comprehensive look at what this powerhouse motherboard has to offer.
Key Features
The Asus Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE is packed with features designed to deliver exceptional performance and reliability. Here are some of its highlights:
| Feature | Specifications |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel® Socket LGA4677 for Xeon® W-3400 and W-2400 Series Processors* |
| Chipset | Intel® W790 Chipset |
| Memory | 8 x DIMM slots, Max. 2048GB, DDR5 6800(OC)/6600(OC)/6400(OC)/6200(OC)/6000(OC)/5800(OC)/5600(OC)/5400(OC)/5200(OC)/5000(OC)/4800 ECC Registered Memory*8-Channel Memory ArchitectureSupports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) |
| Graphics | 1 x VGA port from AST2600 |
| Expansion Slots | Intel® Xeon® W-3400 Series Processors*7 x PCIe 5.0 slot(s) (Seven at x16/x16/x16/x16/x16/x8/x16)**Intel® Xeon® W-2400 Series Processors*4 x PCIe 5.0 slot(s) (Four at x16/x16/x16/x16)** |
| Storage | Total supports 3 x M.2 slots, 2 x SlimSAS slots and 8 x SATA 6Gb/s ports*Intel® Xeon® W-3400 Series ProcessorsM.2_1 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280/22110 (supports PCIe 5.0 x4 mode)***M.2_2 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280/22110 (supports PCIe 5.0 x4 mode)***Intel® W790 Chipet**M.2_3 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280/22110 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)SlimSAS_1 port supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode NVMe deviceSlimSAS_2 port supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode NVMe device8 x SATA 6Gb/s ports |
| Ethernet | 1 x Intel® dual 10Gb Ethernet, 1 x Realtek 1Gb Ethernet, ASUS LANGuard |
| USB | Rear USB (Total 8 ports)1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port(s) (1 x USB Type-C®)5 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s) (4 x Type-A + 1 x USB Type-C®)2 x USB 2.0 port(s) (2 x Type-A)Front USB (Total 7 ports)1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 connector (supports USB Type-C® )1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header(s) support(s) 2 additional USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports2 x USB 2.0 header(s) support(s) 4 additional USB 2.0 ports |
| Audio | Realtek S1220A 7.1 Surround Sound 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 Jack-retasking- High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 113 dB SNR recording input (Line-in)- Supports up to 32-Bit/192 kHz playback*Audio Features- Power pre-regulator reduces power input noise to ensure consistent performance- Rear optical S/PDIF out port- Premium audio capacitors- Dedicated audio PCB layers- Unique de-pop circuit* Due to limitations in HDA bandwidth, 32-Bit/192 kHz is not supported for 7.1Surround Sound audio. |
| Back Panel I/O Ports | 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port(s) (1 x USB Type-C)5 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s) (4 x Type-A + 1 x USB Type-C®)2 x USB 2.0 port(s) (2 x Type-A)1 x VGA port2 x Intel® dual 10Gb Ethernet ports1 x Realtek 1Gb Ethernet port5 x Audio jacks1 x Optical S/PDIF out port1 x BIOS FlashBack™ button1 x Clear CMOS button |
| Internal I/O Connectors | Fan and Cooling related1 x 4-pin CPU Fan header(s)1 x 4-pin CPU OPT Fan header(s)5 x 4-pin Chassis Fan header(s)1 x W_PUMP+ header(s)Power related2 x 24-pin Main Power connector4 x 8-pin +12V Power connector1 x 8-pin PCIe Power connector1 x 6-pin PCIe Power connectorStorage related3 x M.2 slots (Key M)2 x SlimSAS connector(s)8 x SATA 6Gb/s ports1 x VROC Key connectorUSB1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 connector (support(s) USB Type-C® )1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header(s) support(s) 2 additional USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports2 x USB 2.0 header(s) support(s) 4 additional USB 2.0 portsMiscellaneous1 x COM Port header1 x FlexKey button1 x Front Panel Audio header (AAFP)1 x LN2 Mode jumper1 x M.2 slot (Key E)1 x ReTry button1 x Safe Boot button1 x SPI TPM header (14-1pin)1 x Start button1 x 20-3 pin System Panel header with Chassis intrude function1 x Thermal Sensor header |
| BMC Related | 1 x BMC switch1 x VGA switch1 x BMC LAN fixed IP switch1 x IPMI switch2 x Q_PSU switch2 x PSU SMBus header1 x Front panel location LED header1 x Location button header1 x VPP_I2C header1 x Micro SD card socket1 x BMC_T_SENSOR header1 x BMC LED1 x Location LED1 x Message LED header |
| Special Features | Extreme OC Kit- FlexKey button- LN2 Mode- ReTry button- Safe boot button- Start buttonExtreme Engine Digi+- 10K Black Metallic Capacitors- MicroFine Alloy ChokeASUS 5X PROTECTION III- DIGI+ VRM (- Digital power design with DrMOS)- ESD Guards- LANGuard- Overvoltage Protection- Safeslot- Stainless-Steel Back I/OASUS Q-Design- M.2 Q-Latch- Q-Code- Q-Connector- Q-DIMM- Q-LED (CPU [red], DRAM [yellow], VGA [white], Boot Device [yellow green])- Q-SlotASUS Thermal Solution- M.2 heatsink backplate- M.2 heatsink- Steel backplate- VRM heatsink designASUS EZ DIY- BIOS FlashBack™ button- BIOS FlashBack™ LED- Caterr1 LED- Box Headers- Clear CMOS button- ProCool II- Pre-mounted I/O shield- SafeSlot- SafeDIMMBespoke Motherboard Design & Business Focused Features- 24/7 Reliability- Overcurrent Protection |
| Software Features | ASUS Exclusive SoftwareArmoury Crate- Fan Xpert 4AI Suite 3- TPU- DIGI+ VRM- Turbo app- PC CleanerASUS CPU-ZIT Management software supported- ASUS Control Center Express(ACCE)Adobe Creative Cloud (Free Trial)Norton 360 Deluxe (60 Days Free Trial)WinRARUEFI BIOSASUS EZ DIY- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3- ASUSTeK. EzFlash UtilityFlexKey |
| Accessories | Cables, VRM Fan holder, Q-connector, M.2 Rubber Package(s), M.2 backplate Rubber Package(s), Screw package for M.2 Key E, CPU guards, Documentation |
| Operating System | Windows® 11, Windows® 10 64-bit |
| Form Factor | EEB Form Factor, 12 inch x 13 inch (30.5 cm x 33 cm) |
Performance
The Asus Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE delivers exceptional performance that meets the demands of professional workloads. I tested this motherboard with a variety of applications, including 3D rendering, video editing, and gaming. Here’s a breakdown of my findings:
**3D Rendering:** When rendering complex 3D models in software like Blender and 3ds Max, the motherboard consistently delivered fast and efficient results, thanks to its support for powerful Xeon W-series processors and PCIe 5.0 technology. This allowed for faster data transfer rates, reducing rendering times significantly.
**Video Editing:** I tested the motherboard’s performance with video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. The results were excellent, with smooth 4K video playback, quick rendering speeds, and seamless multi-tasking. The abundance of PCIe 5.0 slots allowed me to connect high-performance video cards and storage devices, further enhancing the video editing experience.
**Gaming:** While this motherboard is primarily designed for professional workloads, it’s capable of handling high-end gaming as well. The PCIe 5.0 slots allowed for the connection of high-end GPUs, enabling smooth gameplay at 4K resolutions with high frame rates. However, keep in mind that the motherboard’s focus on workstation performance may make it a less cost-effective option for gamers compared to dedicated gaming motherboards.
Pros & Cons
Here’s a summary of the key advantages and disadvantages of the Asus Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE:
Pros
- Excellent performance for demanding professional workloads
- Supports Intel’s latest Xeon W-series processors
- Ample DDR5 memory capacity for high-bandwidth applications
- Multiple PCIe 5.0 slots for fast data transfer rates and expansion capabilities
- Comprehensive I/O connectivity for a variety of peripherals
- Robust thermal solution for stable operation under heavy loads
- ASUS Q-Design features make assembly and maintenance easier
- Exclusive software suite provides enhanced control and optimization
Cons
- High price compared to mainstream motherboards
- EEB form factor may require a larger case
Final Verdict
The Asus Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE LGA 4677 EEB Workstation Motherboard is a top-notch offering for professionals and power users who require the ultimate performance and reliability. Its exceptional feature set, including support for Intel Xeon W-series processors, 2048GB of DDR5 memory, and multiple PCIe 5.0 slots, positions it as a leader in the workstation motherboard market. If you’re looking for a motherboard that can handle demanding workloads without breaking a sweat, the Asus Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE is definitely worth considering. However, its high price tag and EEB form factor may be limiting factors for some users.
