ASUS Launches the Pro WS W790 Series of Workstation Motherboards

[thomasjpr]

Are they sure they couldn't spare just a couple of those numerous lanes for a few TB4 lanes? Or even USB4? Or hell, 2 or 3 more USB-C ports? I love almost everything about this, but the external IO is stuck in 2015.

 

[HBSound]

So now I am puzzled:
Should I get a Pro WS WRX80E-SAGE SE WIFI II which supports PBO for Threadripper Pro OC https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/workstation/pro-ws-wrx80e-sage-se-wifi-ii/
or go intel with Xeon W3400 with AMX and AVX512 Pcie5 ?

Via my system. I use this exact Motherboard and AMD Th Pro 3975WX motherboard. Amazing combination. I technically went with AMD because when you consider the core count per dollar. The AMD, you are getting a LOT more for the dollar.

My only issue with the AMD Board - Just like this board the size of it. So if you get the board, excellent, BUT Finding a case for the motherboard is a bit hard. The board is 12.2" x 13", which exceeds the E-ATX.

EATX(EEB) Form Factor
12.2 inch x 13 inch ( 30.98 cm x 33.02 cm )

So when you look for a case, do not consider EATX - That size fluctuates in a highly misleading way. So you will need to read the specs and details to ensure this motherboard will fit. Granet will fit in an E_ATX case because the motherboard is so wide. You will cover up the factory grommet holes immediately.

Right now, I am interested in the Intel chip - but only because I can get a smaller M-ATX motherboard. The threadripper pro motherboards, as of today - only come in EATX motherboard sizes and up.

The only issue I had was with the Asus board. When I purchased it initially. The current BIOS did not work. So when I reached out to AMD, they mentioned some kind of bug existed, and I had to roll back the BIOS. The tech said what about 6 months to a year for the following bios, and you would ok. I updated the bios about two months ago. And the system is rock solid!





If you have any questions - let me know.

 

[mechtech]

“and an Intel 2.5 Gbps Ethernet”

hopefully not an i225v/226

 

[Scrizz]

The mobos with those closely spaced PCIe slots were obviously designed before 3-slots-wide GPUs became commonplace.

just put the GPU in the last slot

 

[Hyderz]

The rear I/O panels.

View attachment 284011
View attachment 284012

dat vga port

 

[claes]

The mobos with those closely spaced PCIe slots were obviously designed before 3-slots-wide GPUs became commonplace.

just put the GPU in the last slot

Workstation cards are dual slot, and most other AICs professionals use are single

dat vga port

IP KVM and other remote stuff still uses VGA; actually one of the reasons I’m considering buying the Sage, even though I can’t afford it

 

[ymdhis]

Are they sure they couldn't spare just a couple of those numerous lanes for a few TB4 lanes? Or even USB4? Or hell, 2 or 3 more USB-C ports? I love almost everything about this, but the external IO is stuck in 2015.

This is a server/workstation board, it most likely won't even have a monitor ever connected to it. You use it to run 200+ VMs, not as a glorified phone charger with RGB lightning.

 

[johnspack]

8 channel and only 8 dimm slots? im sure we could get 16 in there....

 

[Wirko]

Workstation cards are dual slot, and most other AICs professionals use are single

This looks loke the kind of mobo that will often be paired with twin or even multiple 4090s.

 

[Avlin]

even better, with Ada Titan or Ada RTX 6000

 

[eldon_magi]

Those nekkid pics is some hot MILH porn.. (Motherboard i'd Like to Have)

ASUS North America is having a live stream on the W790's @ 8PM tonight:

 

[ypsylon]

I was so hyped, but these boards have 0 USB4/TB4 functionality. I was hoping for one of 5 pin headers on the edges to be for connecting TB cards, but they are not. Asus could easily sacrifice x8 slot (6th) on Sage to add 4xTB ports at the back, but they didn't.

I'm so gutted by this blatant omission on Asus side. Like WTH dudes? I was aiming for 20-24 core w-3400 w7 model, but lack of TB4 on a workstation "Pro" board. It's instant no-go on my side. And why so many type-A USB. Just let it die finally. Plus using SlimSAS instead traditional U.2/U.3 port = another 2 expensive cables to buy.

AsRock W790 has a TB4 functionality, but board is basically designed for w-2400 as it has -almost- same layout as non-pro TR (16/8/16/4/8) which makes investing in w-3400 pointless.

Waiting for TR-Pros then. These at least have confirmed USB4/TB4 built-into CPU.

 

[eldon_magi]

I was so hyped, but these boards have 0 USB4/TB4 functionality. I was hoping for one of 5 pin headers on the edges to be for connecting TB cards, but they are not. Asus could easily sacrifice x8 slot (6th) on Sage to add 4xTB ports at the back, but they didn't.

I'm so gutted by this blatant omission on Asus side. Like WTH dudes? I was aiming for 20-24 core w-3400 w7 model, but lack of TB4 on a workstation "Pro" board. It's instant no-go on my side. And why so many type-A USB. Just let it die finally. Plus using SlimSAS instead traditional U.2/U.3 port = another 2 expensive cables to buy.

AsRock W790 has a TB4 functionality, but board is basically designed for w-2400 as it has -almost- same layout as non-pro TR (16/8/16/4/8) which makes investing in w-3400 pointless.

Waiting for TR-Pros then. These at least have confirmed USB4/TB4 built-into CPU.

OR just get a TB AIC, and have the best of both worlds. Just pay more money.

 

[efikkan]

“and an Intel 2.5 Gbps Ethernet”
hopefully not an i225v/226

The Pro WS W790-ACE have both a Marvell 10 Gbps and an Intel 2.5 Gbps, what a waste.
It would be much better to have a single Intel 10G NIC, or none at all.

I was so hyped, but these boards have 0 USB4/TB4 functionality. I was hoping for one of 5 pin headers on the edges to be for connecting TB cards, but they are not. Asus could easily sacrifice x8 slot (6th) on Sage to add 4xTB ports at the back, but they didn't.

This would drive up costs significantly.
I wish they went the other way; stripped down the boards even more. With this many PCIe slots you can install whatever you need, instead of creating unnecessarily expensive and complex motherboards. There are so many pro features that many people would like to have, like more disk controllers, capture cards, etc.

If I were to build workstation(s) based on this, I would like to replace the NIC anyways with proper Intel 10G NIC(s).

-----

I was a bit curious about the power connectors of Pro WS W790-ACE and checked the manual an found this;
If you wish to use a single PSU configuration, please ensure that the PSU provides a minimum power of 1500W.
If you wish to use a dual PSU configuration, please ensure that both PSUs provide a minimum power of 750W each and both PSUs need to be of the same brand and model.
(Page 48-49)
Seriously, I hope this only applies if the system needs this much power.

 

[mechtech]

It would be much better to have a single Intel 10G NIC, or none at all.

As long as it works properly and isn't priced out to lunch, then sure.

 

[Wirko]

I was a bit curious about the power connectors of Pro WS W790-ACE and checked the manual an found this

It almost looks like the board almost supports redundant PSUs (but it can't be true as there's only one power connector for PCIe cards).

 

[eldon_magi]

skimmed the manual, all the pcie slots support bifurcation to x4, which adds up to 16x pcie5 x4 devices.

 

[chrcoluk]

Good news is modern boards with proper pcie slots, bad news need to buy a workstation board to get it.

 

[Wirko]

skimmed the manual, all the pcie slots support bifurcation to x4, which adds up to 16x pcie5 x4 devices.

The motherboard does but what about the Xeons themselves?

Slides here at TPU mention up to 28 high-speed storage devices for the W-3400 which has 112 PCIe lanes, but only 8 devices for the W-2400 with 64 lanes.

 

[Avlin]

112 = 7x16 = 28x4 for cpu + chipset

having 28 pcie 5.0 ssd would give off chart 280GB/s that’s insane

 

[eldon_magi]

The motherboard does but what about the Xeons themselves?

Slides here at TPU mention up to 28 high-speed storage devices for the W-3400 which has 112 PCIe lanes, but only 8 devices for the W-2400 with 64 lanes.

who knows, but pcie5 x2 is still very usable. including the M.2 slots you could install 18 nvme drives on this mobo. Yes it's expensive from a consumer perspective, but i bet you can host 18 gen5 nvme drives in this mobo for the fraction of a cost compared to existing enterprise systems able to do that..

 

[Wirko]

who knows, but pcie5 x2 is still very usable. including the M.2 slots you could install 18 nvme drives on this mobo. Yes it's expensive from a consumer perspective, but i bet you can host 18 gen5 nvme drives in this mobo for the fraction of a cost compared to existing enterprise systems able to do that..

Genoa can do this:

I don't know about other AMD and Intel chips, I assumed every server and workstation CPU is similarly flexible when it comes to lane splitting. Obviously these Xeons aren't.

 

[HBSound]

I am excited about the updraft in technology etc. What is sad? How do all the major motherboard makers put everything in the intel motherboard? When it comes to the AMD motherboard of the same kind and type. Some how some way the motherboards are dumbed down. Look at the AMD Threadripper version of this motherboard compared to this! The Xeon version of the motherboard will handle 6 of the seven PCI lanes populated. The AMD threadripper version of the motherboard will only handle four. Why????