Layout

The ASUS Z9PE-D8 WS comes on a black PCB and blue expansion slots like other motherboards from Asus' portfolio. They equipped this motherboard in a way that it will match both enthusiast and worksation/server users needs. But out opinion is that it is more suitable for enthusiasts than for professionals. Indeed it features overclocking options, audio, strong power design, USB3.0 and only eight memory slots. Furthermore there is also an integrated 2D graphic processor, enough SATA ports (but no powerful RAID controller) and dual LAN.

Asus equipped his workstation motherboard that each CPU are powered by eight digital power phases. Furthermore each set of two DIMM memory slots benefitd from their own two digital power phases. With a total of 4x 2 digital power phases for the memory and 2x 8 for the processors this setup will be highly stable.

Totally you'll find four sets of only two  DIMM-slots on the Z9PE-D8 WS which means there are eight memory slots for an total of up to 64 Gigabyte of memory. Officially supported are the following clock speeds: 2133(O.C.) / 2000(O.C.) / 1866(O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 / 1066 MHz for the non ECC/ECC, unbuffered memory. As for the registered memory, the motherboard supports up to 256 Gigabyte running at 1600 / 1333 / 1066 / 800 MHz. Memory slots are very close to the CPU socket so if you install high end dual tower coolers you won't be able to fit high end memory modules featuring big heatspreaders.

Southbridge as well as current converters are being held at adequate temperatures via passive cooling blocks.