Layout

Already at a first glance the ASUS P8B WS looks very good with it harmonic design. The colors look suite nicely and the different blue tones on a black PCB are calming. Generally the P8B WS looks very similar to the ASUS Desktop boards. The layout itself is well thought and there is for example plenty of space around the CPU socket to install even todays largest CPU coolers.

ASUS provided the P8B WS with a 8+2 phase current supply whereas the CPU can rely on eight phases and the memory gets its own two phases. Furthermore ASUS implemented a digital power design which should emit less electromagnetic radiation than its analogue counterpart. Therefore ASUS claims that the system stability can be enhanced even further, especially during extreme overclocking.

Totally you'll find four DIMM-slots on the P8B WS. Officially supported are DDR3 1333 as well as DDR3 1066 with up to 32 GByte capacity. The DIMM-slots aren't too close to the CPU socket which makes it easy to install big air coolers.

Southbridge as well as the current converters are being held at adequate temperatures via a passive cooling solution. The aluminium blocks around the CPU socket are quite small. Installing big air coolers therefore is very simple because there is plenty of space.