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Asus’s P5Q Pro fell behind many of the other Intel motherboards in our benchmarks. However, it has plenty of overclocking options and, in theory, memory can be overclocked to a maximum speed of 1,200MHz. Other extras include Express Gate, a basic version of Linux equipped with versions of programs such as Firefox and Skype. This boots in seconds, so it’s useful for checking web pages without having to wait for Windows to start. An included adaptor (the Q Connector) lets you plug the numerous front panel connectors into their headers in one easy step. Like four of the other Intel motherboards here, the P5Q Pro has two PCI Express x16 slots so it can use two ATI graphics cards in CrossFire mode to boost 3D performance, although you won’t see double the performance. Fitting a card into the second slot may also be difficult, as the Southbridge and the CMOS battery are very close. The P5Q Pro has two PCI slots, a pair of PCI Express x1 slots, eight SATA ports, a six-pin FireWire 400 port, six USB ports and a coaxial S/PDIF connector. It’s a generous array of slots and ports, but Gigabyte’s GA-EP45-UD3R has even more.
Asus’s P5Q Pro is a good motherboard, but others here are better value. Gigabyte’s similarly priced GA-EP45-UD3R has even more slots and ports and similar overclocking options. If you want an Intel motherboard with CrossFire and an S/PDIF output, Foxconn’s P43A is £26 cheaper.
