Asus prime x570

Along with the TUF model, Asus PRIME X570-PRO is one of the AMD X570 chipset boards that best looks for those users who cannot afford the ROG Gaming and Crosshair models. The PRIME family has always had a strong presence, and in giving us excellent performance plates suitable for overclocking and with a different design as is the case. White heatsinks and RGB lighting on a plate full of PCIe and dual M.2 connectivity, and that it only lacks one thing, Wi-Fi.

It is time to test this board with the 3rd generation AMD Ryzen to see how far it can go with it.

First we want to thank Asus for giving us this product to do our analysis. It is one of the brands that trust us the most and are at the top of our website in these launches. Thanks in advance!

Asus PRIME X570-PRO technical characteristics

Unboxing

We continue unboxing non-stop with the huge number of motherboards that have been released this month for AMD's Ryzen platform, and many more that we still have to try. Asus PRIME X570-PRO is going to come in a cardboard box that is obviously stiff and thick with a case opening.

In it, the manufacturer has taken care of the presentation to the maximum, with a black background on which the motherboard has been placed with its lighting activated and an AURA logo that makes it clear that it is not a joke. On its opposite side, we have more information about the product, as it has been done on 100% of plates.

An always interesting aspect will be knowing that it includes the bundle of the product that we have purchased, and in this case it will be the following elements:

• Asus PRIME X570-PRO motherboard User manual Support DVD 2x SATA 6Gbps cables Screw for M.2 drive installation Boot panel adapter (Q-Connector) Extension cable to connect LED strip

Well, nothing, more or less than expected, although it would have been a detail to include a dual-way SLI cable for multiGPU, to ask that it not be missing. Please note that only one screw is included for M.2, since one of the slots already has its screw because it has a heatsink.

Design and Specifications

Before we begin to describe the different components, let's take a general look at the Asus PRIME X570-PRO and cite some interesting technologies that Asus makes available to the user.

This time the PRIME aesthetic is based on the black background color for the PCB with a silkscreen in white lines that is undoubtedly distinctive of this series, as it already happens in previous AMD and Intel chipsets. But now the white color takes center stage with all the EMI protector of the I / O panel of this color and the heatsinks.

In fact, we have a futuristic white heatsink on the chipset with a turbine fan under it. It is accompanied by a bare aluminum heatsink for the second M.2 slot with its pre-installed thermal pad, and finally two large aluminum XL blocks for the 14-phase VRM. A SafeSlot steel reinforcement has been used for two of the PCIe 4.0 slots and a multilayer PCB system to reinforce welds and improve current flow through the tracks.

We also do not forget the RGB LED lighting on-board, since we have two areas with it. The first is located on the decorative lines of the EMI protector, and the second is just below the chipset heatsink. Both are compatible with AURA Sync and expandable through two RGB headers and a third addressable RGB Gen2.

This time we do not see a trace of the Debug LED panel that allows displaying BIOS messages, although a power button has been implemented for the board and the traditional Clear CMOS jumper. Without further ado, let's see what this Asus PRIME X570-PRO brings us.

VRM and power phases

We start at the top and closest to the processor, which is the board's power system. In addition to the 24-pin ATX connector, we have a double EPS of 8 and 4 pins respectively with ProCool technology, which basically without solid metal pins to improve the current input. And this 12 + 2 phase VRM power supply will be able to provide us with more than 200A of intensity for the powerful new-generation Ryzen 3000 CPUs.

As always, to control the system we have a DIGI + series EPU (energy processing unit) that controls in real time the voltage and switching frequency of the MOSFETS. In fact, we have a utility called TurboV Processing Unit with which to manage the power of the board from our operating system and BIOS.

And speaking of MOFETS, the first stage DC-DC has the Vishay SiC639 specification through 14 converters capable of giving 50A each at an output voltage of 3.3 and 5V with an operating frequency of 1.5 MHz After them, we have as always the CHOKES and the solid capacitors in charge of stability, the electrical signal that enters the CPU.

We then see that, for the lower-tier board series, Asus has not used Infineon's PowlrStage technology, intended for higher-end board. In any case, it is more than enough to support the Ryzen 3900X and 3950X amply.

Socket, chipset and RAM memory

With the AMD X570 chipset and the most powerful CPUs, this Asus PRIME X570-PRO will have a maximum of 44 PCIe lanes which in this case are 4th generation working at 2000 MB / s in bidirectional communication. The compatibility it offers consists of 2nd and 3rd generation AMD Ryzen processors , and 1st and 2nd generation Ryzen APUs with integrated Radeon Vega graphics, although of course, in each generation we will have certain speed limitations.

The chipset you already know that works with 20 PCIe 4.0 LANES distributed in 8 lanes for immovable expansion slots and another 8 PICK ONE lanes that we can distribute between ports for peripherals, SATA and M.2 ports. Finally, the remaining 4 will be used for the trunking of communication with the CPU. The performance of this chipset has little to do with the previous ones, much more powerful and supports up to 8 USB 3.1 Gen2 ports at 10 Gbps.

As for the RAM, we have good news, because Asus has not limited in power to any of its boards. In this way, it will support up to 128 GB DDR4 with its 4 DIMMs in Dual Channel and at a maximum speed of 4400 MHz A-XMP (OC). This speed will be limited to 3600 MHz with 2nd Gen Ryzen and 3200 MHz in APU. Asus OptiMen technology improves communication between the CPU's PCH Infinity Fabric and RAM memory to eliminate latency and stabilize the signal.

Storage and PCI slots

Next, we will see the storage and expansion possibilities that this Asus PRIME X570-PRO has, which is no small feat. And obviously we will explain how and where each of the available slots are connected.

Starting with storage, it seems that Asus has generalized in all its motherboards a dual slot M.2 configuration under PCIe 4.0 interface and compatible with SATA III at 6 Gbps. Both slots support sizes 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110. One of these slots (the one without a heatsink) is connected directly to the CPU via 4 PCIe lanes, while the second slot (the one with a heatsink) is connected to the chipset, so we recommend using this one.

In addition, we have 6 SATA 6 Gbps ports that will also be connected to the chipset. Please note that they will only work in PCIe 4.0 mode with 3rd generation Ryzen CPU. And that in all cases it supports AMD Store MI storage technology and the possibility of RAID 0, 1 and 10.

As far as expansion card slots are concerned, we will also differentiate those connected to chipset and CPU, in addition to their different operating possibilities. First of all, we have two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots directly connected to the CPU that works as follows:

• With 3rd Gen Ryzen CPUs, the slots will work in 4.0 to x16 / x0 or x8 / x8 mode. With 2nd Gen Ryzen CPUs, the slots will work in 3.0 to x16 / x0 or x8 / x8 mode. With 1st and 2nd Gen Ryzen APUs.. and Radeon Vega graphics, will work in 3.0 to x8 / x0 mode. So second PCIe x16 slot will be disabled for APU.

Then we will have a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and three PCIe 4.0 x1 slots that will be connected to the chipset in this way:

• The PCIe x16 slot will work in 4.0 or 3.0 and x4 mode, so only 4 lanes will be available in it. All three PCIe x1 slots will be capable of 3.0 or 4.0. No shared data lane data is provided between these slots, but it is possible that at least two of these x1s share bus.

Network connectivity and sound card

We are approaching the end of the description of this Asus PRIME X570-PRO and now we have to talk about networks and sound, although it is true that, in the first case, we have a fairly basic configuration. In fact, we only have an RJ-45 Base-T port that is controlled by an Intel I211-AT chip, a traditional configuration where they exist. The available bandwidth will be 10/100/1000 Mbps, nothing high speed in this case. At least the Asus LAN Guard technology is oriented to gaming.

And as far as sound is concerned, we do have better features thanks to a Realtek S1220A chip, a chip used by active and passive that, as always, Asus customizes in this case by implementing a Crystal Sound 3 codec and metallic EMI protection. It supports a 32-bit band at 192 kHz while not using all 8 channels (7.1), and allows a sensitivity of 120 dB SNR on output and 113 dB SNR on input, which is not bad.

It is a pity that it does not have Wi-Fi connectivity, although the superior models are already there.

I / O ports and internal connections

Before continuing, it is worth knowing that this Asus PRIME X570-PRO has 5 temperature sensors spread across the PCB, to monitor values ​​in the socket, in the three PCIe x16 and M.2 slot with heatsink. Similarly, each of the fan headers (8 in total) has overheat protection circuits. The entire system can be managed through Fan Xpert 4 with AI Suite or BIOS. It is a very complete system and prepared for large custom chassis.

Now yes, the ports that we have in the external I / O panel, whose backplate is already pre-installed, are the following:

• 1x PS / 2 port for keyboard or mouse 1x Display Port 1x HDMI 4x USB 3.1 Gen13x USB 3.1 Gen21x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C1x RJ-45S / PDIF for digital audio 5x 3.5mm jack for audio

It is a configuration that for example repeats almost the same on the Asus TUF Gaming X570 Plus and ROG Strix X570-E Gaming boards, so it is not bad. Making a total of 8 USB ports of which 4 of them are 10 Gbps. Also, you can't miss the video connectors for APU.

And the main internal ports will be the following:

• 2x USB 2.0 (with up to 4 ports) 1x USB 3.1 Gen1 (with up to 2 ports) 1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Front audio connector 9x headers for ventilation (2 for pumps and 7 for fans) 3x headers for lighting (2 for RGB and 1 for A -RGB) TPM connector Asus NODE1x connector temperature thermistor connector

Among other things, these are the most important. We must not forget the Asus NODE connector, typical of the brand to interconnect other programming-oriented devices.

The distribution of USB ports that Asus has made between chipset and CPU are as follows:

• X570 chipset: 3 USB 3.1 Gen2 and USB Type-C I / O panel, and all internal USB connectors will be managed by it. CPU: 4 USB 3.1 Gen1 rear panel

Configuration more than already known by other models and that is that you have seen their reviews, so no surprise in this case. The fact of having only two M.2 slots, allows us to have greater connectivity in the face of expansion slots and USB ports.

testing bench

In this case the components that we have used in this Asus PRIME X570-PRO are the following:

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Base plate:	Asus PRIME X570-PRO
Memory:	16GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB Royal DDR4 3600MHz
Heatsink	Stock
HDD	Corsair MP500 + NVME PCI Express 4.0
Graphic card	Nvidia RTX 2060 Founders Edition
Power supply	Corsair AX860i.

BIOS

And as a differential aspect, the PRIME family of plates has always used a skin different from the other families, with elements and blue edges instead of red. Apart from this, we also have no news to highlight in its distribution of options, since it is exactly the same as in other models, with a normal and advanced mode for managing options.

We will be able to store the different overclocking profiles that we make (although these Ryzen do not yet allow it) and do it in a quite simple and secure way. In the same way, we will be able to manage the AURA lighting, the on-board fans and the BIOS update functions with EZ Mode. In the case of Asus PRIME X570-PRO, and on all boards with X570 chipset, it will be quite important to be aware of these updates, since there have been certain problems with the chipset power management and overclocking of the new Ryzen. It never hurts to have the plate updated.

Overclocking and temperatures

As in other cases, we have not been able to upload the installed processor at a faster speed than what it offers in stock, it is something that we have already commented in the review of the processors and the rest of the boards. However, we have decided to do a 12-hour test with Prime95 to test the 12 + 2 phases of powering this board with the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 6-core CPU with its stock heatsink.

Similarly, we have taken a thermal capture with our Flir One PRO to measure the temperature of the VRM externally. In the following table you will have the results that have been measured in the VRM during the stress process. Via software it has given us the following temperatures:

Temperature	Relaxed Stock	Full Stock
Asus PRIME X570-PRO	35 ºC	46 ºC

Final words and conclusion about Asus PRIME X570-PRO

Asus is doing things very well with this new generation of AM4 X570 motherboards. The Asus PRIME X570-PRO comes with 12 + 2 power phases, a very sober aesthetic and very good components.

In our test bench we have equipped it with a Ryzen 7 3700X and an Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics card. With this system we have been able to play everything in Full HD and WQHD. Also an important fact to take into account is the efficiency of its feeding phases. They have not risen to 46ºC after 12 hours of stress and an ambient temperature of 24ºC.

We recommend reading the best motherboards on the market

We believe that there are several shortcomings on this motherboard… The first is that it does not bring Wifi 802.11 AX, we miss this connection that is going to become a standard. Although it makes up for it with very good cooling both in the chipset and in the M.2 NVMe PCI Express 4.0 connection.

The BIOS is quite good, although they are still quite green, we think that in a couple of months we will see the real potential of these Ryzen 3000 processors. You have to give it time, Asus is already known for its extensive updates.

The price of 280 euros seems very high , considering that it is the PRIME series, which has always been characterized by a quality / price range. We see the Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus Wifi or the Asus ROG Strix X570-F Gaming more attractive. Both motherboards already analyzed on the web and with very good marks. What do you think of this model?

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ DESIGN AND AESTHETICS	- HIGH PRICE
+ COMPONENTS	- WITHOUT WIFI 6
+ GOOD PERFORMANCE FOR RYZEN 7
+ CONNECTIVITY
+ GOOD TEMPERATURES IN VRM

The Professional Review team awards you the gold medal and recommended product:

Asus PRIME X570-PRO

COMPONENTS - 85%

REFRIGERATION - 80%

BIOS - 85%

EXTRAS - 80%

PRICE - 70%

80%