Conclusions and Final Thoughts
The Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard sure looks like a winner after going over all the features, specs and benchmarks, but let’s summarize it all here to see if there is something we missed.
Performance
The performance numbers on the M2N32-SLI motherboard were pretty impressive. In some aspects, like the synthetic memory performance we saw early into the benchmarks, the M2N32-SLI Deluxe was definitely faster than the ECS motherboard based on the ATI chipset. However, in most cases, the performance differences between the two were very slight, as has been the case for years now since the memory controller was moved on to the processor with the Athlon 64.
Storage performance is still a small weak point for the ATI SB600 south bridge, even though it is a vast improvement over the previous SB450 south bridge chip. NVIDIA’s chipset has very fast USB and FireWire performance and no stability issues with the PCI or PCIe bus. Coupling this lightning-fast platform with maybe a pair of 7900 cards in SLI mode should make you the proud owner of the fastest system on the block.
BIOS Features
This is one area where Asus excelled in our opinion. The Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe BIOS is much like the BIOS on the Asus Crosshair board we tested a while ago, bringing enough options to the end user to simply overwhelm them. However, the organization of the BIOS menus allows even beginning users to find the important BIOS features they need to adjust without overwhelming them with 30+ memory timings on a single screen. That could easily push a user away from overclocking and tweaking; the hobby we all are attached to and want to grow.
Image from Newegg.com’s Listing
That being said, if you are a power user and want access to things like clock skews, you’re in luck! It’s all here! Asus is definitely targeting users that have found a home in the DFI LanParty motherboards because of their BIOS configuration options. The BIOS on the M2N32-SLI Deluxe is definitely a rival to DFI here.
Board Features
The M2N32-SLI is just as impressive when we look at its feature set as it was in performance and overclocking ability. With seven total internal SATA connections and support for two IDE devices (we might have liked this to be at four instead), this motherboard should provide enough storage options for just about anyone. With fan less chipset cooling, the M2N32-SLI Deluxe is also gonig to be a quiet-users choice if they also wish to embrace performance and silence.
Don’t forget about the dual Gigabit Ethernet connections and the 802.11 b/g wireless connections built on to the motherboard!
SLI Support
While this isn’t something we need to linger on, SLI support is still a big plus for gaming enthusiasts. While CrossFire has been gaining ground in stability and compatibility, SLI from NVIDIA is still a world ahead of ATI in terms of overall support in the industry. NVIDIA has created SLI certified power supplies, motherboards, coolers, memory modules and more to help users guarantee that their components will all work together.
Pricing and Availability
All of these features and performance aren’t free! The current pricing on the Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe WiFi in our pricing engine shows a range of $200 up to $220 depending on the reseller. Newegg.com is selling it for $198! In relation to the ECS KA3 MVP motherboard that we tested it against, currently selling for $140 to $150 on Pricegrabber and Newegg.com has it for $124. That’s a pretty big difference, but of course the feature list is a bit longer on the Asus board. And the SLI advantage has got to be worth something.
Other nForce 590 SLI motherboards can be found online for prices ranging from $180 to $280, so the M2N32-SLI isn’t that much more expensive than the other top-end boards from vendors like Abit and Gigabyte.
Final Thoughts
The Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe WiFi motherboard is a great option for users looking to start a new system based on the AMD AM2 platform. Combining a great set of features, fantastic overclocking options, top notch AMD performance and full SLI X16 support, the M2N32-SLI Deluxe might be the best choice for enthusiasts we have seen in a long time.
Please Click here to DIGG this story if you found it worth while! Also, I have started a thread in the Asus AMD motherboard forum to discuss this review and to answer any questions you might have for me. But, we definitely have a strong M2N32-SLI Deluxe thread going in there: with more than 13,500 views!!!
Be sure to use our price checking engine to find the best prices on the Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe, and anything else you may want to buy!
