ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe/Wireless Edition Motherboard
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Although the ability to overclock a motherboard depends in large part on the stability of CPU, RAM and video card, what I found with the M2N32 was a surprising amount of flexibility and stability – the motherboard is able to handle a variety of system clock speeds at both the RAM and CPU ends of the bus and remains as solid as a rock throughout the process, crashing only when I asked too much of the CPU. I found similar results when using the system in high-performance tasks like running games – the system only ran into a wall when system temperatures went to critical levels. With a better cooling system, the M2N32 can be the basis for an overclocking monster.

A view of the M2N32’s PCIe and PCI slots.


More Overclocking

Note that AI Booster isn’t the only way to overclock this board – it’s just the easiest option, because it runs in Windows. ASUS also included in the BIOS as many overclocking options for processors, bus speeds, RAM timings and voltages as anyone – even the crusty hardcore overclockers who mastered the use of voltmeter and a soldering iron years and years ago – could want and laid them out in a pretty logical fashion. There are also a few preset options for those of you who are new to the hobby, including PCI Express Graphics Link Mode, which boosts the speed of the video card and AI NOS, which monitors the system and boosts performance of components as needed. Since the motherboard is SLI certified, it also supports things like RAM overclocking profiles for easy additional performance boosts for the beginner overclocker.

Sound Issues

OS installation issue aside, there’s only one problem I really have with the M2N32: the built-in soundcard. I know that built-in soundcards aren’t supposed to be hot stuff, but I’m not asking for surround (although the Analog Devices chip that ASUS included on the board can do 7.1) – I just want the clean sound we’ve all come to expect in these days of cheap, good quality built-in soundcards. For the most part, the Analog Devices chip gets the job done and even includes a utility that auto-detects the type of equipment you’ve plugged into the soundcard and adjusts settings as necessary. Unfortunately, once you get to gaming, things don’t always go so well – every time a Titan explodes in Battlefield 2142, for example, the sound crackles so badly that I have to turn my speakers off. If you’re interested in this motherboard, you’re going to want to find a soundcard to go with it.

The back panel I/O ports on the M2N32.



Highs
An overclocking beast, able to take anything I threw at it; excellent manual; great suite of included utilities.

Lows
More details in the manual on installing operating systems would be good; sound from the built-in Analog Devices chip tends to crackle in high-volume situations.

Final verdict
Looking for a rock-solid motherboard as the basis for your next rig? The M2N32 is an excellent choice.

95%

Dec 13, 2006

Review by Eric Hanson.

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