ASUS Pro WS W890E-SAGE SE: seven PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and Xeon 600 support for professional workstations

The Pro WS W890E-SAGE SE is ASUS's solution for the high-end workstation segment based on Intel Xeon 600 processors. The adopted form factor is EEB (Extended ATX, 30.5 x 33 cm), with all the implications this has in terms of component density and the need for dedicated chassis.

The chipset is the Intel W890, combined with the LGA4710-2 socket, designed to host the entire range of Xeon 600 for Workstation, from entry-level models of the 630 series to the more powerful configurations of the 690 series, with a number of cores that can reach as many as 86 units.

The board features eight DIMM slots with an eight-channel architecture. The supported memory type is DDR5 in ECC Registered (RDIMM) format, extending to 3DS-RDIMM and the newer MRDIMM (Multiplexed Combined Rank DIMM). The maximum installable capacity depends on the configuration: with CPUs from the 690, 670, and 650 series, all eight channels are active, while with the 630 series only channels A, C, E, and G are functional. The declared maximum speed reaches 8,800 MT/s with support for XMP profiles. ASUS calls the optimized trace layout "NitroPath DRAM", which provides shorter signal paths between the CPU and modules, aimed at improving stability and overclocking margins. The maximum installable capacity is 4 TB by configuring 512 GB slots in 1DPC mode.

The Pro WS W890E-SAGE SE has seven PCIe 5.0 x16 slots. The actual lane allocation varies based on the installed CPU: with processors from the 690, 670, and 650 series the configuration is x16/x16/x16/x16/x16/x8/x16, while with the 630 series the alternate slots (PCIEX16_2, _4, _6) drop to x0, leaving four slots active in x16/x0/x16/x0/x16/x0/x16 configuration. The CXL (Compute Express Link) support is limited to the slots PCIEX16_1, _3, _5, and _7. All slots use the SafeSlot reinforcement with integrated metal shielding through the SMT process, designed to withstand the weight and mechanical stress induced by large graphics cards.

The storage subsystem is structured on multiple levels. There are four M.2 Key M slots: the first two (M.2_1 and M.2_2) accept modules up to 22110 form factor, while M.2_3 and M.2_4 support the maximum 2280 format. All four operate in PCIe 5.0 x4 mode when paired with CPUs from the 690/670/650 series. Additionally, there is an MCIO connector that operates in PCIe 5.0 x8, internally configurable in dual x4/x4 mode, useful for high-performance NVMe storage solutions or expansion devices. The W890 chipset manages two SlimSAS ports with NVMe support in PCIe 4.0 x4 and four SATA 6 Gb/s ports. Intel VROC is supported for managing RAID arrays over PCIe and SATA interfaces (levels 0, 1, 5, and 10), with a hardware key available separately.

All four M.2 slots are covered by dedicated heatsinks with thermal pads and a backplate on each slot. The Q-Release mechanism allows for the removal of the heatsink without screws, while Q-Latch eliminates the fixed screw for the unit itself. For the 22110 format, additional thermal pads are included in the package. The chipset and M.2 area share an active cooling system with an integrated fan, to maintain stable operating temperatures even in configurations where all slots are occupied by high power density NVMe drives.

The networking supply consists of three distinct interfaces. The main controller is an Intel E610-XAT2, which implements two 10 Gb/s Ethernet ports on the same integrated solution. A dedicated heatsink monitors the 10 GbE controller thermally to ensure stability at maximum transfer speeds under prolonged load conditions. The third port, at 1 Gb/s, is managed by a Realtek controller and is reserved exclusively for connection with the BMC for out-of-band management functions: it is not accessible for ordinary data traffic.

It's important to note this: the BMC AST2600 controller with a dedicated Gigabit LAN port allows for out-of-band management of the platform regardless of the operating system status. The exposed features include remote console control (KVM over IP), hardware monitoring, power management, and firmware updates. The included software is ASUS Control Center Express (ACCE), an IT management platform in-band and out-of-band aimed at enterprise environments. Additional connectors on the PCB complete the BMC ecosystem: headers for status LEDs, localization, messaging, microSD socket, and switch for the fixed IP address of the management LAN.

On the rear panel, there are two USB4 40 Gbps Type-C ports, which also support video output in DisplayPort Alt mode (up to 8K at 60 Hz via DisplayPort 1.4), to be paired with the Mini DisplayPort IN available on the same I/O shield through the included adapter cables. The rear panel is completed by six 10 Gbps Type-A USB ports, a VGA port derived from the AST2600, and audio connectors. On the internal front, there is a 20 Gbps Type-C USB connector, a 5 Gbps USB header (for two additional ports), and two USB 2.0 headers (for four additional ports).

The power stage (VRM) is articulated in a 16+2+2+1+2 configuration, using DrMOS components. ASUS calls the 12V CPU power connectors ProCool II, featuring improved heat dissipation compared to the previous generation and metal shielding to guarantee retention even under high absorption conditions. There are two 8-pin connectors for CPU power and two integrated 8-pin PCIe connectors on the board, designed to ensure stable power delivery in multi-GPU configurations that can weigh on the slot conductors. The board is also prepared for operation with dual ATX power supplies.

The VRM cooling uses extruded aluminum heatsinks on both sides of the regulator module: the left side integrates an active fan, while the right side is compatible with the included AngleBoost kit, a removable solution that directs additional airflow to the MOSFETs and DDR5 modules. Fan management is accomplished via Fan Xpert 4 in Windows, through the UEFI BIOS interface, or through the IPMI web console, with automatic temperature detection and adaptive speed adjustment.

Regarding the BIOS, there is a BIOS FlashBack function, which allows firmware updates via USB stick without any CPU or memory installed. Noteworthy overclocking features include the CPU Over Voltage jumper, LN2 Mode jumper, Safe Boot button, ReTry button, Slow Mode switch, and seven Probelt measurement points for real-time voltage monitoring. The FlexKey button can be reconfigured to perform alternative functions.

The board is certified for continuous 24/7 operation and has been tested according to an accelerated aging protocol of 168 hours at 45°C with 80% relative humidity. The extensive hardware validations cover memories, cooling systems, chassis, and power supplies via a dedicated QVL (Qualified Vendors List).

Xeon 696X on the Pro WS W890E-SAGE SE

We tested ASUS's motherboard using an Intel Xeon 696X processor, a solution from the Intel Xeon 6 "Granite Rapids" family intended specifically for professional workstations and high-performance single-socket systems. Built with the Intel 3 manufacturing process, it integrates 64 Performance-cores and supports 128 threads via Hyper-Threading, with a base frequency of 2.4 GHz and a maximum Turbo frequency that reaches 4.8 GHz depending on workload.

The processor has a generous 336 MB cache, supports up to 4 TB of DDR5-6400 memory or MRDIMM up to 8000 MT/s through 8 memory channels, and exposes 128 PCI Express 5.0 lanes, features that make it particularly suitable for AI-related workloads, scientific simulations, virtualization, and data analysis. Supported technologies include Intel AMX (Advanced Matrix Extensions) for AI application acceleration, AVX-512, Intel Deep Learning Boost, as well as traditional virtualization and platform security features of Xeon.

With a Processor Base Power of 350 watts and a maximum Turbo mode consumption of 420 watts, the Xeon 696X sits at the top of Intel's workstation offerings, aiming to deliver high multi-thread performance in professional and HPC environments without the need for multi-processor configurations.

To get an idea of the performance of this CPU, we conducted several tests, comparing it with some Ryzen Threadripper and other consumer CPUs. The comparison between the Xeon 696X and the Ryzen Threadripper processors highlights clear architectural and positioning differences. While the Intel processor manages to maintain an interesting competitiveness in some scenarios, the latest generation of Threadrippers maintain a significant advantage in most heavily parallelized workstation loads.

Starting from Cinebench 2024, the Xeon 696X scores 5,047 points in the multi-thread test, placing it between the Threadripper 7970X (3,701 points) and the Threadripper 7980X (5,724 points). Compared to the 7980X, the gap is 11.8%, while the new 9980X is 30.3% higher. In single-thread, the Intel processor stops at 100 points, significantly behind all Threadrippers, which range between 118 and 127 points. The gap reaches 27% compared to the Threadripper 9980X, indicating lower operational frequency or core efficiency in workloads that don't utilize many threads.

In CPU rendering tests with Blender, a similar picture emerges. In the BMW test, where lower time is preferred, the Xeon completes the rendering in 22 seconds, slightly slower than the Threadripper 7980X (21 seconds) and significantly behind the 9980X (17 seconds). The disadvantage compared to the new AMD flagship reaches about 29%. In the overall Blender benchmark, the 696X records 132 seconds, practically aligned with the 9970X (136 seconds) and better than the 7970X (150 seconds), but still behind the 7980X (97 seconds) and especially the 9980X (87 seconds).

The results of Corona 10 further highlight the superiority of Threadrippers with the most cores. The score of the Xeon 696X is 23.97 million, close to the 7970X (22.69 million) and 25.6% lower than the 7980X. The Threadripper 9980X reaches as high as 38.99 million points, with a 62.7% advantage over the Intel processor.

Even in V-Ray 5 Update 2, the 696X ranks in the mid-range of the Threadripper series: its 75,169 vsamples are 9.6% lower than the 7980X and 22.4% lower than the 9980X, but 49% higher than the 7970X. This suggests that the Intel processor has a considerable parallel processing capability, yet it does not reach the levels of the more equipped AMD models.

In the Indigo Bench benchmarks, the behavior is similar. In the Bedroom test, the Xeon totals 11,546 points, surpassing the 7970X (8,870 points) and approaching the 7980X (14,577 points), from which it is about 21% away. In the Supercar test, it reaches 28,436 points, 11% lower than the 7980X and 28% lower than the 9980X, but 48% higher than the 7970X.

Interesting performance in HandBrake video transcoding tests. In H.265 conversion, the 696X reaches 18.55 fps, a result lower than all Threadrippers, which range from 25.48 fps of the 7980X to 31.62 fps of the 9970X. Here, the AMD advantage varies from 37% to 70%, highlighting how the Threadripper architecture is particularly effective in CPU-based video encoding loads.

In the AV1 test, the situation improves slightly for Intel. With 40.46 fps, the Xeon approaches the performance of the Threadripper 7970X and 7980X (46.36 and 47.22 fps), but is still distant from the 9970X (52.83 fps) and the 9980X (49.45 fps). The gap from the new AMD flagship is approximately 22%.

Overall, the Xeon 696X positions itself as a solution that generally offers superior performance to the Threadripper 7970X and in some cases is close to the Threadripper 7980X, but fails to reach the levels of the higher-end Threadripper 9000 models. The new Threadripper 9980X emerges as the absolute reference in CPU-bound workstation loads, with advantages ranging from about 10% to over 60% depending on the software used.

Conclusions

The ASUS Pro WS W890E-SAGE SE is a motherboard designed without compromise for the world of professional workstations. The build quality is high, the technical specifications are extremely complete, and the attention paid to typical aspects of enterprise environments—from remote management via BMC/IPMI to support for ECC RDIMM and MRDIMM memory, up to certification for continuous 24/7 operation—makes it a sturdy base for systems intended for intensive workloads.

Throughout the tests, no particular criticalities emerged: power supply, cooling, and stability proved to be up to the task for demanding processors like the Xeon 696X. What is especially convincing is the platform's flexibility. The seven PCIe 5.0 x16 slots allow for multi-GPU configurations or integration of specialized accelerators, while the rich offering of M.2 slots, MCIO connectors, and SlimSAS ports enables the construction of very intricate storage subsystems without immediately resorting to dedicated expansion cards.

For content creators, simulation professionals, AI developers, and users who require a CPU with a high number of cores and threads, the Pro WS W890E-SAGE SE provides everything expected from a modern workstation platform, adequately supporting the capabilities of the latest Xeon 600 processors.

The only true obstacle is the price. With a cost between approximately 1,300 and 1,500 euros, ASUS's offering sits in a very high price bracket in the market and requires a significant investment starting from just the motherboard. An amount that, for the same category, is roughly double that requested by many competing AMD Ryzen Threadripper solutions. For those who need the specific functionality offered by the Xeon ecosystem and the rich built-in features from ASUS, the price may be justified; for everyone else, especially considering the overall cost/performance ratio of the platform, alternatives based on Ryzen Threadripper merit careful consideration.