If you're looking for a P67 budget price motherboard that gives you more of a great performing level look no further because the ASUS P8P67-M Pro is perfect for your needs.
The looks
The P8P67-M Pro has the look of a traditional ASUS board with a combination of black and blue colors. This board comes in a form of micro ATX but not to the point of a very crowded layout. The SATA ports are well placed in front including the ATX power connector that provides an easy access wiring without the mess. The PCI-E slots are well spaced for proper ventilation when using multiple GPU. Heatsinks that comes in blue color doesn't have that beefy size but let's find out if it can handle heats when overclocked.
Specs
The P8P67-M Pro used a P67 chipset that supports the 2nd generation Sandy Bridge processors in socket 1155 package. It has 4 DIMM's slot that supports dual channel DDR3 up to 32GB at 2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1600(O.C.)/1333/1066MHz memory module. It has three PCI-E slot that runs at single 16X configuration or dual at 8X/8X, the third (black) is at 4X and 1x PCI-E 1X slot. It provides 2 SATA 6GB/s and 4 SATA 3GB/s connectors that supports SATA RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 and 2 eSATA 6GB/s. It can accommodate up to 14x USB 2.0 and 2x USB 3.0 ports. It also has 1x Realtek LAN port and 8-chanel High Definition audio port DTS surround sensation with S/PDIF out support.
Features
The P8P67-M Pro uses the same basic features that come in all P67 motherboard that only ASUS can provide. The main features of the all new ASUS mother is the EFI that offers a user friendly BIOS interface without the traditional keyboard control. In this case you can use the mouse to point easily for the BIOS settings just like you're working with the operating system. This also supports hard drives with more than 2.2TB running in 64bit. The Al Suite II allows the user to supervise the overclocking, energy saving, fan speed control and voltage for easy interface. It also provides an auto tuning for novice users that can easily achieved overclock speed at very stable frequency. Another great overclocking tool is the TurboV that enables you to reach your own desired speed possible to adjust the CPU frequency and its multiplier. The MemOK feature ensures your memory boot compatibility. It features fanless thermal solution systems that further eliminate noise. This motherboard uses a high quality polymer capacitor that ensures its durability for longer lifespan.
Testing the ASUS P8P67-M Pro
To have more freedom in overclocking this motherboard we used a K version processor. In this case the core i5 2500K with a stock speed of 3.3GHz is the CPU of choice. The 2500K was overclocked at an amazing sped of 4.7GHz using the Al suite with manual settings. A 1.4GHz increased in speed is fairly noticeable in its performance in running any games. Using the SLI multi GPU in the first two slots runs smoothly, although you can also use the CrossfireX configuration in this board. At overclocking speed this board can barely withstand an increased in temperature but an additional airflow is highly recommended in running the SLI or CrossfireX configuration.
Conclusion
The ASUS P8P67-M Pro doesn't disappoint us in running under stress at overclocked speed. Although this board comes in a micro ATX form factor you can be sure of its quality. Admittedly it eliminates some of its key features compare to other P67 motherboard due to its low price range but, it doesn't sacrifice its performance. A big plus factor is the support for both SLI and CrossfireX multi GPU and a SATA 6GB/s. This is a very dependable motherboard for a budget conscious enthusiast that really delivers great value to your money.
Read more reviews of the Best Motherboards and discover the top 5 Best 1155 Motherboard for 2011.
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