The P5Q is a desktop PC motherboard from Taiwanese computer products manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated. Since its release in 2007, there have been a little over a dozen iterations of the component. As a result, even though the original P5Q set a template of features and specifications for variants to follow, there are a few differences -- usually determined by enhancements -- between the entries of the motherboard series.
Processor and Chipset
Each PQ5 motherboard has a central processing unit socket called Land Grid Array 775, also known as Socket T. Intel Corp. released it in 2004 for certain entries from its flagship Core, mid-range Pentium and low-end Celeron processor brand -- particularly from the Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Extreme, Core 2 Quad, Pentium Dual-Core, and single- and dual-core Celeron divisions. The CPU is paired with the Intel P45 chipset.
Memory and Expansion Ports
Each ASUS P5Q motherboard has four dual inline memory module slots for the PC's system memory. Most P5Qs use system memory based on the second-generation Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory standard, or DDR2 SDRAM. A few motherboards, however -- the P5QC and the P5Q3 Deluxe/Wi-Fi-AP @n being prime examples -- use its immediate successor, the DDR3 SDRAM, instead. The number of Peripheral Component Interconnect interfaces -- designed for expansion cards such as graphics processing units and network cards -- is six or seven.
Networking
Each ASUS P5Q motherboard has at least one Ethernet driver. Usually from Realtek Semiconductor Corp., Qualcomm Atheros or Marvell Technology Group, the connection provides up to 1,000 megabits, or one gigabit, per second in data transfer speed. A few variants, however, have more than one. For instance, entries such as the P5Q-E and P5Q Deluxe have two. The P5Q Premium, however, surpasses all the others with four Ethernet jacks.
Form Factor
The P5Q motherboard uses the Advanced Technology eXtended form factor, although the physical dimensions differ from one variant to the other. Most P5Qs, such as the P5Q Pro, P5Q Premium, P5Q-E. P5Q Deluxe and P5Q3 -- measure 12 by 9.6 inches, which is the largest physical dimensions for the motherboard series. On the other side of the spectrum is the P5Q SE, which is the smallest entry, at 12 by 7.6 inches. The original P5Q is in the middle in terms of size, with a measurement of 12 by 8.8 inches.
Tags: ASUS motherboard, Each ASUS, Each ASUS motherboard, Most P5Qs, motherboard series, P5Q-E Deluxe, physical dimensions