ASUS P5-LD2 Deluxe Wi-fi TV edition.

Specifications:
CPU Support: Intel LGA 775 processor support, including Pentium D's and EE's. Chipset: Intel 945 Express

Slots: SLI ready dual PCI Express x16 slots, 1x PCI-E x1, 3 PCI.

Memory Support: 667/533/400 dual channel DDR2 RAM

Audio: Intel HD Dolby compliant sound

Networking: Gigabit Ethernet controller

Special Features: High-end digital TV tuner card, Windows XP MCE compliant remote control, full Wi-Fi LAN support, ASUS Stack Cool 2, fan-less architecture, SATA II support, Firewire support.

In this review, the focus will not be on performance differences between a regular Intel motherboard and the ASUS P5-LD2, but instead on how uniquely well-tailored the ASUS variant is to a consumer's lifestyle. As for the performance difference, just like in the past, the ASUS P5-LD2 holds a significant performance advantage (approximately five to six per cent) in most stress tests ranging from 3DMarkO5 to PC Mark compared to the vanilla-flavored Intel motherboard with the same chipset. This advantage was maintained primarily by a default over clock of the PEG link, which pushed for performance without compromising on stability. This motherboard offers the first real step towards establishing a digital home for the Pakistani consumer as it is great on features and extraordinary on pricing. From its high-range remote control to Wi-Fi access point features, the P5-LD2 screams evolution.

Media Center The best way to maximize the P5-LD2 is to use it in conjunction with Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition. A huge majority of its functions revolve around the Media Center's many different augmentations. For example, the Media Center's primary interface utilizes all the functions of the bundled remote, allowing one to easily use the operating system's advanced features with a press of a button. The bundled TV tuner card is one of a kind for the Pakistani market, as it allows both analogue and digital connections to be made under the same hood. Unfortunately, a major offset to this is that the TV tuner only supports the NTSC format, and thus does not support our local PAL transmission. ASUS Pakistan has stated that the final version for the Pakistani market will have a PAL receiver built into it.

Gaming.
With support for dual-card action from both ATi and NVIDIA, the P5-LD2 finally solves the SLI problem that has been hounding Intel users for some time now. The solution is easier to handle than the A8N-SLI (reviewed earlier) with a zero-chip solution, which in simple words means that one can choose SLI options via the BIOS. Thus, with the introduction of the low cost GeForce 6600 LEs, the possibility of a low-cost dual card solution has now become a reality. With the slightly over clocked PEG link, almost all games will run faster with the P5-LD2 than with regular motherboards. This over clocking might raise some eyebrows regarding stability but during intensive stress testing, the motherboard did not crash once. To back it all up, ASUS Pakistan provides-an over clocking guarantee with this motherboard, allowing users to go crazy on speed tweaks.

Wireless.
Perhaps the best feature of this motherboard is one that might be the most easily overlooked by the typical Pakistani consumer. The P5-LD2 comes with a small black antenna which hooks up to the TV tuner card, and converts one's home into a Wi-Fi access point. This means that every other device that supports any of the three Wi-Fi standards can automatically access the network laid out by the P5LD2. This includes Centrino compliant notebooks, cell phones, PDAs and what not. This alone produces a dramatic shift in lifestyle by changing the bedroom PC from a solitary component to the central hub for every technologically aware device inside the house.

Downsides.
The entire package was flawless, until the jumper settings for its chassis intrusion were changed. The motherboard then consistently remained locked even when the jumpers were shifted back to their original position. This could lead to potential lock-outs and queries to ASUS revealed that they were working to fix this flaw.

Conclusion.
ASUS' P5-LD2 proves that it is one of the very few complete digital home solutions available in Pakistan that is both effective and light on the pocket. If it were not for the jurnper lock-out problem and the NTSC TV tuner, then this could very well have been the first breakthrough product award winner from Hard Talk. The P5-LD2 is a very good product and only barely misses out from being a great one. Overall rating: 86%


Pros.
Excellent price; Breakthrough features in one bundle;
SLI support for both NVIDIA and ATI cards; Full support for wireless communication; Bundled remote control and high-end TV tuner; Support for Dolby Surround Sound; Completely noiseless and fan-less.
Cons.
PAL TV tuner could not be tested;
Chassis intrusion jumper could lead to potential lock-out problems.

_{source Spider Mag.}