ASUS
ASUS Pro WS Z890-ACE SE Motherboard
Best workstation motherboard for professionals handling intensive creative and computational tasks.
The ASUS Pro WS W680M-ACE SE motherboard is built for professionals tackling demanding creative and computational tasks. It supports 13th/12th Gen Intel Core processors on the LGA 1700 socket and DDR5 memory, offering robust performance for AI training, rendering, and media production. Key features include PCIe 5.0 support, advanced connectivity with dual 2.5Gb Ethernet, and server-grade IPMI remote management via a dedicated BMC controller for high reliability and continuous 24/7 operation.
$389.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
55
/ 759
#55 in Motherboards
Price vs Category Average
+17%
Above average
CPU Socket
1700
/ Intel® LGA
Who it's for
- Professional creators needing rock-solid stability for heavy, sustained workloads
- Power users building future-proof systems with high-bandwidth storage and graphics
- Network-intensive professionals requiring ultra-fast data transfers for large file handling
Who should skip it
- Casual users or gamers on a budget seeking standard performance
- PC builders restricted by compact or mid-tower chassis limitations
- General consumers paying for specialized workstation features they will never use
Performance breakdown
Workstation Reliability
Server-grade IPMI and ECC memory support ensure rock-solid 24/7 uptime.
Connectivity Versatility
Dual 2.5Gb Ethernet and SlimSAS provide professional-grade data throughput options.
Expansion Potential
PCIe 5.0 support keeps your build ready for next-gen hardware upgrades.
Thermal Management
Comprehensive cooling solutions maintain stability during intense, sustained computational workloads.
IT Manageability
Dedicated BMC controller simplifies remote administration for complex professional environments.
Installation Ease
Thoughtful DIY features like Q-Latch make component assembly quick and painless.
Key Specs
CPU Socket
Intel® LGA 1700
Chipset
Intel® W680
Memory
4 DIMM slots, Max 192GB, DDR5 4800 ECC/non-ECC
Expansion Slots
1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 (SafeSlot), 1 x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x1
Storage
2 x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4, 1 x SlimSAS, 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
LAN
Dual Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet plus dedicated 1GbE Management Port
Form Factor
Micro-ATX
Management
Onboard BMC AST2600 with dedicated LAN
Features
- Exclusive workstation design for demanding creative workloads.
- Server-grade IPMI remote management via dedicated BMC.
- Next-generation connectivity including PCIe 5.0.
- Enhanced power solution for stable operation.
- ECC memory support reduces system crashes.
- Simplified IT management using ASUS Control Center Express.
- Comprehensive cooling solutions for sustained performance.
- DIY friendly features like Q-Latch for easy installation.
What customers say
Professional users highly value the ASUS Pro WS Z890-ACE SE for its exceptional reliability and robust engineering. The core focus is the industrial grade power delivery, ensuring stable performance under sustained heavy loads, which sets it apart from standard consumer boards. Reviewers appreciate the extensive connectivity, including high speed networking and ample, well cooled M.2 slots, perfect for complex storage. The clean, professional aesthetic is also a noted benefit. While the superior quality justifies the premium price for mission critical applications, the investment is significant. Overall, this motherboard is recognized as a top tier workhorse, delivering the stability and advanced features serious professionals require for high performance computing.
Know before you buy
The onboard BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) allows for server-grade IPMI remote management. This enables you to monitor, troubleshoot, and control your workstation remotely, even if the operating system is unresponsive or the machine is powered off.
Yes, this board supports ECC (Error Correction Code) DDR5 memory. This is a critical feature for professional workloads, as it detects and fixes data corruption to prevent system crashes during long-running computational tasks.
While it is technically compatible with Intel Core processors, this board is specifically engineered for workstation tasks like AI training and media production. You would be better served by a consumer-focused gaming motherboard if you do not require features like IPMI management or ECC memory support.
The board features two M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots for fast NVMe storage, one SlimSAS connector for enterprise-grade storage connectivity, and four SATA 6Gb/s ports for traditional drives.
This motherboard uses a Micro-ATX form factor. It will fit into most mid-tower and full-tower cases, but you should verify that your specific chassis supports the Micro-ATX mounting pattern.
Yes, the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot is backward compatible with all current PCIe 4.0 and 3.0 graphics cards. The slot is reinforced with ASUS SafeSlot technology to handle the weight of heavy, high-performance GPUs.
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