ASUS is the only company selling a Xeon 600 motherboard in North America. The Pro WS W890E SAGE SE is packed with power, PCIe Gen5 support, and features aimed at demanding workstation users.
ASUS has done something unusual in the hardware world: it controls the entire market for Intel's new Xeon 600 Granite Rapids workstation motherboards in North America. If you want to build a next-generation Xeon workstation, ASUS is your only real choice-and the company is well aware of it.
This isn't just about distribution. The Pro WS W890E SAGE SE is built as a top-tier board for professionals and DIY builders, with a feature list that covers nearly every possible need. The EEB (E-ATX) board measures 12 by 13 inches and fits seven PCIe x16 slots (six at full Gen5 x16), eight DDR5 RDIMM slots for 8-channel memory, and a 16-phase VRM dedicated to the CPU. ASUS isn't just supporting Intel's most demanding workstation chips-they're encouraging users to push the limits.
Hardware built for heavy workloads
The W890E SAGE SE is loaded with high-end components. The LGA4710-2 socket sits at the center, surrounded by eight memory slots for a 512-bit memory bus-important for memory-heavy tasks. The VRMs are cooled by large heatsinks and dedicated fans, including ASUS's AngleBoost kit, which targets both the VRMs and all eight RDIMM slots. This board is not for small power supplies or casual builds.
Storage options are just as ambitious. There are four M.2 Gen5 x4 slots (two support extra-long 22110 SSDs), a direct-to-CPU MCIO connector for two more Gen5 SSDs, dual SlimSAS Gen4 x4 ports, and four SATA 6Gbps ports. In total, the board can handle up to 12 internal drives. All M.2 slots have solid heatsinks and thermal pads, and ASUS's Q-Release Slim mechanism allows tool-free installation for the top slot. According to ASUS's press release for IBC 2026, the Pro WS W890E SAGE SE is part of a new generation of workstation motherboards supporting both Intel Xeon and AMD Threadripper Pro CPUs, PCIe 5.0 for multi-GPU setups, ECC DDR5 R-DIMM, and up to two 10G Ethernet ports. ASUS Germany's newsroom highlights these features as central to the Pro WS series strategy.
ASUS positions the Pro WS W890E-SAGE SE as a key board for professionals who demand exceptional performance, expandability, and reliability, placing it at the heart of the Pro WS workstation motherboard series.ASUS GermanyOfficial Press Release
Connectivity and power delivery
The rear I/O includes two 40Gbps USB-C ports (using ASMedia's ASM4242 controller), six 10Gbps USB-A ports, and dual 10GbE networking powered by Intel's E610-XAT2. There's also a 1GbE port and a VGA output for the onboard ASPEED AST2600 BMC, which handles remote management and legacy needs. Two miniDP ports provide DisplayPort In, allowing DP video passthrough to the USB-C ports-necessary since Xeon 600 chips don't have integrated graphics.
Powering this board takes serious hardware. Along with the standard 24-pin ATX connector, you need two PCIe 8-pin sockets for the slots and four more CPU power connectors (two standard 12V, two PCIe 8-pin). Overclockers can split the load across two power supplies, with separate connectors for each. The Xeon 658X, for example, is rated at 250W TDP, with real-world steady-state use around 230W, so strong power delivery and cooling are essential.
ASUS's monopoly and what it means for the market
With no other Xeon 600 motherboards for sale in North America, the Pro WS W890E SAGE SE is more than just a flagship-it's the only way into the Granite Ridge DIY ecosystem. ASUS has a lot of leverage, but also a lot of responsibility. If the board has problems, the whole Xeon 600 DIY market feels it. If it works well, ASUS sets the standard for future workstation platforms.
The last time a single vendor had this much control over a workstation segment, it led to close scrutiny of value and features. The GEEKOM IT13 MAX, as reported earlier, was criticized for soldered RAM and slow SSDs despite good connectivity. ASUS, by comparison, has left little to complain about on the hardware side-at least for those willing to pay the price and meet the power demands.
Editorial perspective
The Pro WS W890E SAGE SE is more than a technical showcase. By building a board that lets users get the most out of the Xeon 600 platform, ASUS has set a new bar for workstation motherboards. The scale, power delivery, and I/O flexibility are unmatched, but so is the lack of competition. For professionals who need the best and can justify the investment, this is the only option. For everyone else, ASUS's monopoly means there's no alternative, so the company's execution has to be flawless. In a market with no choices, getting it right isn't a bonus-it's the minimum requirement.
