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ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£420
  • Avg. price in US: ~$430
  • CPU socket: LGA 1700
  • Chipset: Intel W680
  • Form factor: microATX

ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

6.6

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

6.7

Technical Score

10.0%

5.5

User score

Good
6.7

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

8.7

Memory

16.0%

7.2

Platform & Features

16.0%

6.2

Storage

15.0%

6.8

Network

13.0%

3.8

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.9

Expansion

8.0%

6.9

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.0

Audio

Good
5.5

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

6.9

User reviews

30.0%

2.2

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.1
(10)
amazon
4.6
(3)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.0
(10)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Good
  • 8.0
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    9.0

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    5.5

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    10

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    5.5

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    10

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The ASUS Pro WS W680M-ACE SE is a micro-ATX workstation motherboard featuring the Intel W680 chipset and LGA 1700 socket, supporting 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen Intel Core processors. Its professional-grade feature set includes support for up to 192GB of DDR5 ECC memory, a PCIe 5.0 x16 Safeslot, two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, and a SlimSAS port for flexible NVMe or SATA storage expansion. Main pros include its built-in BMC (ASPEED AST2600) for IPMI remote management, dual Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet for high-speed networking, and a design validated for 24/7 reliability in demanding environments. Some cons include the absence of onboard Wi-Fi, a limited number of rear USB ports compared to consumer boards, and the requirement of separate cables to fully utilise the SlimSAS port's storage capabilities.

Technical Specifications of ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

8.7

Memory

16.0%

7.2

Platform & Features

16.0%

6.2

Storage

15.0%

6.8

Network

13.0%

3.8

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.9

Expansion

8.0%

6.9

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.0

Audio

6.7
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has a technical score of 6.74 points, which is higher than that of 57.7% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

6.9

User reviews

30.0%

2.2

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.1
(10)
amazon
4.6
(3)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.0
(10)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

5.5
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has a user score of 5.49 points, which is lower than that of 97.4% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
2.2
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has a popularity of 2.2 points, which is lower than 67.5% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

6.6

Overall score

40.0%

8.3

Price

7.1
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has a quality-to-price ratio of 7.1 points, which is lower than 58.1% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

Asus
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

LGA 1700
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE uses the LGA 1700 CPU socket, which is more advanced than that of 55% of motherboards and equal to that of 22.7% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

Intel W680
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE uses the Intel W680 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 64.6% of motherboards.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

microATX
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has the microATX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 52.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 32.4% of motherboards.
Show more
DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR5
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE uses DDR5 memory, which is newer than that of 64.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 35.3% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

4
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

192 GB
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE supports up to 192 GB of memory, which is more than 72.6% of motherboards and equal to 10.1% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

4,800 MT/s
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE supports memory speeds up to 4800 MT/s, which is higher than that of 51.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 5% of motherboards.
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N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

2
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 2 M.2 sockets, which is more than 30.8% of motherboards and equal to 34.6% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

2x PCIe 4.0 x4
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE offers 2x PCIe 4.0x4 for M.2 slot interfaces, which is faster than that of 56.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 5.2% of motherboards.
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

4
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 4 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 5.6% of motherboards and equal to 46.3% of motherboards.
optional SlimSAS/MCIO breakout excluded
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
JBOD excluded from RAID-level set
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

yes
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE supports NVMe RAID. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

1
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 1 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is more than 68.6% of motherboards and equal to 26.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
runs at x4 mode
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

0
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 0 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 59.5% of motherboards and equal to 40.5% of motherboards.
runs at x4 mode
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

?
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
x8/x8.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

6
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 6 USB ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.2% of motherboards and equal to 32.9% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

13
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 13 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 64.7% of motherboards and equal to 7.6% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

1
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 1 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 35.4% of motherboards and equal to 48.8% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

2
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 2 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 51.8% of motherboards and equal to 32.8% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
header only excluded.
Show more
LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

2.5 Gbps
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE supports LAN speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, which is higher than that of 49.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 41.5% of motherboards.
also includes 1GbE secondary port
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek RTL8111H
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE uses the Realtek RTL8111H LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 74.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.2% of motherboards.
dual LAN
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

3
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 3 RJ45 ports, which is more than 99.1% of motherboards and equal to 0.8% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 49.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

N/A
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek ALC897
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE uses the Realtek ALC897 audio codec, which is less advanced than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 29.3% of motherboards.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

?
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

yes
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

3
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 3 3.5mm audio jacks, which is fewer than 50.3% of motherboards and equal to 38.2% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

?
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

1
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 1 CPU power connectors, which is equal to 54.5% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

6
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has 6 fan headers, which is more than 50.3% of motherboards and equal to 22.3% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has a pump header. 23.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

?
Show more

ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE vs the average motherboard

  • Newer DDR memory generation
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
    When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: DDR5

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR5 vs DDR4
  • 2 more RJ45 ports
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
    What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.3 vs 1
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.1 vs 0
  • Newer CPU socket
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
    What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
    When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.LGA 1700 vs LGA 1151
  • 50% more maximum memory capacity
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (192 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
    When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=128 GB

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (192 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.192 GB vs 128 GB
  • Includes POST code display
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
    Q-Code display.
    What it is: Shows whether the board includes a diagnostic POST code readout for boot troubleshooting.
    When it matters: When you troubleshoot boot issues and want clearer error information.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • 1 more PCIe x4 slots
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more PCIe x4 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe x4 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe x4 slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you need more mid-bandwidth expansion slots.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more PCIe x4 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe x4 slot/s.1 vs 0
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster rear USB-C connectivity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.1 vs 0
  • Newer CPU socket
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Includes POST code display
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 50% more maximum memory capacity
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (192 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • Supports ECC memory
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE supports ECC memory, while the average motherboard does not. 20.9% of motherboards support ECC memory.
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 more PCIe x4 slots
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more PCIe x4 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe x4 slot/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.
  • 1 more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB4 or Thunderbolt header/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 header/s.
  • Includes VGA connector
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 header/s.
  • 1 more total USB-C connections
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 2 more RJ45 ports
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
  • 61 mm shorter
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE is shorter than the average motherboard (244 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
  • 1 more fan headers
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more fan headers than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.

Total
Platform & Features
Memory
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel W680 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • Not suitable for gaming
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE is not suitable for gaming, while the average motherboard is. 86.3% of motherboards are suitable for gaming.
    workstation/server-focused
  • No automatic overclocking
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE does not support automatic overclocking, while the average motherboard does. 74% of motherboards support automatic overclocking.
    CPU auto-OC not supported
  • Less versatile form factor
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has less versatile form factor than the average motherboard (microATX vs ATX). The average motherboard comes in ATX form factor.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
  • No multi-GPU support
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
  • 1 fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
    runs at x4 mode
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 2 fewer total USB connections
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (13 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
  • 2 fewer USB 2.0 ports
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has fewer USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • More basic LAN controller
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111H vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
    dual LAN
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • More basic audio codec
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC897 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • 2 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • No optical S/PDIF out
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.7% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel W680 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel W680 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel W680 vs Intel B860
  • More basic LAN controller
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111H vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
    dual LAN
    What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111H vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.Realtek RTL8111H vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=8

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.6 vs 8
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
    What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.2x PCIe 4.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
    What it is: Shows whether the external Wi-Fi antenna is included with the motherboard package.
    When it matters: When the board has Wi-Fi and you want it ready to use right away.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • Not suitable for gaming
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE is not suitable for gaming, while the average motherboard is. 86.3% of motherboards are suitable for gaming.
    workstation/server-focused
    What it is: An overall indication of whether the motherboard is well equipped for gaming builds.
    When it matters: When you want features that suit a gaming-oriented PC.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE is not suitable for gaming, while the average motherboard is. 86.3% of motherboards are suitable for gaming.
  • No multi-GPU support
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
    What it is: Shows whether the board can run more than one graphics card in a supported multi-GPU configuration.
    When it matters: When you plan to run more than one graphics card.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
    What it is: The number of 3-pin addressable RGB headers available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to connect more ARGB lighting devices.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=2

    ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.0 vs 2
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

Graphic comparison of ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
3.1
10 Reviews
amazon
4.6
3 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.0
10 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE?

  • Native support for ECC (Error-Correction Code) memory on the Intel W680 chipset
  • Onboard BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) for dedicated remote IPMI management
  • Flexible storage options including SlimSAS, two M.2 slots, and four SATA ports
  • Dual 2.5G Intel Ethernet ports plus a dedicated management LAN port
  • Excellent power efficiency for server/NAS builds, with reported idle consumption as low as 18-23W when optimized
  • Physical hardware switches to easily disable IPMI, onboard video, or other features
  • High stability and durability, validated through extensive 8,000-hour testing cycles

What customers dislike about ASUS Pro WS W680M Ace SE?

  • Extremely slow boot times, often taking 3-5 minutes for cold boots due to BMC initialization
  • Intel Management Engine (ME) firmware updates are often restricted to Windows-only executables, frustrating Linux users
  • SlimSAS port functions only in SATA or PCIe mode and does not support native SAS drives
  • Reported compatibility issues with ASUS Control Center Express software
  • High price point compared to consumer-grade motherboards
  • Limited PCIe expansion with only a single x16 slot on the micro-ATX form factor
  • Missing hardware features like a BIOS flashback button or included SlimSAS cables

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