Intel® Core™ i series motherboard Pro WS C246-ACE

Intel® XeonIntel® C246DDR4 SDRAM

Overview
ASUS Pro Workstation motherboards are engineered for professional workloads such as AI training, deep learning, animation, 3D rendering and media production. The Pro WS C246-ACE provides scalable graphics and storage, broad connectivity and enterprise-grade reliability, with centralized management tools for IT administration and remote monitoring.

Key features

• 4 x USB 3.2 Gen2 (3A1C) on rear I/O
• Integrated DisplayPort and HDMI outputs
• Dual Intel® server-class Gigabit LAN (teaming support)
• Front USB 3.2 Gen1 and USB 2.0 support
• 8‑channel audio (Crystal Sound 3, Realtek® S1220A)
• PCIe 3.0 support with CrossFireX™ compatibility
• Crystal Sound 3 features:
  • Realtek® S1220A codec
  • Audio shielding and separate PCB layers
  • Premium Japanese audio capacitors
  • Dedicated audio PCB layers
• DIGI+ VRM & EPU power management
• LGA 1151 socket supporting Intel® Xeon® and 9th/8th Gen Intel® Core™ CPUs
• 4 x DIMM DDR4 (2666/2400/2133) up to 128 GB
• M.2 (22110, PCIe x4) with Intel® Optane™ Memory readiness
• 2 x front USB 3.2 Gen1 and 4 x front USB 2.0
• 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports and 1 x U.2 with NVMe support
• Intel® C246 Chipset

Power delivery enhancements
Pro WS C246-ACE integrates ProCool II connectors, Dr. MOS power stages, alloy chokes, high-quality capacitors and an 8-layer PCB to enhance VRM thermal dissipation and deliver stable power for Intel® Xeon® E and 9th Gen Core processors.

Memory and tuning
The board supports 4 DIMMs up to 128 GB and enables ECC detection/repair when paired with Intel® Xeon® CPUs. ASUS OptiMem preserves signal integrity while T-Topology improves timing alignment. Built-in tuning utilities include TPU, EPU, Fan Xpert 4 and Digi+ Power Control for automated and manual system optimization.

Expandability and storage
Three PCIe x16 slots provide multi-card expandability for GPUs, RAID controllers and network cards. High-speed onboard storage includes M.2 (up to 32 Gbps) and U.2 for NVMe drives. Intel® Optane™ memory support accelerates storage and reduces boot and application load times.

Connectivity and management
The rear I/O delivers four USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (including one reversible Type-C™) for up to 10 Gbps. Dual Intel® Gigabit LAN reduces CPU load and supports link teaming for higher throughput or redundancy. IT management is supported via ASUS Control Center Express and Armoury Crate for centralized asset, update and configuration management.

Cooling and reliability
Comprehensive thermal controls (Fan Xpert 4 / UEFI) include multiple temperature sources, dedicated AIO pump header, PWM/DC autodetection and protection for each fan header. Hardware features include large MOS & PCH heatsinks, high-quality thermal pads, SafeSlot reinforced PCIe and components validated for 24/7 reliability under elevated temperature and humidity.

Audio
Crystal Sound 3 provides audio shielding, separate left/right PCB layers, an integrated amplifier for high-impedance headphones and premium Japanese audio capacitors for accurate playback.

Technical specifications

• Model: Pro WS C246-ACE
• Brand: ASUS
• CPU socket: LGA 1151 (supports Intel® Xeon® E and 9th/8th Gen Intel® Core™)
• Chipset: Intel® C246
• Memory: 4 x DIMM, DDR4 2666/2400/2133, up to 128 GB (ECC support with Intel® Xeon®)
• Storage: M.2 (22110, PCIe x4), additional M.2 (22110 SATA & PCIe x2), 1 x U.2 (NVMe), 4 x SATA 6Gb/s
• Expansion slots: Multiple PCIe x16 (PCIe 3.0) — three x16 slots; CrossFireX™ support
• LAN: Dual Intel® server-class Gigabit LAN (teaming support)
• Audio: 8-Channel, Realtek® S1220A, Crystal Sound 3
• USB: 4 x USB 3.2 Gen2 (rear, incl. 1 Type-C), USB 3.2 Gen1 front x2, USB 2.0 front x4
• Power delivery: ProCool II EATX 8-pin connector, 8+1 Dr. MOS power stage design, alloy chokes, durable capacitors, 8-layer PCB
• M.2/U.2: Up to 32 Gbps M.2 and U.2 support; Intel® Optane™ Memory ready
• Onboard features: ASUS Node connector, SafeSlot reinforced PCIe, multiple fan headers with Fan Xpert 4, AIO pump header, fan header protection ICs
• Software/management: ASUS Control Center Express, Armoury Crate
• Additional: Designed and validated for 24/7 workstation and professional workloads