The mainboard is very small measuring 17 x 17 cm and has a rich component interface. The board supports Intel Ivy Bridge Celeron C2007U processors with power consumption of 17 Watts. The chipset used on the mainboard supports RAID levels 0, 1, 5, and 10 with data security protection.

The mainboard also features dual Intel 82583V Gigabit Ethernet ports. The construction of mainboard uses high-quality solid capacitors enclosed with nickel core inductors for longevity and stability. The board is also fitted with high quality Power PAK MOS FETs.

Other features of the small mainboard include dual USB 3.0 ports and TPM pins allowing the connection of an optional TPM module for data security protection. The board also features intelligent hardware monitoring and management functions such as the CPU overheating alarm and abnormal power state alarm. Pricing for the mainboard is unknown at this time.

[via Giadatech]

Employees working in the group will be transitioned to other areas within the company, working with FFRDs. This marks the end of a two decade era and a change in the market as a whole. The need for Intel to produce its own desktop motherboards has diminished, and in purely business terms, focusing its efforts elsewhere is better for its bottom line.

Product warranties will be supported for their duration despite the eventual shutdown. This comes after an announcement earlier today that the company has rolled out Ivy Bridge processors for the budget market, with a total of three Celeron, four Pentium, and one Core i3 being launched today with a price range of $42 to $117.

Said Intel: “We disclosed internally today that Intel’s Desktop Motherboard Business will begin slowly ramping down over the course of the next three years. As Intel gradually ramps down its motherboard business we are ramping up critical areas of the desktop space including integration of innovative solutions for the PC ecosystem such as reference design development, NUC and other areas to be discussed later.”

[via Legit Reviews]

There’s been a comparison made to the also-supposed rear plate of the next iPhone and NWE has decided that it fits. With the size, shape, and suggestions that have been included with this piece of hardware, we can safely assume that we’ll have 4G LTE connectivity and that there will be a larger battery than we’ve seen in past iPhone models. This device also likely has a smaller SIM card holder, as you may know from past leaked pieces of hardware, and the entire device is significantly larger than previous iPhones as well.

The next iPhone, called iPhone 5 here before it’s officially announced by Apple, will likely have a 4-inch display, a brand new dock connector with 8 (or 16) pins on it, and the headphone jack sits at the bottom of the device rather than the top. This new iPhone has been tipped as being announced on the 12th of September and the release date has been “leaked” this morning as inside the last week of September – for AT&T at least.

This device will likely also be released on Verizon on their 4G LTE network and will be released simultaneously on each of the carriers Apple has agreed to release it with. Check the timeline below for the most recent of iPhone 5 rumors and tips, and check the new iPhone portal to see all of the new iPhone news we’ve had since the beginning of this new cycle.

[via Wired]

ASUS and Intel both worked closely on the new motherboard. Not only that, but ASUS partnered with several external hard drive manufacturers such as Elgato, LaCie, and and PROMISE to ensure compatibility with their Thunderbolt solutions under Windows. There’s only one Thunderbolt port on the motherboard, but the ability to daisy chain multiple devices over a single connection mean there shouldn’t be any issues.

Thunderbolt isn’t the only tech that this new motherboard is packing: it sits near the top of ASUS’ line, and looks mighty capable in its own right. Support for Ivy Bridge processors is on board, as well as overclocked DDR3 RAM at 2800Mhz. There are four PCI-e 3.0 sockets, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, dual-band WiFi b/g/n plus Bluetooth 4.0, six SATA 6Gbit/s ports, two eSATA 6Gbit/s ports, and six USB 3.0 ports. A 32GB mSATA SSD is also included to enable fast boot-up and resume times.

The P8Z77-V Deluxe is also “easily exceeding” 3 GHz memory frequencies with all four DIMMS populated, according to Asus. “The milestone also establishes that channel boards from ASUS are capable of very impressive overclocking feats thanks to their class leading Digi+ VRM power and control design,” the company bragged. As for the world records, they are as follows:

- AquaMark 3: 536638 marks using a Radeon™ HD 7970 graphics card clocked at 1600MHz core and 1900MHz GDDR5
- PiFast: 10.3 seconds with Intel® Core™ i7-3770K set to 6930MHz
- 3DMark®2001 SE: 164589 marks using a GeForce® GTX 580 clocked at 1553MHz core and 1250MHz GDDR5
- SuperPi: 5 seconds 187ms with Intel® Core™ i7-3770K set to 6961MHz
- SuperPi 32M: 4 minutes 52 seconds and 953ms with Intel® Core™ i7 set to 6735MHz

The biggest addition to Intel’s new Z77 chipset is native USB 3.0 support. Unfortunately, the chipset will only support two USB 3.0 ports, either as rear ports or as a header. More ports can be added, but manufacturers will have to sacrifice motherboard real estate for the necessary extra controllers.

As for PCI-Express, all 16 lines are still present with the CPU, but the slot sees a bump to the 3.0 standard. Your GPU will be able to take advantage of PCIe 3.0 if it supports the new feature. PCIe 3.0 also gives flexibility in multi-GPU setups, with motherboard manufacturers potentially adding chips to increase the available number of lanes.

The new chipset also brings support for DDR3L, which has reduced voltage requirements for low-end setups, like HTPCs. Power users haven’t been left out, though, with Ivy Bridge able to handle DDR3-2800 memory, which will bring additional improvements to integrated graphics. Finally, power consumption for the CPUs will be down across the board, with peak TDP reaching 77W. That’s down from the 95W peak achieved with Sandy Bridge processors like the 2600K. In addition, the new Ivy Bridge chipset will be backwards compatible with Sandy Bridge processors, in case you can’t splurge all your cash on upgrades at once.

The Rampage IV Formula uses a full ATX board to inlclude all the bells and whistles: second-generation Intel Core i7 support on the LGA 2011 standard, quad-channel DDR3 2400 RAM DIMM slots with a maximum of 32GB of memory, and support for up to four (count ‘em, four) Nvidia or ATI cards in SLI or CrossFireX configurations. As far as ports go, you get four USB 3.0 with an extra six USB 2.0 ports, the standard 5.1 audio interface, gigabit Ethernet, and two eSATA ports. For those of you who can’t let go of your IBM Model M Keyboard, a standard PS/2 jack lets you plug in older accessories. One USB port supports the new ROG Connect standard exclusive to Asus’ gaming boards, which allows you to manually adjust overclock settings from a second computer.

The Rampage IV Gene uses the smaller mATX standard for those who want to game on more compact hardware. This one only includes three PCI-e 16X slots, so the insanity of SLI or Crossfire is somewhat tempered. Otherwise you get the same processor and memory options, with two of the USB 3.0 ports on the back swapped out for USB 2.0. There’s only one eSATA port, but ROG Connect is still present in full force. Both boards feature an aggressive red-on-black color scheme, which manages to convey a serious vibe without some of the more ridiculous lights and props that we’ve seen on “1337 GAMR BOARDS!!!!!” lately.

Asus didn’t mention a price or release date for either motherboard, but you won’t have to wait long to find out – both should be available in the next week.

The images you see in this post come from Matt Black at Tech in Style, photographed aside information on the tablet we’re also presenting to you here. What you see here is a Thermal Armour sitting near the heatsink and rear I/O area, while two fans keep the whole situation cool – you’ll just see one in this setup, the other optional for the rear I/O. So your CPU DIGI+ Power Control VRMs and chipset will be chilling while your I/O is connected via a set of fins to your CPU digital VRMs – push that heat out!

DIGI+ VRMs hardware has been extended to feed DIMM slots as well as CPU, this for more precise power provisioning for this very dense system. In addition to the Thermal Armour, there’s Thermal Radar, this feature monitoring several boards to make sure proper airflow is being distributed to areas where overheating would otherwise occur. New fan control software via Fan Xpert+ and seven 4-pin fan headers allow you to control your cooling like never before, custom speed gradients for different temperatures no problem now.

This system’s Dual Intelligent Processors 3 has a brand new and revised TPU that is able to house BIOS Flashback. As Black notes: “all you have to do is drop the UEFI BIOS  file onto a FAT32 formatted USB drive, then plug it into the white USB slot on the rear I/O and press the button next to it. When the button stops flashing you’re fully updated.” This ability works without the need for CPU or memory installed, just requiring the ATX power plug – and that’s it.

Then there’s the good stuff: 3-way Nvidia SLI and AMD CrossFire-X are supported alongside up to 64GB of DDR3 memory fit into the 8 DIMM slots onboard. You’ve got 8 SATA ports (4x 6Gbps, 4x 3Gbps), four USB 3.0 ports on the back, 2 USB 3.0 ports on the front, two eSATA, PS2 keyboard or mouse, Firewire, 8-channel HD audio with S/PDIF out, and Intel Gigabit Ethernet.

Power on the horizon!

[via TechInStyle]

The ROG Maximus IV Extreme-Z and ROG Maximus IV GENE-Z use the Intel Z68 chipset and ASUS’ overclocking system, but the GENE-Z shrinks things down to the microATX form factor. Both support both NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX, but can also intelligently switch between discrete and integrated graphics using the Lucid Virtu virtualization engine. Finally, there’s SupremeFX X-Fi 2 audio and Intel Ethernet with GameFirst for prioritizing online gaming network traffic.

Both new graphics cards use NVIDIA’s GTX 580 GPU, with the ROG MATRIX GTX 580 getting one of them and the ROG MARS II getting a pair. Each packs GPU Tweak for easier overclocking, as well as 19-Phase Super Alloy Power. Dual fans keep things cool, with ASUS claiming the MATRIX pulls through 600-percent more air and makes for 20-percent cooler operation than the NVIDIA reference design.

Finally, ASUS throws in some accessories, including the ROG Vulcan ANC Headset with an active-noise-cancellation system, and the VG278 3D 27-inch display, which has HDMI 1.4 and a built-in infrared emitter. No pricing or availability for any of the new ROG range.

Press Release:

Experience a New Era of ROG with a Range of High-Performance Products for Demanding PC Gamers

Experience a New Era of ROG with a Range of High-Performance Products for Demanding PC Gamers

New Republic of Gamers products announced for 2011 include motherboards, graphics cards, high-end gaming notebooks, a headset, a powerful desktop and a stunning 27-inch 3D desktop display

Taipei, Taiwan, (Computex, 31st May, 2011) — ASUS, a global leader in the new digital era, today announced a number of exciting new products for high-performance gaming PCs to further expand its Republic of Gamers (ROG) range. Established five years ago, ROG is committed to developing the ultimate high-performance hardware.

“The ROG philosophy is based on the core ideals of class-leading performance, innovative user controls and gamer-focused design,” said ASUS Vice President and GM of Worldwide Sales, Jackie Hsu. The products announced today not only hold true to these ideals, but also introduce a host of new innovations that push high-end PC performance to even greater extremes.

Designed for hardcore gamers who want to be able to play anywhere, the G74Sx gaming notebook uses a second generation Intel® Core™ processor and NVIDIA® GTX 560M graphics for outstanding performance. The ROG G53SX Naked Eye 3D makes lifelike 3D without the need for glasses a reality on a sleek and powerful portable PC. Gamers looking for similar instant action in desktop form are well-served by the new CG8565 Gaming System with a Z68 chipset-based motherboard, stealth fighter-inspired case design and a host of easy-to-use overclocking features.

Also unveiled today are three new ROG motherboards based on the latest Intel® and AMD chipsets that bring new levels of performance for PC builders. The Maximus IV GENE-Z and Maximus IV Extreme-Z both use the new Intel® Z68 chipset to deliver unparalleled gaming and overclocking features, while the Crosshair V Formula is the first AMD 990FX-based motherboard supporting both 3-Way SLI™ and CrossFireX™, and with a graphical UEFI BIOS. Two new NVIDIA® GTX 580-based graphics cards, the MATRIX GTX580 and MARS II, further expand the ROG range.

Recognizing that a successful gaming experience depends on more than just what is inside a PC, ROG now also includes new PC peripherals. The first peripheral in the ROG family is the Vulcan ANC gaming headset with active noise-cancelling technology, which ensures an immersive audio experience, whatever the gaming environment. Combine all the great ROG hardware and attach it to an ASUS VG278H 3D 27-inch display that is designed for gaming, and gamers can become immersed in the latest titles.

Zane Ball, General Manager for Desktops at Intel, said: “We’ve had great success in the gaming market and we appreciate that a vendor like ASUS is devoted to this field. Brands such as ROG demonstrate the best practice for gaming and overclocking PC hardware, and the two new motherboards and one desktop with Intel Z68-based chipsets announced today offer exciting new performance-turning opportunities.”

Over the past five years, ROG products have been recognized by a number of renowned industrial design awards bodies such as iF Design, Red Dot and Good Design and have been well received by power PC users worldwide. Over 1,200 awards from the media are testament to the quality and innovation delivered by ROG and its commitment to delivering total domination in the high-performance PC field. Rest assured that ROG will continue to annihilate records and crush the competition for years to come.

“We are keen to provide the most innovative and powerful solutions for our users, which is why ROG has a team dedicated to researching and developing ideas that go well beyond what you might expect,” said Jackie Hsu.

Visit ASUS at Computex 2011

Please refer to the attached appendices for further details of these new ROG products, or visit the ASUS ROG Computex 2011 Booth at the Nangang Exhibition Hall. Please stop by to see the latest innovations ROG has in store or visit our Computex 2011 website for more information: http://press.asus.com/computex2011/rog/

APPENDICES

1. ROG G74Sx 3D gaming notebook

The G74Sx 3D is a high-performance notebook for gamers who don’t want to drag a full PC around to gaming events, or do not have room at home for a full desktop set up. The G74Sw 3D has the clean, angular lines of a stealth fighter and the power to match, thanks to the latest second generation Intel® Core™ quad-core i5 and i7 processors. NVIDIA® GTX 560M graphics ensure blistering frame rates at native resolutions and high detail settings on the 17-inch Full HD screen, while NVIDIA® 3D Vision offers players a new dimension to games and movies.

Powerful it may be, but the G74Sx 3D always keeps its cool with an innovative thermal design that uses twin fans to draw cool air from the front of the case and twin rear exhausts to expel warm air out the back. The gamer-friendly keyboard brings an extra edge to the playing field, too. The metallic base is does not flex, the backlit keys ensure frags in dimly lit environments and a large cursor key cluster sits away from the main keyboard to minimize mistyped keys in the midst of the action.

* More details will be revealed in early June.

World’s first glasses-free 3D gaming notebook
The ROG G53SX Naked Eye 3D makes lifelike 3D without the need for glasses a reality on a sleek and powerful portable PC. The unique technology works with a whole catalogue of games and multimedia content, even instantly converting existing 2D visuals into glasses-free 3D. Advanced research has also resulted in mixed mode, where one window can display in 2D while another shows in 3D, both on-screen at once. This is achieved without compromising brightness, contract or color fidelity, exceeding the output of older 3D technology that relies on glasses.

These figures are driven by a 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7 CPU and discrete, DirectX® 11-compatible NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 560M graphics with a massive 2GB GDDR5 video memory, specs that allow titles such as StarCraft II to run in high resolution with anti-aliasing turned all the way up. Performance is also driven by the inclusion of a solid state hybrid drive that runs at approximate 10,000rpm speeds, cutting down boot time by as much as 52%.

The ROG G53SX Naked Eye 3D ships with a full suite of 3D content creation and editing software, giving users access to advanced authoring tools, including 3DTV Play connectivity. Sound is rendered in THX and EAX 5.0 3D for pristine spatial sound in gaming and other applications, with up to 128 additional sound effects at once compared to traditional gaming notebooks.

In terms of design, the G53SX shares the same ergonomic and stylish look of its stable mates. The 5-degree inclined keyboard promotes comfort during long gaming sessions, aided by rubber-coated palm rests that prevent sweating and wrist fatigue. Oversized twin rear exhausts push heat to keep the machine cool even under load while remaining quiet at all times. Users get a cool and silent environment that makes gaming much more enjoyable.

2. ROG Crosshair V Formula series motherboard

The Crosshair V Formula with AMD 990FX chipset-based is not only the first ROG motherboard with AM3+ CPU support, but it is also the first ever AMD motherboard to support both 3-Way NVDIA® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™ as well as offer UEFI BIOS. The usual selection of advanced ROG overclocking tools are on hand too, while onboard SupremeFX X-Fi 2 delivers the most intense and immersive gaming audio experience. Better still, high-performance Intel® Ethernet with GameFirst technology creates a LAN connection that is fast enough to keep up with the pace of modern multiplayer gaming over an internet connection that is also used being used for other online tasks.

To really make it the ultimate gaming motherboard, the Crosshair V Formula/ThunderBolt also comes with the ThunderBolt audio/LAN combo expansion card. The class-leading XONAR™ audio technology provides dramatically better sound quality than any standard audio card, while its built-in headphone amplifier with adjustable impedance settings make it perfect for getting the drop on the gaming competition. The Crosshair V Formula/Thunderbolt also incorporates the award-winning Bigfoot Networks™ Killer™ E2100 networking platform with exclusive Advanced Stream Detect™ technology that automatically classifies and prioritizes traffic for online games, HD video and audio streams for optimum performance, even when performing these tasks simultaneously.

The Crosshair V Formula motherboard is available now; the Crosshair V Formula/ThunderBolt will be available for purchase in the end of July,

3. ROG Maximus IV Extreme-Z and ROG Maximus IV GENE-Z motherboards

Although both are based on the new Intel® Z68 chipset, the ROG Maximus IV Extreme-Z and ROG Maximus IV GENE-Z offer two different takes on the high-performance motherboard.

The Maximus IV Extreme-Z is the latest model in a long line of ROG motherboards designed from the ground up to be an overclocking enthusiast’s dream come true. The Maximus IV GENE-Z takes the successful ROG motherboard recipe and shrinks it to a microATX form factor that will appeal to speed freaks and case modders alike. Support for both NVIDIA® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™ offers the ultimate in flexibility for 3D graphics, but that does not mean the integrated GPU features of the Intel® Z68 chipset are wasted. Full support for the Lucid® Virtu™ graphics virtualization engine means the Maximus IV GENE-Z can seamlessly switch between discrete and integrated graphics on-the-fly as the application demands, while SupremeFX X-Fi 2 audio and Intel® Ethernet with GameFirst ensure a first-class gaming experience.

4. ROG MATRIX GTX 580 graphics card

The ROG MATRIX GTX 580 is a high-performance graphics card for enthusiasts and gamers who demand the very best with NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 580 GPU. Enhanced TweakIt, ProbeIt and Safe Mode overclocking utilities offer unparalleled hardware adjustment, while GPU Tweak provides instant settings adjustment and monitoring. The 19-Phase Super Alloy Power technology provides greater overclocking headroom with enhanced power efficiency and component durability.

ASUS DirectCU II technology also provides extremely effective cooling by combining copper heatpipes that fix in direct contact with the GPU core with two huge sound-dampened fans that suck through 600% more air and achieving 20% cooler operation than the reference design.

5. ROG MARS II graphics card

The ROG MARS II/2DIS/3GD5 elevates extreme high-performance gaming to greater heights. The dual NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 580 design ensures phenomenally high frame rates in the latest games at maxed-out detail settings, while the all-new GPU Tweak overclocking utility with real-time clock and fan speed adjustment offers unparalleled tweaking opportunities. 19-Phase Super Alloy Power technology and Direct CU dual-fan cooling makes for cool, rock-solid operation too.

6. ROG CG8565 Gaming System

With its stealth fighter-inspired design, the angular, matte black exterior of the ROG CG8565 Gaming System belies the power that lurks within. Built for gamers who want a ready-made high-end gaming experience, this stunning desktop PC delivers awe-inspiring amounts of power, thanks to the second generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor with Z68 chipset and NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 590 GPU.

Overclocking features form an integral part of this competition-destroying desktop, with a one-touch ‘Level Up’ button built directly into the chassis for an instant real-time speed boost. Exclusive ASUS DIGI+ VRM technology and innovative thermal management ensures that the ROG CG8565 stays cool even when it is pushed to the limit, while the ASUS Xonar sound card provides immersive gaming audio.

7. ROG Vulcan ANC Headset

The ROG Vulcan ANC Gaming Headset completes the new range of Republic of Gamers accessories. It is perfect for gaming in noisy environments, or just those times when external speakers are not appropriate. The Vulcan ANC Gaming Headset uses active noise cancelling technology specially designed to filter external noise from both its high-quality speakers and boom microphone. The result is crystal-clear sound quality for music, movies, games and even VoIP calls.

8. ASUS VG278 3D 27” desktop monitor

Recognizing that a successful gaming experience depends on more than just what is inside a PC; ASUS has also introduced a new range of PC peripherals to enhance that experience with the VG278H 3D display. Designed for gamers who want complete immersion in the latest titles, this 27-inch LED backlit screen has full support for 3D graphics cards via HDMI 1.4 and a built-in infrared emitter for a wire-free desktop.

It also offers both NVIDIA and AMD’s multi-card graphics support, onboard SupremeFX X-Fi 2 audio, Bigfoot Networks Killer E2100 networking with game traffic prioritizing and the option of 4-way NVIDIA SLI with a ROG XPANDER add-on board. There’s the usual overclocking support too, along with USB 3.0 connectivity and more.

The ASUS M5A99/97 Series, meanwhile, uses DIGI+ VRM to allow owners to tinker individual power settings, including DRAM power control, with the ASUS UEFI BIOS for GUI based overclocking. Finally, the ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX uses CeraM!X, a nifty cooling material that not only looks good but helps reduce heat more efficiently, just like on the SABERTOOTH P67.

That’s paired with ten heat sensors embedded in the ‘board itself – ASUS calls it “Thermal Radar” – which can be used for fan speed fine-tuning. No word on pricing or availability at this stage.

Press Release:

ASUS Launches New AMD 9 Series Motherboards offering Superior Performance, Reliability and Features

– New AM3+ based motherboards offer a class leading DIGI+ VRM digital power design and innovative UEFI BIOS that is a first for the AMD platform –
Fremont, California (May 30th, 2011) ― Continuing its leadership in innovation, design and performance, ASUS the number #1 and most awarded motherboard brand is excited to announce a new lineup of innovative AMD based motherboards that support the 990FX/990X/970 chipsets and AM3+ CPUs. The models available are the M5A99/97 Series, the TUF SABERTOOTH 990FX and the ROG Crosshair V Formula. Featured models offer ASUS’s award winning UEFI BIOS and the second generation of Dual Intelligent Processors (DIP2), comprised of the award winning TurboV Processor Unit (TPU) and Energy Processor Unit (EPU) for superior performance and energy management. The new motherboards will be the first on the AMD chipset based platform to support DIGI+ VRM (Digital power design) and both multi-GPU technologies, AMD’s CrossFireX™ and NVIDIA’s® SLI™.

ASUS M5A99/97 Series feature Dual Intelligent Processor 2 with DIGI+ VRM
The ASUS M5A99/97 Series motherboards offer unsurpassed compatibility with new AMD AM3+ socket CPUs, while also being backwards compatible with the previous generation AM3 processors. The M5A99/97 core series is equipped with DIP2, which features DIGI+ VRM technology in addition to the TPU and EPU processors that offer enhanced performance and power management. DIGI+ VRM power delivery allows a user to precisely adjust and control power settings digitally for precise power control and flexible tuning of their system.

Unlike older analog designs, DIGI+ VRM is perfectly suited for the AM3+ CPU specification’s new power demand requirements that benefit from precise power flow adjustment, enhanced power efficiency and extra DRAM power control for stability. Also included on the M5A99/97 Series motherboards is the intuitive and feature laden ASUS UEFI BIOS menu interface. UEFI BIOS allows a user to control and adjust their motherboard settings through the use of a mouse-enabled interface for a superior user-friendly experience that BIOS and Hybrid-EFI solutions do not offer.

SABERTOOTH 990FX has CeraM!X aerospace-grade cooling technology
The newest addition to the TUF Series motherboards is the SABERTOOTH 990FX. Known for their unrivaled quality and reliability in extreme conditions, the SABERTOOTH 990FX features the use of CeraM!X, an exclusive aerospace-grade cooling material that is extremely effective in conducting heat away from vital system components. Also onboard is ASUS’ Thermal Radar technology that consists of ten sensors located on vital motherboard components, which provides users the ability to actively monitor each one individually and automatically adjust fan speeds to ensure a high level of system stability without overheating.

The SABERTOOTH 990FX features TUF components, which are comprised of military-certified alloy chokes, solid state capacitors and MOSFETs built to withstand the most extreme usage conditions possible for greater system stability and longevity. A TUF motherboard built with high-end components ensures quality and tested server-grade reliability and are certified TUF only after a series of extreme stress tests including maximum temperature and humidity tolerance, so users are ensured of owning the best and most reliable motherboard on the market.

ROG Crosshair V Formula redefines AMD Performance
The Crosshair V Formula with AMD 990FX chipset-based is not only the first ROG motherboard with AM3+ CPU support, but it is also the first AMD motherboard to support both 3-Way NVDIA® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™ as well as offering an advanced UEFI BIOS and DIGI+ VRM design not available on competing solutions. A wide array of advanced ROG overclocking tools are on hand too, while onboard SupremeFX X-Fi 2 delivers the most intense and immersive gaming audio experience. Better still, high-performance Intel® Ethernet with GameFirst technology creates a LAN connection that is fast enough to keep up with the pace of modern multiplayer gaming over an internet connection that is also used being used for other online tasks.

To really make it the ultimate gaming motherboard, the Crosshair V Formula/ThunderBolt also comes with the ThunderBolt audio/LAN combo expansion card. The class-leading XONAR™ audio technology provides dramatically better sound quality than any standard audio card, while its built-in headphone amplifier with adjustable impedance settings makes it perfect for competitive gaming or enjoying the latest media titles. The Crosshair V Formula/Thunderbolt* also incorporates the award-winning Bigfoot Networks™ Killer™ E2100 networking platform with exclusive Advanced Stream Detect™ technology that automatically classifies and prioritizes traffic for online games, HD video and audio streams for optimum performance, even when performing these tasks simultaneously. ASUS’ innovative design and performance trend continues as the Crosshair V Formula features advanced support for 4-way NVIDIA SLI via the use of the exclusive ROG XPANDER add-on board.

The new mainboards include the Asus P8Z68-V Pro and the P8Z68-V. The boards both feature similar technology integrated into their designs with DIGI+VRM and UEFI BIOS tech. The boards also have LucidLogix Virtu switchable graphics technology that allows the supported second-generation Intel Core processors to deliver a seamless visual experience. The boards also have Intel Quick Sync video for faster video transcoding while offering the ability to switch to the latest NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards on demand.

The boards also feature Intel Smart Response Technology that uses a SSD cache to combine the speed benefit of a SSD with traditional HDD storage capacity. The DIGI+VRM tech offers full digital power control that improves power delivery, system stability, efficiency, reliability, and performance tuning compared to analog solutions that are on the market. The Asus UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) allows the user to easily access BIOS settings using mouse input, and it has an EZ Mode that gives new users access to tuning and set up options for the enthusiast. Both boards have hardware based Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, USB 3.0 ports, and SATA 6G ports. Pricing and availability on the mainboards are unannounced at this time.

One of the first to arrive will be ASUS’ Republic of Gamers Crosshair V Formula ‘board, which will allow for multi-GPU setups based on a several NVIDIA cards. NVIDIA claims that 93-percent of all multi-GPU systems rely on SLI, at least according to game distribution service Steam’s latest monthly stats, and so there’s obviously a market out there for AMD processor users keen to add a couple of GeForce cards to their PC.

Specifications of the ASUS RoG Crosshair V Formula are currently unknown, and in fact this is the first we’ve heard of the new model. The fourth-gen version was unveiled in April last year, and this new iteration will have support for AMD’s Bulldozer chips.

[via Expreview]

There’s also a pair of DDR3 DIMM memory slots, two SATA 6Gbps ports, two SATA 3Gbps ports and a single PCI-E x16 slot. Ports include a bevy of regular USB 2.0, digital audio outputs, ethernet and VGA, along with the usual board headers. No word on pricing or availability at this stage, but this could be the basis of a particularly capable HTPC.

[via Expreview]

That, ASUS reckons, makes it idea for workstation users, though we can imagine some heavy-duty gamers looking at the P8P67 and fancying a slice of its graphics performance. There’s also dual gigabit ethernet (one of which is a hardware-accelerated Intel LAN port), four DDR3 2200 memory slots, four SATA 6GB/s ports and four SATA 3GB/s ports.

Other connectivity includes a pair of USB 3.0 ports, 14 USB 2.0, a pair of FireWire, digital S/PDIF audio out and 8-channel audio support. No word on pricing or availability at this stage.

Press Release:

ASUS P8P67 WS Revolution Offers the Best Graphics Performance among P67-based Motherboards

Dedicated workstation model combines extreme reliability, durability and energy efficiency, as demanded by professional users

The new ASUS P8P67 WS Revolution enables extreme graphics performance with multiple GPU arrangements that result in the most advanced visual performance of any P67-based motherboard. It delivers ASUS’ 24X24 promise, which means it’s a workstation motherboard designed for 24/7 operation with guaranteed complete reliability in even the most heavy-load professional applications. ASUS also guarantees this model’s availability for a minimum of 24 months, hence “24X24”. The P8P67 WS Revolution provides platinum-level 92% power efficiency, leading to perfect stability and 15% more cost-effective operation compared to other P67 boards. Hardware-accelerated Intel® LAN helps lower CPU utilization to optimize total performance.

Leading P67-based motherboards in graphics performance
Designed for true power users, the P8P67 WS Revolution uses a built-in NF200 controller that enhances bandwidth availability between the board and the four graphics card expansion slots. This is ideal for NVIDIA® GeForce SLITM and AMD® CrossFireXTM, as the new motherboard can easily handle 2-way SLI in dual PCI Express X16, while 3-way SLI works in dual PCI Express X8 and one X16 link. This translates into a 26.4% performance increase compared to regular P67 motherboards with similar SLI configurations, as measured by 3DMark06. For CrossFireX, the P8P67 WS Revolution supports up to quad GPUs in PCI Express X8 links, unlike standard motherboards, which lack the bandwidth to do so.

True to its workstation design, the P8P67 WS Revolution empowers commercial users with up to four NVIDIA® Quadro GPUs at once. These graphics accelerators focus on professional uses, including computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided engineering (CAE), digital content creation (DCC) and geographic information systems (GIS). Having up to four Quadro GPUs on one board provides the flexibility and resources needed to run various professional applications.

Platinum-level 92% power efficiency
High quality materials and components include all Japan-made ultra long life solid state capacitors and very low resistance (Rds) MOSFETs. These go far beyond the standards employed by mainstream P67-based motherboards. As a result, users benefit from improved heat dissipation, lower capacitance (and thus greatly improved efficiency), optimized gate charge and extremely long component life cycles.

To further help achieve its 92% power efficiency, the P8P67 WS Revolution uses a two-layered inner board design made of copper, which applies more efficient materials. In addition, it includes ASUS’ exclusive DIGI+ VRM digital power architecture and the embedded EPU energy-optimization microprocessor. DIGI+ VRM uses digital-to-digital power conversion and precision voltage adjustments to eliminate transfer loss and reduce emissions. With CPU loads between 30% and 100%, a power efficiency of 92% is maintained, helping users reduce their ultimate energy expenditure as well as achieving peerless stability and reliability. This also makes the P8P67 WS Revolution highly environmentally-friendly and a perfect proposition for enterprises who want to maintain green standards.

Dual Intel® Gigabit LAN for ultimate connected performance
Commercial users who wish to enhance their network reliability and throughput should look forward to the new P8P67 WS Revolution. It offers dual hardware-accelerated Intel® Gigabit LAN ports that can lower CPU utilization by as much as 71% compared to other motherboard brands, reducing packet loss and offering better support for diverse operating systems. Featuring teaming and fault-tolerance functions, these two augmented LAN ports provide double the bandwidth and network redundancy of standard Gigabit LAN.

Powering up computing with ample features
Just like all ASUS motherboards and products, the P8P67 WS Revolution gives users access to a wide range of innovations. It uses ASUS’ proprietary EFI BIOS, an interface that replaces traditional BIOS controls with mouse input that’s just as easy and intuitive as any modern operating system. AI Suite II is another ASUS exclusive, providing one-stop access to numerous utilities that cover performance, energy management, data security and much more. ASUS is also offering four SATA 6Gb/s ports with dual RAID to reinforce data connectivity and present users with a considerable performance upgrade from previous motherboard generations.

The company has officially announced their brand new G1-Killer Series of gaming motherboards, including the G1.Sniper, G1.Assassin, and G1.Guerilla. Each of the gaming motherboards will be based on the Intel X58 chipset, as well as include the Killer E2100 network solutions. The company says that the latter technology makes the new gaming motherboards the fastest ever created for online gaming.

The system is designed to prioritize traffic within any particular game, while still managing to deliver remarkable control to how your network handles the bandwidth coming in and out. The price for the new gaming motherboards hasn’t been announced yet, nor has the release schedule.

Press Release

Las Vegas, USA – January 5, 2011 – GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards and other computing hardware solutions, today at a press event at CES announced their latest line of dedicated gaming motherboards designated the G1-Killer series, consisting of the G1.Assassin, G1.Sniper and G1.Guerrilla. Based on the Intel® X58 chipset and featuring several state-of-the-art onboard solutions from industry heavy hitters including Creative and Bigfoot Networks, as well as quite a few new and exclusive GIGABYTE features, the GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards are equipped to let gamers unleash total mass gaming destruction.

“GIGABYTE is thrilled to be able to introduce the world’s first motherboard series designed solely for elite gamers,” commented Henry Kao, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at GIGABYTE. “The G1-Killer series features the industry’s most advanced hardware and software solutions from Creative and Bigfoot Networks onboard as well as the top-notch quality and durability users have come to expect from GIGABYTE. So, lock and load gamers, the GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards deliver a gaming experience unlike any other.”

“Intel is very excited to see continued innovation on the Intel® X58 Chipset platform, and congratulates GIGABYTE on their latest high-performance G1-Killer gaming motherboard series”, said Steve R. Peterson, Director of desktop chipset and strategic marketing at Intel Corporation. “These new motherboards, paired with Intel® Core™ i7 Processors Extreme Edition, deliver incredible speed and responsiveness to serious hardcore gamers.”

“Sound Blaster audio technology is a class above any of the integrated chipsets currently on the market, and it’s clear that the PC industry concurs with this,” said Steve Erickson, Vice President and General Manager for Audio and Video at Creative. “When it comes to onboard audio solutions, we’re seeing more and more major motherboard manufacturers like GIGABYTE selecting Sound Blaster technology as their audio enhancement technology of choice, because of the far superior high-definition audio quality it furnishes.”

“In online games, the difference between victory and defeat is measured in fractions of a second,” said Michael Howse, CEO of Bigfoot Networks. “The Killer™ E2100 is the fastest networking solution ever created for online games, with unique technology that automatically prioritizes game traffic while also delivering unparalleled control over how your PC uses network bandwidth. We are pleased to partner with GIGABYTE to deliver superior network performance on the new G1-Killer™ family of gaming motherboards featuring Killer™ E2100 technology.”

Like soldiers about to head out into the line of fire, elite gamers know that the equipment they use can mean the difference between getting the frag, or being fragged. That is why GIGABYTE has strapped some big guns onto the G1-Killer series motherboards designed to heighten gamers’ super human killer instincts and enhance their game play.

4-way CrossFireX™ and 3-way SLI™ Support*

The ability to see clearly through the fog of war can often tip the balance between the winning or losing force. That is why GIGABYTE has equipped the G1-Killer series motherboards to offer utmost graphics flexibility and upgradeability. With multiple GPU support, GIGABYTE G1-Killer motherboards deliver maximum FPS (Frames Per Second), allowing gamers to see more clearly, aim faster, and move more quickly.

Onboard Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Digital Audio Processor (20K2)
Being able to hear where your enemy is located before you see them can put you at a distinct advantage in most gaming situations. That is why GIGABYTE has rigged the G1-Killer series motherboards with the industry’s most advanced audio solutions all onboard; giving you the highest caliber audio experience. GIGABYTE G1-Killer motherboards** are the world’s only gaming motherboards to feature Creative’s top-of-the-line Soundblaster Digital Audio Processor (20K2) onboard with X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity® and EAX® Advanced HD™ 5.0 technologies, allowing you to experience sound in your gaming world exactly as you would in real life.

X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity®
X-Fi is a suite of technologies that deliver premium quality surround sound to your ears, whether it is through headphones, stereo or surround speakers and helps to restore compressed digital audio to pristine audio with stunning clarity.

EAX® Advanced HD™ 5.0
EAX® (Environmental Audio Extension) is a collection of powerful, innovative audio technologies that bring true interactive 3D audio to PC gaming and helps create more ambience within games by more accurately simulating a real-world audio environment.

Dolby® Digital Live
Enjoy audio from your PC through your home theater with Dolby® Digital Live. A real-time encoding technology, Dolby Digital Live converts any audio signal into a Dolby Digital bitstream for transport and playback through a home theater system. With it, your PC can be hooked up to your Dolby Digital-equipped audio/video receiver or digital speaker system via a single digital connection, eliminating the confusion of multiple cables and ensuring the integrity of the audio signal.

DTS™ Connect
DTS Connect is the perfect solution to enhance your entertainment experience using your home theater’s Audio/Video Receiver. DTS Connect is comprised of two DTS technologies including DTS Neo: PC™ which takes 2-channel (stereo) audio and transforms it into a full-bandwidth matrix of your speaker layout (up to 7.1 channels) and DTS Interactive™ which encodes digital audio sources into DTS Digital Surround, which can then stream out to your Audio/Video Receiver using a S/PDIF connection.

Built-in Front Audio Headphone Amplifier
Specially designed for gamers, the GIGABYTE G1-Killer series utilize a high capacity amplifier which is able to drive 150Ω loads, allowing gamers to enjoy a fuller range of dynamic sound with crisper details and less distortion when using high quality professional headphones. The amplifier also features wide band-width, low noise, high slew rate and low distortion, making it ideal for professional audio usage. In addition, GIGABYTE has equipped the G1-Killer motherboards with 4 additional amplifiers onboard for the center/sub woofer, rear speaker, side surround and line out.

Nichicon High-end Audio Capacitors
GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards utilize the highest quality Nichicon MUSE ES series and MW series Bi-Polarized audio capacitors at each channel layout. These professional audio capacitors deliver the highest quality sound resolution and sound expansion to create the most realistic sound effects for professional gamers.

Onboard Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 Game Networking Platform
GIGABYTE is the only motherboard manufacturer to seriously address online gaming network lag issues by implementing the Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 Game Networking Platform directly onboard the G1-Killer series motherboards. Utilizing a unique combination of dedicated Network Processing Unit (NPU) and exclusive Game Networking DNA™ technology, the Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 Game Networking Platform was designed to give the best online gaming experience possible.

- Killer™ E2100 Dedicated NPU
Dedicated Network Processing Unit (NPU) with 1GB of dedicated DDR2 memory helps offload network traffic from the CPU, freeing it up to do other important computing tasks.

- Game Networking DNA™
Bigfoot Network’s exclusive Game Networking DNA™ software offloads gaming data directly to the NPU by bypassing the Windows Network Stack, delivering tremendous speed benefits which allow you to move quicker, shoot faster and win bigger.

- Up to 10X Faster
Whether you’re playing MMOs or first-person shooters, the Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 game networking platform delivers up to 10X faster networking performance for a whole new level of online gaming performance.

- Killer™ Network Manager
Built from the ground up to give unequalled speed, intelligence and control over online game data, the Killer Network Manager shows the health and performance of the G1-Killer series motherboards, and gives gamers the controls to optimize it.

- Killer Network Manager’s Applications Tab uses Bigfoot Network’s exclusive Visual Bandwidth Control™ Technology to enable users to see how much bandwidth they’re using and what applications are using it. Bigfoot’s Advanced Game Detect™ technology will keep the current game at top priority and give it all the bandwidth it needs while users continue to download.

Front Access Control Panel
As part of its box kit, the G1.Assissin motherboard features a convenient Front Access Control Panel that allows quick and easy access to 2 USB 3.0 ports and Power eSATA. The Front Access Control Panel also features a Quick Boost button that allows gamers to instantaneously overclock their system with a single press of a button. Imagine being in the thick of battle and being able to get a super charged on-the-fly performance boost without the need for a system reboot.

SATA 3.0 (6Gbps) and USB 3.0 and 3x USB Power

When you’re behind enemy lines, intelligence data latency can get you killed. That is why GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards provide ultra fast data transfer performance with onboard integration of the latest SuperSpeed USB 3.0 for up to 4 ports (2 front panel, 2 back panel), SATA Revision 3.0 (6Gbps) technologies from Marvell, and an unprecedented 3x USB power boost on all USB ports for the most power hungry USB devices.

Locked and Loaded Heatpipe Design
The GIGABYTE G1-Killer series features a brand new heatpipe that was designed to be as deadly to heat as it looks. By effectively spreading the heat from the critical areas of the motherboard such as the CPU VRM zone and quickly dissipating it, GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards remain cool, even when the battle heats up.

Modeled after the common firearms issued to soldiers deployed to a warzone including pistol, rifle and ammo clip, the Locked and Loaded heatpipe design utilizes a unique fluting technology similar to a rifle barrel fluting, which allows for maximum heat dispersion.

5 Smart Fan Connectors
Further helping to eliminate heat are the 5 strategically placed Smart Fan pin headers which allow for more precise control of system and CPU fans. Equipped with their own individual thermal sensors, the Smart Fans can be easily controlled via GIGABYTE’s EasyTune™ 6 utility as well as in the BIOS.

GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3
GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3 design features 2 ounces of copper for both the Power and Ground layers which dramatically lowers system temperature by delivering a more efficient spreading of heat from critical areas of the motherboard such as the CPU power zone throughout the entire PCB. GIGABYTE’s Ultra Durable™ 3 also lowers the PCB impedance by 50%, which helps to reduce electrical waste and further lowers component temperatures. A 2oz Copper layer design also provides improved signal quality and lower EMI (Electromagnetic Interference), providing better system stability and allowing for greater margins for overclocking.

Maximum CPU Power Delivery
Like the pistons and cylinders of a car engine, the design of the motherboard Voltage Regulator Module (VRM), component quality and number of power phases greatly affects motherboard performance. GIGABYTE engineers were first to realize not only the importance of using the best quality components for this critical area, but also that with more power phases, there can be more power available to your CPU. With their industry-leading power design featuring the new VRD 12 (Voltage Regulator Down) specification, Dual CPU Power and Driver MOSFETs, GIGABYTE G1-Killer motherboards deliver best-in-class system performance and power stability required for elite gaming systems.

Dual CPU Power
GIGABYTE’s proprietary Dual CPU Power Technology allows CPU VRM power phases to split evenly into 2 sets of power engines that operate in tandem. This allows 1 set of power phases to rest while the other is active as opposed to a traditional power design where all the power phases are always active. As such, GIGABYTE Dual CPU Power effectively halves the amount of work done by each set of power phases to significantly increase motherboard durability and reliability.

Driver MOSFETs
By incorporating the MOSFETs and driver IC in accordance with the Intel® Driver MOSFET specification, GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards allow higher power transfer and increased efficiency at higher switching frequencies to satisfy the power requirements of modern processors. Driver MOSFETs also help to reduce VRM real estate requirements for a cleaner, less cluttered CPU zone.

GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ with 3TB+ HDD Support
GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ is a patented technology that automatically recovers BIOS data when the main BIOS has crashed or failed. Featuring 2 physical BIOS ROMs integrated onboard, GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ allows quick and seamless recovery from BIOS damage or failure due to viruses or improper BIOS updating. In addition, GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ now supports booting from hard drives that are 3TB (terabytes) or more without the need for partitioning, and effectively provides future-proofing for higher volume single drive data storage.

Of the two it’s the Gigabyte which seems more advanced. It allows for memory overclocking – from 1333MHz to 1800MHz – along with USB 3.0 support, multi-channel audio, VGA and DVI-I ports, and SATA connections for up to four drives; it also has a PCI Express x16 slot. The SOYO lacks the USB 3.0 support, but has six SATA ports, four USB 2.0 and HDMI/DVI/VGA outputs, along with PCI Express x16, PCI Express x1 and PCI slots

As for the E350 Zacate chip itself, that incorporates the dual 1.6GHz Bobcat cores along with a Radeon HD 6310 GPU with 80 stream processors. It also gets a UVD 3.0 engine and has an 18W TDP.

The Maximus IV Extreme has ROG Connect and RC Bluetooth support, as well as ROG iDirect for iPhone and iPad support. There’s also GPU TweakIt, for fine tuning both CPU and GPU performance from the same UI. The company is also working on a second version that will integrate a network processing unit (NPU) and sound card.

Both get USB 3.0 and Bluetooth, unsurprisingly, together with gigabit ethernet and all the connectivity you’d expect from a high-end motherboard. They should drop alongside Intel’s Sandy Bridge range in early 2011.

Press Release:

ASUS Introduces New Technology in Global Series of Technical Seminars

Great opportunity for media around the world to experience and understand the latest innovations and standards in PC technology

ASUS has just completed a series of technical seminars that showcased its latest motherboard innovations. Attendees were mostly members of global media outlets.

Held around the world between October 30 and November 15, the seminars provided a stage for several new ASUS technologies, all featured on upcoming ASUS motherboards that use new Intel® P67 and H67 chipsets. These include the pioneering Dual Intelligent Processors motherboard design that features two dedicated co-processors for performance and power management, the TurboV Processing Unit (TPU) and Energy Processing Unit (EPU). Attendees were also treated to an introduction of next-generation Dual Intelligent Processors 2 with DIGI+ VRM digital power management.

Brand new motherboards from ASUS’ celebrated Republic of Gamers brand were also on show, as were ruggedized models from its TUF (The Ultimate Force) range. These high-performance motherboards have some of the most sophisticated overclocking capabilities in the world, along with superior cooling technology.

Dual Intelligent Processors technology continues to evolve
ASUS first introduced the innovative Dual Intelligent Processors technology in June 2010. It combines the advantages of TPU overclocking and performance optimization with EPU power consumption optimization on the motherboard itself, increasing overall system performance and saving money through reduced energy costs.

The new Dual Intelligent Processors 2 technology introduces all-digital DIGI+ VRM power controls that allow far greater flexibility when managing a PC’s energy infrastructure. The improved response and fidelity of the power provided to the entire system increases stability and extends component lifespan for substantially better performance and value.

ASUS also highlighted its advancements in user-friendly interface design. These include BT GO! Bluetooth enhancement and consolidation (with no need for additional adapters), EFI BIOS (adding mouse input to BIOS settings) and one-stop user interface AI Suite II. The latter brings a wide range of exclusive ASUS utilities together for an optimized user experience.

All of these features and technologies are found on new ASUS P8P67 Series motherboards, based on Intel’s P67 chipset.

Revolutionary overclocking
ASUS established the Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand in 2006 to bring the best gaming and overclocking hardware to those who demand it. One of the latest products under the ROG brand is the upcoming Maximus IV Extreme motherboard, based on the new Intel®P67 chipset. Its revolutionary features have been designed from the ground up to provide the best overclocking experience from beginning to end — and to smash world overclocking records.

The Maximus IV Extreme is equipped with familiar overclocker-friendly features, including ROG Connect and RC Bluetooth for external devices. It also adds ROG iDirect for iPhone and iPad support, while the new GPU TweakIt feature allows users to fine tune both CPU and GPU performance via the same interface. All features are designed for users who want to push their system to the extreme.

ASUS is also working on a new ROG product that combines both network-processing unit (NPU) and sound card. Inspired by feedback from ASUS users, the product will deliver lag-free performance and enhanced sound quality for the ultimate online gaming experience.

Built to last
ASUS’ The Ultimate Force (TUF) Series motherboards maximize reliability, stability and compatibility for the most demanding applications. These models are perfect for server-grade use and truly heavy duty tasks.

The SABERTOOTH P67 brings the latest Intel® technology to the TUF Series, reinforcing it with a host of features designed to ensure total durability, while its uncompromising cooling technology guarantees better stability. This includes the exclusive Tactical Vest — a unique design that forces cool air from CPU and case fans towards critical parts all over the motherboard via a proprietary shunt design. It also covers most of the motherboard to shield it against heat generated by connected components such as graphics cards. This keeps temperatures down, delivering greater system reliability and longevity.

The SABERTOOTH P67 motherboard showcased during the technical seminar series also includes the new ASUS Thermal Radar technology. This uses sensors embedded in vital parts of the motherboard that provide accurate temperature readings that the motherboard uses to automatically adjust CPU and case fan speeds, leading to better cooling and lower operating noise.

Link to the community
ASUS maintains a strong commitment to its users, both through the constant development of innovative technologies and with events like these technical seminars that provide a forum to communicate its devotion to technology that makes life better.

The ASUS Autumn 2010 Technical Seminars took place in Germany, England, Taiwan, France, the United States, Japan, China, Singapore and Korea.

There’s also CrossFireX graphics support across the range, plus high-power USB ports for charging more juice-greedy devices like the iPad and Galaxy Tab. The H67A-UD3 also packs integrated Intel HD graphics, with VGA, DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs.

The top-spec Gigabyte P67A-UD7, meanwhile, gets a full ten USB 3.0 ports (in addition to eight USB 2.0) and three Firewire, as well as dual gigabit ethernet and NVIDIA 3-Way SLI support. The new ‘boards should land in early 2011, alongside the new Intel Core processors. Full spec-sheets and more photos in the gallery below.

Thanks @Nicole_Scooter!

The three mainboards use Gigabyte’s Ultra Durable 3 design with twin Copper PCBs for improved cooling and stability; there’s also higher powered USB ports for charging more juice-hungry gadgets like the iPad.  The P67A-UD3R has a distinctive matte-black PCB, four DDR3 memory slots, two PCI-e x16 slots, and Gigabyte’s own DualBIOS system for failure protection.

Meanwhile the Gigabyte P67A-UD3 has the same DualBIOS tech but gets a blue PCB, while the Gigabyte H67MA-UD2H is a micro-ATX board (the other two are ATX sized) with a few less PCI-e slots but plenty of other connectivity: HDMI, D-Sub, DisplayPort and DVI for a start, driven from integrated Intel HD graphics.

No word on launch dates from the company itself, though Intel expects its first Sandy Bridge based Core series chips to arrive in early 2011 so we’re guessing the 6 Series motherboards will drop at around the same time.  All of Gigabyte’s preview details are in the gallery below.

Thanks @Nicole_Scooter!

As you’d expect from a ROG board, there’s plenty of overclocking potential as well.  ASUS allow you to remotely control the overclock using a Bluetooth cellphone, over USB from a connected notebook, or even from a new iPhone app called ROG iDirect.

Connectivity includes gigabit ethernet, two FireWire ports, four USB 3.0 ports, thirteen USB 2.0 ports and 8-channel audio, while there are six SATA 6Gb/s, two SATA 3Gb/s and two external SATA 3Gb/s ports.  We’re waiting to hear back from ASUS as to what the ROG Crosshair IV Extreme might cost.

Press Release:

Crosshair IV Extreme Pushes AMD Performance with Multi-GPU CrossLinx 3 Technology
Innovative features from ASUS Republic of Gamers Guarantee Better Performance through Overclocking

The new Crosshair IV Extreme from ASUS’ Republic of Gamers brand delivers compatibility with some of the fastest processors available through the AMD890FX chipset. It further ships with CrossLinx 3 technology, which enables multi-GPU usability with graphics cards from different vendors and generations. The new motherboard also comes with a slew of user-friendly overclocking features, including ROG Connect, RC Bluetooth and ROG iDirect.

Graphics Card Flexibility
With CrossLinx 3 technology, Crosshair IV Extreme users gain the ability to mix and match multiple graphics cards from both NVIDIA and ATI, including models of different GPU generations. This technology uses the Lucid HYDRALOGIX engine, which bridges various graphics cards to enable their simultaneous usage. By removing compatibility hurdles, CrossLinx 3 makes it possible to experiment with different configurations of graphics cards for maximum performance.

On Crosshair IV Extreme, a unique layout design features a total of five PCI Express expansion slots. Two provide dedicated native graphics card support for either a single GPU or two in CrossFire configuration. The additional three feature Lucid HYDRALOGIX and CrossLinx 3 technologies, which enable a mixture of graphics cards from different vendors and generations, with a total of four detectable and working at once. Users keen on tuning their system gain greater freedom to do so with the unprecedented five PCI Express slots, and the technology maintains optimized performance whether in single or multiple-GPU arrangements.

Revolutionary User Control
Crosshair IV Extreme continues ROG’s established tradition of extreme performance, bringing much needed hardcore overclocking capabilities to the AMD side of the market. It ships with a full range of performance features, starting with ROG Connect, which enables pure hardware-level tweaking through USB from a remote notebook PC.

RC Bluetooth accesses a host of board, memory and CPU overclocking parameters from any Bluetooth-enabled device, while ROG iDirect introduces PC tuning from iPhone. This adds convenience and style to overclocking, a practice that used to be exclusive and cumbersome to get into.

These features simplify overclocking without compromising results, so that any user, novice to hardcore, can tap the full potential of Crosshair IV Extreme and related hardware with minimum difficulty and for maximum gain. All have been designed with direct feedback from the PC performance community taken into consideration.

Somewhat incogruously, the VES-310 is listed as a “3.5-inch format” board, but it’s still smaller than the 6.7 x 6.7 inch Mini-ITX.  Lanner make sure you get plenty of ports, too, including a 12VDC input, VGA and a Mini PCI Express slot as well as the options we’ve previously mentioned.  Then there are the headers, offering LVDS, a further two USB  2.0, a parallel port and two serial ports (RS232 and RS422/485), audio and digital I/O (four in/four out).

It looks like the ideal place to start for a low-powered media streamer or embedded PC.  No word on pricing, but it’s apparently available now.

[via LinuxForDevices]

Buyers will also get ASUS’ own X-Fi2 SupremeFX audio system, together with all the usual ports you’d expect from a high-end motherboard: USB 3.0, Intel ethernet connectivity and plenty of SATA 3Gbps and 6Gbps ports.  In fact we’re basically looking at a larger, more feature-packed version of the ASUS ROG Rampage III GENE.

No official word from ASUS on how much the Rampage III Formula will cost, nor when it might slip out into stores.  We’re guessing this one won’t come cheap, since the GENE is retailing for around $236 online.

There are also six slots for a maximum 24GB of DDR3 memory, two PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, support for dual x16 mode and NVIDIA SLI or ATI CrossFireX.  Connectivity includes two USB 3.0 ports, eleven USB 2.0, a gigabit ethernet port, and SupremeFX X-Fi 2 audio inputs/outputs.

As with other ROG boards, ASUS has slotted in their own auto-overclocking technology in the shape of CPU Level Up, and there’s automatic game-priority for the ethernet connection too.  No word on pricing or specific availability yet.

Press Release:

ASUS Republic of Gamers Rampage III GENE Resizes Extreme Computing

The Newest GENE Squad Member Continues a Tradition of Intel X58 MicroATX Performance and Overclocking Leadership with Uncontestable Features

PC performance devotees have come to know and trust the Republic of Gamers GENE series, a lineup of microATX boards. The new Rampage III GENE takes after the successful Rampage II GENE, bringing the same insistence on hardcore performance to the space and energy saving microATX form. It’s a perfect option for case modders, LAN party attendees and PC gamers looking for a compact build.

Unique ROG Advantages
Rampage III GENE, or R3G, carries over the great features that have made Rampage III Extreme a best seller. It has the Intel X58 chipset, supporting six core Intel i7-980X processors, as well as updated USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s for the fastest data transmission available to consumers.

But it’s the Republic of Gamers (ROG) tradition that sets this board apart from other microATX contenders. It shares in the same spirit of no holds barred performance, driven by ample overclocking. And naturally the trademark ROG design shines through here. For PC tweaking aficionados and new entrants alike, Rampage III GENE delivers numerous avenues to max their PC’s capabilities. ROG Connect brings remote overclocking via USB cable from an external compatible device on a pure hardware level, so benchmarking can occur in a more native environment and results are truer to form.

ProbeIt furnishes accurate diagnostics and voltage readings in real time from different parts of the board, so tuners can keep a close eye on the effects overclocking efforts have on hardware. This is part of the ROG commitment to the joys of PC modding and gaming, pursuits the design team holds dear and never neglects to address with every new product.

Loaded with Rich Features for Peerless Action
With an emphasis on hardcore gaming, R3G packs superior features to make experiences more immersive and impactful. Supreme FX X-Fi 2 sound supports EAX 5.0, bringing surround audio of previously unheard excellence to gamers everywhere while creating a 3D sonic environment where each auditory nuance comes across fully. R3G also arrives with quality materials like gold-plated phone jacks and solid state capacitors to enhance overall sound effect quality.

Likewise, the new board boosts connectivity to eliminate online barriers in this era of cloud services and multiplayer-focused gaming. True Intel Gigabit LAN offers fully accelerated connections whenever possible to guarantee higher performance, and drastically reduced CPU utilization. GameFirst is another internet-related feature, giving users a powerful tool for prioritizing connections so that downloading and other tasks can occur in the background without restricting online gaming performance.

CPU Level Up helps proceedings with intelligent processor overclocking that’s totally automated and takes place when system loads demand higher clock speeds. Users get smoother computing with no intervention needed.

Compact but Versatile
When creating the new Rampage III GENE, the ROG team stayed true to the GENE squad promise of gaming motherboards that deliver many things to a wide range of PC enthusiasts. Those interested in overclocking can get better performance with ROG Connect, while case modders will appreciate the tremendous power packed onto the small size. And of course, all gamers, and especially those attending LAN parties, are bound to enjoy the spectacular audio and online abilities of the R3G. Its attractive balance of great features and smart space utilization is slated to become a hit, as were all previous GENE boards.

The TPU system is basically a way of automatically optimising the PC without necessarily having the skills to do so manually; experienced system builders could probably eke out the same performance improvements (or better) but for mainstream consumers it might stretch a little extra grunt out of their CPU.  ASUS tested it with a 2.9GHz Core i3-530 processor: without the TPU switched on the CPU scored 8620 in 3DMark Vantage, while with it active it managed 11,782.

As for the EPU, that basically tracks usage and throttles back the system accordingly; when you’re doing low-impact tasks like basic browsing or emailing, ASUS assume, you don’t need your PC running at full-whack.  Full list of ASUS motherboards with the Dual Intelligent Processors below:

Press Release:

ASUS-exclusive Dual Intelligent Processors Motherboards Deliver a Perfect Harmony of High Performance and Energy Savings

Dual Intelligent Processors optimize system performance and energy efficiency.

ASUS, the global motherboard leader, has announced a new approach to motherboard design, Dual Intelligent Processors, with two intelligent co-processors responsible for system optimization towards better performance and greater energy efficiency.

This cutting edge architecture comprises the TurboV Processing Unit, or TPU, and Energy Processing Unit, or EPU. Together they help users benefit from extreme system performance while still conserving the environment by reducing a PC’s ultimate carbon foot print.

The co-processors address the two prime issues behind PC hardware evolution–performance and energy efficiency. As CPU makers strive to reach ever higher core counts and 32nm fabrication, this technology from ASUS promotes system optimization, utilizing smart design to enable performance while at the same time saving energy. It presents an effective way to get more out of existing PC hardware.

Performance Processing Unit for Significant Acceleration
The TPU consists of a complete overhaul of ASUS’ extant TurboV design, presenting a support processing unit dedicated to speeding up performance in real time while monitoring gains to ensure stability. The TPU relieves much of the stress put on the CPU during intense tasks, tuning overall resources to achieve the fastest performance possible. The TPU supports various ASUS-exclusive performance tweaking innovations, and this auto tuning feature quickly finds optimized system settings to boost output up to 37%.

”Delivering amazing performance requires considerable finesse, especially in a user-friendly manner. ASUS TPU technology makes that possible. While manual system tuning calls for expertise and has too many variables that can go wrong, the TPU helps users gain hassle-free improvements so they can enjoy and do more on their PCs”, said Joe Hsieh, General Manager of the ASUS Motherboard Business Unit.

Major Savings on Demand
The ASUS proprietary EPU, or Energy Processing Unit, comes in as the second of the Dual Intelligent Processors. It monitors and moderates power consumption, helping users save energy and ultimately lower their carbon emissions. EPU programming keeps close watch on actual usage, reducing consumption during low intensity activities and opening up processing capabilities when needed. When engaged in web browsing, word processing and office activities, this translates into major savings for most users. Performance mode engages automatically on demand, so there’s never any lag involved.

ASUS Dual Intelligent Processors technology is available on a full range of motherboards. Please check www.asus.com for further information.

###

About ASUS

ASUS, maker of the world’s best selling and most award winning motherboards, is a leading company in the new digital era, with a broad product portfolio that also includes notebooks, netbooks, multimedia, graphics cards, displays, desktop PCs, servers, wireless solutions, mobile phones and networking devices. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home, office and person. ASUS won 3,268 awards in 2009, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than ten thousand and a world-class R&D design team, the company’s revenue for 2009 was US$7.5 billion. ASUS ranks among BusinessWeek’s InfoTech 100, and has been on the listing for 12 consecutive years.

That’s joined by more USB 2.0 ports than you can shake the proverbial stick at, the regular audio outputs and digital versions too.  As for storage, there are six SATA 3Gbps ports and a further two SATA 6Gbps ports , which we’re guessing would satisfy all but the most HDD-hungry user.

Throw in plenty of PCIe slots and a fair few motherboard headers and you’re adding up to an interesting motherboard indeed.  No word on whether this is something headed to production – the title is the Immensity concept, after all – but it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen an ASUS product graduate from eye-catching prototype to mainstream model.

The Crosshair IV Extreme builds on the existing Crosshair IV Formula announced last month, and sets huge gobs of overclocking in its sights.  That includes on-motherboard hardware buttons to control BIOS settings, one-touch automatic overclocking with Turbo Key II, and ASUS’ Core Unlocker which activates any dormant cores in the CPU.

There are also six SATA ports, the usual bevy of PCIe 2.0 x16 slots (with CrossFireX support, naturally) and more USB ports than you can shake a metaphorical stick at.  No word on pricing or availability, but hopefully the alluring close-ups in the gallery below will tide you over until we know more.

Both dual- and quad-core mainstream Sandy Bridge processors will be on offer, with targeted TDPs of 65W and 95W respectively, and each will support both Turbo Boost and Hyper Threading.  Where the current CPUs have the IGP, PCI Express controller and memory controller onboard, Sandy Bridge will add the integrated graphics too; the memory controller will be the same dual-channel 1333MHz system as now.

As for the “Patsburg” enthusiasts’ platform, its 32 PCI Express 3.0 lanes can be split as 2×16 or 4×8, depending on how many discrete GPUs are in use, and will be connected via a 4x PCI-E 2.0 DMI link to the Southbridge.  Details on the latter are scant, but there’s talk of it having two SATA 3Gbps and ten SATA/SAS 6Gbps ports.  As for number of cores, various sources have tipped four, six, and even eight in the “Patsburg” chips, using Hyper Threading to double that amount.

The mainstream Sandy Bridge CPUs are expected to arrive in late Q4 2010 or, more likely, early Q1 2011, while the enthusiast models aren’t predicted to drop until Q3 2011.

[via Slashdot]

AMD’s reputation for making overclock-friendly chips should also get a boost, with the ROG Crosshair IV Formula having both ASUS’ Core Unlocker – which activates any dormant cores in the CPU – and Turbo Key II for automatically ratcheting up the core frequency.  There’s also GameFirst, which prioritises network traffic for online gaming and supposedly reduces lag.

Connectivity includes two FireWire, three PCIe 2.0 x16 slots supporting ATI CrossFireX, twelve USB 2.0 ports and support for HD audio thanks to integrated SupremeFX X-Fi.  No word on pricing or specific availability at this stage, however.

Press Release:

Powerful Features and Design Make The New ASUS ROG Crosshair IV Formula Irresistible to Gamers

The World’s First Motherboard to Support Dual Channel DDR3 2000MHz on AMD Platforms

The brand new Crosshair IV Formula from ASUS Republic of Gamers, or ROG, ups the ante for everyone with an interest in gaming. Hardcore hobbyists stand to benefit from a wealth of indulgent performance upgrades to better their odds of domination, while mainstream gamers can expect a new look on what makes the pastime so thrilling.

Core principles behind the conception of the Crosshair IV Formula include meticulous attention to detail and listening to community feedback. With an eye-catching design, the Crosshair IV Formula boasts ROG Connect for instant tweaking and monitoring of gaming rigs, a user-friendly overclocking interface Turbo Key II and proprietary ASUS technologies Core Unlocker and GameFirst. All these guarantee tremendous success with top-line gaming PCs, as the new board offers exhilarating foundations to build upon.

Those bent on ruling the game have just found the new motherboard to beat—resistance is futile.

All Aboard the Gaming Express
The Crosshair IV Formula deploys the latest chipset architecture from AMD, opening up the most current performance CPUs on the market. Enabling processors to come into their own is exactly what a good motherboard does, and the new Crosshair achieves this in several ways—not least ROG Connect, a built-in overclocking engine that maximizes benchmark scores by tuning and monitoring from a remote PC via USB, like a notebook. This way users can overclock while benchmarking, so all resources remain available to better performance. ROG Connect also serves as an in-depth monitoring tool—gearheads can easily obtain readings to see the effects mods such as overvolting have on their system.

Numerous performance features

Unlock CPU Potential
ASUS and Republic of Gamers are proud to announce Core Unlocker, an exclusive technology praised by worldwide media, to inject great value and performance into gaming setups. It’s well known many CPUs come with multiple cores deactivated during fabrication, and Core Unlocker brings those back to life. Users simply have to press one button on the board and the AMD CPU placed in the socket goes through a physical scan in search of dormant cores. Dual core CPUs can become triples or quads in minutes, with obvious computing horsepower benefits.

Naturally, the more cores available the bigger the overclocking threshold—gamers everywhere rejoice.

Turbocharged Performance
Speaking of thresholds, the Crosshair IV Formula comes with the latest version of Turbo Key II, an auto-tuning routine that lets users engage, sit back, reap the benefits then rule their game with untold confidence.

Turbo Key II runs extensive overclocking automatically, detecting hardware tolerances and testing them to ensure stability. The excellent thermal design of the new Crosshair IV Formula means there’s quite a lot of envelope pushing to be done safely, guaranteeing impressive gains. Once more, all users need to do is press the O.C button on the board and let the technology take it from there.

Game with the Flow
Multiplayer has become the norm, and gamers demand smooth connections to deliver uninterrupted action. The reality, however, is that many still don’t enjoy optimized broadband, which is why ASUS has conjured GameFirst. This smart solution works with the board’s networking pipeline to prioritize bandwidth, eliminate lag and lower latency.

GameFirst sets priorities straight

Gaming applications get top access to resources on the hardware level—so online play becomes faster, more fluid and infinitely less frustrating. At the same time, other applications can work in the background without draining speed from mission critical needs.

GameFirst and ROG Connect up close

Grounded in Ability
Storage comes in the form of six SATA 6GB/s and three SATA 3GB/s, ample room for growth and saving all the newest and biggest game titles. Also, the Crosshair IV Formula includes two USB 3.0 ports, which are much faster than USB 2.0 in every way. There’s also HD audio from integrated SupremeFX X-Fi, fully EAX 4.0 compliant and ready to make those intense engagements roar with clear surround sound.

Thoughtful, relevant features that promote fun and satisfying gaming—look no further than the new Crosshair IV Formula from ROG.

Specifications
Model
ROG Crosshair IV Formula
CPU
AMD socket AM3 Phenom™ II /Athlon™ X4 /Athlon™ X3 /Athlon™ X2 processors
Chipset
Latest AMD chipset
System bus
Up to 5200 MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0
Memory
4 x DIMM, dual channel, up to 16GB
DDR3 1866 (OC)/1600(OC)/1333/1066MHz
Expansion
3 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slots (@ dual x16, triple @ x16, x8, x8) with ATI CrossFireX™ technology
1 x PCIe 2.0 x4
2 x PCI 2.2
Storage
6 x SATA 6Gb/s with RAID 0, 1, 5, 10
1 x SATA 3Gb/s
1 x eSATA 3Gb/s
LAN
Marvell Gigabit LAN
Audio
SupremeFX X-Fi 8-channel audio built-in with EAX 4.0 support
USB/ IEEE1394a
2 x USB 3.0, 12 x USB 2.0 (7 at back I/O, 5 onboard)
2 x 1394a ports (1 at back I/O, 1 onboard)
Software
Kaspersky antivirus 1 year license
Features
ROG Connect, GameFirst, Core Unlocker, Turbo Key II, MemOK!, CPU Level Up, SupremeFX X-Fi built-in , Extreme Tweaker, iROG, Loadline Calibration, Voltiminder LED
Form Factor
ATX, 12” x 9.6” (30.5cm x 24.4cm)
Specifications are subject to change without prior notice. Please visit www.asus.com for more details.

###

About ASUS
ASUS is a leading company in the new digital era, with a broad product portfolio that includes notebooks, netbooks, motherboards, graphics cards, displays, desktop PCs, servers, wireless solutions, mobile phones and networking devices. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s home and office users. ASUS won 3,268 awards in 2009, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than 10,000 and a world-class R&D design team, the company’s revenue for 2009 was US$7.5 billion. ASUS ranks among BusinessWeek’s InfoTech 100, and has been on the listing for 12 consecutive years.

Okay, so it’s perhaps not the most exciting feature-add we’ve ever seen, but ASUS are the first to do it and it sits alongside functionality like USB 3.0 in their already-nifty M4 boards.  Still, saving money is something everyone is pretty interested in, and the news that operating a gigabit ethernet LAN now requires only 89.1mW of power instead of 476.8mW during periods of lower utilization adds up to more cash in your pocket.

Press Release:

ASUS First to Deliver New IEEE Standard on Motherboards
Company Integrates Industrial Energy Efficient Ethernet Standard in Motherboards for Significant Power Savings

ASUS today became the first motherboard maker to announce the introduction of the IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) standard on a number of new motherboards. This helps increase energy savings up to 81.3% by reducing power delivery during periods of low network activity.

Industry Leading Eco-Friendly Motherboard Brand
Dedicated to developing top-notch, eco-friendly products, ASUS continuously pioneers the introduction of green technology on motherboards. This has brought about the world’s first motherboard power savings engine, the EPU (Energy Processing Unit), the industry’s first Energy Star 5.0-compliant motherboard, and the addition of ASUS motherboards to the Climate Savers Computing Initiative. Taking eco-friendly action to a new level, ASUS motherboards are now the first in the world ready for the new Energy Efficient Ethernet standard.

Lower Power Idle Mode
The new IEEE 802.3az EEE standard is regulated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), one of the leading standard-issuing organizations in the industry. The EEE standard was developed for enhanced efficiency, reducing the power that drives data throughput during periods of low Internet usage or minimal Ethernet activity on both sides of a link. This helps lower total system energy consumption. Even though the Internet is utterly vital for communications, activity related to its usage usually reverts to a lowered state after data finishes downloading. Responding to dynamic Internet usage, the new standard detects activity levels and lowers power consumption in idle phases, increasing supply during periods of normal transmission—thus optimizing efficiency while saving power.

Significant Savings from Lower Power Requirements
By incorporating the IEEE 802.3az EEE standard, ASUS motherboards consume up to 81.3% less energy. Operating a Gigabit Ethernet LAN now requires only 89.1mW of power instead of 476.8mW during periods of lower Ethernet utilization. With increasing emphasis by governments on energy efficiency, the new standard helps companies and users align with new regulations while consuming energy more responsibly for the good of all.

Introducing: New Motherboard Series with Enhanced Efficiency
ASUS has recently incorporated IEEE 802.3az EEE* into the new ASUS M4A89 Series motherboards. Aiming to provide more environmentally-sustainable operations, the company is getting ready to introduce an entire, completely new line of motherboards enhanced with the new standard. Please watch for announcements as the range of offerings expands.

*IEEE 802.3az EEE-compliant models include: M4A89 / M4A88 / M4A87TD series motherboards

The Phenom II X6 chips are expected to offer a lower-cost alternative to Intel’s recent hexacore processor, the potent Core i7-980X Extreme.  Pricing details from earlier in the week suggested that the AMD range would kick off at 4199 for the 2.8GHz X6 1055T, while the 3.2GHz Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition chip should come in at $295.

ASUS M4 motherboards should also take advantage of the Phenom II X6′s overclocking abilities, using the Core Unlocker functionality.  According to one set of rumors, AMD will announce the new six-core processors on April 26th.

Press Release:

ASUS Readies Latest Motherboards for Upcoming Six-core CPUs

Full Range of AMD-based Motherboards are Ready to Support Next-generation Personal Computing with Six Cores

ASUS today announced a full range of motherboards that are ready to support the upcoming six-core AMD® Phenom™ II X6 processors to herald a new era in ultra-powerful personal computing.

Early Praises from Media Organizations World-wide
The AMD six-core processor-ready ASUS M4 Series motherboards deliver maximum performance on a mainstream platform. Joe Hsieh, General Manager of ASUS Motherboard Business, said, “Besides being ready to support six-core processors, the ASUS M4 Series gives users of every level the best performance and value with its Core Unlocker feature. This has received notable recognition from many of the world’s top media organizations for delivering a phenomenal boost in performance.” M4 Series motherboards with the exclusive Core Unlocker technology have also garnered global media accolades for being the best motherboard for AMD processors.

Simple BIOS Upgrade For 6-core Activation
ASUS’ M4 Series motherboard is ready for the AMD Phenom™ II X6 processors. To enable six-core CPU and achieve maximum performance, users simply need to update the BIOS of their existing M4 Series.

Specifications are subject to change without prior notice. Please visit www.asus.com for more details.

###

About ASUS
ASUS is a leading company in the new digital era, with a broad product portfolio that includes notebooks, netbooks, motherboards, graphics cards, displays, desktop PCs, servers, wireless solutions, mobile phones and networking devices. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s home and office users. ASUS won 3,268 awards in 2009, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than 10,000 and a world-class R&D design team, the company’s revenue for 2009 was US$7.5 billion. ASUS ranks among BusinessWeek’s InfoTech 100, and has been on the listing for 12 consecutive years.

ASUS Motherboards: No.1 in the World
ASUS is the No.1 motherboard brand in the world, commanding the biggest market share globally. Today, one in every three computers houses an ASUS Motherboard. ASUS is the pioneer of numerous innovations that have gone on to become industry standards. Recent examples include the Hybrid Phase power design, Hybrid Processor and Hybrid Switch overclocking design, and Protect 3.0 for safe operation. With its decades of expertise and dedication to pushing the envelope of motherboard design, ASUS is poised to continue leading the industry in motherboard performance, safety and reliability.

ASUS’ new overclocking system means you can actually control the speed of the system from a nearby Bluetooth phone.  Alternatively you can backup or move BIOS overclock settings on a USB stick.  Meanwhile their Extreme Engine Digi+ system improves heat dissipation by 30-percent over traditional MOSFET, while conductivity has gone up by 40-percent.

There are also dual 8-pin power connectors and two 4-pin Molex plugs for powering the CPU and GPU with room to spare, while other connectors include nine USB 2.0, four PCIe2.0 x16 slots, seven SATA 3.0Gb/s, two SATA 6.0Gb/s, eSATA, gigabit ethernet, FireWire, six memory channels and more.  Full specs in the gallery below; the only thing we need to know now is pricing, though the ASUS Rampage III Extreme is unlikely to be cheap when it arrives in two weeks time.

Press Release:

ASUS Introduces the Rampage III Extreme Motherboard
Drive your System Beyond the Limit

ASUS Republic of Gamers reveals the latest addition to their roster of performers, the world-record shattering Rampage III Extreme. Delivering Intel’s X58/ICH10R chipset with support for the Intel® processors in the LGA1366 package up to six cores and a plethora of features demanded by intense users, this board is the only choice for PC speed demons.

Welcome to the Overclockers’ Delight
Serious overclockers have been clamoring for this kind of monster board for years, and ASUS listened. With Rampage III Extreme (R3E) the company puts forth a record-setting piece of hardware replete with highlights that meet the needs of dye in the wool tuners—all clad in stylish Republic of Gamers attire and backed by indefatigable ASUS quality.

Remote tweaking becomes effortless thanks to built-in ROG Connect and RC Bluetooth, giving users the freedom to unchain true hardware potential. That’s only part of the picture, since this board comes with a host of accoutrements, including the outlandish Extreme OC Kit overclocking tool, which takes the concept way beyond the norm. USB BIOS Flashback allows for easy instant flashing of the BIOS, all the better to drive the most spectacular results through multiple GPUs—up to four full graphics cards. R3E contains the latest iteration of Extreme Engine Digi+ voltage modulation technology for purer, more stable power. All these indicate ASUS’ commitment to innovating and foreshadowing demand from users – the result is a motherboard that not only guarantees mind-blowing output, but also great, rewarding fun.

It’s Got the Power
There can be no assurance of awesome performance without solid power management – something every overclocker worth their salt knows. Extreme Engine Digi+, included on the Rampage III Extreme, does just that. It melds all the advantages of analog and digital VRM design to cut on switching latency and improve overall fidelity in the board. Pulse width modulation (PWM) likewise gains in finesse for added board tolerance, paving the way for exploratory overclocking of the way-out-there variety. Heat dissipation is improved 30% over traditional MOSFET, while conductivity has gone up by 40%, both thanks to use of FET+ in construction. Not content with all this goodness, ASUS has taken comments from competitive overclockers to heart and included a newly-designed signal choke that handles up to a humongous 40 amperes.

This bedrock of power makes radical experimentation more than a possibility – it makes it desirable. And because ASUS believes in doing things fast and easy, the aforementioned USB BIOS Flashback is the easiest way to transport BIOS versions or simply flash them from machine to machine. All that’s needed is a USB stick.

Target Benchmark
Few things are as feel-good rewarding as putting a new piece of hardware to the test, then basking in the glow of exhilarating scores. That’s the mindset Rampage III Extreme captures, and it does so with superlative zeal. The OC Kit strikes a formidable pose as an interface to meet the strenuous requirements of even the techiest overclocker, with LN2 mode and a Q reset that addresses cold boot problems and enables fast operation even under very low temps during extreme overclocking. Dual 8-pin power connectors and two 4-pin Molex plugs furnish CPU and GPU with ample room, freeing power while preventing mishaps.

Thoughtful touches encourage inventive testing, the hallmark of true overclocking. For example, convenient PCIe X16 lane signal disabling—users can test each graphics card individually for optimized results. The road to benchmarking fame passes through the Republic of Gamers, and R3E is the ticket.

All Bases Belong to Rampage III Extreme
Drawing inspiration from everything that makes overclocking such a great pastime, R3E takes it to the next level. It’s a dream come true, empowering the art of hardware tinkering like never before. With a thermal design revamped from the ground up, overclocking tools to keep a gearhead happy ad infinitum, gorgeous looks and performance that’s frankly out of this world, the Rampage III Extreme is the only choice for those looking to make every MHz count.

The new board supports the 32nm 6-core processors that are on the roadmap and has lots of other high-end features. The board has six SATA 3Gb/s ports and a pair of 6Gb/s SATA ports too. It also has two USB 3.0 ports on the rear panel and eight more USB 2.0 ports to boot.

The board supports up to 24GB of RAM and uses the Intel X58 chipset with ISCG10R. Asus uses the NEC USB 3.0 controller and has the mainboard has a pair of FireWire ports. Both 3-way SLI from NVIDIA and CrossFireX from ATI are supported. The board uses a fanless cooling system and supports DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC sound.

Those slots can be used together in a dual eight-lane configuration for use with two video cards.  There’s also DVI and HDMI outputs,PCIe Gen2 x4 and x1 slots, six 600MB/s Serial ATA ports and an eSATA port, along with the usual brace of USB 2.0 connections.  Several retailers are apparently awaiting stock, with prices from €150 ($204).

A second motherboard, the ASUS M4A89GTD Pro, looks to include much of the same functionality with the exception of USB 3.0 support.  It’s also listed at several retailers, with pricing kicking off from €134 ($182).  AMD are expected to take the wraps off of Leo in May this year.

[via The Tech Report]

Those sources suggest that the shortage won’t be rectified until the first quarter of 2010, though Intel themselves say that the issue is “nothing more than a product transition”.  There’s no word on which manufacturers may have turned to AMD chipsets in the meantime.

The P55 Express chipset is paired with up to 16GB of DDR3 memory, and there are five PCIe x16 slots and one PCI 2.2.  Support for both NVIDIA SLI and ATI CrossFireX is a given, and there are six SATA 3.0Gb/s ports, an Intel RAID controller (for 0, 1, 5 and 10 setups) and an external SATA 3Gb/s port for SATA On-the-Go.  You also get two SATA 6.0Gb/s ports, which certainly helps out with the future-proofing.

Ethernet is gigabit, of course, and there’s a USB 3.0 controller with two ports along with a USB 2.0 controller with eleven connections of its own.  There’s also twin FireWire, Bluetooth, S/PDIF and 10-channel surround sound, all in an ATX form factor.  No word on pricing, but we can’t imagine this will come cheap.

Press Release:

ASUS ROG Motherboard with Breakthrough Overclocking Interface Wows DreamHack Winter Attendees

P55-based Maximus III Extreme Supports Wireless Overclocking via Bluetooth Mobile Phones
Taipei, Taiwan, November 25, 2009 – Attendees of DreamHack Winter from November 26–29, 2009 are set to witness a milestone in overclocking history. ASUS will be debuting the Republic of Gamers (ROG) Maximus III Extreme, a bleeding-edge, P55-based motherboard that enables users to tweak system settings wirelessly over Bluetooth via a mobile phone. An extension of ASUS’ proprietary ROG Connect overclocking platform, RC Bluetooth will reshape how enthusiasts approach the art of overclocking.

New and Improved ROG Connect: Extended Functionality for Greater Convenience and Peace of Mind
The four-way CrossFire-capable Maximus III Extreme is a top-end addition to ROG’s celebrated Maximus III Series of motherboards. True to its ROG heritage, it sports a host of features tailored to overclocking enthusiasts and gamers. The foremost of these is ROG Connect, which was first introduced with the Maximus III Formula and Maximus III GENE. ROG Connect is an exclusive overclocking interface that enables users to monitor and tune their main systems through a notebook or netbook via USB, just like a race car engineer. The version released with Maximus III Extreme will extend ROG Connect’s functionality, adding BIOS updating and recovery, diagram viewing, and on-the-fly hardware-level voltage and frequency adjustment. BIOS updating from a notebook is a particularly welcome feature for overclockers, who will no longer have to fear bricking their motherboards due to a corrupt BIOS.

RC Bluetooth: Smashing through the Barriers of Conventional Overclocking
Perhaps the most innovative addition to ROG Connect, however, is RC Bluetooth, a feature which allows users to review the status of their systems’ hardware and tweak parameters wirelessly from a Bluetooth-enabled PDA phone. RC Bluetooth is also capable of performing standard Bluetooth functions, such as stereo music playback, Skype messaging, Internet access via a Bluetooth phone, and mobile phone or PDA synchronization. All it requires is the press of a button located on the rear I/O panel to toggle between overclocking and standard modes.

All Set to Astound Attendees of DreamHack Winter
The ROG Maximus III Extreme will make its first appearance at DreamHack Winter, the world’s largest LAN/eSports event, and a mainstay of hardware enthusiasts. The overclocking prowess of the ROG Maximus III Extreme will also be showcased at an overclocking competition to be held during the event. On November 27 and 28, 2009, the world’s best overclockers will use the ROG Maximus III Extreme to vie for the overclocking championship.

[via SlashPhone]

That connectivity could include anything from CRT, DVP and TTL display support, HD Audio, IDE, USB 2.0, PCI Express, SMBus, GPIO, LPC, SDIO and PS2.  While separating the Mobile-ITX computer-on-system module from the IO board does seem a slightly disingenuous way of shrinking the CoS down, it means manufacturers will be able to create a job-specific IO adapter and then drop in a proven CoS without lengthy testing.

Meanwhile it’s a power-frugal setup, too, requiring as little as 5W.  The first commercial Mobile-ITX boards will show up in Q1 2010, though they’re really targeted at embedded systems rather than home users.

Press Release:

VIA Mobile-ITX Brings Further Miniaturization and Greater Flexibility to Embedded Devices

Incredibly compact, 6cm x 6cm Mobile-ITX form factor is 50% smaller than Pico-ITX, enables next-generation embedded devices

Taipei, Taiwan, 1 December 2009 – VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced Mobile-ITX, the latest VIA-developed open form factor specification for the creation of ultra-compact and portable embedded devices. Mobile-ITX defines a uniquely compact 6cm x 6cm computer-on-module specification designed to enable an easier and less resource intensive development cycle for a range of ultra-compact, portable embedded systems.

Vertical market segments including medical, transportation and military embedded markets have evolved to demand greater miniaturization and portability from today’s x86 platforms. Mobile-ITX addresses the need for a simple, modular approach to portable IPC design, making it easier than ever to bring to market ultra-compact and lightweight devices that offer comprehensive connectivity options and a rich, flexible feature set.

“With Mobile-ITX we have again pushed back the barriers that limit just how small an embedded industrial PC can be,” said Daniel Wu, Vice President, VIA Embedded Platform Division, VIA Technologies, Inc. “Mobile-ITX enables the creation of a new breed of ultra-compact, portable networked devices suitable for a range of applications, particularly in modern medical and military segments.”

Mobile-ITX – The Science of Small
Extending VIA’s reputation as a leading innovator and creator of ultra-compact form factors, Mobile-ITX at 6cm x 6cm, is currently the most compact computer-on-module form factor on the market, an incredible 50% smaller than the successful VIA-developed Pico-ITX form factor.

Mobile-ITX employs a modularized design that includes a CPU module card and an I/O carrier board. This offers greater flexibility for developers who can simply drop in the CPU module to a custom designed, application specific carrier board, negating lengthy developmental design and testing phases.

CPU modules based on the Mobile-ITX form factor integrate core CPU, chipset and memory functionality and I/O that includes the CRT, DVP and TTL display support, HD Audio, IDE, USB 2.0, as well as PCI Express, SMBus, GPIO, LPC, SDIO and PS2 signals, through customizable baseboards. In keeping with VIA’s signature low power philosophy, Mobile-ITX-based modules consume as little as 5 watts, ideal for always-on, mission critical systems.

This comprehensive range of advanced technologies can be implemented on a variety of Mobile-ITX compatible carrier board designs that can be adapted to suit almost any environment, or application specific criteria. The CPU module I/O signals are mapped to two unique high density, low profile connectors on the under side of the module, with a distance between the CPU module and the baseboard of only 3mm, making it ideal for ultra-slim system designs. The connectors can also withstand vibrations of up to 5Gs making Mobile-ITX systems suitable for in-vehicle and industrial machining applications.

More details about the Mobile-ITX form factor may be found at the VIA website where you can also find a detailed “Mobile-ITX Form Factor” white paper:
www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives/spearhead/mobile-itx/

The VIA Embedded Platform Division will announce the first commercial CPU module based on the Mobile-ITX form factor in Q1 2010.

The mainboard is an Intel P55 platform board and features its own sound riser card with Quantum Wave technology. The sound card promises THX TruStudio PC sound and support for Creative EAX Advanced HD 5.0 sound. The board is powered by the NVIDIA nForce 200 SLI processor allowing the use of three graphics cards in the system.

Other features of the board include 100% Hi-c capacitors and it comes with an external OC dashboard and MSI OC Genie OC chip. The board uses the Lucid HYDRA chip that allows for the support for different brands and models of GPUs in the same system. That is certainly the best feature of the board. I hope MSI doesn’t go crazy with the price on this thing, it will be one of the most popular enthusiast boards on the market if priced right.

VIA envisage the N700 being popular with embedded systems engineers who need to install their computers into extreme conditions, but that doesn’t mean the board wouldn’t have plenty of uses for a more domestic user.  Power is from the 1GHz VIA Eden ULV processor and the N700 also has the company’s VX800 media system processor, so it’s no slouch when it comes to performance.  MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9 and VC1 video playback is supported, as is DirectX9.

Ports include VGA, USB 2.0, two SATA, PCIe gigabit ethernet and a Type I CF slot, plus there’s an expansion header for plenty more I/O.  No word on pricing as yet.

Press Release:

VIA Tackles Extreme Environments with Wide Temperature Fanless Nano-ITX Board

VIA EPIA N700-10EW brings total stability to industrial PCs and embedded automation devices in extreme environments

Taipei, Taiwan, 6 August 2009 – VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the VIA EPIA N700-10EW Nano-ITX board, designed for industrial and embedded applications in environments with extreme temperatures.

Guaranteed to maintain absolute stability at temperatures ranging from -20oc to 70oc, the fanless VIA EPIA N700-10EW can be employed in environments that traditionally inhibit x86 computing. These include specialized industrial applications where machinery can create intense operating temperatures, as well as extreme climate scenarios like desert, mountain and high altitude environments.

“By expanding our range of EPIA products to include extended temperature products, VIA is addressing the broader needs of our extensive customer base,” said Daniel Wu, Vice President of VIA Embedded, VIA Technologies, Inc. “Extreme thermal competency usually comes at a premium, the VIA EPIA N700-10EW will help to significantly lower that barrier.”

VIA EPIA N700-10EW: Stability in the Extreme

The fanless VIA EPIA N700-10EW is capable of maintaining system stability in extreme conditions because of the high quality components selected for its construction. Powered by a power-efficient 1GHz VIA Eden ULV processor and the latest VIA VX800 media system processor, the EPIA N700-10EW also boasts completely solid state capacitors.

All VIA EPIA N700-10EW boards are rigorously tested for compatibility and reliability prior to shipping and are bundled with special wide temperature-verified system memory modules to ensure complete system stability.

Measuring only 12cm x 12cm, the VIA EPIA N700-10EW Nano-ITX board supports up to 2GB of DDR2 system memory. Two S-ATA connectors, USB 2.0, COM and PCIe-based Gigabit LAN ports are available through onboard I/O while a Type I Compact Flash port is also included. Expansion includes a Mini-PCI slot, an IDE port plus additional COM, USB and PS/2 support through pin-headers.

At the heart of the VIA EPIA N700-10EW the VIA VX800 media system processor offers an integrated DirectX9 graphics core and hardware accelerated video playback for MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9 and VC1 video formats. An on-board VGA port is provided along with a 24-bit, dual channel LVDS transmitter, enabling display connection to embedded panels.

There’s also a SATA 6 Gb/s interface, Firewire, optical and coaxial digital audio outputs and the usual 5.1 analog surround sound connectors.  ASUS also throw in dual ethernet (likely to be gigabit) and a couple of PS/2 ports for you legacy keyboard lovers out there.

The USB 3.0 ports – which use the NEC µPD720200 host controller - are blue, whereas the standard USB 2.0 ports are black; of course, they’re also backward compatible, so you don’t miss out on any connectivity.  No news on release date or pricing for the ASUS P6X58 Premium, nor benchmarking, but we’d expect it to be – as the “premium” name suggests – an expensive ‘board.

[via Everything USB]

It’s not just performance, either.  ASUS have added Stack Cool3+ cooling which apparently uses an “enhanced PCB layer” to better dissipate heat; there’s also optional liquid-cooling and various overclocking systems.

Connectivity includes dual gigabit ethernet, NVIDIA SLI and ATI CrossFireX support, eSATA and FireWire ports, eight USB 2.0 ports (and headers for a further six), optical and coaxial S/PDIF ports and six SATA 3Gb/s ports.  No word on availability or pricing, as is ASUS’ usual wont. 

Press Release:

ASUS Leads the PC Hardware Industry with a New Motherboard Series Featuring Optimized Designs

Innovative Design Delivers Ultimate Performance, Uncompromising Reliability, and Superior Operating Safety Standards

Taipei, Taiwan, July 10, 2009 – ASUS today announced the Xtreme Design series motherboards featuring ground-breaking design innovations and offering the best in performance and reliability. The Xtreme Design series motherboards delivers exceptional overall system compatibility and enhanced reliability by proficiently managing and reliably controlling core processes operating in the PC. Drawing on two decades of engineering excellence, ASUS believes a genetically superior motherboard DNA will provide the winning formula to surpass current user expectations and industry benchmarks. ASUS leads the industry with designs that optimize overall performance and reliability of PC hardware. In the new Xtreme Design series motherboards, ASUS further raises the bar in motherboard designs for the ultimate in performance, reliability, and safe operations.

Xtreme Reliability for Extended Component Lifespan
Xtreme Design features innovative Stack Cool3+ to enhance motherboard component longevity. It is a feature that was re-engineered from the original copper cooling innovation of the ASUS P5E64 WS motherboard. With the perfect cooperation with Xtreme Design, Stack Cool3+ effectively cools motherboards with an enhanced PCB layer to provide a stable and low operating temperature for optimized data transmissions. By substantially improving heat dissipation, the new series offers users exceptional reliability. This innovation builds on ASUS’ pioneering achievement as the first adopter of innovative cooling technology—which transformed the way motherboards were designed.

Xtreme Performance for Enhanced Power and Throughput
For the ultimate experience in performance, Xtreme Design features Xtreme phase to ensure the most stable and optimized power delivery; and Turbo V for a real-time, dynamic processing boost. Both features allow motherboard enthusiasts to experience optimal power performance under various loading conditions as well as an overwhelming boost of up to 51% in processing throughput.

Xtreme Safety Standards for Minimized Health Impact
Unsurpassed safety standards are incorporated in the Xtreme Design series motherboards for safer operations. By passing stringent Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) testing that is 30% more rigorous than industry benchmarks; the new motherboards have exceptionally low EMI emissions. Together with a low Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) and an I/O bracket called Q-Shield, these features help to significantly reduce any negative health impact and potential damage to components.

Launching Soon: Xtreme Design Series Motherboards with Superior Performance
ASUS will be launching a range of Xtreme Design series motherboards. Among them is the P6TD Deluxe, an enhanced version of the record-breaking, high-performance, X58-based P6T Deluxe motherboard. With an “Xtreme Design” DNA, the new series will appeal to the performance-demanding market and gain more fans by offering superior capabilities and exceptional reliability—traits that discerning users have come to expect from ASUS, the leading name in technology innovation.