As you might infer from the name, the new ASUS B85M-Gamer is a gaming-featured motherboard aimed at the small form factor, budget buyer. The B85 chipset sits between the H97 and H81 series Intel chipsets, and while technically B denotes 'business', it can be used by home users and gamers as well.

The micro-ATX (mATX) B85M-Gamer is based on the new Intel B85 Express chipset and it is ready for the latest 4th- and 4th-generation Intel Core processors, packed with multiple game-enhancing technologies.

It features the latest high-speed Intel Gigabit Ethernet networking, ASUS SupremeFX technology (SNR of 115dB) for gaming audio and Gamer's Guardian components for durability. SupremeFX also has a built-in amplifier that drives headphones - all the way up to 300ohm impedance.

In addition, 'red-line shielding' horizontally separates B85M-Gamer's audio components from the rest of the motherboard in order to eliminate analog interference.

The B85M-Gamer also incorporates LANGuard. This employs signal-coupling technology and surface-mounted capacitors to improve throughput, and includes both surge protection and electrostatically-guarded components to defend against static-electricity discharges.

B85M-Gamer also has Digi+, the ASUS' voltage-regulator module (VRM) that provides clean power to the processor. The motherboard's resilience is furthered still more by a stainless-steel back input/output (I/O) panel that's chromium-plated and corrosion-resistant.

The included AI Suite 3 control panel that lets players fine-tune almost every aspect of B85M-Gamer-based systems via a simple interface.