ASUS Launches MicroATX Motherboards for HTPCs
ASUS today announced a new range of microATX motherboards with onboard HDMI and DVI ports for Intel and AMD processors with integrated graphics, and USB 3.0 ports with ASUS USB 3.0 Boost technology.
CPU-integrated graphics support with onboard HDMI and DVI ports
The latest Intel22nm CPUs feature Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, while AMD Socket FM2 Athlon and A-Series APUs have integrated AMD HD 7000 Series discrete-level Radeon GPUs.The processors provide high 2D and 3D graphics performance, without the need for a separate graphics card, which in turn results in lower PC build costs.
The new ASUS microATX motherboards support the integrated graphics features of both processor families, and each model features both an HDMI port for use with HDTVs and a DVI port for connection to desktop displays. The ASUS B75M-A, H61M-PLUS, H61M-A/USB3 and H61M-A are microATX motherboards designed for Intel processors; the A85XM-A, A55M-A/USB3, A55M-A are for AMD APUs. The microATX form factor and reduced cooling requirements of these new motherboards make them ideally suited for compact desktop and home entertainment PCs.
USB 3.0 has data-transfer speeds up to 10-times faster than USB 2.0. Asus claims that its new motherboards improve upon this further with ASUS USB 3.0 Boost technology, for data transfer speeds up to 1.7-times faster than ordinary USB 3.0.
USB 3.0 Boost uses the industry standard USB Attached SCSI Protocol (UASP) to increase data throughput by using multiple channels in parallel, rather than just the one channel of ordinary USB 3.0. This allows USB 3.0 Boost to use the entire bandwidth of a USB 3.0 connection for significant time savings with large file transfers and smoother HD video streaming. UASP requires a UASP-enabled drive or drive enclosure to deliver its full performance benefits, but ASUS USB 3.0 Boost technology also incorporates an optimized 'turbo' mode for data transfer speed improvements from any standard USB 3.0 device.
USB 3.0 Boost is supported by the ASUS B75M-A, H61M-PLUS and H61M-A/USB3 Intel-based motherboards and the A85XM-A and A55M-A/USB3 AMD-basedmotherboards. Both onboard HDMI/DVI and USB 3.0 Boost are also available on the new ASUS Z77-A Intel-based ATX motherboard.
ASUS Home Entertainment Motherboards feature solid capacitors that are industry rated for a lifespan of 5,000 hours at 105 degrees Celsius, which is around 2.5-times longer than traditional capacitors. Under average operating temperatures of 65 degrees Celsius, the capacitors, can last for over 50 years of continuous use. All models also feature chromium oxide-plated stainless steel rear I/O ports for corrosion resistance and an increased lifespan.
The new ASUS microATX motherboards support the integrated graphics features of both processor families, and each model features both an HDMI port for use with HDTVs and a DVI port for connection to desktop displays. The ASUS B75M-A, H61M-PLUS, H61M-A/USB3 and H61M-A are microATX motherboards designed for Intel processors; the A85XM-A, A55M-A/USB3, A55M-A are for AMD APUs. The microATX form factor and reduced cooling requirements of these new motherboards make them ideally suited for compact desktop and home entertainment PCs.
USB 3.0 has data-transfer speeds up to 10-times faster than USB 2.0. Asus claims that its new motherboards improve upon this further with ASUS USB 3.0 Boost technology, for data transfer speeds up to 1.7-times faster than ordinary USB 3.0.
USB 3.0 Boost uses the industry standard USB Attached SCSI Protocol (UASP) to increase data throughput by using multiple channels in parallel, rather than just the one channel of ordinary USB 3.0. This allows USB 3.0 Boost to use the entire bandwidth of a USB 3.0 connection for significant time savings with large file transfers and smoother HD video streaming. UASP requires a UASP-enabled drive or drive enclosure to deliver its full performance benefits, but ASUS USB 3.0 Boost technology also incorporates an optimized 'turbo' mode for data transfer speed improvements from any standard USB 3.0 device.
USB 3.0 Boost is supported by the ASUS B75M-A, H61M-PLUS and H61M-A/USB3 Intel-based motherboards and the A85XM-A and A55M-A/USB3 AMD-basedmotherboards. Both onboard HDMI/DVI and USB 3.0 Boost are also available on the new ASUS Z77-A Intel-based ATX motherboard.
ASUS Home Entertainment Motherboards feature solid capacitors that are industry rated for a lifespan of 5,000 hours at 105 degrees Celsius, which is around 2.5-times longer than traditional capacitors. Under average operating temperatures of 65 degrees Celsius, the capacitors, can last for over 50 years of continuous use. All models also feature chromium oxide-plated stainless steel rear I/O ports for corrosion resistance and an increased lifespan.
| Model | Z77-A | B75M-A | H61M-PLUS | H61M-A/USB3 | H61M-A | H61-PLUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Z77 | B75 | Intel H61 | Intel H61 | Intel H61 | Intel H61 |
| Power Phase | 4+1 Phase | 3+1 Phase | 3+1 Phase | 3+1 Phase | 3+1 Phase | 3+1 Phase |
| Memory Slot | 4DDR3 | 2DDR3 | 2DDR3 | 2DDR3 | 2DDR3 | 2DDR3 |
| Memory Frequency | Up to 2400(O.C.) MHz | Up to 2200(O.C.) MHz | Up to 2200(O.C.) MHz | Up to 2200(O.C.) MHz | Up to 2200(O.C.) MHz | Up to 2200(O.C.) MHz |
| PCIex16 | 1*PCIe 3.0 x16 1*PCIe 2.0x16 |
1*PCIe 3.0 x16 | 1*PCIe 3.0 x16 | 1*PCIe 3.0 x16 | 1*PCIe 3.0 x16 | 1*PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| PCIex1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| PCI | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| VGA Output | HDMI/DVI/D-Sub | HDMI/DVI/D-Sub | HDMI/DVI/D-Sub | HDMI/DVI/D-Sub | HDMI/DVI/D-Sub | N/A |
| Storage | 2*SATA 6Gb/s 4*SATA 3Gb/s |
1*SATA 6Gb/s 5*SATA 3Gb/s |
2*SATA 6Gb/s 2*SATA 3Gb/s |
4*SATA 3Gb/s | 4*SATA 3Gb/s | 4*SATA 3Gb/s |
| LAN | RTL8111F Gb LAN | RTL811F Gb LAN | RTL8111F Gb LAN | RTL8111F Gb LAN | RTL8111F Gb LAN | RTL8111F Gb LAN |
| USB | 4*USB 3.0 (2@back+2@front) 8*USB 2.0 (4@back+4@front) |
2*USB 3.0(2@back) 8*USB 2.0 (2@back+6@front) |
10*USB 2.0 (4@back+6@front) | |||
| Audio | ALC887 8-CH | ALC887 8-CH | ALC887 8-CH | ALC887 8-CH | ALC887 8-CH | ALC887 8-CH |
| All Solid Capacitors | V | V | V | V | V | V |
| Stainless Back I/O | V | V | V | V | V | V |
| ASUS Unique Features | DIGI+VRM EPU USB 3.0 Boost Fan Xpert+ Network iControl Anti-Surge UEFI BIOS |
DIGI+VRM EPU USB 3.0 Boost Fan Xpert Network iControl Anti-Surge UEFI BIOS |
DIGI+VRM EPU USB 3.0 Boost Fan Xpert Network iControl Anti-Surge UEFI BIOS |
DIGI+VRM EPU USB 3.0 Boost Fan Xpert Network iControl Anti-Surge UEFI BIOS |
DIGI+VRM EPU Fan Xpert Network iControl Anti-Surge UEFI BIOS |
DIGI+VRM EPU Fan Xpert Network iControl Anti-Surge UEFI BIOS |
| Form Factor | ATX (30.5 x 21.3) | uATX (24.4 x 17.8) | mATX (22.6 x 18.0) | mATX (22.6 x 18.0) | mATX (22.6 x 18.0) | ATX (30.5 x 19.1) |
| Model | A85XM-A | A55M-A/USB3 | A55M-A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A85X | A55 | A55 |
| Power Phase | 3+2 phase | 3+2 phase | 3+2 phase |
| Memory Slot | 2DDR3 | 2DDR3 | 2DDR3 |
| Memory Frequency | Up to 1866MHz | Up to 1866MHz | Up to 1866MHz |
| PCIex16 | 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot | 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot | 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot |
| PCIex1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PCI | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| VGA Output | HDMI/DVI/D-Sub | HDMI/DVI/D-Sub | HDMI/DVI/D-Sub |
| Storage | 8*SATA 6Gb/s | 6*SATA 3Gb/s | 6*SATA 3Gb/s |
| LAN | RTL8111F Gb LAN | RTL8111F Gb LAN | RTL8111F Gb LAN |
| USB | 4*USB 3.0(2@back+2@front) 6*USB 2.0(2@back+4@front) |
2*USB 3.0(2@back) 6*USB 2.0(2@back+4@front) |
8*USB 2.0 (4@back+4@front) |
| Audio | ALC887 8-CH | ALC887 8-CH | ALC887 8-CH |
| All Solid Capacitors | V | V | V |
| Stainless Back I/O | V | V | V |
| ASUS Unique Features | DIGI+ VRM EPU USB 3.0 Boost FAN Xpert Anti-Surge Network iControl UEFI BIOS |
DIGI+ VRM EPU USB 3.0 Boost FAN Xpert Anti-Surge Network iControl UEFI BIOS |
DIGI+ VRM EPU FAN Xpert Anti-Surge Network iControl UEFI BIOS |
| Form Factor | uATX (23.6 x18.8) | uATX (23.6 x18.8) | uATX (23.6 x18.8) |
