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The Intel 945G Express chipset delivers new, innovative features for interactive clients and many other embedded computing solutions requiring enhanced graphics capabilities. These new advancements, which expand on the capabilities of previous Intel chipsets, include dual-channel DDR2-667 memory technology, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (Intel GMA 950), enhanced manageability and storage security technologies with Intel Active Management Technology1 (Intel AMT), and Intel Matrix Storage Technology2. Designed for, and validated with, the Intel Pentium 4 processor 551 and 651 with Hyper-Threading (HT) Technology† and the Intel Celeron D processors 341Ξ”and 352 - all with Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology§ (Intel EM64T) - the Intel 945G Express chipset platform provides scalable performance and is an ideal price/performance solution for embedded computing applications.
The Intel 945G Express chipset consists of the Intel 82945G Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) and the Intel ICH7/ICH7R I/O Controller Hub (ICH). It delivers outstanding system performance through high-bandwidth interfaces such as PCI Express x16 graphics or I/O, PCI Express x1 I/O ports, next-generation Serial ATA (SATA II), and Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity.
The new graphics core, combined with the Intel high-performance dual-channel memory interface, can deliver significant graphics performance over previous Intel platforms. With support for dual independent display, enhanced modes for widescreen flat panels, and optimized 3D, embedded platforms based on the Intel 945G Express chipset can deliver an intense, realistic visual experience without requiring a separate graphics card.
Fitting to the new just announced Asus Republic of Gamers EN9600GT MATRIX/HTDI/512M Video Card comes the announcement of the Republic of Gamers Maximus II Formula motherboard. The ASUS ROG (Republic of Gamers) Maximus II Formula motherboard is based on the Intel P45/ICH10R chipset and features ASUS-exclusive SupremeFX X-Fi sound card.The SupremeFX X-Fi sound card takes full advantage of the ADI 2000B audio codec, the Creative X-Fi suite, CMSS3D and the Crystalizer technologies. SupremeFX X-Fi natively supports the EAX standard to produce top-notch virtual 3D surround sound. The ASUS ROG Maximus II Formula motherboard is available immediately through authorized ASUS North American dealers at an introductory MSRP of $289. Via thsi Asus announcement.
Early this year we reviewed the Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe, a high-end Phenom supporting motherboard that featured the AMD 790FX chipset. But while gamers wanting to use Crossfire technology will no doubt be quite happy with that product, those wanting to use multiple Nvidia-based graphics cards are going to have to look elsewhere. Unfortunately SLI support does come at a price and choice premium for AMD users. The Asus Crosshair II Formula that we will be testing today features the Nvidia nForce 780a SLI chipset, which is currently the most advanced SLI capable chipset available to AMD users. This new Asus motherboard is a member of the elite “Republic of Gamers” series, meaning that it is geared towards gaming.
Given the continued pressure from Intel in terms of price and overall value, AMD has been put in a less than comfortable situation. Back in January when we reviewed the M3A32-MVP Deluxe, the Phenom pricing strategy was already on aggressive mode, but now AMD has been forced to accommodate further. Today you can get a quad-core 2.5GHz flagship model, namely the Phenom X4 9850 Black Edition processor, for just $235. It is now also possible to pick up a triple-core Phenom for just under $150, making these new AMD processors an attractive option for bargain hunters.
There is already a huge range of AM2+ motherboards to choose from, many of which cost less than $100. However, for those looking for something a little more equipped than your typical sub-$100 motherboard, the Asus Crosshair II Formula is meant to be suited for those needs - or, of course, the M3A32-MVP Deluxe using the 790FX chipset, which currently retails for roughly $220. In the past, motherboards using the Intel variation of the Nvidia nForce 780 SLI chipset have not exactly impressed us, as they tend to consume considerably more power while providing users with no additional performance. Therefore it shall be interesting to see how the nForce 780a SLI stacks up against the 790FX in terms of performance and power consumption.
VIA have done a little extra shaving and come up with their latest Pico-ITX motherboard, the EPIA P700. By replacing the traditional ports with in-line I/O header pins, there’s been enough room for VIA to include an integrated power adaptor, while still keeping the whole thing down to just 10cm x 7.2cm. Accessory boards add normal ports, or you can simply wire up whichever connections you need.
Onboard there’s a choice of 1GHz VIA C7 or fanless 500MHz VIA Eden ULV processors, based on the VIA VX700 unified digital media IGP chipset with 2D/3D AGP graphics and video decoding acceleration for WMV and MPEG-2/4 video through the VIA UniChrome Pro II IGP graphics core. There’s also native S-ATA II support, Gigabit LAN, and support for GPIO, SM bus and LPC devices.
An integrated +12V DC 2-pin power jack and lock (which also includes a 5V S-SATA power cable) helps keep the final system small. Capable of eight channel digital surround sound, the P700 comes complete with the two accessory boards. While the P700-A board features an RJ45 port, a VGA port and a COM port, the P700-B offers four USB ports and three audio jacks. The VIA Pico-ITX EPIA P700 board is available to developers now.
Harnessing the advanced computing power of the Intel® Pentium® processor Extreme Edition, the Intel® Desktop Boards Extreme Series are optimized to deliver new levels of performance that is essential for needs of power-users and high-end gamers.The Extreme Series boards showcase one of the most advanced integrated audio solutions to be found on an Intel desktop board. Intel® High Definition Audio provides the sound quality foundation enabling a 24-bit/192Khz capable audio solution with support for 7.1 channel surround sound.
Including Models P5Q Deluxe, P5Q-E, P5QC, P5Q PRO, and P5Q, ASUS P5Q Series comes with hardware-based EPU that features auto phase switching to provide users with real-time detection and optimization of power with improved VRM efficiency. Series provides 80.23% CPU power savings and 96% power efficiency. With bootup time of 5 sec, ASUS Express Gate helps access Internet without entering Windows or hard disk. Intelligent Hardware-Based Power Savings with New ASUS EPUASUS P5Q Series with New EPU Combines Powerful Performance with Maximum Energy SavingsTaipei, Taiwan, March 26, 2008 - To cater to users who require a high performance motherboard solution that also encompasses effective power savings and a friendly operating environment, ASUS, worldwide leader in the motherboard industry, has announced the release of the ASUS P5Q series. This energy-conserving series of motherboards provide great performance; and is based on the upcoming Intel® P45 chipset - which supports the latest Intel® CPU and memory technology, and was displayed at CeBIT 2008 earlier this year. The P5Q Series also furthers the eco-friendly cause with the exclusive ASUS EPU, which provides 80.23% CPU power savings and 96% enhanced power efficiency - allowing users to help save the Earth every time they switch on their PCs!Save More with New EPU TechnologyThe P5Q Series of motherboards joins the ever-expanding ranks of ASUS' EPU-equipped motherboards. As the world's only intelligent hardware-based power saving IC controller, the exclusive new EPU features auto phase switching that provides users with real-time detection and optimization of power with improved VRM efficiency. This allows users to obtain up to 80.23% CPU power savings and an astonishing 96% enhanced power efficiency; with more energy saving improvements to come in the future. 5 Secs from Bootup to Web Access With only 5 seconds of bootup time, the ASUS Express Gate feature will allow users to easily and quickly access the Internet for Skype, IM, YouTube, webmail, listen to music and MP3s, and view pictures without entering Windows or the Hard Disk. Now, users can utilize file sharing and downloading with an Internet browser, check online mail and talk to friends instantly through instant messengers, and upload or view videos on YouTube as and when they like! The P5Q energy conserving series of motherboards consists of the P5Q Deluxe, P5Q-E, P5QC, P5Q PRO and the P5Q, and will be available in the second quarter of this year. Watch out for even more energy saving motherboard solutions from ASUS in time to come. ASUS is a leading company in the new digital era. With a global staff of more than 8000 and a world-class R&D design team, the turnover for 2007 was 6.9 billion U.S. Dollars. ASUS has been ranked in Business Week InfoTech 100 for 10 consecutive years, and has been ranked No.1 by the Wall Street Journal Asia for best quality products in Taiwan.
The ZOTAC NVIDIA 790i Ultra SLI Motherboard and it shows that ZOTAC are back with a board featuring the socket 775 platform; this board may not be in Australia yet but it has a lot of potential. The added wireless Ethernet is a great feature that we don’t normally see on 790i motherboards, this gives ZOTAC’s version of the NVIDIA 790i Ultra chipset board a leg up.Tweak Town have given ZOTAC’s motherboard a full hands-on review, the results have been covered over 15 pages and in their final thoughts they said “ZOTAC has definitely made its mark with us. While our first board we received from them that was based on the GeForce 8300 chipset failed to impress, the 790i SLI Ultra board really got us going. While it’s a great feat of engineering as to how it’s laid out, ZOTAC isn’t to thank for that since it’s based right off the NVIDIA reference design. But it’s good to see ZOTAC not trying to modify it too much.The performance of the board was right up there with the likes of the X48 chipset, so if you’re planning on an SLI setup for your NVIDIA chipset, the 790i isn’t going to disappoint as much as the 780i does.Overall, the ZOTAC board is definitely worth your dollar. With a good software bundle as well as a few added extras like the wireless networking, you’re not going to be disappointed”.
ASUS EPU motherboard features intelligent, power saving microprocessor which can digitally monitor current CPU usage levels and automatically fine-tune CPU power supply with improved VRM efficiency to suit any loading. Enabling users to adjust CPU frequency and vCore voltages according to their needs, unit comes with AI Gear3+ that helps users obtain power efficiency rating of up to 96%. It also offers onboard IEEE 802.11n draft technology support. Industry-Leading Stability and up to 96% Power Efficiency!ASUS EPU Motherboards Provide World's First Hardware-based Energy Saving Solution for Maximum Performance while Saving Energy Taipei, Taiwan, March 26, 2008 - Catering to users who require motherboards that provide stable, robust performance while helping to save energy for a cleaner environment, ASUS, worldwide leader in motherboard production, has announced a brand new series of ASUS EPU motherboards. Recognizing the importance of green computing, ASUS' EPU motherboards not only provide a hardware-driven energy saving solution that is more stable than other purely software-driven solutions, a whopping 80.23% CPU power savings and enhanced energy efficiency ratings of up to 96% is achieved - helping users in the cause to save energy for a greener environment.ASUS Exclusive EPU Saves Up to 80.23%CPU PowerThe new ASUS exclusive EPU is the world's first intelligent hardware-based on-demand power saving microprocessor. This intelligent automatic energy saving chip is more stable than software-driven solutions (where stability can be an issue), and provides users with superior performance while in energy-saving mode in comparison to other solutions. By utilizing an innovative power technology, the EPU is able to digitally monitor current CPU usage levels and automatically fine-tune the CPU power supply with improved VRM efficiency to suit any loading. The EPU is thus able to provide users with the ability to moderate power for higher performance if required, or save up to 80.23% CPU power under low processing periods for the best possible performance with the least amount of power.Unrivaled Enhanced Power Efficiency of up to 96%ASUS EPU motherboards also come with the innovative AI Gear3+, which is an application that aids users in adjusting CPU frequency and vCore voltages according to their needs. Being a digital solution, and working hand in hand with the ASUS EPU, the AI Gear3+ helps users obtain an astoundingly high enhanced power efficiency rating of up to 96%! What's more, the AI Gear3+ features a user interface that allows users to keep track in real-time exactly how much electricity and CO2 is being saved. ASUS' constant drive for green computing performance has produced motherboards that are both energy saving and power efficient. At the same time, ASUS places its utmost attention into providing high quality, top-notch motherboards that are far more stable and dependable than any other solution - giving users the peace of mind of utilizing the world's best motherboards. Innovative Features for User ConvenienceWith only 5 seconds boot-up time, the ASUS Express Gate offers an optional selection screen that allows you to instantly surf the Internet without entering Windows. This convenient application will now allow users to enjoy Skype, IM, YouTube, and webmail access quickly without the need to wait for the operating system to load. Another great feature for ASUS motherboard users is the onboard IEEE 802.11n draft technology support. This standard allows users to enjoy wider and stronger network coverage, and up to 6 times faster data transmissions than current 802.11b/g standards - making wireless connections more reliable and quicker. Both of these innovations are found on the ASUS P5E3 Premium/WiFi @n motherboard.EPU Range of MotherboardsX48 Chipset ModelsP5E3 Premium/WiFi-AP @n, RAMPAGE FORMULA, P5E64 WS Evolution X38 Chipset ModelsP5E3 DELUXE/WiFi-AP @n, P5E3 DELUXE, P5E3, P5E, MAXIMUS Extreme, MAXIMUS Formula, P5E64 WS PRONvidia nForce® Chipset ModelsP5N-T DELUXE, P5N-D, Striker II Extreme, Striker II NSE, Striker II Formula, P5N64 WS ProfessionalP35 Chipset Models P5K PRO, P5K/ EPU, P5K SE/EPUThe range of ASUS EPU-equipped motherboards encompass the latest X48 chipset motherboards, and will constantly increase with more to come in the future. ASUS is a leading company in the new digital era. With a global staff of more than 8000 and a world-class R&D design team, the turnover for 2007 was 6.9 billion U.S. Dollars. ASUS has been ranked in Business Week InfoTech 100 for 10 consecutive years, and has been ranked No.1 by the Wall Street Journal Asia for best quality products in Taiwan.
Kontron extends its line of embedded mini-ITX motherboards with a new, ultra low power variant - the high quality Kontron KTUS15/miTX embedded motherboard based on the Intel® Atom™ processor with up to 1.6 GHz and the highly integrated Intel® System Controller Hub US15W.With a combined thermal design power of less than 5 Watts for the processor and chipset the Kontron KTUS15/mITX motherboard is the ideal choice for solar/battery powered mobile, in-vehicle or stationary applications that require low power consumption, excellent electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and a simple, rugged cooling concept. The smallest ATX compliant footprint of only 170 mm x 170 mm, in combination with a board height of only two USB stacks (20 mm) gives system developers the freedom to design extremely slim and, as required, fully closed and highly protected systems. The space saving processor and highly integrated system controller hub on the Kontron KTUS15/mITX leave enough room for installing up to 32 GB CF-media parallel to the motherboard, enabling the development of maintenance-free systems without fault-sensitive, rotating non-volatile media. Designed for optimal compatibility and high reliability, the Kontron KTUS15/mITX embedded motherboard offers numerous high quality features such as the network controller from Intel® for hassle-free network communications. Other quality enhancing details include a comprehensive set of interfaces, including two SDIO sockets that enable peripherals such as RFID or laser scanners, card readers, keyboard, keypad and mouse, printers and WLAN or GPRS communication networks to be connected directly to the motherboard. The flexible 2 x PCIe x1 and 1 x PCI slots thereby remain free for application specific extensions. This flexibility speeds time to market for system designs. Moreover, the integrated Intel® Trusted Platform Module (Intel® TPM 1.2) and the wide range power supply (5 V – 25 V DV) options further simplify system design for a vast range of embedded markets, such as POS/POI, kiosk, medical (i.e. ultrasound), multimedia, rugged tablets and industrial automation."It gives us great pleasure to launch this new mini-ITX board using the Intel® Atom™ processor” said Ulrich Gehrmann, CEO of Kontron ”Kontron has vast experience in offering embedded platforms using Intel® architecture, and we believe the Intel® Atom™ processor will open many new market opportunities in areas that demand low power and scalability within the embedded Intel® architecture roadmap.” ”Thanks to its extremely low power consumption, the Intel® Atom™ processor enables the development of extremely slim and passively cooled energy-sensitive embedded applications that require the full feature set offered by mini-ITX motherboards, said Joe Jensen, general manager for the Embedded Computing Division at Intel® Corporation. “Kontron’s implementation of the Intel® Atom™ processor on ATX compliant embedded motherboards will give developers an ultra-low power variant.”Despite its extremely low power requirements, the Kontron KTUS15/mITX motherboard features impressive processing performance while offering up to 7 years availability with the 1.1 GHz or 1.6 GHz Intel® Atom™ processors for long lifespan product platform designs that demand excellent reliability and performance. Kontron’s rigorous testing and quality control measures reduce the potential of board failures and the need for system servicing. With a high-speed digital logic motherboard design using a 12-layer stacking PCB, Kontron ensures signal integrity, reduces radiation, improves signal quality and aids in the decoupling of the power bus, resulting in high quality electromagnetic compatibility and superior motherboard quality and performance for the Kontron KTUS15/mITX.Furthermore, Hyper-Threading Technology and Intel® Virtualization Technology improve system performance in the latest multi-threading and dual OS applications. Via the Intel® System Controller Hub US15W, Kontron’s latest mini-ITX embedded motherboard addresses up to 1 GByte of DDR2-RAM. The integrated graphics engine, with 2D/3D acceleration and directX 9, not only supports dual independent displays, but also boasts hardware supported WMV9, H264.A and MPEG2 decoding, which dramatically reduces the load on the CPU when playing HD-videos. Displays can be connected via the on-board CRT (1280 x 1024) and dual channel LVDS (1366 x 768) interfaces as well as optional DVI or HDMI ports. 2 x PCIe x1 and 1 x PCI slots are available for application specific expansion cards. Mass storage media are easily connected via 2 x Serial ATA 150/300 and 1 x ATA100 interfaces. There is also an on-board flash socket for CF type II media currently up to 32 GBytes (and above 32GBytes as they become available). The Kontron KTUS15/mITX embedded motherboard connects to networks via a 10/100/1000 network controller from Intel®. External embedded peripherals can be directly connected via 8 x USB 2.0, 2 x RS232 (up to 4 x RS232 if desired), 1 x bi-directional LPT as well as a PS/2 interface, without the need for expansion cards. AC97 compliant HD audio rounds off the feature set. For OEMs that want to get products utilizing the new Intel® Atom™ processor to market quickly without impacting their internal resources, Kontron offers custom systems design, pre-production, manufacturing and fulfillment services utilizing Kontron’s new KTUS15/mITX and Kontron’s system development and manufacturing expertise.The Kontron KTUS15/mITX embedded motherboard solution with low total cost of ownership offers various hardware monitoring functions through Kontron’s API (Application Programming Interface) software. The Kontron KTUS15/mITX supports Windows XP (Windows Embedded Enterprise), Vista, Windows CE (Windows Embedded Standard) and Linux. Samples are available now.
