We’ve been chomping at the bit to publish this particular story, unfortunately we had to sign numerous NDA (non-disclosure agreements) before we were even let in the event. But hey, guess what? The NDA expires today, and you’ll be seeing firsthand what Asus has in store for motherboards next year.
Before Asus became known for their Eee PCs, the Taiwanese manufacturer was primarily known for its quality motherboards and videocards. So it came as no surprise to absolutely anyone that it already had a whole stable of motherboards for Intel’s next generation socket and chipset all lined up and ready to go, encompassing both entry, mainstream and enthusiast markets.
The next generation of Asus motherboards has dual, intelligent processors, dubbed DIGI+ VRM: TPU and EPU that enhance the performance and power consumption of your setup. The TPU allows you to automatically tune your rig to get more performance out of it. EPU on the other hand, is a real time energy saving processor, which will allow you to potentially lower the overall power used by your rig.
Of course, no Asus event will be complete without an appearance from their ROG (Republic of Gamers) line. The Maximus IV Extreme is billed as their next generation motherboard, and comes with all the goodies that Asus is known for: quality materials, gorgeous lines, design and overclocking features that make it easier to tweak its performance. ROG iDirect, for example, allows you to tweak the settings on your board via your iPhone or iPad.
Another motherboard design that needs to be given kudos is the TUF Sabertooth P67. It’s equipped with what Asus calls a “TUF Tactical Vest” that, aside from protecting the surface of the board, redirects heat away from critical components.
Speaking of components, the Sabertooth uses quality, military grade components like TUF alloy chokes, solid capacitors and MOSFETs, ensuring the durability of the board.
Not content on releasing hot hardware, Asus has also seen fit to revise the BIOS screen of its motherboards into something easier to use. The EFI BIOS gives users a graphical interface and OS like operation for easier configuration. There’s even an EZ-Mode that allows you to choose whether to prioritize performance, power efficiency, or noise reduction. All Asus motherboards made from here on out will have this BIOS.
Finally, all of Asus motherboards save select entry level models will have a Bluetooth module, which allows any Bluetooth device to connect with their boards. How’s that for value?
From left to right Andrew Wu (MB Senior Product Manager), Darwin Wu (Regional Head) and Eason Lin (MB Senior Product Manager)
