Asus has been making quality components for a number of years. For some it has been the go to company for components because they are rock solid and always quality. A somewhat new technology Asus is focusing on is their Xtreme Phase technology. Unlike their competitors they decided to go with unique phase angles as opposed to they use double phase angles which are not as efficient. So what does this mean to you? Most problems with poorly design motherboards is the power efficiency and distribution. Poor quality power or the wrong voltages can send your motherboard into a tail spin, Asus knows this and that is why they included their Xtreme Phase technology on their latest motherboards, it is utilized by hardware switching; when the load is medium to heavy it activates all the phase banks, when your load is less it will scale down to 4 phase banks. Asus is a pioneering force in board design because of their introduction of VRM technology and quality components to an already great board design. Today we will be looking at one of Asus’s Xtreme Design front runners: the Asus M4At85TD-V EVO Motherboard, coupled with the always welcome 785G Chipset for the AM3 platform. Let’s get a good look:
Provided by: Asus
Price: $108.99
Closer Look:
Specifications and Features:
| CPU | AMD Socket AM3 ;Phenom™II /Athlon™II /Sempron™ 100 Series Processors AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology Supports 45nm CPU |
| Chipset | AMD 785G/SB710 |
| System Bus | Up to 5200 MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 |
| Memory | 4 x DIMM, Max. 16 GB, DDR3 1800(O.C.)*/1600(O.C.)/1333/1066/800 ECC,Non-ECC,Un-buffered Memory Dual Channel memory architecture *Due to OS limitation, when installing total memory of 4GB capacity or more, Windows® 32-bit operation system may only recognize less than 3GB. Install a 64-bit WindowsWindows® OS when you want to install 4GB or more memory on the motherboard. |
| Expansion Slots | 2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (blue @ x16 mode,gray @ x4 mode) 2 x PCIe x1 3 x PCI |
| VGA | Integrated ATI Radeon™ HD 4200 GPU SidePort Memory – onboard 128MB DDR3 1333 memory – Supports HDMI™ Technology with max. resolution up to 1920 x 1200 (1080P) – Supports Dual-link DVI with max. resolution up to 2560×1600 @60Hz – Supports D-Sub with max. resolution up to 2048×1536 @85Hz – Hybrid CrossFireX™ Support – Dual independent displays support with HDMI / DVI and D-Sub – Supports Microsoft® DirectX 10.1, OpenGL 2.0, Shader Model 4.1 – Hardware Decode Acceleration for H.264,VC-1, and MPEG-2 – Maximum shared memory of 512MB |
| Storage | SB710 Chipset 1 xUltraDMA 133/100/66 for up to 2 PATA devices 5 xSATA 3 Gb/s ports Support RAID 0,1,10,JBOD 1 x eSATA 3Gb/s port |
| LAN | RTL8112L Gigabit LAN controller featuring AI NET 2 |
| Audio | VT1708S 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC – Supports Jack-Detection, Multi-Streaming, and Front Panel Jack-Retasking – Optical S/PDIF Out ports at back I/O |
| IEEE 1394 | VT6308P controller supports 2 x 1394a ports (1 at mid-board; 1 at back panel) |
| USB | 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports at mid-board, 6 ports at back panel) |
| ASUS Unique Features | ASUS Power Solutions: – 8+2 Phase Power Design ASUS Green Design: – EPU Express Gate ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution: – ASUS Fanless Design: Stylish heat sink solution – ASUS Q-Fan ASUS EZ DIY: – ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 – ASUS MyLogo 2 – ASUS EZ Flash 2 |
| Overclocking Features | Intelligent overclocking tools – Turbo V – GPU NOS – Turbo Key SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection) – FSB tuning from 200MHz up to 550MHz at 1MHz increment – PCI Express frequency tuning from 100MHz up to 150MHz at 1MHz increment Overclocking Protection – ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall) |
| Special Features | 100% All High-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors AMD OverDrive Support* *Advanced cooling system is required when advanced overclock functions of AMD OverDrive are enabled. |
| Back Panel I/O Ports | 1 x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Combo port 1 x DVI 1 x D-Sub 1 x HDMI 1 x External SATA 1 x S/PDIF Out (Optical) 1 x IEEE 1394a 1 x LAN(RJ45) port 6 x USB 2.0/1.1 8 -Channel Audio I/O |
| Internal I/O Connectors | 3 x USB connectors (6 ports) 1 x COM connector 1 x IDE connector 5 x SATA connectors 1 x CPU Fan connector 1 x Chassis Fan connectors 1 x Power Fan connector Front panel audio connector 1 x IEEE 1394a connector 1 x S/PDIF Out Header 1x LPT connector 24-pin ATX Power connector 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector System Panel |
| BIOS | 8 Mb Flash ROM AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.3, ACPI 2.0a, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 |
| Manageability | WOL by PME,WOR by PME,WOR by Ring,PXE |
| Accessories | User’s manual 1 x I/O Shield 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable 4 x SATA cable(s) 1 x Q-Connector |
| Support Disc | Drivers ASUS PC Probe II Express Gate Anti-virus software (OEM version) ASUS Update AMD OverDrive Utility (AOD) |
| Form Factor | ATX Form Factor 12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm ) |
AMD® Phenom™ II/Athlon™ II/ Sempron™ 100 Series Processors (socket AM3)
This motherboard supports AMD® Socket AM3 multi-core processors with unique L3 cache and delivers better overclocking capabilities with less power consumption. It features dual-channel DDR3 1333 memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via HyperTransport™ 3.0 based system bus. This motherboard also supports AMD® CPUs in the new 45nm manufacturing process.
Dual-Channel DDR3 1800(O.C.)
The motherboard supports DDR3 memory that features data transfer rates of 1800 (O.C.)/1600(O.C.)/1333/1066 MHz to meet the higher bandwidth requirements of the latest operation system, 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications.
SidePort Memory
This motherboard features SidePort Memory, an individual onboard DDR3 memory serving as memory buffer for integrated graphics. With low CPU usage, the SidePort Memory provides integrated graphics acceleration and effectively boosts graphics performance.
Hybrid CrossFireX™ Support
Boosted Performance with onboard GPU and discrete graphics card
ATI Hybrid CrossFireX™ technology is a unique hybrid multi-GPU technology. It takes your gaming experience to the next level boosting PC performance by enabling the chipset’s integrated graphics processor and a discrete GPU to operate simultaneously with combined output for blisteringly-fast frame rates unleashing the graphics performance * Visit www.amd.com for the Hybrid CrossFireX selected GPUs.
AMD® 785G / SB710
AMD® 785G / SB710 Chipset is designed to support up to 5200MT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 (HT3.0) interface speed and PCI Express™ 2.0 x 16 graphics. It is optimized with AMD´s latest AM3 and multi-core CPUs to provide excellent system performance and overclocking capabilities.
PCIe 2.0 support
This motherboard supports the latest PCIe 2.0 devices for double speed and bandwidth which enhances system performance.
HDMI Support
Enjoy Full HD 1080p Multimedia Home-Theater Entertainment
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a set of digital video standards that delivers multi-channel audio and uncompressed digital video for full HD 1080p visuals through a single cable. Supporting HDCP copy protection such as HD DVD and Blu-ray Discs, HDMI provides you with the highest-quality home theater experience.
ASUS Power Solutions
8+2 Phase Power Design
To fully unleash the next-generation AM3 CPU´s potential, the ASUS M4 Series motherboards have adopted a brand new 8-phase VRM power design. It delivers high power efficiency and supreme overclocking ability. Furthermore, high quality power components can effectively lower system temperature to ensure longer component lifespan. This series also features an extra 2 (or 1) phase power dedicated to integrated memory/HT controller.
ASUS Green Design
EPU
The ASUS EPU (Energy Processing Unit) provides total system power management by detecting current PC loadings and intelligently moderating power in real-time. It automatically provides the most appropriate power usage for the CPU, VGA card, hard drives, and CPU/chassis fans- helping save power and money!
ASUS Overclocking Tools
Turbo Key
ASUS Turbo Key allows the user to turn the PC power button into an overclocking button. After the easy setup, Turbo Key can boost performances without interrupting ongoing work or games – with just one touch!!
TurboV
Feel the adrenaline rush of real-time O.C. – now a reality with the ASUS TurboV. This easy O.C. tool allows you to overclock without exiting or rebooting the OS; and its user-friendly interface makes overclock with just a few clicks away. Moreover, the ASUS OC profiles in TurboV provides the best O.C. settings in different scenarios.
GPU NOS
GPU NOS technology intelligently detects graphic loading and automatically boosts performance for the most demanding tasks. Unlike other dynamic overclocking techniques, GPU NOS reacts much faster to satisfy your need for graphic power.
*GPU NOS does not take effect under Hybrid CrossFireX mode.
ASUS EZ DIY
ASUS Q-Connector
ASUS Q-Connector allows you to easily connect or disconnect the chassis front panel cables to the motherboard. This unique module eliminates the trouble of connecting the system panel cables one at a time and avoiding wrong cable connections
EZ Flash2
Simply update BIOS from a USB flash disk before entering the OS
EZ Flash is a user-friendly BIOS update utility. Simply press the pre-defined hotkey to launch this tool and update BIOS from a floppy disk before entering the OS.
CrashFree BIOS 3
Simply restore corrupted BIOS data from USB flash disk
The ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 allows users to restore corrupted BIOS data from a USB flash disk containing the BIOS file. This utility saves users the cost and hassle of buying a replacement BIOS chip.
Express Gate
Express Gate
Taking only 5 seconds to bootup, Express Gate is the one-stop gateway to instant fun! It´s a unique motherboard built-in OS. You can utilize the most popular Instant Messengers (IM) like MSN, Skype, Google talk, QQ, and Yahoo! Messenger to keep in touch with friends, or quickly check on the weather and e-mails just before leaving your house. What´s more, the user-friendly picture manager lets you view your pictures without entering Windows at anytime!
* The actual boot time is subject to hardware configurations and product models.
ASUS Quiet Thermal Solutions
ASUS Q-Fan
ASUS Q-Fan technology intelligently adjusts CPU fan speeds according to system loading to ensure quiet, cool and efficient operation.
Other ASUS Features
Uses 100% All High-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors!(VRM 5000hrs lifespan @105°C, 500,000hrs @65°C)
This motherboard uses all high-quality conductive polymer capacitors onboard for durability, improved lifespan, and enhanced thermal capacity.
MyLogo2
Personalize your system with customizable boot logo
You can convert your favorite photo into a 256-color boot logo for a more colorful and vivid image on your screen.
Industry Standard
SATA on the Go
The motherboard supports hard drives based on the Serial ATA (SATA) 3Gb/s storage specification, delivering enhanced scalability and doubling the bus bandwidth for high-speed data retrieval and saves. The external SATA port located at the back I/O provides smart setup and hot-plug functions. Easily backup photos, videos and other entertainment contents on external devices.
S/PDIF-out on Back I/O Port
This motherboard provides convenient connectivity to external home theater audio systems via coaxial and optical S/PDIF-out (SONY-PHILIPS Digital Interface) jacks. It allows to transfer digital audio without converting to analog format and keeps the best signal quality.
High Definition Audio
Enjoy high-end sound system on your PC!
The onboard 8-channel HD audio (High Definition Audio, previously codenamed Azalia) CODEC enables high-quality 192KHz/24-bit audio output, jack-sensing feature, retasking functions and multi-streaming technology that simultaneously sends different audio streams to different destinations. You can now talk to your partners on the headphone while playing a multi-channel network games. All of these are done on one computer.
IEEE 1394a interface
IEEE 1394a interface provides high speed digital interface for audio/video appliances such as digital television, digital video camcorders, storage peripherals & other PC portable devices.
RoHS
GreenASUS
The motherboard and its packaging comply with the European Union´s Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). This is in line with the ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and recyclable products and packaging to safeguard consumers´ health while minimizing the impact on the environment.
