By Admin 14 October 2014 0 comments

• ASUS A88X-Gamer Motherboard Features and Specifications

This post is about the ASUS A88X-Gamer gaming motherboard announced a while ago. It contains information about the features and specifications of the motherboard, as provided by ASUS. First is the press release:

ASUS Announces A88X-Gamer

Socket FM2+ ATX gaming motherboard delivers absolute fun with Gigabit Ethernet, exclusive SupremeFX audio and rock-solid Gamer’s Guardian components

Taipei, Taiwan (7th August, 2014) — ASUS today announced A88X-Gamer, a new AMD® A88X chipset-based ATX gaming motherboard engineered with exclusive technologies to deliver absolute fun.
A88X-Gamer is equipped with the latest Intel® Gigabit Ethernet networking for fast, lag-free online-gaming experiences, exclusive SupremeFX technology for flawless gaming audio and exclusive Gamer's Guardian components for exceptional durability and reliability. It also includes the ASUS-exclusive AI Suite 3 software to unleash the true power of AMD accelerated-processing units (APUs).

Gaming audio

A88X-Gamer players benefit from exclusive SupremeFX technology for near-lossless audio with a remarkable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 115dB — so gamers hear every sound detail.
The advanced audio chipset is isolated from electromagnetic interference (EMI) by a protective shield, preserving the integrity of the audio signals. Exclusive ‘red-line shielding’ horizontally separates SupremeFX audio components from the rest of the motherboard. This unique combination effectively eliminates analog interference to ensure flawless sound quality. Premium ELNA® audio capacitors are added to the mix to deliver a warmer, natural sound to complete the audio experience.

SupremeFX also has a built-in amplifier that drives high-quality headphones — all the way up to 300ohm impedance — for sound quality that’s as great as a dedicated sound card.

Gaming networking

A88X-Gamer’s networking is powered by Intel Gigabit Ethernet. This offers exceptionally-high Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) throughput, lowering overall processing demands and improving efficiency — releasing more power for games and gameplay.

Gamer's Guardian components

A88X-Gamer is engineered with high-quality, highly-durable Gamer’s Guardian components for exceptional real-world protection.

Gamer’s Guardian includes onboard resettable fuses that protect the connection ports and DRAM against overcurrent and short-circuit damage, while exceptionally high-quality, Japanese-made 10K black-metallic capacitors offer greater temperature endurance and improved lifespans.

Gamer’s Guardian ESD Guards on the USB ports, audio connectors and Ethernet (LAN) port ensure that A88X-Gamer is actively protected against sudden electrostatic discharge (ESD). The result is that the components last much longer.

A88X-Gamer also has the ASUS-exclusive Digi+ voltage-regulator module (VRM) to enhance performance, increase efficiency and ensure reliability, and a stainless-steel back input/output (I/O) panel that’s chromium-plated and corrosion-resistant to last up to three times (3X) longer than traditional panels.

Envelope-pushing APU performance with AI Suite 3

A88X-Gamer includes AI Suite 3, an ASUS-exclusive dashboard-style control panel that lets gamers fine-tune almost every aspect of A88X-Gamer-based systems for the best balance between performance, stability and efficiency — all via a simple and intuitive interface.

ASUS A88X-Gamer Motherboard Overview and Specifications

A88X gaming motherboard with an FM2+ socket, SupremeFX audio, Intel LAN and Gamer's Guardian components for absolute fun

Specifications:

• CPU
  AMD Socket FM2+ Athlon™/A- Series Processors
  Supports CPU up to 4 cores
  Supports AMD® Turbo Core 3.0 Technology
  * Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support list
• Chipset
  AMD A88X (Bolton D4)
• Memory
  4 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR3 2400(O.C.)/2250(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133/1866/1600/1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
  Dual Channel Memory Architecture
  Support AMD Memory Profile (AMP) memory
  * The Max. 64GB memory capacity can be supported with DIMMs of 16GB (or above). ASUS will update QVL once the DIMMs are available on the market.
  * Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs.
  * Refer to www.asus.com for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists).
  * 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 Windows® OS when you want to install 4GB or more memory on the motherboard.
• Graphic
  Integrated AMD Radeon™ R/HD8000/HD7000 Series Graphics in the A-Series  APU
  Multi-VGA output support : HDMI/DVI/RGB ports
  - Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz*¹
  - Supports DVI with max. resolution 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz
  - Supports RGB with max. resolution 1920 x 1600 @ 60 Hz
  Maximum shared memory of 2048 MB
  AMD® Dual Graphics technology support *²
• Multi-GPU Support
  Supports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology
• Expansion Slots
  1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 mode) *³
  1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode, black)
  2 x PCIe 2.0 x1
  3 x PCI
• Storage
  AMD A88X FCH(Bolton D4) chipset :
  8 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
  Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10, JBOD
• LAN
  Intel® I211-AT, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)
• Audio
  SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
  - Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
  - High quality 115 dB SNR stereo playback output
  Audio Feature :
  - SupremeFX Shielding™ Technology
  - ELNA premium audio capacitors
  - Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
  - Audio amplifier: Provides the highest-quality sound for headphone and speakers
  - EMI protection cover to prevent electrical noise to affect the amplifier quality
• USB Ports
  AMD A88X FCH(Bolton D4) chipset :
  4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board)
  AMD A88X FCH(Bolton D4) chipset :
  10 x USB 2.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, black, 6 at mid-board)
• Special Features
  Gamer's Guardian:
  - ESD Guards on LAN, Audio, KBMS and USB3.0/2.0 ports
  - DRAM Overcurrent Protection
  - 10K Black Metallic Capacitors
  - Stainless Steel Back I/O
  - DIGI+ VRM
  ASUS EPU :
  - EPU
  ASUS Exclusive Features :
  - TurboV EVO
  - GPU Boost
  - AI Suite 3
  - Ai Charger
  - USB 3.0 Boost
  - Disk Unlocker
  Interactive HomeCloud
  - Media Streamer
  ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution :
  - Stylish Fanless Design Heat-sink solution & MOS Heatsink
  - ASUS Fan Xpert 2
  ASUS EZ DIY :
  - ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
  - ASUS EZ Flash 2
  - ASUS MyLogo 2
  - ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode
  - Multi-language BIOS
  ASUS Q-Design :
  - ASUS Q-Shield
  - ASUS Q-Slot
  - ASUS Q-DIMM
• Operating System Support
  Windows® 8.1 , 32bit/64bit
  Windows® 8 , 32bit/64bit
  Windows® 7 , 32bit/64bit
• Back I/O Ports
  1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s)
  1 x DVI
  1 x D-Sub
  1 x HDMI
  1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
  2 x USB 3.0 (blue)
  4 x USB 2.0
  1 x Optical S/PDIF out
  6 x Audio jack(s)
• Internal I/O Ports
  1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s) (19-pin)
  3 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 6 USB 2.0 port(s)
  1 x TPM header
  1 x COM port(s) connector(s)
  8 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
  1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin)
  2 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (2 x 4 -pin)
  1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
  1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
  1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP)
  1 x System panel(s)
  1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s)
• Accessories
  User's manual
  ASUS Q-Shield
  2 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)
• BIOS
  64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 2.0a, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3, F12 PrintScreen Function, F3 My Favorites and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory information
• Support Disc
  Drivers, ASUS utilities, EZ Update, Anti-virus software (OEM version)
• Form Factor
  ATX Form Factor
  12 inch x 9.0 inch ( 30.5 cm x 22.9 cm )
• Note
  *1: *Only FM2+ APU can support up to 4096 x 2160 resolution display via HDMI port.
  *2: Refer to http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/dual-graphics/Pages/dual-graphics.aspx#3 for the discrete GPUs which support Dual Graphics technology.
  *3: Only FM2+ Processors can support PCIe3.0.

Sources:
http://www.asus.com/News/KRoGOcbS22OdDQEq
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/A88XGAMER/

By Admin 07 October 2014 0 comments

• Acer V Nitro Notebook PCs | Aspire V17 Specifications

This post is about the announcement made by Acer that the Acer V Nitro Notebook PCs are now available in North America. It is followed by the specifications of the Acer Aspire V17 VN7-791G-77JJ model.
The press release was as follows:


2014-10-01

Powerful Acer V Nitro Black Edition Notebook PCs Now Available in North America

SAN JOSE, Calif. Editor’s Summary:

• Designed for the most demanding power users, V Nitro Black Edition models features the powerful SV (standard voltage) 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-4710HQ Quad Core processor, Nvidia® GeForce® GTX860M graphics, dual wireless antennas and advanced cooling technology⁽¹⁾.
• Models include a17.3-inch or 15.6-inch Full HD matte display with IPS technology, and are configured with either Solid State Drives and/or up to a 1TB hard drive⁽²⁾⁽³⁾.
• Providing a first-rate entertainment experience, 17.3-inch models include either a Blu-ray Disc™ or a DVD drive; Dolby® technology and 4 speakers deliver thrilling stereo sound⁽³⁾.
• Less than one-inch thick, the sleek V Nitro Black Edition series brings a sophisticated, modern design to high-performance PC notebooks.

Acer today announced the North American availability of its V Nitro Black Edition series of high-performance notebooks which deliver superior performance, multimedia and entertainment features in a sleek and elegant design.

Powerful workstation class capabilities make it a great tool for work and play. Lightning fast processing, cutting-edge graphics, Full HD displays, and amped up audio make it the ultimate platform for any power user.

Whether used in the board room or a dorm room, it’s built for full immersion. Professionals will love how it responds to photo and video editing software and 3D rendering/modeling applications, while consumers will be thrilled with how smoothly it handles demanding multimedia programs and graphic-intensive games with rich visuals and booming audio.

“Acer Aspire V Nitro Black Edition notebooks are ideally suited for people who use the same system in their professional and personal lives,” said Eric Ackerson, senior product marketing and brand manager. “V Nitro’s upscale modern design doesn’t look out of place at the office, and its features make it perfect for home entertainment needs, whether it’s used for watching movies or playing demanding graphic intensive games after work hours.”

The Acer V Nitro Black Edition notebook series includes models with two screen sizes; the V 15 Nitro line includes 15.6-inch Full HD displays, while the V 17 Nitro line offers larger 17.3-inch Full HD displays and optical drives. They both combine cutting-edge technology with top-of-the-line features.


Full Throttle Performance
Ideal for powering through the most demanding applications for both work and play, V Nitro Black Edition models come equipped with an SV (standard voltage) 4th Generation Intel Core i7-4710HQ Quad Core processor for maximum power. Acer also included the Nvidia® GeForce GTX 860M graphics for powerful performance and smooth game play. It is up to 60 percent faster than Nvidia’s previous generation GPUs. Various models include 8GB, 12GB or 16GB of memory. Dual wireless antennas supporting both 2.4GHz and 5GH frequencies enable speedy Internet connections.

In addition, fast 128GB or 256GB solid state drives provide fast wake times and rapid access to files, movies, songs and photos and/or up to a 1TB hard disk drive for storing massive amounts of multimedia files. Acer’s Build Your Own Cloud (BYOC) is also included, so users can use the storage capacity on their notebook as their own personal cloud storage device, for ultimate privacy and security. With BYOC Apps, users can sync wirelessly to other devices and get access to their digital files anytime, anywhere.


Keep it Cool
To keep the notebook running cool and at optimum performance, V 17 Nitro Black Edition models include Acer DustDefender⁽¹⁾, a unique dust removal system that uses a high-speed fan with thin metal blades to remove dust build-up, improve heat dissipation and minimize noise. The fan blades utilize an ingenious dust propelling mechanism at an extremely high speed to vastly improve air flow around high-performance components. By removing dust and maintaining a cool temperature, Acer DustDefender ensures performance is consistent, enhances user comfort and extends the notebook’s lifecycle. In addition, Acer includes its new CoolBoost technology app⁽¹⁾ that lets consumers make adjustments to the fans’ airflow. A Turbo Mode option delivers maximum fan speed and cooling power when heavy use requires an added boost.



The Ultimate Entertainment Experience
Top of the line entertainment features make the V Nitro Black Edition notebooks the ideal home entertainment system for gaming and watching the latest movies. Full high-definition displays with IPS technology provide brilliant, crisp visuals and wide viewing angles, while Acer Comfy View, a non-glare display, helps reduces eye fatigue. Four built-in speakers (8W total output) combine with Dolby Digital Plus Home Theater™ for powerful surround sound for gaming, movies and music. Various models in the V 17 line include either a Blu-ray Disc drive for a crystal clear movie experience or an 8X DVD Super Multi Double Layer Drive that is M-DISC⁽⁴⁾ enabled and can be used to save medical records, photos, video and data for up to 1,000 years. M-DISC™ is resistant to extreme conditions of light, temperature, humidity and more. It cannot be overwritten, erased or corrupted by natural processes.

For connecting with friends, family or fellow gamers, Skype Certification delivers crystal clear and instant communications. Optimized hardware ensures every word will be heard clearly with no gap or lag in speech, minimal background noise and zero echo.


Sharp Angles, Curved Hinges, Glossy and Matte Finishes Create a Sophisticated, Modern Design
With a sleek, thin profile, Aspire V Nitro notebooks have a clean modern design. Sharp angles, a beautifully curved glossy hinge and a matte cover offer a contrasting yet visually balanced appearance. The lid is covered with a unique soft-touch material made with NIL (Nanoimprint Lithography) technology. This durable and refined finish includes an intricate pattern to deliver a sophisticated aesthetic and distinct tactile feel. The soft illumination from a spacious and comfortable backlit keyboard makes navigation simple and completes the V Nitro’s modern design.

Acer Aspire V17 Specifications

Model Name: Aspire V17 VN7-791G-77JJ
Part Number: NX.MQRAA.001

Operating System
Operating System	Windows 8.1
Processor & Chipset
Processor Manufacturer	Intel
Processor Type	Core i7
Processor Model	i7-4710HQ
Processor Speed	2.50 GHz
Processor Core	Quad-core (4 Core)
Memory
Standard Memory	16 GB
Maximum Memory	16 GB
Memory Technology	DDR3L SDRAM
Number of Total Memory Slots	2
Memory Card Reader	Yes
Memory Card Supported	Secure Digital (SD) Card
Storage
Hard Drive Capacity	1 TB
Hard Drive Interface	Serial ATA
Solid State Drive Capacity	256 GB
Optical Drive Type	DVD-Writer
Display & Graphics
Screen Size	17.3"
Display Screen Type	Active Matrix TFT Color LCD
Display Screen Technology	ComfyView In-plane Switching (IPS) Technology
Screen Mode	Full HD
Backlight Technology	LED
Screen Resolution	1920 x 1080
Graphics Controller Manufacturer	NVIDIA
Graphics Controller Model	GeForce GTX 860M
Graphics Memory Capacity	Up to 2 GB
Graphics Memory Technology	GDDR5 SDRAM
Graphics Memory Accessibility	Dedicated
Network & Communication
Wireless LAN Standard	IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n
Ethernet Technology	Gigabit Ethernet
Built-in Devices
Webcam	Yes
Microphone	Yes
Finger Print Reader	No
Interfaces/Ports
HDMI	Yes
Number of USB 2.0 Ports	2
Number of USB 3.0 Ports	2
Total Number of USB Ports	4
Network (RJ-45)	Yes
Software
Operating System	Windows 8.1
Operating System Architecture	64-bit
Input Devices
Pointing Device Type	TouchPad
Keyboard	Yes
Battery Information
Number of Cells	3-cell
Battery Chemistry	Lithium Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity	4450 mAh
Power Description
Maximum Power Supply Wattage	135 W
Physical Characteristics
Height	1"
Height (Front)	1"
Height (Rear)	1"
Width	16.7"
Depth	11.5"
Weight (Approximate)	6.61 lb
Miscellaneous
Package Contents	Aspire VN7-791G-77JJ Notebook Lithium Ion Battery AC Adapter
Additional Information	Wireless LAN: Acer Nplify 802.11a/b/g/n

Sources:
http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/press/2014/82645
http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/series/aspirevnitro
http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/model/NX.MQRAA.001

By Admin 03 October 2014 0 comments

• ASUS RT-AC87U AC2400 Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless Router Features and Specifications

This post consists of the announcement made by ASUS (on 2014/09/01) for the ASUS RT-AC87U AC2400 Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless Router as being the world's first 4x4 802.11ac WiFi router with multi-user MIMO and universal beamforming boasts 2334Mbits/s combined speeds and unrivaled coverage. This is followed by some of the features and specifications of the router.

ASUS Announces RT-AC87U AC2400 Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless Router

 

World’s first 4x4 802.11ac Wi-Fi router with multi-user MIMO and universal beamforming boasts 2334Mbit/s combined speeds and unrivaled coverage

Taipei, Taiwan (15th August, 2014) — ASUS today announced RT-AC87U, the world’s first AC2400-class dual-band 802.11ac wireless router with a four-transmit, four-receive (4x4) antenna configuration. This stunningly-designed, easy-to-use router is also the first in the world to employ multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology. Combined with ASUS AiRadar universal beamforming, adaptive Quality-of-Service (QoS), plus AiProtection with exclusive Trend Micro security, RT-AC87U is expertly-engineered for outstanding performance and coverage in today’s multi-device households. Offering 5GHz speeds that are faster than wired Gigabit Ethernet, along with class-leading 2.4GHz speeds and reliable multi-floor coverage, RT-AC87U is the perfect choice for discerning users with busy multi-device home networks who need extreme coverage, lightning-fast performance, rock-solid stability and total peace of mind.

Advanced wireless technology for faster-than-wired speeds

The AC2400-class RT-AC87U has blistering 1734Mbit/s 802.11ac speeds on the 5GHz frequency band — faster than wired Gigabit Ethernet — and uses Broadcom® TurboQAM™ to boost 802.11n 2.4GHz performance from 450Mbit/s to 600Mbit/s with compatible devices such as ASUS PCE-AC681. This gives RT-AC87U an amazing combined maximum concurrent data rate of up to 2334Mbit/s.

Maximum coverage, with no dead spots

The explosive growth in smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs and other Wi-Fi-enabled gadgets means that in a modern household the available wireless bandwidth is often shared between many devices. In standard routers, as more devices are connected the network can become overloaded, leading to instability, lags and slowdowns. RT-AC87U uses four high-performance antennas, four separate spatial data streams, ASUS AiRadar, MU-MIMO and adaptive QoS technology to solve these problems. The 4x4 antennas improve coverage by up to 33% compared to standard 3x3 models, and typically RT-AC87U can effortlessly cover an area up to 465m2, making it ideal for eliminating ‘dead spots’ in large or multi-floor environments.

Supercharged performance with two dual-core processors

At the heart of RT-AC87U is the latest Quantenna™ system-on-a-chip (SoC), featuring its own powerful dedicated dual-core processor that handles all 802.11ac Wi-Fi-related computations. This frees up RT-AC87U’s 1GHz dual-core CPU to perform other processor-intensive system tasks — such as media streaming — much more efficiently. The result is a superb multitasking capability that can easily handle the simultaneous demands of all connected devices, giving an outstandingly-responsive network and also improving USB storage performance.

In our tests using three wired and two wireless PCs to simulate a busy multi-client network, RT-AC87U delivered up to 50% more total throughput (combined 2.4GHz, 5GHz and NAT performance) compared to a typical router with a single 1.2GHz dual-core processor2. USB file transfer performance over Wi-Fi is also improved dramatically — when transferring files to and from SuperSpeed USB 3.0 devices over 802.11ac Wi-Fi, RT-AC87U can perform up to twice as fast as a router with a single 1.2GHz dual-core processor3.

The best-ever internet experience, for all devices

AiRadar uses universal beamforming, which detects the location of devices and individually focuses the wireless signal towards them for optimum reception. This feature even works with previous-generation Wi-Fi devices. The revolutionary and future-proof MU-MIMO technology means that RT-AC87U will be able to connect to multiple MU-MIMO-compatible clients at each device’s maximum speed simultaneously, unlike standard single-user MIMO where individual devices have to wait for sequential data transmissions. This means that as users add more MU-MIMO-enabled devices, the router’s capacity actually increases, giving all users the best possible internet experience4.

Adaptive QoS is a feature that intelligently and automatically prioritizes and allocates available bandwidth to devices and applications as they need it, ensuring smoothly-streaming HD videos, lag-free online gaming, crystal-clear VoIP calls and uninterrupted web browsing.

Total peace of mind — AiProtection with Trend Micro security

Recognizing the increasing complexity and diversity of home networks, and the difficulty of ensuring effective network-wide security, RT-AC87U introduces the powerful new AiProtection feature, with exclusive Trend Micro™ technology. This employs a three-pronged approach to security — prevention, protection and mitigation — that assures total peace of mind. Its state-of-the-art protection continuously safeguards users and all connected devices from malware, malicious websites and other cyber-threats, while safeguarding user privacy and keeping a constant check on network security status. Alerts are raised whenever an infected device or other potential security problems, such as insecure passwords, are found.

1 See http://www.asus.com/Networking/PCEAC68 for details.
2 The actual throughput may vary due to ISP speed, Wi-Fi interference, client distance, environment and other factors.
3 The actual transfer speed may vary due to Wi-Fi interference, client distance, storage devices, environment and other factors.
4 Requires MU-MIMO-enabled clients with up to 3x3 spatial streams.

ASUS RT-AC87U AC2400 Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless Router Features and Specifications

Dual-band Wireless-AC2400 Gigabit Router

Sources:
http://www.asus.com/News/AMsAhbjw7mhxo0r3
http://www.asus.com/Networking/RTAC87U/

By Admin 29 September 2014 0 comments

• Corsair Graphite Series™ 380T Mini ITX Case Features and Overview

By Admin 24 September 2014 0 comments

• ASUS X99-E WS Workstation Motherboard Review

This article is a review of the ASUS X99-E WS Workstation motherboard recently announced by ASUS. This post consists of the announcement along with an overview of the motherboard and its specifications. Firstly, the announcement was as follows:

ASUS Announces X99-E WS

X99 chipset-based workstation motherboard supports PCI Express 3.0 x16 four-way graphics power, leading connectivity and premium components for premium efficiency

ASUS X99-E WS Workstation Motherboard Overview

By Admin 19 September 2014 0 comments

• ASUS Strix R9 285 Gaming Graphics Card Review

This article is about the announcement of ASUS Strix R9 285 gaming Graphics card made on the 2014/09/13. This graphics card includes DirectCU II and features 0dB fan technology. The article, as posted by ASUS is available below:

ASUS Announces Strix R9 285 Gaming Graphics Card

Featuring 30% cooler operation and near-silent acoustics

Taipei, Taiwan (2nd September, 2014) — ASUS today announced the new Strix R9 285, a gaming graphics card packed with exclusive ASUS technologies, including DirectCU II to deliver cooler, quieter, and faster performance for incredible action gaming experiences. Strix R9 285 also features 0dB fan technology to let gamers enjoy total silence during light gameplay as well as Blu-ray movie playback free from distracting background noise.

Strix R9 285 features exclusive ASUS Super Alloy Power components for enhanced durability and cooling, and GPU Tweak for overclocking and online streaming that is as simple as it is flexible. It also comes equipped with a DisplayPort interface to support connections up to 4K/UHD (ultra-high definition) resolution.

Strix R9 285 is factory-overclocked at 954MHz and is fitted with 2GB of high speed GDDR5 video memory. All this raw performance adds up to smoother, more-engaging and better overall gameplay experiences for players.

Play in total silence, and enjoy performance 3% faster and 30% cooler than reference

Strix R9 285 features 0dB fan technology, an exclusive fan design that lets players enjoy light gaming sessions in total silence. As long as the GPU temperature remains below a set level, Strix R9 285 keeps its fan off, resulting in a totally-quiet gaming experience. When the GPU temperature increases during more intensive gaming, the fan turns on to keep the graphics card cool, while performing at a level that is 30% cooler and 3X quieter than reference cards.

Power up for the win - DIGI+ VRM with 8-phase Super Alloy Power

Strix R9 285 includes Digi+ voltage-regulator module (VRM) technology, an 8-phase power design that reduces power noise by 30% and enhances energy efficiency by 15%, compared to reference designs. Digi+ VRM also widens voltage-modulation tolerance and improves overall stability and increases overclocking potential.

Real-time monitoring and control with GPU Tweak

Strix R9 285 comes with GPU Tweak, an exclusive ASUS tool that enables users to squeeze the very best performance from their graphics card. GPU Tweak provides the ability to finely control GPU speeds, voltages and video memory clock speeds in real time, so overclocking is easy and can be carried out with high confidence.

GPU Tweak also includes a streaming tool that lets users share on-screen action over the internet in real time, meaning others can watch live as games are played. It is even possible to add a title to the streaming window along with scrolling text, pictures and webcam images.


Source:
http://www.asus.com/News/rDDGDs7u9efsbesQ

By Admin 13 September 2014 0 comments

• ASUS X99 Series Motherboards Review | X99-Deluxe, X99-Pro and X99-A

This is a review on the ASUS X99 series motherboards, as announced by ASUS in  a previous press release. An overview of the ASUS X99-A motherboard is also presented, as well as its specifications. All data from taken from ASUS. Links are available at the end of the post.

ASUS Announces X99 Series Motherboards

X99-Deluxe, X99-Pro and X99-A release ultimate performance from X99 chipset with patent-pending OC Socket and exclusive 5-Way Optimization technology

Taipei, Taiwan (30th August, 2014) — ASUS today announced X99-Deluxe, X99-Pro and X99-A, three new ATX motherboards based on the Intel® X99 chipset and packed with exclusive technologies, including OC Socket and 5-Way Optimization, to ensure ultimate performance from the latest LGA 2011-v3 Intel Core™ i7 processors.

X99-Deluxe is the flagship model, with a bundled ASUS Hyper M.2 x4 expansion card for ultra-fast 32Gbit/s transfer speeds; onboard 3x3 (3T3R) 802.11ac for ultra-fast Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1,300Mbit/s; and an ASUS Fan Extension Card for flexible additional cooling. With a cool, streamlined outlook that includes a broad, striking-white shield, X99-Deluxe and X99-Pro also deliver the futuristic style and strong performance demanded by PC enthusiasts

All new X99 Series motherboards also feature Crystal Sound 2 for flawless audio; Turbo LAN technology for lag-free online gaming and productivity; and our renowned UEFI BIOS for intuitive setup and control.

OC Socket and 5-Way Optimization for pumped overclocking performance

X99 Series motherboards are equipped with a brand-new ASUS invention — our patent-pending OC Socket. This unique socket includes extra pins that connect proprietary circuitry to extra contacts found on Haswell-E's land grid array (LGA), and is 100% compatible with Intel’s new LGA 2011-v3 (‘Haswell-E’) processors. In combination with the ASUS UEFI BIOS, OC Socket enables higher DDR4 memory frequencies, lower latencies and enhanced stability while overclocking, extending all the way to extreme overclocking conditions, such as Liquid Nitrogen (LN2).Users are also able to increase DDR4 memory frequencies to 3200MHz and beyond, even with all eight DIMM slots populated.

PC enthusiasts also benefit from exclusive 5-Way Optimization technology to dynamically optimize an X99-Deluxe-based PC with one click. First up is Turbo Processor Unit (TPU), which offers precise voltage control and advanced monitoring for both the CPU and the graphics card. Then there’s Energy Processing Unit (EPU) to deliver system-wide real-time power savings, controlled via a simple onboard switch or the easy-to-use AI Suite 3 utility.

5-Way Optimization technology also includes the Digi+ voltage-regulator module (VRM) to enhance performance, increase efficiency and ensure reliability, and Fan Xpert 3 for peerless customized fan control. Completing the 5-Way Optimization technology line-up is Turbo App, an intuitive tuning panel to tailor and boost all parts of the system for specific games or programs.

Loaded with extreme hardware for extreme builds

X99-Deluxe is a high-end motherboard loaded with extras for truly awesome builds. The bundled Hyper M.2 x4 expansion card gives users flexibility to equip their systems with up to two M.2 devices to enjoy transfer speeds of up to 32Gbit/s. Hyper M.2 x4 supports M.2 devices from the smallest 30mm (2230) to full-length 110mm (221100) cards.

The supplied ASUS Fan Extension Card provides flexible additional cooling in the shape of three 4-pin/3-pin fan headers. With a hardware-level PWM/DC mode, Fan Extension Card offers exceptional control and is ideal for water-cooled or extreme-airflow high-performance systems.

X99-Deluxe also has super-fast 802.11ac wireless connectivity on board. The three-transmit, three-receive (3x3) antenna configuration enables wireless speeds of up to 1,300Mbit/s.

In common with the other X99-series motherboards, X99-Deluxe supports the ASUS ThunderboltEX II expansion card. This gives users the freedom to add Thunderbolt™ 2 connectivity to X99-Deluxe at any time for bi-directional transfer speeds up to 20Gbit/s — that's four times (4X) faster than USB 3.0.

A complete X99 line-up

X99-Pro and X99-A complete the ASUS X99 motherboard line-up. Both boards will arrive slightly later than X99-Deluxe but share many of the same powerful features.

ASUS X99-A Motherboard Overview and Specifications

Unmatched performance, flawless Crystal Sound 2 audio and customizable Turbo App for your X99 build.

Asus X99-A Specifications

Sources:
http://www.asus.com/News/tch8YDw8vmCrGthg
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/X99A/

By Admin 08 September 2014 0 comments

• AX760i | AX1200i PSU - Quieter one?

This post is a comparative study between the AX760i and AX1200i PSU to see which one is quieter. The specifications of the hardware used are given below. Note that the article was originally written at the Corsair blog on June 18, 2014. All credit goes to them. A link to their page is available as the end of this post. The article is as follows:



 





























Source:
http://www.corsair.com/en/blog/2014/june/rm_fan-speed