Enthusiasts are a vocal bunch, and they're quick to point out when certain companies force obsolescence more frequently than others. A good example was when Intel switched from LGA 1156 to LGA 1155 for the sake of integration. The platform controller hubs themselves were interchangeable, and many of the folks shopping for upgrade parts couldn't fathom replacing an entire platform for the sake of a relatively-insignificant component.
Fans of AMD see their brand of choice a little differently, pointing out that the company has used the same processor interface over and over again. Minor alterations often allow previous-gen CPUs to drop into new platforms. By necessity, the reverse typically isn't true, though. AMD often leaves owners of older motherboards unable to upgrade their CPU. At least the motherboard makers are happy.
Not that we fault either company either way. Yes, we're quick to fire off criticism when a company kills a platform after just one generation. But we also understand that changes to power delivery, on-die functionality, and requisite pin-outs take precedence over forward or backward compatibility.
Our A88X block diagram looks familiar, as it should. The chipset claims a new XHCI version for improved peripheral compatibility and/or stability. Typically, changes that small would qualify as a new stepping of the previous product, rather than an update deserving of a new model designation.
Personally, I believe that the primary reason for the new chipset name is to assure builders that they’re getting PCIe 3.0-capable circuitry. Also, AMD's “new” socket is meant to prevent builders from accidentally putting Kaveri-based APUs into boards that haven't been updated to accept it.
Welcome to AMD’s version of Intel’s LGA 1156 to 1155 transition, with the usual AMD twist that you can at least upgrade your motherboard while using your old CPU, even if we don't expect a whole lot of that to happen.

Rather, Kaveri is the only reason we can think of for anyone who owns an A85X platform to take the A88X plunge. Fortunately, that's a pretty compelling justification to upgrade all on its own. AMD is hoping to leverage its work germinating the HSA Foundation, back software development of heterogeneous computing-aware applications, and ultimately demonstrate its GCN-based graphics hardware accelerating workloads beyond gaming. Some of our benchmarks already utilize AMD's shaders via OpenCL, and our hats are off to AMD for its role in advocating the use of whichever hardware resources yield the best overall experience. Hopefully, more developers follow suit.

| A88X ATX Motherboard Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock FM2A88X+ Killer | Asus A88X-Pro | Gigabyte F2A88X-UP4 | MSI A88X-G45 Gaming | |
| PCB Revision | 1.00 | 1.01 | 3.0 | 1.1 |
| Chipset | AMD A88X | AMD A88X | AMD A88X | AMD A88X |
| Voltage Regulator | Six phases | Eight phases | Eight phases | Six phases |
| BIOS | P1.80 (02/20/2014) | 0904 (02/19/2014) | F5c (02/06/2014) | 1.0 (01/23/2014) |
| 100.0 MHz BCLK | 99.80 (-0.20%) | 99.98 (-0.02%) | 100.51 (+0.51%) | 100.48 (+0.48%) |
| I/O Panel Connectors | ||||
| P/S 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| USB 3.0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| USB 2.0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Network | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| CLR_CMOS Button | 1 | None | None | None |
| Digital Audio Out | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical |
| Digital Audio In | None | None | None | None |
| Analog Audio | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Video Out | VGA, DVI-D, HDMI | DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA, DVI-D | VGA, DVI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort | VGA, DVI-D, HDMI, DisplayPort |
| Other Devices | None | Dual eSATA, USB BIOS Flashback | eSATA | None |
| Internal Interfaces | ||||
| PCIe 3.0 x16 | 1 (x16 link) | 2 (x16/x0 or x8/x8) | 2 (x16/x0 or x8/x8) | 2 (x16/x0 or x8/x8) |
| PCIe 2.0 x16 | 1 (x4 link) | 1 (x4 link) | 1 (x4 link) | 1 (x4 link) |
| PCIe 2.0 x1 | 2 | 2 | 3 (1-shared w/slot above) | 3 (2 share 1-lane) |
| USB 3.0 | 1 (2-ports) | 1 (2-ports) | 2 (4-ports) | 1 (2-ports) |
| USB 2.0 | 3 (6-ports) | 4 (8-ports) | 4 (8-ports) | 3 (6-ports) |
| SATA 6.0 Gb/s | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 4-Pin Fan | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| 3-Pin Fan | 4 | None | 1 | 2 |
| FP-Audio | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| S/PDIF I/O | None | Output-only | Output-only | None |
| Internal Buttons | None | MemOK, BIOS_FLBK, DirectKey | Power, Reset, CMOS selector | OC Genie, Power, Reset, CLR_CMOS |
| Internal Switch | None | EPU, TPU | None | OC mode, Slow mode |
| Diagnostics Panel | None | Numeric | Numeric | Numeric |
| Other Devices | 3x PCI, Serial COM port | Serial COM port | Serial COM port | Serial COM port |
| Mass Storage Controllers | ||||
| Chipset SATA | 8 x SATA 6Gb/s | 6 x SATA 6Gb/s 2 x eSATA 6Gb/s | 7 x SATA 6Gb/s 1 x eSATA 6Gb/s | 8 x SATA 6Gb/s |
| Chipset RAID Modes | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 |
| Add-In SATA | None | None | None | None |
| USB 3.0 | ASM1042 PCIe (2-ports) | ASM1042 PCIe (2-ports) | VLI VL805 PCIe (4-ports) | VLI VL805 PCIe (4-ports) |
| Networking | ||||
| Primary LAN | Killer E2205 PCIe | RTL8111GR PCIe | RTL8111F PCIe | Killer E2205 PCIe |
| Secondary LAN | None | None | None | None |
| Wi-Fi | None | None | None | None |
| Bluetooth | None | None | None | None |
| Audio | ||||
| HD Audio Codec | ALC1150 | ALC1150 | ALC892 | ALC1150 |
| DDL/DTS Connect | DTS Connect | None | None | None |
| Warranty | Three years | Three years | Three years | Three years |
All four major manufacturers are targeting the performance-mainstream market with full-sized A88X-based motherboards priced from $105 to $120, and the most expensive one includes a game certificate worth at least $20. Builders who value that title at full price will find a mere $15 separating the field. With pricing differences almost trivial, let’s take a look at what each of these boards can give us for roughly $112.
- Four Motherboards For AMD's Kaveri-Based APUs
- ASRock FM2A88X+ Killer
- FM2A88X+ Killer Firmware
- Tuning With ASRock F-Stream
- Additional F-Stream Tools
- Asus A88X-Pro
- A88X-Pro Firmware
- Tuning With Asus DIP 4
- Additional AI Suite 3 Tools
- Gigabyte F2A88X-UP4
- F2A88X-UP4 Firmware
- Gigabyte Software
- MSI A88X-G45 Gaming
- A88X-G45 Gaming Firmware
- Tuning With MSI Command Center
- Additional MSI Software
- Test Hardware And Benchmark Configuration
- Results: Synthetic Tests
- Results: Media Conversion And Content Creation
- Results: Productivity And File Compression
- Power, Heat, And Efficiency
- Overclocking
- Which A88X Motherboard Is Best?
yes. but at a lower price range probably. first, a10 7850k itself has to come down in price by $40-50 outside microcenter.
yes. but at a lower price range probably. first, a10 7850k itself has to come down in price by $40-50 outside microcenter.
Even beyond price, ATX seems pointless with a Kaveri APU. Myself, I'm waiting for the A8-7600 to build a very small (< 3 liters) ITX HTPC running the APU in 45W mode. Although I'm very excited about doing that build, I can't see any use case that makes sense for a Kaveri APU in an ATX form factor. Perhaps the A88x chipset has some feature benefit for building something using the 750 or 760k CPU in a budget build. But the only build I would even think about using a Kaveri APU in would be a mini-ITX PC/HTPC or laptop.
Beyond that, I would love to see Lian-Li come out with a tiny case like the PC-Q02, PC-Q09 or PC-Q12, but with the design for a single 120mm CLC and a 300W SFX PSU to allow a decent overclock on a 7850k APU with the smallest form factor possible (i.e. < 8 liters). That type of build might get me jazzed up for the 7850k.
Even beyond price, ATX seems pointless with a Kaveri APU. Myself, I'm waiting for the A8-7600 to build a very small (< 3 liters) ITX HTPC running the APU in 45W mode. Although I'm very excited about doing that build, I can't see any use case that makes sense for a Kaveri APU in an ATX form factor. Perhaps the A88x chipset has some feature benefit for building something using the 750 or 760k CPU in a budget build. But the only build I would even think about using a Kaveri APU in would be a mini-ITX PC/HTPC or laptop.
Beyond that, I would love to see Lian-Li come out with a tiny case like the PC-Q02, PC-Q09 or PC-Q12, but with the design for a single 120mm CLC and a 300W SFX PSU to allow a decent overclock on a 7850k APU with the smallest form factor possible (i.e. < 8 liters). That type of build might get me jazzed up for the 7850k.
yeah. but uatx or mini itx doesn't give easy access to that many sata or usb ports, usually.
imo, the atx boards make for great media and casual gaming builds with 8 sata ports (at that price).
in gigabyte's case, dual usb 3.0 headers open up more inputs for external storage.
the typical apu buyer goes for cheaper uatx boards, followed by full or slightly narrower atx motherboards.
yes. but at a lower price range probably. first, a10 7850k itself has to come down in price by $40-50 outside microcenter.
Even beyond price, ATX seems pointless with a Kaveri APU. Myself, I'm waiting for the A8-7600 to build a very small (< 3 liters) ITX HTPC running the APU in 45W mode. Although I'm very excited about doing that build, I can't see any use case that makes sense for a Kaveri APU in an ATX form factor. Perhaps the A88x chipset has some feature benefit for building something using the 750 or 760k CPU in a budget build. But the only build I would even think about using a Kaveri APU in would be a mini-ITX PC/HTPC or laptop.
Beyond that, I would love to see Lian-Li come out with a tiny case like the PC-Q02, PC-Q09 or PC-Q12, but with the design for a single 120mm CLC and a 300W SFX PSU to allow a decent overclock on a 7850k APU with the smallest form factor possible (i.e. < 8 liters). That type of build might get me jazzed up for the 7850k.
It is not pointless atx has more usb, pcie.and sata ports available. Atx boards are stronger and have better heat dissipation. I have seen many matx boards crack from big air coolers hanging inside of the case. Your preference is just that your preference.
Ok, so I'm just cracking up at the thought of a Kaveri APU build with 8 drives, dual graphics, and a big air cooler hanging off it - maybe it's just me, but it seems counter to the whole concept of the APU.
I mean, the ASRock FM2A88X-ITX board is quite capable. 6 SATA 6.0Gb/s, 1 mPCIE/mSATA, 32GB RAM, total of 4 USB 3.0 and 8 USB 2.0.
But you're right, that is my preference/opinion....
I usually go for ASRock products, but this particular model is hard to get behind. They pull the eSATA, half the SATA cables, and still keep limiting the 4-pin fan headers. PLEASE, Tom's, can you tell these manufacturers that all fan headers should be PWM?
And I don't get the PCI connectors either. Sure, someone may still have one legacy PCI device, but two? Meanwhile the PCIe x1 slots almost always bracket the top x16 slot so the lower one is usually blocked off. Here's an idea: put one of the old PCI slots right below the top x16 slot. My guess is the people who still have PCI cards are also the ones who don't have dual-slot GPUs, and vice versa. That way people who don't use the PCI slot never have to worry about covering up something they may actually need in the future.
Ok, so I'm just cracking up at the thought of a Kaveri APU build with 8 drives, dual graphics, and a big air cooler hanging off it - maybe it's just me, but it seems counter to the whole concept of the APU.
I mean, the ASRock FM2A88X-ITX board is quite capable. 6 SATA 6.0Gb/s, 1 mPCIE/mSATA, 32GB RAM, total of 4 USB 3.0 and 8 USB 2.0.
But you're right, that is my preference/opinion....
Glad i could give you a laugh, I myself like a good matx board when the build warrants the use of one. I know some big UATX fans also. My asrock extreme 6 has 3 pcie 16 and 2 x1 slots. 7 x SATA3, 1 x eSATA, 6 x USB 3.0 (2 Front, 4 Rear), 8 x USB 2.0. supports dual graphics and 3 way cross fire.
Glad i could give you a laugh, I myself like a good matx board when the build warrants the use of one. I know some big UATX fans also. My asrock extreme 6 has 3 pcie 16 and 2 x1 slots. 7 x SATA3, 1 x eSATA, 6 x USB 3.0 (2 Front, 4 Rear), 8 x USB 2.0. supports dual graphics and 3 way cross fire.
Don't get me wrong - I've got no problem with ATX or uATX form factors. I have a uATX under my desk as my 2nd office PC (a laptop for work & uATX desktop for gaming, ripping or whatever when I need a break). It's still running an AMD Phenom II X4 965 that I paid $75 for plus a new R9 280x. AMD just hasn't given a good enough incentive to upgrade from that point, and I'm frankly considering a switch-over to an I5 for that system. I'm reluctant to upgrade in the AM3+ path, and the FM2 platform just hasn't provided anything better than what I have now.
I'm also pretty excited about Kaveri in general, but for the ITX form factor. Felix666 above has a pretty good use case for Kaveri on ATX. An I3 with a fanless R7-250 would be faster but ~$40 more expensive (assuming you would still need the same heat sink). Anyway - didn't mean to ruffle any feathers....