Asus Debuts World's First FM2+ Motherboards
The Asus A88XM-A and A55BM-A/USB3 micro-ATX motherboards are the first to feature an FM2+ socket and compatibility with AMD’s upcoming “Kaveri” APUs.
Asus has launched the A88XM-A and A55BM-A/USB3 motherboards, the first in the industry to support AMD’s new FM2+ APU socket.
Both motherboards offer a micro-ATX form factor and are compatibility with both AMD’s current “Richland” and “Trinity” APUs and the upcoming socket FM2+ “Kaveri” processors.
| Motherboard | A88XM-A | A55BM-A/USB3 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | AMD A88X (Bolton D4) | A55 FCH (Hudson D2) |
| Memory | 4 x DDR3 DIMMsUp to 64 GB DDR-2133 | 2 x DDR3 DIMMsUp to 32 GB DDR-2133 |
| Expansion Slots | 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16*1 x PCIe 2.0 x11 x PCI | 1 x PCIe 3.0 x161 x PCIe 2.0 x11 x PCI |
| Networking | Realtek 8111G, 1 x Gigabit LAN | Realtek 8111G, 1 x Gigabit LAN |
| Video Output | DVI-D, HDMI, VGA | DVI-D, HDMI, VGA |
| Audio Output | Realtek ALC887-VD 8-Channel | Realtek ALC887-VD 8-Channel |
| Ports | 6 x SATA 6 Gb/s2 x USB 3.02 x USB 2.0 | 6 x SATA 6 Gb/s2 x USB 3.02 x USB 2.0 |
* Only FM2+ Processors can support PCIe 3.0
The A88XM-A and A55BM-A/USB3 also include Asus’ 5X Protection which incorporates a number of features for better quality and reliability including a DIGI+ VRM for precise power delivery to the APU, DRAM overcurrent protection via on-board resettable fuses, 5K-hour Solid Capacitors and a chromium oxide-plated stainless steel rear I/O.
Further information is available at the respective product pages for the Asus A88XM-A and A55BM-A/USB3 motherboards. Asus has announced that further information on the company’s upcoming FM2+ motherboard range will be released “later in the year.”
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Tarun Iyer was a contributor for Tom's Hardware who wrote news covering a wide range of technology topics, including processors, graphics cards, cooling systems, and computer peripherals. He also covered tech trends such as the development of adaptive all-in-one PCs.
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InvalidError I find advertising capacitors' lifespan pretty silly - 5000h is only half a year of 24/7 operation, which would be really lousy if capacitors only lasted that long. That rating is only valid when operating at max rated temperature and AC ripple; conditions that should never occur in a properly designed product.Reply
I retired my P3 with CUSL2 motherboard last year... that board probably logged over 100k power-on hours over the 12 years I had it. My C2D's P5P800Q is likely over the 40k hours mark too and there are no capacitors rated for 40k hours.
Funny how warranty on motherboards are much longer than their manufacturers' quoted lifespan on capacitors while MTBF on most components are usually much longer than warranties - everyone quotes MTBF over 200k hours but nobody backs that up with a 10+ years warranty. -
SteelCity1981 amd mainstream and highend users will have to wait until steamroller fx series for pci-ex 3.0 to be officially supported. kind of backwards how amd releases their products the affordable ones get the latest tech while the mainstream and highend will get it later.Reply -
Belardo This is one of the factors that makes AMD unattractive. different socket types. AM socket should have been retired over a year ago. FM always had native USB 3. the user's who need PCIe 3 more so are the power users... who don't buy FM systems.Reply
All new CPUs and boards should be FM2. -
Belardo This is one of the factors that makes AMD unattractive. different socket types. AM socket should have been retired over a year ago. FM always had native USB 3. the user's who need PCIe 3 more so are the power users... who don't buy FM systems.Reply
All new CPUs and boards should be FM2. -
Wisecracker Gee ... trolling an AMD thread.Reply
And folks think there is nothing new under the Sun
(rolling eyes)
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silverblue Hardly. Intel have historically done worse over the past few years; 775 was a shining light in comparison.Reply
Perhaps all AMD parts will move to FM2+ (there's rumours that there won't even be an FX Steamroller, but I'd take that with all the salt of the Dead Sea), but we'll have to wait on that one.