ASUS Shines with New Marine Cool Motherboard Concept

Thursday, February 26th 2009

This year ASUS will try to leave the competition far behind, by introducing a brand new motherboard concept, the Marine Cool series. The Marine Cool series design goes far ahead from current Republic of Gamers (R.O.G.) mainboard products. For starters, the new motherboard has a new back plate that utilizes "micro-porous ceramic" technology and spreads across the whole PCB. The heat-pipe system that cools the motherboard's main components is also different, compared to current shipping products. Although the cooling technology remains the same, the whole look of the system reminds of a robot armour. Finally, it looks that ASUS engineers have decided to use SO-DIMM modules to cope with current Core 2 processors (if I'm right that appears to be LGA775 socket). I know it sounds a bit crazy, but pictures don't lie. Have a look and write what you think. The ASUS Marine Cool prototype will make first appearance during this year's CeBIT 2009 in Hannover, Germany.

Source: AnandTech

posted by malware - 6:58 AM | Related News |

User comments

by Supreme0verlord (7:03 AM) - Reply

Holy crap that motherboard looks awesome!! I wish they would make one for the AM2+/AM3 platform. But why use SO-DIMM????

by kiriakost (7:05 AM) - Reply

I like ASUS , but this look is hmmm not that good , lets hope that it runs better than it looks.

by Supreme0verlord (7:08 AM) - Reply

by: kiriakost
I like ASUS , but this look is hmmm not that good , lets hope that it runs better than it looks.

Come on, how does that not look cool?

by DanishDevil (7:11 AM) - Reply

by: malware
Finally, it looks that ASUS engineers have decided to use SO-DIMM modules to cope with current Core 2 processors (if I'm right that appears to be LGA775 socket).

To cope with current Core 2 processors? Their reasoning for using SO-DIMMs must be lost in translation...

by Hayder_Master (7:21 AM) - Reply

boooom , that's great look mobo , wow i spend 15 minute look on it

by Katanai (7:21 AM) - Reply

omg :respect:

by to6ko91 (7:25 AM) - Reply

by: DanishDevil
To cope with current Core 2 processors? Their reasoning for using SO-DIMMs must be lost in translation...

I was thinking the same why so-dimms :confused:

by thebeephaha (7:27 AM) - Reply

by: DanishDevil
To cope with current Core 2 processors? Their reasoning for using SO-DIMMs must be lost in translation...

That motherboard is EPIC WIN minus the EPIC FAIL of using SODIMMS. :banghead:

by Mussels (7:28 AM) - Reply

sodimm makes no sense. i wonder what that rear thing DOES? (oh and you can see LGA775 written next to the CPU socket)

by mrhuggles (7:29 AM) - Reply

maybe so-dimms are easier on the northbridge?

by BrooksyX (7:37 AM) - Reply

Hmm very strange but very interesting. I two am puzzled by the choice of ram. I would like to see this thing up and running.

by DanishDevil (7:41 AM) - Reply

I for one want to know how well a SO-DIMM will overclock once given the right amount of voltage. It might make sense on a Mini-ITX board, but on an ATX? I r teh :confused:

by lemonadesoda (7:49 AM) - Reply

Look at the "marine" backplate. It seems the main reason is for mounting a HEAVY passive cooler. This system is for a fanless desktop, rather than a gamers top end speed demon. So that makes sense. SO-DIMM is OK, a low power s775 with a HUGE passive heat sink strapped on through to the backplate. But regular DDR2 is cheap and doesnt really get hot unless you are OC. So yes, like everyone else here, that SO-DIMM choice could use an explanation. I dont know the figures, but perhaps SO-DIMMs are much much lower power consumption and they decided to go that route for an ALWAYS ON machine. (modern s775 power management features are pretty good in idle, but normal DDR2 isnt. SO-DIMMs are better)

by DaedalusHelios (8:12 AM) - Reply

I wish the marine design was enclosed and water proof etc. That would be interesting. Or if it came with waterblocks for every component. You know something original rather than using SO-DIMMs and looking like it came from an Anime.

by OnBoard (8:12 AM) - Reply

by: Supreme0verlord
Holy crap that motherboard looks awesome!!

by: hayder.master
boooom , that's great look mobo , wow i spend 15 minute look on it

That's like a space ship :rockout: Sort of reminds me of Star Wars or Aliens on the top, Bottom is more futuristic, so it can be BSG :)

by Th1nk (8:19 AM) - Reply

this is a rock solid board, I wonder what the buy-out price will be OMG With rock solid So-DIMMs oOMG oOH ! PL7 hold me.. they really are releasing the board I had in mind yesterday ??? OMG OMG OMG whispers : *help*

by OnBoard (8:25 AM) - Reply

by: lemonadesoda
Look at the "marine" backplate. It seems the main reason is for mounting a HEAVY passive cooler. This system is for a fanless desktop, rather than a gamers top end speed demon.

You wouldn't need 16 CPU phases for fanless desktop and that's some serious amount of capacitors on the motherboard. This board sends some mixed signals. Maybe it's meant for both? Stick in Quad core and some crossfire action for more serious stuff or go with a passive setup.

by: lemonadesoda
So yes, like everyone else here, that SO-DIMM choice could use an explanation.

And why only 2 slots? Turn then around 90 degrees and you could easily fit 4.

by raptori (8:26 AM) - Reply

wooooooooooow this board looks like future spaceship ......... shame its using SO-DIMM.

by Th1nk (8:36 AM) - Reply

by: lemonadesoda
Look at the "marine" backplate. It seems the main reason is for mounting a HEAVY passive cooler. This system is for a fanless desktop, rather than a gamers top end speed demon. So that makes sense. SO-DIMM is OK, a low power s775 with a HUGE passive heat sink strapped on through to the backplate. But regular DDR2 is cheap and doesnt really get hot unless you are OC. So yes, like everyone else here, that SO-DIMM choice could use an explanation. I dont know the figures, but perhaps SO-DIMMs are much much lower power consumption and they decided to go that route for an ALWAYS ON machine. (modern s775 power management features are pretty good in idle, but normal DDR2 isnt. SO-DIMMs are better)

A SO-DIMM, or small outline dual in-line memory module, is a type of computer memory built using integrated circuits. SO-DIMMs are a smaller alternative to a DIMM, being roughly half the size of regular DIMMs. SO-DIMMS are often used in systems which have space restrictions such as notebooks, small footprint PCs (such as those with a Mini-ITX motherboard), high-end upgradable office printers, and networking hardware like routers. Not only that SO-DIMMs are really fast.. and rock-stable !

by alexp999 (8:40 AM) - Reply

This looks like a very early protoype, none of the parts look real IMO, looks like it was a mock up to see what the design looked like and how the parts could be layed out. I just dont get the need for SO-Dimms. Sure if you are creating a feature packed MATX you might get away with it. But they have just made a feature packed MATX gaming board with full size DDR3 slots on it. Even ITX uses full sizes dimms. :wtf:

by: Th1nk
Not only that SO-DIMMs are really fast.. and rock-stable !

SO Dimms cant clock any way near as high as regural memory. Some of the reason is cus of cooling limitations. SO dimms cant have heat spreaders. Especially not in this config.

by REVHEAD (8:44 AM) - Reply

Another Gimmick bloated board from Asus lol, you guys are to shallow, looks of quality bwhahahaha, the board is junk, I prefer Gigabyte for there OC potential and functionality over Gimmicks. But hey thats jut me, dont shoot me for it.. On that noit I should update my CPUZ lol I am on a Gigabyte P45T extreme, and I have had both the Maximus Extreme and the Rampage Extreme from Asus just to name a few and they were garbage, yet did look great.

by Th1nk (8:44 AM) - Reply

Its so easy.. You just have : MEM -> CPU -> X58 -> GFX -> other thingy -> .// Imagine you have the fastes MEM on the planet the most rock solids Then you have MEM -> CPU The cpu has to communicate with the GFX For now we have the X58 to do that so we have MEM -> CPU -> X58 the X58 solves to problem to communicate with the GFX MEM + CPU + X58 = GFX Thats all you need to build a mastersytem =) For now!! I cant wait what future will bring ! :D

by DanishDevil (8:47 AM) - Reply

Okay Th1nk, riddle me this. Why are you talking about X58 when the topic is about a skt775 motherboard:confused: And it takes a lot more work than that to build a master system. You don't even have your system specs filled out, so let's see your master system?

by Th1nk (8:49 AM) - Reply

cuz the socket 775 wont support all these features. Have a nice day !

by DanishDevil (8:55 AM) - Reply

But why are you talking about it in this thread specifically? Let's stay on topic please.

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