Monday, June 4th 2012
GIGABYTE Also Shows Off its First Socket FM2 Motherboards
Among GIGABYTE's new motherboard extravaganza, are some of its first socket FM2 motherboards, which based on the new AMD A85 FCH chipset (higher price-points) and previous-generation A55 FCH (lower price-points) and support next-generation "Trinity" APUs. Among these are the high-end F2A85X-UP4 with Ultra Durable 5 construction, mainstream F2A55-DS3, and entry-level F2A55M-DS2 Ultra Durable 1 motherboards.
The F2A85X-UP4 is loaded with top-tier VRM components, including high-current ferrite core chokes, IR3550 PowIRstage driver-MOSFETs, which make up an 8-phase CPU VRM. The FM2 socket is wired to four DDR3 memory slots, with support for dual-channel DDR3-2400 MHz by overclocking; and two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots (x8/x8, when both are populated). Other expansion slots include three PCI-Express 2.0 x1, a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x4), and a legacy PCI, all of which are wired to the A85 FCH.The A85 FCH gives out eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports. On the F2A85X-UP4, seven of these are wired out as internal ports, and one as eSATA. There are as many as six USB 3.0 ports, four on the rear panel, two via headers. Display outputs include one each of DVI, D-Sub, HDMI, and DisplayPort; the platform supports triple-monitor Eyefinity for productivity. LucidLogix VirtuMVP is included. Gigabit Ethernet and 8-channel HD audio (ALC898), make for the rest of it.
Moving on, the F2A55-DS3 is a slim ATX motherboard based on the AMD A55 FCH. It uses a simpler 6-phase VRM to power the APU, minus the fancy stuff found on the F2A85X-UP4. It is wired to just two DDR3 DIMM slots, which support dual-channel DDR3-2400 MHz by overclocking, and the lone PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot. Two legacy PCI, and four PCI-Express 2.0 x1 make for the rest of the expansion slot area. The A55 FCH gives out six SATA 3 Gb/s ports. The only display output on its board is HDMI, and instead of placing a D-Sub next to it, GIGABYTE added an RS232 serial port. A strange choice. Gigabit Ethernet and 6-channel HD audio make for the rest of it.
Lastly, the F2A55M-DS2 forms the baseline of GIGABYTE's socket FM2 motherboard lineup. This compact micro-ATX motherboard is driven by the same A55 FCH chipset, and sticks to the bare essentials, in terms of connectivity. Thankfully, its display output load-out includes a D-Sub, next to a DVI.
The F2A85X-UP4 is loaded with top-tier VRM components, including high-current ferrite core chokes, IR3550 PowIRstage driver-MOSFETs, which make up an 8-phase CPU VRM. The FM2 socket is wired to four DDR3 memory slots, with support for dual-channel DDR3-2400 MHz by overclocking; and two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots (x8/x8, when both are populated). Other expansion slots include three PCI-Express 2.0 x1, a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x4), and a legacy PCI, all of which are wired to the A85 FCH.The A85 FCH gives out eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports. On the F2A85X-UP4, seven of these are wired out as internal ports, and one as eSATA. There are as many as six USB 3.0 ports, four on the rear panel, two via headers. Display outputs include one each of DVI, D-Sub, HDMI, and DisplayPort; the platform supports triple-monitor Eyefinity for productivity. LucidLogix VirtuMVP is included. Gigabit Ethernet and 8-channel HD audio (ALC898), make for the rest of it.
Moving on, the F2A55-DS3 is a slim ATX motherboard based on the AMD A55 FCH. It uses a simpler 6-phase VRM to power the APU, minus the fancy stuff found on the F2A85X-UP4. It is wired to just two DDR3 DIMM slots, which support dual-channel DDR3-2400 MHz by overclocking, and the lone PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot. Two legacy PCI, and four PCI-Express 2.0 x1 make for the rest of the expansion slot area. The A55 FCH gives out six SATA 3 Gb/s ports. The only display output on its board is HDMI, and instead of placing a D-Sub next to it, GIGABYTE added an RS232 serial port. A strange choice. Gigabit Ethernet and 6-channel HD audio make for the rest of it.
Lastly, the F2A55M-DS2 forms the baseline of GIGABYTE's socket FM2 motherboard lineup. This compact micro-ATX motherboard is driven by the same A55 FCH chipset, and sticks to the bare essentials, in terms of connectivity. Thankfully, its display output load-out includes a D-Sub, next to a DVI.