ECS Z77H2-AX and Z77H2-A2X Go Black and Gold

[btarunr]

At CeBIT, ECS unveiled the Z77H2-AX and Z77-H2-A2X, its top two motherboards based on the Intel Z77 chipset, supporting "Ivy Bridge" Core processors in the LGA1155 package. But what ECS didn't reveal on the CeBIT floor, was that the drab-looking gray+white on black PCB color-scheme wasn't going on to the retail version. The retail versions of these two motherboards, pictured below, will employ a new black and gold color scheme.

Basically, all metallic parts of the motherboards, be it the sheaths around the conductive polymer capacitors, the sheaths around the chokes, the PCH and VRM heatsinks, the CPU socket frame, and even the rear-panel port clusters, will have golden-colored finish that lends the motherboard a pimped out appearance. The contacts in the CPU socket have 15 μm-thick real-gold plating, to improve conductivity. The PCB is jet-black, and so are all the expansion and DRAM slots, the gray and white colored slots are replaced. Most other plastic parts, such as SATA ports, ATX/EPS power connectors, are colored black. The two motherboards were extensively detailed in the older article. Sam Sparro will be proud.



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[dj-electric]

I gotta admit, one of the more interesting looking motherboards ive ever seen.

 

[Animalpak]

 

[micropage7]

wow
i never realize gold looks would make the board looks kick ass
they should patent this color scheme

 

[dj-electric]

Then first they will have to deal with ASRock.

 

[afw]

looks like motherboards from ancient Egypt ...

 

[jalex3]

Cool if you like "da bling" I guess.

 

[Taurus_G4]

the color of PCB looks great, at least better than asrock's

 

[NHKS]

Even more reason to steal ur PC

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Msata FTW!!!!

 

[Liquid Cool]

Upscale ghetto...

LC

 

[arterius2]

"The contacts in the CPU socket have 15 μm-thick real-gold plating, to improve conductivity. "

Chemistry fail.

Gold is actually LESS electrically conductive than copper, [fact]having gold contacts actually DECREASE conductivity, this is why most audiophile cables are made out of silver or OFC(oxygen free copper)[/fact]. gold plating in most cases is gimmick and you only really need a very thin layer to prevent oxidation of the copper layer underneath, tho I rather have silver plating over gold anyday.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conductivity#Resistivity_of_various_materials

 

[xBruce88x]

http://img.techpowerup.org/120308/birdman-jewelry.png

actually, reminds me more of this guy...

Still, looks decent. a question about the heat pipes though. Are they copper with a silver coating, or more likely, are they aluminum? If the latter, I'd prefer copper heat pipes than gold plating.

 

[brandonwh64]

If the board is stable and OCs like a beast then good but if the gold is the only thing about this board then yea.... not something I would waist money on.

 

[radrok]

this mobo + this swifty HD gold edition

 

[cadaveca]

Nice power button location.

 

[_JP_]

Goes well with this:
[yt]eHuebHTD-lY[/yt]
Looks great.

 

[Vin@ECS]

Or this:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWAGLkyxQG0&hd=1


who knew. . ^_~ .. Wiz Khalifa was right, everything you do, you gotta do it big! =)

 

[Vin@ECS]

If the board is stable and OCs like a beast then good but if the gold is the only thing about this board then yea.... not something I would waist money on.

=)... ARG... so much to say .. so restricted =-)

 

[THE_EGG]

I actually laughed when I saw this. In Australia, the cheap, generic brand of food is called Black and Gold. hahah Let's hope this has a higher quality.

 

[radrok]

=)... ARG... so much to say .. so restricted =-)

are you going to push your products to Europe this time? I have yet to see ECS on Italy or Switzerland.

 

[DOM]

Nice power button location.

idk what they where thinking putting it there its right under the card, unless you got a small one thats a bad location

 

[cadaveca]

idk what they where thinking putting it there its right under the card, unless you got a small one thats a bad location

As far as I can tell, they should sit just above the upper VGA when a longer card is installed. It will be close, but to me, this is far better than on the bottom edge covered by a VGA.

 

[DOM]

As far as I can tell, they should sit just above the upper VGA when a longer card is installed. It will be close, but to me, this is far better than on the bottom edge covered by a VGA.

yeah its going to be close i like where my ud5-p67 has the power button then the gene-z but both are in reach when i have them in my rack

but this board does have a good layout just not a fan off all that gold

but it seems more are coming out with the "gold" caps