14 DAY TRIAL // Asus has started shipping five new motherboards from the M5A product series which feature out-of-the-box support for AMD's upcoming AM3+ Zambezi FX processors built on the Bulldozer architecture.
The boards are built around the AMD 800 and 700-series chipsets and can be distinguished from the company's regular AM3 motherboards thanks to the all-black CPU socket used.
Asus' new motherboards feature some of the usual Asus features, such as AI Suite II, EPU, MemOK! , TurboV or Core Unlocker, and also pack support for technologies such as USB 3.0, DDR3-2000, SATA 6Gbps and CrossFireX.
Judging by the specifications list, the most advanced board to make its way into Asus' M5A product line is the M5A88-V EVO which is based on the AMD 880G northbridge and the AMD SB850 southbridge.
The M5A88-V EVO packs integrated Radeon HD 4250 graphics, two PCI Express x16 slots (the second one works in an x4 mode), support for DDR3 2000MHz memory, five internal SATA 6Gbps connectors, one external eSATA 6Gbps port, and two USB 3.0 ports.
The M5A88-V EVO and the M5A87 are the only two motherboards in Asus' AM3+ lineup to support Zamabezi FX processors with a TDP of 140W.
According to the specifications provided by Asus, the M5A78L and the M5A78L LE motherboards can take CPUs which have a maximum TDP of 125W, while the most basic model in the M5A series, the M5A78L-M LX, is limited at 95W.
In addition to AMD's upcomimg Zambezi FX processors, all the five Asus motherboards are compatible with the current AM3 processors.
The motherboards have already started to make their appearance in some European price search engines and all the M5A78L models seem to be priced at 45.61€, while the Asus M5A87 and M5A88-V EVO retail for 75.59€ and 99.09€, respectively.
The first AMD Zambezi FX desktop processors are expected to become official at the beginning of June. (via Sweclockers)