14 DAY TRIAL // As we are getting closer to September, news reports about the upcoming Intel P55 platform and its compatible Lynnfield LGA 1156 processors are growing impressively on the Internet. One of the most recent examples is about a new motherboard from leading Taiwanese motherboard maker ASUS, which is expected to roll out several new P55-based boards. Just recently, pictures of the Maximus III Gene have surfaced, which can only mean that gaming users will soon be able to take advantage of this board's performance specifications and features.
Part of the company's growing line of Gene motherboards, the new Maximus III model is expected to provide users with impressive performance and features that make it a choice for both gaming and HTPC enthusiasts. Although we don't have an exact date for when it will be ready for launch, pictures of the board have recently surfaced on this Romanian-language website.
At first glance, the board looks ready to provide enthusiasts with a 10-phase power design, two PCI-Express x16 slots and an mATX form factor. The board will also come featured with the on-board Supreme FX X-Fi audio chip, providing users with a high-quality audio experience, which consequently makes it a noteworthy alternative for a high-performance HTPC. Additional features include the four dual-channel DDR3 memory DIMMs, the seven SATA ports, accompanied by the eSATA connector, Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire and the familiar Power, Reset and Clear CMOS buttons, available on ASUS' high-end motherboards.
Designed for the high-end market and computer enthusiasts, the board could be released sometime in the second half of September or in October, which means it could become available before the launch of Microsoft's much-hyped Windows 7 operating system. Unfortunately, we have no details on the pricing of the new Maximus III Gene, but more info should be revealed along the way.