14 DAY TRIAL // It seems that AMD's Fusion technology is one that all types of platforms want to adopt with all haste, as is proven by how Gigabyte actually released a Brazos-based mini-ITX motherboard.
The Fusion technology, which was just made official, from Advanced Micro Devices is one that combines various levels of processing power with DirectX 11 graphics on the same die.
In order to take advantage of the power of one such APU, namely the E-350, Gigabyte created a mini-ITX motherboard with the name of GA-E350N-USB3.
The E-350 APU is a dual-core processor whose clock speed is of 1.6 GHz and which features the Radeon HD 6310 integrated graphics.
The motherboard itself boasts a pair of DDR3-1333 memory slots, a PCI Express x16 slot (runs at PCIe x4), DualBIOS and four SATA 6.0 Gbps connectors.
It also comes with a pair of SuperSpeed USB 3.0 connectors, the obligatory video ports (DVI, HDMI, D-Sub), 7.1 channel audio and Gigabit Ethernet.
Furthermore, the product has the advantage of the ultra Durable 3 design, which should give it a longer lifespan and better stability compared to competing boards.
"We’re excited about the GA-E350N-USB3 motherboard because it’s the first all-in-one Mini-ITX board with DX11 capabilities, and we expect it to go a long way towards bridging the gap between discrete and integrated graphics performance," commented Tim Handley, Deputy Director of Motherboard Marketing at Gigabyte.
"With its specially designed low profile fansink and multitude of hi-def, high-speed connectors, we expect this little power house to be popular amongst HTPC system integrators, DIY enthusiasts and case modders," Handley added.
As one has already guessed, the blue platform features the Hudson-M1 chipset and will probably be on show at CES 2011. The price was not mentioned.
“The GA-E350N-USB3 motherboard has been designed to withstand the rigors of an always on device in terms of both energy efficiency and temperature,” said the press release.