5

All the way to the left there is a power / reset button. Next to it you'll notice a small EPU switch which enables or disabled a power saving solution. EPU can now be enabled via both BIOS or with a simple flip of a switch. Furthermore, with the installation of the EPU software, EPU will extend its coverage from the CPU and power circuits to the entire motherboard.

Make no mistake though, decreased power consumption WILL have an impact on overall performance.

There are more switches and buttons though. Right beneath the DIMM slots (QDIMM for easy installation of the DIMM modules) we spot a TPU switch (I know a colleague website who just loves that name :)

TPU is a small micro-processor on the motherboard that makes overclocking easy. Together with ASUSs Auto Tuning option inside TurboV EVO module of the AI Suite II application, and OC Tuner option in BIOS as well as the TPU switch to trigger this processor, it will tune the system to a high performance yet stable state based on the potential of the components installed.

Users can choose to make a start, and leave the rest for the TPU to complete, or the other way around, all up to the well of users, without the need to change mode or save settings.

The MemOK button we all know of course, MEMOK! enables the motherboard to boot up successfully even if there might be some compatibility issues between the motherboard and the memory. All you have to do, is to simple hold the MemOK! button till the red LED begins to blink to ask motherboard to take the charge of self-memory patching process, and fix the memory compatibility before your very own eyes, till the system finally able to boot up without loosing your BIOS/EFI settings.

So there you have it you guys. A small preview of what is coming motherboard wise from ASUS. The launch date for Intel's new processors is still quite a bit away from us, but is the processors will be equally as interesting as the motherboards like shown in this preview, then we have a lot of interesting stuff coming our way alright.

We like to thank ASUS for sending out this motherboard for this small preview. Pricing remains to be announced, but we suspect it will be pricy at above 200 USD. More info soon though.

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