An HDMI-equipped board ideal for small media-centre systems
The new Asus P5E-VM HDMI microATX motherboard comes packaged with a
hefty feature list that will have home- entertainment buffs drooling.
Complete with HDMI output, integrated graphics that support DirectX 10
and capacity for 8GB of RAM, it’s a formidable choice for a
media-centre PC.
Processor
support comes in the shape of Socket 775, which supports Intel’s
Core 2 Duo and Quad processors right down to Pentium 4 and D models.
One of the big selling points, though, is compatibility with the Penryn
range of 45nm processors on a 1333MHz front side bus, which comes
courtesy of Intel’s G35 chipset.
The chipset also
includes Intel’s latest X3500 graphics, which is the first
integrated unit to support DirectX 10, but don’t expect it to
have you racing through the latest games. Our Call of Duty 2 test
refused to run, so we tried Stalker instead and this only managed
single-figure frame rates.
The backplate features a decent set
of ports, including six USB and the all-important HDMI connection, and
the Asus can swallow up to 8GB of Dual Channel 800MHz DDR2 RAM. There
are six SATA slots on the board, too, and support for RAID0, 1, 5 and
10.
This proliferation of features does mean the microATX form
factor can be a problem. The heatsink covering the north bridge is
large and can interfere with processor heatsink installation. The main
power cable and IDE interface are pretty close together, too, so the
initial setup can be aggravating if you’re working in a confined
space.
The Asus utilities are something of a mixed bag, too:
there’s Probe II, for monitoring, which is getting long in the
tooth now, and the more competent AI Suite for simple overclocking.
But
there’s plenty to like about this Asus board. The latest Intel
processors are supported, the integrated graphics are good, plus the
six SATA ports provide plenty of storage potential. And don’t
forget the HDMI output, which will allow you to make the most of your
HDTV, and the small form factor, which confirms it as an ideal base
board for a media-centre PC. Mike Jennings
Form : http://www.pcauthority.com.au/
The new Asus P5E-VM HDMI microATX motherboard comes packaged with a
hefty feature list that will have home- entertainment buffs drooling.
Complete with HDMI output, integrated graphics that support DirectX 10
and capacity for 8GB of RAM, it’s a formidable choice for a
media-centre PC.
Processor
support comes in the shape of Socket 775, which supports Intel’s
Core 2 Duo and Quad processors right down to Pentium 4 and D models.
One of the big selling points, though, is compatibility with the Penryn
range of 45nm processors on a 1333MHz front side bus, which comes
courtesy of Intel’s G35 chipset.
The chipset also
includes Intel’s latest X3500 graphics, which is the first
integrated unit to support DirectX 10, but don’t expect it to
have you racing through the latest games. Our Call of Duty 2 test
refused to run, so we tried Stalker instead and this only managed
single-figure frame rates.
The backplate features a decent set
of ports, including six USB and the all-important HDMI connection, and
the Asus can swallow up to 8GB of Dual Channel 800MHz DDR2 RAM. There
are six SATA slots on the board, too, and support for RAID0, 1, 5 and
10.
This proliferation of features does mean the microATX form
factor can be a problem. The heatsink covering the north bridge is
large and can interfere with processor heatsink installation. The main
power cable and IDE interface are pretty close together, too, so the
initial setup can be aggravating if you’re working in a confined
space.
The Asus utilities are something of a mixed bag, too:
there’s Probe II, for monitoring, which is getting long in the
tooth now, and the more competent AI Suite for simple overclocking.
But
there’s plenty to like about this Asus board. The latest Intel
processors are supported, the integrated graphics are good, plus the
six SATA ports provide plenty of storage potential. And don’t
forget the HDMI output, which will allow you to make the most of your
HDTV, and the small form factor, which confirms it as an ideal base
board for a media-centre PC. Mike Jennings
Form : http://www.pcauthority.com.au/
