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ASUS A88X-Pro AMD Motherboard Review
By Hank Tolman
Manufacturer: ASUSTek Computer Inc.
Product Name: ASUS A88X-PRO FM2+ / FM2 AMD A88X (Bolton D4) SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI AMD Motherboard
Model Number: A88X-Pro
Full Disclosure: AMD provided the product sample used in this article.
With the new Kaveri APUs out in full force, the Mantle API being used for high-profile games like Battlefield 4, and HSA finally coming into its own, FM2+ motherboards are all over the place. The A88X chipset paired with an FM2+ APU is a solid platform all by itself, but manufacturers have to spice things up in order to sell motherboards. In this article, Benchmark Reviews takes a look at the ASUS A88X-Pro FM2+ Motherboard.
The ASUS A88X-Pro FM2+ Motherboard is the flagship FM2+ motherboard for ASUS. It contains a full compliment of three PCI-E ports allowing for 3-Way Crossfire or CrossfireX configurations. The A88X Pro is also home to more robust cooling features than any of the other ASUS FM2+ motherboards, and more than any of the other FM2+ motherboards I have tested.
ASUS has always provided a lot of extras to draw consumer’s to their products and the A88X Pro is no different. Dual Intelligent processors 4, MemOK!, Fan Xpert 2, and EZ Flash are just a few of the features that can be found on the A88X Pro. We’ll discuss those features, as well as the rest of the details on the A88X Pro, in this review. So what are you waiting for? Jump on in.
ASUS A88X-Pro Specifications
| CPU | AMD Socket FM2+ Athlon/A- Series Processors Supports CPU up to 4 cores Supports AMD Turbo Core 3.0 Technology |
| Chipset | AMD A88X (Bolton D4) |
| Memory | 4 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR3 2400(O.C.)/2250(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133/1866/1600/1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory Dual Channel Memory Architecture Support AMD Memory Profile (AMP) memory * The Max. 64GB memory capacity can be supported with DIMMs of 16GB (or above). ASUS will update QVL once the DIMMs are available on the market. * Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs. * Refer to www.asus.com for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists). * Due to OS limitation, when installing total memory of 4GB capacity or more, Windows 32-bit operation system may only recognize less than 3GB. Install a 64-bit Windows OS when you want to install 4GB or more memory on the motherboard. |
| Graphic | Integrated AMD Radeon HD 7000/8000 Series Graphics in A-series APU Multi-VGA output support: HDMI/DVI/RGB/DisplayPort ports – Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz – Supports DVI with max. resolution 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz – Supports RGB with max. resolution 1920 x 1600 @ 60 Hz – Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 60 Hz Maximum shared memory of 2048 MB AMD Dual Graphics technology support |
| Multi-GPU Support | Supports AMD 3-Way CrossFireX Technology |
| Expansion Slots | 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8) 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4 mode) 2 x PCIe 2.0 x1 2 x PCI |
| Storage | AMD A88X FCH(Bolton D4) chipset : 6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), yellow 2 x eSATA 6Gb/s port(s), red Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10, JBOD |
| LAN | Realtek 8111GR, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s) |
| Audio | Realtek ALC1150 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC – Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking |
| USB Ports | AMD A88X FCH(Bolton D4) chipset : 4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board) AMD A88X FCH(Bolton D4) chipset : 10 x USB 2.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, black, 8 at mid-board) ASMedia ASM1042 controller : 2 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue) |
| Special Features | ASUS Dual Intelligent Processors 4 with 4-Way Optimization : – The tuning key perfectly consolidates ASUS-exclusive DIGI+ Power Control, TPU, EPU, and Fan Xpert 2 optimize the digital power setting, system performance, power saving and whole system cooling configuration ASUS 5X Protection : – ASUS DIGI+ VRM – 6 + 2 Phase digital power design – ASUS Enhanced DRAM Overcurrent Protection – Short circuit damage prevention – ASUS ESD Guards – Enhanced ESD protection – ASUS High-Quality 5K-Hour Solid Capacitors – 2.5x long lifespan with excellent durability – ASUS Stainless Steel Back I/O – 3x more durable corrosion-resistant coating ASUS EPU : – EPU switch ASUS Exclusive Features : – GPU Boost – Remote GO! – USB BIOS Flashback – MemOK! – AI Suite 3 – Ai Charger+ – USB Charger+ – Anti-Surge – Low EMI Solution – ESD Guards – ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring friendly graphics user interface – Network iControl – USB 3.0 Boost – Disk Unlocker ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution : – Stylish Fanless Design Heat-pipe solution – ASUS Fan Xpert 2 ASUS EZ DIY : – DirectKey – Precision Tweaker 2 – ASUS O.C. Tuner – ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 – ASUS EZ Flash 2 – ASUS MyLogo 2 – ASUS USB BIOS Flashback – ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode – Multi-language BIOS ASUS Q-Design : – ASUS Q-Shield – ASUS Q-Code – ASUS Q-Slot – ASUS Q-Connector |
| Operating System Support | Windows 8 , 32bit/64bit Windows 7 , 32bit/64bit Windows XP , 32bit |
| Back I/O Ports | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s) 1 x DVI 1 x D-Sub 1 x DisplayPort 1 x HDMI 2 x eSATA 6Gb/s 1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s) 4 x USB 3.0 2 x USB 2.0 1 x Optical S/PDIF out 5 x Audio jack(s) |
| Internal I/O Ports | 1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s) (19-pin) 4 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 8 USB 2.0 port(s) 1 x COM port(s) connector(s) 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s) 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (4 -pin) 4 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (4 -pin) 1 x S/PDIF out header(s) 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s) 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s) 1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP) 1 x System panel(s) (Q-Connector) 1 x DirectKey Button(s) 1 x DRCT header(s) 1 x MemOK! button(s) 1 x TPU switch(es) 1 x EPU switch(es) 1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s) 1 x USB BIOS Flashback button(s) |
| Accessories | User’s manual ASUS Q-Shield 4 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s) 1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1) |
| BIOS | 64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 2.0a, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3, F12 PrintScreen Function, F3 Shortcut Function and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory information |
| Support Disc | Drivers, ASUS utilities, ASUS Update, Anti-virus software (OEM version) |
| Note | *1: *Only FM2+ APU can support up to 4096 x 2160 resolution display via HDMI port. *2: Refer to HYPERLINK “http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/dual-graphics/Pages/dual-graphics.aspx”http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/dual-graphics/Pages/dual-graphics.aspx#3 for the discrete GPUs which support Dual Graphics technology. *3: Only FM2+ Processors can support PCIe3.0. *4 USB Charger+ is only supported in Windows®7 and later versions. |
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