ASUS Claims World First USB 3.0 Certification for 8 Series Motherboards

PRESS RELEASE

Gryphon Z87, H87-Plus and B85-Plus are the first motherboards in the world based on new Intel 8 Series chipsets to secure SuperSpeed-certified status

Taipei, Taiwan (12 July, 2013) - ASUS today announced that the TUF Gryphon Z87, H87-Plus and B85-Plus motherboards for 4th generation Intel® Core^TM processors are the first to have received USB 3.0 SuperSpeed certification. USB 3.0 certification is vital to ensure compatibility with new SuperSpeed-ready devices. As of today, only ASUS can offer consumers that assurance for motherboards based on Intel 8 Series chipsets.

"We are very proud that ASUS 8 Series motherboards are the first and only ones to pass such rigorous tests for USB 3.0 compatibility," said Joe Hsieh, ASUS Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Motherboard and Desktop System Business Unit. "USB 3.0 certification means ASUS motherboards based on the Intel 8 Series chipsets offer customers the best performance, compatibility and reliability for next-generation SuperSpeed devices."

Tough tests, top quality

For a motherboard to receive USB 3.0 certification, it must pass more than 190 exacting tests set by the USB Implementers Forum, including signal-quality checks, stress tests and sustained transmission speed. The full SuperSpeed data-transfer rate is up to 5Gbit/s - 10 times faster than USB 2.0.

SuperSpeed-approved motherboards must also demonstrate wide compatibility with existing USB devices by working perfectly with 39 different products and device types, including printers, USB drives, video cameras, mice and headsets.

Motherboards with more

The ASUS TUF Gryphon Z87, H87-Plus and B85-Plus continue the ASUS tradition of innovation in all areas. The TUF Gryphon Z87 is a ‘military-grade' micro-ATX motherboard built for the toughest environments. TUF (The Ultimate Force) includes technologies such as Thermal Radar 2 for system-wide cooling with customizable fan controls, along with premium components that include ultra-durable alloy chokes, 10K black metallic capacitors and MOSFETs.

Both the H87-Plus and B85-Plus ATX motherboards boast ASUS 5X Protection technology to safeguard sensitive components from short-circuits, electrical surges and similar risks. ASUS 5X Protection includes ASUS DIGI+ VRM (voltage-regulator module) technology to ensure a smooth power delivery to the processor, overcurrent protection to prevent short circuits damaging system and the RAM to enhance system safety and lifespan, electrostatic-discharge (ESD) guards, 5K solid state capacitors and stainless steel back I/O for the very best reliability and durability.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

Pricing and availability for the Gryphon Z87, H87-Plus and B85-Plus vary by region. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.

For more details on ASUS Intel® 8 Series motherboards, please visit event.asus.com/mb/2010/The_Best_USB3_Experience/innovations.htm.

ABOUT ASUS

ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world's best-selling, most award-winning, motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today's digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,168 awards in 2012 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC^TM. ASUS has more than 12,500 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of 3,800 engineers. Company revenue for 2012 was approximately US$14 billion.