PRESS RELEASE
ATX motherboard speeds up gamers' fun with M.2 and SATA Express connectivity, Intel Gigabit Ethernet networking, and exclusive GameFirst II, SupremeFX audio and Sonic Radar II technologies
Taiwan, Taipei (12th September, 2014) - ASUS today announced H97-Pro Gamer, a new ATX motherboard that speeds up gamers' fun with 10Gibt/s M.2 and SATA Express connectivity, Intel® Gigabit Ethernet and exclusive GameFirst ll networking technology.
H97-Pro Gamer additionally benefits from exclusive SupremeFX for unrivalled in-game audio and exclusive Sonic Radar ll technology to lend players a stealthy advantage in first-person-shooter (FPS) games.
The new motherboard also includes ASUS Gamer's Guardian, a collection of components hand-chosen for exceptional safety, durability and performance to protect gamers' backs.
Faster gaming networking
H97-Pro Gamer's networking is powered by Intel Gigabit Ethernet. This has the advantage of communicating directly with Intel processors to offer exceptionally-high Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) throughput, lowering overall processing demands and improving efficiency - releasing more power for games and gameplay. Using independent network-assessment tools, ASUS engineers calculated that Intel Gigabit Ethernet deals with the UDP data packets that are vital for responsive gaming up to two times (2X) faster than competing gaming-LAN technologies.
H97-Pro Gamer also has GameFirst II, an ASUS-exclusive traffic-shaping technology that reduces lag even further by prioritizing game-related data. Tests by ASUS engineers show that latency is greatly reduced - ping times are up to eight times (8X) faster with GameFirst II enabled. The EZ Mode lets users take advantage of low-latency gaming, with no need for expert knowledge.
Quicker gaming storage
H97-Pro Gamer has the fastest storage connectivity in the shape of SATA Express and M.2. SATA Express provides data-transfer speeds of up to 10Gbit/s from two PCI Express 2.0 lanes, ready for the next generation of super-fast SSDs and enabling H97-Pro Gamer players to speed up their game storage.
The new motherboard also has a built-in M.2 socket with two native PCI Express 2.0 lanes for data-transfer speeds of up to 10Gbit/s, so H97-Pro Gamer owners can choose their preferred method to speed up both storage and gameplay.
Superior gaming audio
H97-Pro Gamer players enjoy SupremeFX technology for near-lossless audio with a remarkable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 115dB that enhances every sound detail. The advanced audio chipset is isolated from electromagnetic interference (EMI) by a protective shield, preserving the integrity of the audio signals. Exclusive ‘red-line shielding' horizontally separates SupremeFX audio components from the rest of the motherboard. This unique combination effectively eliminates analog interference to ensure flawless sound quality. Premium ELNA® audio capacitors are added to the mix to deliver a warmer, natural sound to complete the audio experience.
SupremeFX also has a built-in amplifier that drives high-quality headphones - all the way up to 300ohm impedance - for sound quality that's as great as a dedicated sound card.
H97-Pro Gamer also includes Sonic Radar II, an ASUS-exclusive technology that displays a stealthy overlay showing the precise direction and origin of in-game sounds. This helps players to hone their enemy-pinpointing skills and giving them the edge in FPS games.
Exceptional durability
H97-Pro Gamer is engineered with high-quality, highly-durable components for exceptional real-world protection. We call these components ASUS Gamer's Guardian.
Gamer's Guardian includes onboard resettable fuses that protect the connection ports and DRAM against overcurrent and short-circuit damage, while exceptionally high-quality, Japanese-made 10K black-metallic capacitors offer greater temperature endurance and improved lifespans.
Gamer's Guardian ESD Guards on the USB ports, audio connectors and Ethernet (LAN) port ensure that H97-Pro Gamer is actively protected against sudden electrostatic discharge (ESD). The result is that the components last much longer.
H97-Pro Gamer also has the ASUS-exclusive DIGI+ voltage-regulator module (VRM) to enhance performance, increase efficiency and ensure reliability, and a stainless-steel back input/output (I/O) panel that's chromium-plated and corrosion-resistant to last up to three times (3X) longer than traditional panels.
AVAILABILITY & PRICING
H97-Pro Gamer is available in the UK now from Scan and Dabs.
ASUS H97-Pro Gamer
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SPECIFICATIONS [1] |
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CPU socket |
LGA1150 socket for the 4th, new 4th & 5th-generation Intel® CoreTM i7/ CoreTM i5 / CoreTM i3, Pentium®, and Celeron® processors |
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Chipset |
Intel H97 Express |
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Memory |
4 x DIMMs, up to a maximum of 32GB, DDR3 1600MHz Supports Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) |
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Expansion slots |
1 x PCI Express 3.0/2.0 x16 slot 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (x4 mode maximum) 2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots 3 x PCI slots |
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Graphics (VGA) |
Integrated Intel HD Graphics Multi-VGA output support: HDMI, DVI-D, RGB ports |
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Multi-GPU |
AMD quad-GPU CrossFireXTM technology |
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Storage connectivity |
1 x SATA Express connector 1 x M.2 socket 3 (with M key - 2260/2280-type storage devices supported, in both SATA and PCI Express mode) 4 x SATA 6Gbit/s connectors |
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Networking/LAN |
Intel Gigabit Ethernet with ASUS GameFirst II |
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USB |
6 x USB 3.0 ports (4 on back panel, 2 mid-board) 8 x USB 2.0 ports (2 on back panel, 6 mid-board) |
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Audio |
SupremeFX Formula 8-channel high-definition audio - Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel MIC Jack-retasking - High quality 115dB SNR stereo playback output - ELNA® premium audio capacitors - SupremeFX ShieldingTM Technology - Sonic Radar II - Headphone AMP - Optical S/PDIF out port at back pane |
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Dimensions / form factor |
ATX, 12-inch x 9.6-inch (30.5cm x 24.4cm) |
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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 4,256 awards in 2013 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PCTM. ASUS has more than 13,600 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of 4,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2013 was approximately US$14 billion.
[1] Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors.
