Gigabyte announced the latest GIGABYTE 7 series motherboards, the very first to offer fully certified dual onboard Thunderbolt ports. Capable of connecting up to 12 devices plus 3 digital displays simultaneously, with breathtaking data transfer speeds that can transfer 1 TB of data in only five minutes, GIGABYTE Thunderbolt motherboards offer the fastest connection interface ever on the desktop PC.

GIGABYTE Thunderbolt motherboards allow users to daisy chain up to 12 devices simultaneously via an incredible bi-directional 10 Gbps data pipeline that includes both PCIe and DisplayPort traffic. GIGABYTE Thunderbolt motherboards redefine desktop PC connectivity to make it far easier to connect multiple high speed storage devices and HD displays to your PC than ever before.

GIGABYTE Dual Thunderbolt motherboards open up a wealth of new possibilities regarding high-performance storage devices. GIGABYTE has worked closely with several leading device partners, including Promise Technology, LaCie, BlackMagic, Western Digital, Seagate, Elgato, CalDigit and cable manufacturer Sumitomo:

GIGABYTE's new dual port Thunderbolt motherboards are an exciting innovation, giving incredible performance and are perfect for video and film professionals using Thunderbolt and the PC," said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. "Customers using our wide range of Thunderbolt devices will now be able to choose to work in whatever format they need, giving them the flexibility to build whatever production and post production workflow they need."

 Dual Thunderbolt - Fast, Flexible and Simple Connectivity for your Motherboard
GIGABYTE Thunderbolt motherboards are the first to be certified by Intel featuring dual Thunderbolt ports directly on the motherboard back panel I/O, with each Thunderbolt port supporting a maximum data transfer speeds with simultaneous bi-directional data transfer at speeds of up to 10 Gbps - this means you can transfer a full HD 1080p movie in under 30 seconds.

GIGABYTE's dual port Thunderbolt implementation ensures the absolute maximum potential connectivity, with support to connect up to 12 individual devices simultaneously, with each port offering full 10 Gbps bandwidth.

Thunderbolt combines both DisplayPort and PCI Express protocols over a single cable so that users can connect a multitude of device types in tandem with HD streaming video and 8-channel audio, simultaneously in one specially developed cable. Users can also enjoy improved flexibility by 'daisy-chaining' several devices while still enjoying low latency and industry-leading data transfer speeds.

Dual Thunderbolt Ports are featured on the following GIGABYTE motherboard models:

• Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH
• Gigabyte Z77X-UP4 TH
• Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H TH

We review the EVGA Z77 FTW motherboard. As always EVGA separates itself from the herd by manufacturing a motherboards that might not be the most pleasing one to the eyes, but does make technology that will raise the heartbeat of many enthusiast PC aficionado's. The motherboard also comes with triple BIOS, Clear CMOS, Power and Reset buttons.

Along with its 100% solid state capacitors, EVGA Dummy OC tech and EVGA E-LEET Tuning support. 5 x16 PCie slots -- that will boil down to four x8 gen 3.0 with an added PLX (+16 lanes Gen 3.0) chip so the board also supports quad SLI and Crossfir.

Read the review here.

DigiTimes reports motherboard makers ASUS and Gigabyte have both lowered prices and expanded their motherboard warranty services to attract customers:

Gigabyte announced that the company will offer free repairs for all problems on Gigabyte-brand motherboards during their warranty period and if the problems are cased by the user, the company will also try to repair them for free. The company is also extending its motherboard products' four-year warranty activity to the end of 2012.

To counter Gigabyte's assault, Asustek also recently offered free repair services for user damage on its motherboards and if the motherboards are un-repairable, the company will offer a free exchange as well as free motherboard pick up and delivery.

The ASUS Maximus V Formula Z77 Motherboard just arrived @ our grounds. The feature packed and highly tweakable motherbaord certainly is looking good. Obviously we'll be working on a full review soon but should we have tickled your taste-buds, have a peek at some photo's we took (click on the thumbnails):

We test the new Thunderbolt connector with 2x SSDs in RAID0 with the help of the ASUS P8Z77 vPro Thunderbolt motherboard and the LaCie Little Big Disk which has two Intel 320 SSDs. We RAID-0 them to stripe and check out if the 10 Gbps Thunderbolt connection can keep up.

You can read all about it right here.

Communication Technology has introduced the the cutest little X86 Detsel-01 Mini PC at Computex 2012.

This PC is only 25mm x 74mm x 12mm, the computer is powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom E680 (4.5W TDP) processor with a 1GB of DDR2-800 RAM, a choice of a 64GB or a 128GB SATA II SSD, Ethernet, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, VGA and a pair of USB 2.0 ports. No word on pricing or availability at this time. [Product Page]

ASUS is having a good line-up of intrigueing component hardware at Computex, the Z77 Wolverine motherboard is also one of them. The concepr Intel Z77 based motherboard looks a little like the P8Z77 series but with one big difference, is has 40 power phases (!) for the CPU.

You really need to seek for the real advantages with that many phases, but more phases mean less power load per phase which means lower operating temperature. ASUS Z77 Wolverine has no heatsink mounting holes for the VRM heatsinks which means that it can operate without any cooling. There is an 8-pin EPS power connector for CPU.

There is no information about when this motherboard will hit market or if it will see the market at all.

ASUS ZEUS is a concept product to show off ASUS

Earlier today we already shared a snippet of info on MSI's upcoming Big bang MPower range of motherboards.

The MPower series will become available on both socket LGA1155 and socket LGA2011, the X79 MPower. From the looks of the motheboards are upgraded models Z77A-GD65 and X79A-GD65 (8D) yet with a stronger CPU VRM, more friendly warranties and a new black+yellow color-scheme, which is consistent with that of its Lightning series graphics cards (such as the R7970 Lightning).

I have some decent photo's of these motherboards for you guys, click on the thumbnails:

Taipei, Taiwan (June 6, 2012)

We have a soft spot for the TUF series of SaberTooth motherboards and they certainly look okay yet the design seems a little outdated. ASUS however is showing three new design concepts for this series in the line Ammo depot (grenades and shells), then Gears of TUF, has a rustic industrial look and then there is Desert Warrior," and features a non-digital desert camo design.

Have a peek at the military themed styles and let's hope they will advance on one or more of these concepts (photo courtesy TPU):

The MPower series will become available on both socket LGA1155 and socket LGA2011, the X79 MPower. From the looks of the motheboards are upgraded models Z77A-GD65 and X79A-GD65 (8D) yet with a stronger CPU VRM, more friendly warranties and a new black+yellow color-scheme, which is consistent with that of its Lightning series graphics cards (such as the R7970 Lightning). Here's the skinny from TPU (we're not at Computex this year as a few weeks ago I had surgery):

The Z77 MPower packs a 16-phase CPU VRM, which is stronger than that of the Z77A-GD80. The board draws power from a 6-pin PCIe power connector, apart from the usual 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS, which adds electric stability to deal with high-power graphics cards. The VRM is backed by several diagnostic LEDs, and voltage measurement points. The expansion slot arrangement is carried over from the Z77A-GD65, with three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 (x8/x4/x4-capable), and four PCI-Express 2.0 x1. Its connectivity is augmented with 802.11 b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth. Apart from these, the Z77 MPower is largely identical to the Z77A-GD65.

Next up is the X79 MPower, MSI's latest socket LGA2011 motherboard. The X79 MPower packs a 9+2 phase CPU VRM, which draws power from two 8-pin EPS connectors. In terms of OC-friendly features and options it is largely similar to the Z77 MPower. Barring two additional SATA 6 Gb/s ports, 802.11 b/g/n, and Bluetooth, the X79 MPower is largely identical to the X79A-GD65 (8D). From these, one can deduce that the Z77 MPower will be priced somewhere between the Z77A-GD65 and Z77A-GD80 (which will be priced high due to its expensive Thunderbolt controller), while the X79 MPower will be priced between the X79A-GD65 (8D) and Big Bang XPower II (which is costlier due to a heavier package).

GIGABYTE TECHNOLGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today introduced their latest Ultra Durable 5 technology, featuring a range of high current capable components including the industry

MSI can't wait to showcase its upcoming Big Bang ZPower (retail name could be different) motherboard at Computex, a new Z77 Express based board for Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge processors. Here's the skinny from TPU:

The pictures reveal the ZPower to be a bustling metropolis with a swanky heatsink design that keeps up with the theme of MSI's Lightning series graphics cards. The motherboard will be designed for 3-way multi-GPU setups, although a PLX-made bridge chip won't be used. Instead it will use Pericom PCIe lane switches to split the x16 link from the processor into x8/x8/NC or x8/x4/x4. The focus of this board will be towards overclocking, a lot of overclocker-friendly features, options (in the UEFI BIOS setup program), and a strong VRM will be added to the mix. MSI is likely to exhibit the new motherboard at the upcoming Computex event. Pics courtesy of TPU.

ECS has introduced the A85F2-A Deluxe, a new motherboard for AMD's latest Socket FM2 processors.
Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) has announced the A85F2-A Deluxe, a new motherboard built around the AMD A85X chipset with support for the latest socket FM2 CPUs.

The A85F2-A Deluxe is one of the most powerful and reliable motherboards currently available. In the ATX format, this ECS motherboard features two 2nd generation PCIe x16 slots for graphics card upgrades and CrossFireX support, as well as three 2nd generation PCIe x1 and 2 PCI slots for other cards. Up to 64 GB of dual channel DDR3 memory can be installed in 4 sockets, with a maximum speed of 1866, or up to 2300 for overclockers. There are seven 6 Gb/s SATA sockets, with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, & 10.

Expansion and connectivity options in the A85F2-A Deluxe include up to 6 USB 3.0 ports, 8 USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit LAN, and a 6Gb/s eSATA connectors for fast external storage. Separate HDMI, DVI, and D-Sub VGA ports provide graphics output, and there's 8-Ch HD Audio. The motherboard features the new user-friendly graphical uEFI BIOS with ECS MIB X, and a multi-language interface.

For the ultimate in stability and reliability, the A85F2-A Deluxe is Nonstop Certified by ECS. Motherboards with ECS Nonstop Certification deliver a hassle-free computing experience by solving common PC hardware problems before they can even occur. Hardware enhancements and a strict series of specially-designed tests combine together to protect PCs and ensure that all ECS Nonstop Certified motherboards can be relied on for stability and reliability far into the future, long after competing products have failed. Nonstop features include enhanced gold plating on critical contacts, and all solid capacitors and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection for VGA, USB, LAN and HDMI ports.

The A85F2-A Deluxe is bundled with Norton AntiVirus software, Muzee, Cyberlink Media Suite, and the ECS iEZ utility, which includes the eBLU BIOS Live Update Utility, the eDLU Drivers Live Update Utility and the eSF Smart Fan Utility.

In addition to the A85F2-A Deluxe, four other models will released with the socket FM2: A75F2-A2, A75F2-M2, A55F2-A2, A55F2-M3. The newest ECS Socket FM2 motherboards build on the already strong performance of FM1 motherboards by adding a host of powerful new features and technology upgrades in the Trinity technology platform.

New features in this generation include support for up to 4 displays and AMD Eyefinity Multi-display Technology, and HDMI Deep Color to accurately display billions of colors, bringing a new level of realism and color accuracy. AMD Turbo Core 3 extends the Turbo Core performance boost to the GPU, and CrossFireX gives access to ultra-high performance graphics with add on cards. There are 3 dedicated display outputs. Support for industry standards is also upgraded, with Open GL 4.2, DisplayPort Version 1.2, and Open CL 1.1 or later. Enhanced features are standard: like AMD Universal Video Decoder (UVD) and Video Codec Engine (VCE) for ultra-fast video encoding and decoding.

The new A85F2-A Deluxe and the other ECS socket FM2 series motherboards offer the latest technology for faster, more stable performance and extreme graphics realism.

Cougar will be showing a strong presence at the Computex 2012 Tech Fair in Taipei, Taiwan. At booth J0409a, Floor 1 in the Nangang Exhibition Hall from June 5 through June 9, COUGAR will be challenging serious gamers with their latest high-end PC equipment line-up. Prominently on the floor ground will be the long-awaited Challenger ultimate gaming case, the most power efficient 80 Plus Platinum certified PC power supply Platinum PTX, as well as the patented and award-winning Vortex series of PC case fans.

CHALLENGER

ASUS has been keeping the lid  on the Maximums V Formula R.O.G. motherboards however now more info has been revealed, by way of VR-zone:

Asus will be offering two slightly different SKUs of the motherboard in question. Beyond what we reported back in March, not that much appear to have change with the board itself, but it looks like Asus will be bundling a dual band mini PCI Express 802.1a/b/g/n Wi-Fi/Bluetooth 4.0 card with the board, something that wasn't clear at the press event.

Sadly this is the best picture we've managed to dig up of the two SKUs. The big secret that Asus was hiding on the boards with a small cardboard cover with an R.O.G. logo on it is a headphone amplifier. Sadly we don't have a picture of it, but it's using a Texas Instruments 6120A2 amplifier, an amplifier Asus has used in some of its higher-end sound cards like the Xonar Essence STX. We're still not sure about the audio codec for this motherboard, so we'll have to wait and see, as Asus is simply using its SupremeFX IV branding which doesn't really give away a lot of details, as the company has used various audio controllers with the SupremeFX branding.

As we mentioned, Asus will be offering two SKUs of the Maximus V Formula, one with and one without the ThunderFX USB sound card and amplifier. We're still not sure we get the point of the ThunderFX as a motherboard bundle, as this C-Media 6631 powered USB sound card appears to have been designed more for console use as a headset amplifier and noise cancelling solution. We'd rather have had the noise cancelling built into the motherboard audio in this case via some external microphone array, but then again, a pair of noise cancelling headphones ought to do the job just as well.

Asus should be unveiling the Maximus V Formula at Computex next week, alongside a range of other new R.O.G. products at a press event.

ECS announved a new technologyTechnology, designed to "deliver a hassle free computing experience by solving common PC hardware problems before they can even occur."

ECS Black Series motherboard equips with ECS exclusive Nonstop Technology adopting best-quality components and passing series of harsh tests to avoid every possible malfunction users may encounter during long-time usage. Through these heat-resistant, durable features which accomplish ECS Black Series motherboard, end-user can enjoy not only extreme performance but also stability and safety.

BIOSTAR, a world famous manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, industrial computing systems and peripherals, starts sales of the next-generation BIOSTAR TZ77B boards based on the latest Intel Z77 chipset and meant for powerful desktop systems with an excellent price/performance.

The boards are designed for the latest third-gen Intel Core CPUs (Ivy Bridge) manufactured using the 22nm fab process based on the 3D transistors and retain the full backward compatibility with the second-gen Intel Core CPUs (Sandy Bridge). They support all Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 chips for the LGA 1155 socket with the TDP up to 95W including Intel K-Series chips with the unlocked multiplier.

The TZ77B models have four DDR3 DIMM slots and support up to 32GB of dual-channel DDR3 1600/1333/1066Mhz memory and overclocking DDR3 2600/2400/2133/1866Mhz modules. They also support two SATA 3.0 drives with the performance up to 6Gbit/s and four SATA2 drives which can be arranged in RAID 0,1,5 or 10 arrays. Besides, the boards feature the Intel Smart Response Technology (SRT) for fast SSD caching in hardware.

The new-comers support up to 6 USB 2.0 and 3 USB 3.0 ports. The high-speed network connection is provided by the GbE LAN interface based on the Realtek RTL8111E chip. High-quality sound comes from the 8-channel HD Audio codec based on the Realtek ALC892 chip and the Clean Tone 2 Technology which delivers the SNR of 98dB in the Windows 7 systems.

The Intel Core integrated graphics core supports the DirectX 11 and HDMI 3D Visual interface for output of stereo 3D formats. Additional discrete graphics can be connected to the PCI Express 3.0 x16 port which is backward compatible with the PCI-E 2.0 and which supports multi-core accelerators from NVIDIA and AMD. Additional peripherals can be connected to 1 x PCI-E x16 2.0 Slot (x4), 2 x PCI-E x1 2.0 Slots and 2 x PCI Slots.

The TZ77B boards support the new BIOS with the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI BIOS) which delivers flexibility and simplicity of tuning thanks to a clear graphics interface.

The new boards use reliable solid capacitors and a 6-phase regulating system which is critical for stable long-term operation and reliability in experimental system with overclocked components.

The supplied T-overclocker Windows utility, popular among overclockers, combines powerful tools for fine system tuning, tuning of CPU performance, memory subsystem, CPU fan speeds etc. The BIOSTAR G.P.U (Green Power Utility) lowers power consumption at a light CPU load. The boards support the BIO-Remote2 technology for remote control of PC

When Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang said we might see $199 Tegra 3 tablets this summer, he wasn't speculating idly as the Verge reports: Nvidia has revealed that it's working on just such a tablet: Kai. At the company's annual meeting of investors last week, VP Rob Csonger revealed the idea, and explained Kai isn't just a piece of hardware, but a plan to democratize its quad-core Tegra 3 system-on-chip. Nvidia wants to offer tablets that are more powerful than the Kindle Fire at the same price point, he said:

Our strategy on Android is simply to enable quad-core tablets running Android Ice Cream Sandwich to be developed and brought out to market at the $199 price point, and the way we do that is a platform we've developed called Kai. So this uses a lot of the secret sauce that's inside Tegra 3 to allow you to develop a tablet at a much lower cost, by using a lot of innovation that we've developed to reduce the power that's used by the display and use lower cost components within the tablet.

Does that make Kai a reference design? Probably yes, but we wouldn't be surprised if it's also a consumer product. Nvidia and Asus teamed up at CES 2012 to introduce a quad-core tablet with a then-unheard-of $250 price point, the ME370T, and it's a dead ringer for the Kai in the picture above. We haven't heard a thing about the ME370T since CES, but perhaps it's on the way, and if we're lucky, it's the first of a whole new wave of affordable Tegra 3 slates. Maybe Google's Nexus tablet will be among them.