AM3 compatible AM2+ motherboards, featuring ASUS Anti-surge technology, read on for details.
M4A78-E:
The M4 line is part of the motherboard lineup that comes with AM3 CPU support from factory, although they are AM2+ motherboards (ASUS hasn't announced their AM3 lineup yet).This M4E78-E model will fit in the sub-$200 market, leaving the enthusiast market for the Deluxe models.
This is a very capable motherboard with only solid capacitors for more reliability and 8+1 phases for the CPU. It has only one phase for the memory controller/HT part of the CPU, which should be enough for moderate overclocking and unlike the two phases that Deluxe models usually feature, which is meant for more serious overclocks.
Nothing fancy for the cooling setup is used and not much is needed, as it uses the 790GX+SB750 combination, which are not particularly hot chips.
Hybrid Crossfire is supported on this model, via one PCI-e x16 slot and the intregrated HD 330 core.
M4A78 Pro:
The M4A78 Pro is a cheaper model, with only a 4+1 phase setup for CPU power supply and no Crossfire support for discrete cards, only Hybrid CrossfireX (a discrete card from the low-end paired with the on-board GPU). Not a bad part though, there's still solid capacitors only - cheap but not in the bad sense of the word.
It also uses the cheaper 780G+SB700, so there's no support for Advanced Clock Calibration to enable higher overclocks. A good quality board for the non-enthusiasts in the world.
Asus Anti-Surge:
As the name suggests, ASUS has employed a technology, in both boards, to prevent damage from power surges. It won't save your PSU - that you should "save" yourself - but it may well save the motherboard and devices that are powered through it.
The PSU should be the one safe from surges always but, in case all fails, this may be a hardware saver, also implying less costly RMA requests for ASUS.
6 comments:
Looking at the Asus web site, it appears that the Pro version DOES have Hybrid CrosfireX support.
http://uk.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=181&l3=902&l4=0&model=2757&modelmenu=1
Hello David,
Thanks for the tip, it really does. I was referring to dual discrete card CrossFireX, as the board doesn't have two x16 slots, or even an open x4.
The post has been updated with the information you provided.
Best regards,
Tiago Marques
whats the best separate graphics card to add to the M4A78 PRO. keeping under $150.00
Hi Craig,
The Radeon HD 4870 with 1GB is an excellent card, especially if you can grab the XFX models. There's also the 4850 1GB cheaper but still very good and the GeForce GTS 250 1GB if you're a Linux user or would like to try out the OS. If you mind PhysX support, you should also go fro the GeForce card, although there haven't been many games adopting the technology.
I was able to find an XFX HD 4870 for $149, from newegg, but it may be harder to find it below the $150 than the other two cards.
Also, don't go to 512MB cards, as games are starting to require 1GB cards to maintain higher minimum framerates, resulting in a less "choppy" gaming experience than with 512MB cards - when in very demanding scenes, of course.
Best regards
compatible x6 1090t?
Only the M4A78-E model, unfortunately.
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