Thursday, February 26th 2009

ASUS Shines with New Marine Cool Motherboard Concept

This year ASUS will try to leave the competition far behind, by introducing a brand new motherboard concept, the Marine Cool series. The Marine Cool series design goes far ahead from current Republic of Gamers (R.O.G.) mainboard products. For starters, the new motherboard has a new back plate that utilizes "micro-porous ceramic" technology and spreads across the whole PCB. The heat-pipe system that cools the motherboard's main components is also different, compared to current shipping products. Although the cooling technology remains the same, the whole look of the system reminds of a robot armour. Finally, it looks that ASUS engineers have decided to use SO-DIMM modules to cope with current Core 2 processors (if I'm right that appears to be LGA775 socket). I know it sounds a bit crazy, but pictures don't lie. Have a look and write what you think. The ASUS Marine Cool prototype will make first appearance during this year's CeBIT 2009 in Hannover, Germany.
Source: AnandTech
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89 Comments on ASUS Shines with New Marine Cool Motherboard Concept

#27
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
Th1nkA SO-DIMM, or small outline dual in-line memory module, is a type of computer memory built using integrated circuits.

SO-DIMMs are a smaller alternative to a DIMM, being roughly half the size of regular DIMMs. SO-DIMMS are often used in systems which have space restrictions such as notebooks, small footprint PCs (such as those with a Mini-ITX motherboard), high-end upgradable office printers, and networking hardware like routers.

Not only that SO-DIMMs are really fast.. and rock-stable !
i think you're getting this confused with FB-DIMMs or registered ram. SO-DIMM is just laptop ram, pure and simple - and its ALWAYS slower than desktop ram.

edit: lets keep i7 discussions out of here.
Posted on Reply
#28
Dark Revenger
I think there is not enough space for SO-DIMMS :confused:
Posted on Reply
#29
Th1nk
Dark RevengerI think there is not enough space for SO-DIMMS :confused:
and you point to a heatsink ?
Posted on Reply
#30
InnocentCriminal
Resident Grammar Amender
He's actually pointing out the clearance for the actual memory module to fit in, well... lack of clearance/room/space.
Posted on Reply
#31
PCpraiser100
WOw, that is one awesome looking motherboard.
Posted on Reply
#32
to6ko91
alexp999SO Dimms cant clock any way near as high as regural memory. Some of the reason is cus of cooling limitations. SO dimms cant have heat spreaders. Especially not in this config.


Here is a heat sink of a so-dimm and I think it is going to fit
Posted on Reply
#33
DanishDevil
SO-DIMMs can and do have heatspreaders.

SO-DIMMs on that board are shown commonly how they are used on laptops, stacked like this:



So that area is not a clearance issue.
Posted on Reply
#34
Th1nk
then you just overload them with electricity and make them out of more reliable materials.

tho.. the board still has a southbridge onboard which slows it down..
the lack of a southbridge on a motherboard is independant.. the less it uses. the better..
Posted on Reply
#35
DanishDevil
Removing a southbridge does not make the system faster...

You need to take your theories to another thread man. Seriously.
Posted on Reply
#36
Th1nk
whatever.. n'joy

the southbridge still is the slowest part on the motherboard :p
Posted on Reply
#37
OnBoard
edit: wow I was slow, couple replies on the same thing while I was writing this :)
alexp999SO dimms cant have heat spreaders. Especially not in this config.
Yes they can and would still fit.
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231124

Would it make that much of a difference being sandwiched there, dunno :)

These wouldn't fit as there is that one component on the top right corner, but more serious heat spreader:
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231165
Posted on Reply
#38
Th1nk
what if they control the southbridge with an optional second cpu ? :)

let me think about it in GIMP
Posted on Reply
#39
InnocentCriminal
Resident Grammar Amender
Th1nk, do as your name says and think before you post dude. You know what a south bridge does right?
Posted on Reply
#40
to6ko91
InnocentCriminalTh1nk, do as your name says and think before you post dude. You know what a south bridge does right?
:roll: please do think
Posted on Reply
#41
Th1nk
www.xplaynation.be/architecture.jpg
lala..

Sorry if I'm wrong.. correct me if I am


So in the i7 intel is working on splitting the cores of the cpu.. 1 goes to the NB the other to the SB.
Intel is really working on this :cool:
Posted on Reply
#42
InnocentCriminal
Resident Grammar Amender
You're not wrong in your diagram...



.. however this isn't an X58 board. Saying that, the ICH10 is the same as on the P45, but I don't understand your point about the South-bridge.
Posted on Reply
#43
Th1nk
easy.. imagine the ICH10R next to the X58
one core to the ICH10R and the other to the X58

can you now think of 4 cores and 8 cores ? :D :cool:
Do I need to explain the 8 cores ?

Or.. you rather have me saying : "You can't touch this" :cool:
Posted on Reply
#44
jbunch07
OMG this is getting ridiculous. why are we talking about i7? the OP has nothing do with i7 or x58!?!


OT:
I like the looks of the board...but I agree that it looks more like a design in progress. Still unsure of the SO-DIMM though...that does puzzle me.
Posted on Reply
#45
Th1nk
that board willl never work with a s775
Posted on Reply
#46
DaedalusHelios
Th1nkthat board willl never work with a s775
What are you saying? :confused:
Posted on Reply
#47
ShadowFold
Th1nkthat board willl never work with a s775
Go tell ASUS that then
Posted on Reply
#49
MopeyMartian
I'm beginning to Th1nk that Th1nk is just posting for posting sake. "Posts: 43 (19.33/day)"
Maybe he works for a X58 manufacturer in Belgium. :p

Anyway, back on topic... I like the ceramic backplate if it really works as advertised and acts like one large heatsink.

I guess I'm confused about the SO-DIMMS as well. Is it to save space for extra stuff and give better airflow? It couldn't be a height thing because the heatsinks around the CPU are ginormous. Dark Revenger, were you asking WTF that thing is above the southbridge? I'm kinda curious myself.

Anyone else notice the insane amount of capacitors on this thing?
Posted on Reply
#50
Mike0409
It think it looks incredibly cool but the SO-Dimm's is just a :confused:


Most likely this is an early prototype, I've never seen an ATX board run SO-DIMM's. I don't think any of us have. I'd say this is such an early concept that anything can change on it and I wouldn't doubt if it did.
Posted on Reply
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