ASUS Intros E45M1-M PRO Fusion Motherboard with AMD E-450 APU

[btarunr]

ASUS released a new embedded micro-ATX motherboard based on AMD's Fusion "Zacate" processor platform. The new E45M1-M PRO from ASUS resembles the E35M1-M PRO, except that it's powered by the newer AMD E-450 dual-core APU. Clocked at 1.65 GHz, the E-450 combines two Bobcat architecture x86-64 cores with Radeon HD 6320 DirectX 11-compliant graphics packing 80 stream processors, and a DDR3-1333 MHz integrated memory controller. The E45M1-M PRO measures 244 x 183 mm, and makes use of all of its expansion area to provide four expansion slots: a PCI-Express 2.0 x16, a PCI-E x1, and two legacy PCI.

The board draws power from standard 24-pin ATX with 4-pin CPU power. A 3-phase VRM handles APU power, it is backed by ASUS EPU chip that works to improve energy efficiency. The APU is wired to two DDR3 DIMM slots, for single-channel DDR3 memory. A large heatsink cools both the APU and Hudson M1 chipset, optionally a fan can be attached to cool it better.



Storage connectivity includes five internal SATA 6 Gb/s ports and one eSATA 6 Gb/s. Display connectivity includes one each of HDMI, DVI, and D-Sub. Other connectivity includes 6-channel HD audio with 7.1 channel optical SPDIF output, two USB 3.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, Firewire, and a number of USB 2.0 ports. The board is driven by UEFI firmware, including ASUS' EZ-Mode GUI setup program.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[breakfromyou]

Okay, so it has USB 3.0, SATA 6.0gbps and is a whole 50 MHz quicker?

 

[btarunr]

Okay, so it has USB 3.0, SATA 6.0gbps and is a whole 50 MHz quicker?

The GPU features TurboCore. 508 MHz typical max GPU clock, which can increase to 600 MHz. That's something E-350 doesn't have.

 

[zomg]

E-450 support DDR3-1333, which more interesting than E-350 with DDR3-1066

but I don't see a point of any atx board with only 2 dimm slots

 

[Andrei23]

The GPU features TurboCore. 508 MHz typical max GPU clock, which can increase to 600 MHz. That's something E-350 doesn't have.

But the E-450 is still bad for gaming. I thought their purpose was for 1080p playback which the E-350 was more than capable of doing. So why would anyone need the E-450?

 

[shrivan]

E-450 support DDR3-1333, which more interesting than E-350 with DDR3-1066

but I don't see a point of any atx board with only 2 dimm slots

Well I do see the point... It the Zacate has only Single-Channel RAM capabilities, in essence it would not even need a second RAM slot except for the purpose of adding more RAM (but, as you surely know, performance wise it does not contribute). ATX, mATX --> Who cares? (except those paying attention to size i.e. form factor and even those might complain about e.g. S0-DIMMs instead of "normal" sized modules on an ITX board)
The intended target and the peculiarities of the platform (in this case the mentioned Zacate and its intended by design characteristics) are what is important.

 

[shrivan]

But the E-450 is still bad for gaming. I thought their purpose was for 1080p playback which the E-350 was more than capable of doing. So why would anyone need the E-450?

If one wants e.g. HDMI 1.4a features (and/or the DDR-1333 support) the E-450 i.e. Zacate refresh is the way to go.

See e.g. http://www.anandtech.com/show/4660/amd-updates-brazos-with-e450-e300-and-c60-apus

They have a nice table/figure that shows what is what. Google for more, if needed.

 

[Frick]

I'm not a fan of these things. Not ATX models anyway. Gief me ITX dagnnabbit!

 

[wiak]

No DisplayPort?

 

[Kantastic]

FML, these are going to start appearing in 11.6" portables and I'm going to have a heck of a time explaining to my sister why she's due for an upgrade from her 6-day old X120e.

Back on topic though, I really don't understand what Asus is thinking. A full-sized ATX board for an E-450?

 

[shrivan]

FML, these are going to start appearing in 11.6" portables and I'm going to have a heck of a time explaining to my sister why she's due for an upgrade from her 6-day old X120e.

Back on topic though, I really don't understand what Asus is thinking. A full-sized ATX board for an E-450?

Guys, where did this "ATX" idea come from? Look at the pictures -> that is a mATX board.

 

[Kantastic]

Guys, where did this "ATX" idea come from? Look at the pictures -> that is a mATX board.

Whoops, I was busy reading comments and not looking at pictures. You're right, it's mATX.

THIS IS BRILLIANT!

 

[TheLaughingMan]

FML, these are going to start appearing in 11.6" portables and I'm going to have a heck of a time explaining to my sister why she's due for an upgrade from her 6-day old X120e.

Back on topic though, I really don't understand what Asus is thinking. A full-sized ATX board for an E-450?

Its micro-ATX not full sized.

 

[bostonbuddy]

"micro" atx is still pretty huge M-ITX ftw

 

[Frick]

"micro" atx is still pretty huge M-ITX ftw

Exactly. It's a waste on anything xATX imo.

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

Some decent improvments over a 350

 

[Disparia]

This kicks the E-350 square in the jimmy.

 

[Jstn7477]

Damnit, I just bought my GA-E350N-USB3 not even 2 weeks ago. Oh well, at least it was practically the only ITX board to have overclocking options and a 6.66x memory multiplier, so I can have DDR3-1333 without overclocking.