ECS, Elitegroup Computer System, the global leading motherboard manufacturer today announces that all of its 8 series motherboards offer support for the New 4th Generation Intel Core Haswell Refresh Processors. With only a simple BIOS update, users can easily take full advantage of the newly launched CPUs.

With the anticipation and excitement coming along with the new 4th Generation Intel Core Haswell Refresh Processors, ECS takes it one step further when it comes to fulfilling users' satisfaction by getting new drivers and BIOS ready. ECS has provided support across the entire 8 series product line, including Z87, H87, Q87, B85 and H81 chipset based motherboards.

The global leading motherboard manufacturer, ASRock, announces that all of its 8 series motherboards will support Next Generation Intel Core Processors. With only a few clicks, users are able to update the BIOS and enjoy the outstanding performance of their new processors.

ASRock provides the latest BIOS not only to those high-end and mainstream motherboards, but also to those entry level ones. From the Z87, H87, B85 series to the H81 series, there is no 8 series motherboard left behind this full-scale support.

BIOSTAR has prepared to take full advantage of the Intel 4th generation Haswell refresh CPUs. BIOSTAR models based on the Z87, H87, B85, H81 chipset series will feature Intel single chip architecture with HD 4600 Graphics, along with a new integrated memory controller that will run at speeds up to 1600 MHz.

The newest desktop-based quad-core processors CPUs promise big leaps in performance and, being Intel-based boards, they also feature Intel Rapid Start Technology and Intel Smart Connect Technology.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced official support for soon to launch 4th Gen Intel Core Processors and select unlocked 4th Gen Intel Core Processors.

Wanting to ensure compatibility for upcoming 4th Gen Intel Core Processors, GIGABYTE has enabled support across the entire range of GIGABYTE 8 series motherboards, including Z87, H87, Q87, B85. and H81 chipset based motherboards. By installing the latest BIOS for their 8 series motherboard, users can be assured they are ready to take advantage of all the performance improvements that Intel's upcoming CPUs have to offer.

In addition to the Z87I GAMING AC model seen last week, MSI is set introduce another mini ITX LGA1150 motherboard, the H87I AC. Seen below, this H87-based board features two DDR3-1600 memory slots, four SATA 6.0 Gbps ports, one PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot, Gigabit Ethernet, 7.1 channel audio, four USB 3.0 ports, DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, plus Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11ac WiFi.

The H87I AC makes use of Military Class 4 components and is available for pre-order at €102.

Over the past couple of months, motherboard vendors from across the industry offered BIOS updates for their motherboards based on Intel B85 Express and H87 Express chipsets, which enable CPU overclocking for Intel's unlocked Core processors denoted by "K" brand extension (Core i7-4770K, i5-4670K). This reportedly hasn't gone down well with Intel. Intel's Bxx and Hxx chipsets are significantly cheaper than its Zxx series chipset. Sensing a clear threat to its revenue, from the prospect of motherboard vendors coming up with high-end or overclocking-ready (strong CPU VRM) motherboards based on cheaper chipsets in the near future, Intel cracked down on them.

Intel is giving final touches to a CPU microcode update that restricts Core "K" Haswell processors from overclocking on chipsets other than Z87 Express. A microcode update can be deployed both through BIOS updates, and surreptitiously through Windows Update. Intel's used the tried and tested "stability" bogey to justify the update. While it's true that motherboards based on B85 and H87 tend to feature weaker CPU VRM, there's nothing to say that ASUS wouldn't have gone on to design its next ROG Maximus on H87 Express, and save on manufacturing costs. While it's purely hypothetical, something like that wouldn't be in Intel's commercial interests. What next? Intel will push this new microcode update on to motherboard vendors, instructing them to issue BIOS updates with it; and future batches of Intel "K" CPUs may not support overclocking. If that isn't enough to contain the problem, Intel may give Microsoft a ring, and ask it to push the update through Windows Update. It tried that once in the past.

ASUS today announced that the latest UEFI BIOS for its motherboards based on Intel H87 and B85 chipsets unlocks previously inaccessible overclocking features for 4th generation Intel Core processors. Before this update, the overclocking features of new Haswell 'K Series' processors could be enjoyed only with motherboards based on the Intel Z87 chipset. Now, however, performance enthusiasts can exploit the power of Haswell K Series processors using ASUS 8 Series motherboards like the ASUS H87M-PRO and B85-PRO. The BIOS update is a free download for 10 ASUS motherboards - the H87-PRO, H87-PLUS, H87M-PRO, H87M-PLUS, H87M-E, H87I-PLUS, B85-PRO, B85-PLUS, B85M-E and B85M-G.

Once installed, the update enables frequency multiplier-based overclocking in one simple step for unlocked Intel K Series processors such as the Intel Core i7-4770K and Core i5 4670K. The BIOS also includes several features to make life simpler for PC users. A 'Last Modified' log makes it easy to determine when and how a particular setting was changed, and custom settings can be saved to a 'favorites' list for rapid switching to suit different applications.

Closely trailing ASRock and ECS, Gigabyte began releasing beta BIOS updates for its socket LGA1150 motherboards based on chipsets other than Z87 Express, which let you overclock Core "Haswell" K-series processors. Intel intended Z87 Express to be the only LGA1150 platform that lets you overclock processors, but motherboard vendors found their ways around the limitation, enabling a few overclocking features for motherboards based on other chipsets such as H87 Express, and B85 Express. These BIOS updates are marked beta, and typically feature the version number "FXc," with a change-log entry reading "enables K SKU CPU multiplier." With this BIOS installed, you can overclock K-series processors such as Core i7-4770K and Core i5-4670K, by tinkering with their base-clock multipliers.Many Thanks to DJElectric for the tip.

Who ever said that only K series CPUs and the Z-family platform are capable of being overclocked? The avant-garde company ASRock has broken this limitation with an exciting new feature named Non-Z OC! Via this feature overclockers may install their K series CPUs to ASRock's Fatal1ty H87 Performance or any other H87 B85 chipset motherboards and start overclocking immediately!

The first ASRock motherboard that implements the Non-Z OC feature is Fatal1ty H87 Performance, which is also the H87 motherboard with the most number of power phases in the market currently. Along with its powerful 8 Power Phase design, the CPU frequency can be effortlessly overclocked up to 26%! Simply update to the latest version of our UEFI, then you'll find the Non-Z OC feature sitting in the OC Tweaker page, select a frequency from a couple of preset settings, restart, kick back to enjoy your drink and voila!

ZOTAC International, a global innovator and manufacturer of graphics cards, mainboards, mini-PCs and accessories, today announces a new mini-ITX platform for 4th Generation Intel Core processors for small form factor users that demand a compact PC without sacrificing performance or features. The new ZOTAC H87-ITX WiFi delivers a compact computing experience that rivals and can exceed traditional full-tower PC systems.

"ZOTAC is always on the forefront of mini-ITX platform development. Our latest ZOTAC H87-ITX WiFi provides users with an excellent starting point for a compact high-performance system that can accommodate the latest 4th Generation Intel Core processors," says Carsten Berger, senior director, ZOTAC International.

MSI rolled out a trio of socket LGA1150 motherboards in the mini-ITX form-factor, Z87I, H87I, and B85I, based on Intel Z87, H87, and B85 chipsets, respectively. Pin-compatibility between the three chipsets means that the three boards are based on a common design. The three feature a 4-phase CPU VRM, two full-size DDR3 DIMM slots, a PCI-Express 3.0 x16, and a combination of 24-pin and 4-pin power connectors.

The Z87I and H87I are nearly identical, with VRM cooling, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0. The Z87I edges past the H87I with support for CPU overclocking, and a second gigabit Ethernet connection. The B85I lacks a VRM heatsink, and the wireless connectivity card. Instead, it gives you a vacant mPCIe slot. It offers 6-channel HD audio, instead of the 8-channel solution, on the other two. All three feature at least one gigabit Ethernet connection, DVI and HDMI display outputs, six USB 3.0 ports, and a number of USB 2.0/1.1 ports.

ASRock is serious about breaking the 1 million motherboards-shipped mark for this year. The company is going into the emerging Intel Z87 chipset-based socket LGA1150 motherboard market with an extremely strong lineup covering a wide range of price-points. The company is preparing as many as three OC series models, two Fatal1ty series ones, and six Extreme series models. A defining feature of ASRock's lineup is the introduction of onboard 802.11 ac WLAN controllers on select models. The "/ac" brand extension denotes this feature.

Three of the company's top models based on the Z87 Express chipset include the Z87 Extreme11, Z87 Fatal1ty Professional, and Z87 OC Formula. The Z87 Extreme11, available with the /ac option, is the company's flagship socket LGA1150 motherboard, maxing out the platform's feature-set, and augmenting it with an additional PCI-Express lane budget, Thunderbolt, 802.11 ac, and a plethora of connectivity options. The Extreme series targets consumers who want the most connectivity. Other models in the series include the Z87 Extreme 9(/ac), Z87 Extreme6(/ac), Z87 Extreme 4, and the micro-ATX Z87M Extreme4.

It looks like Intel's Core "Haswell" processor family will miss its anticipated March-May launch window, with the company choosing Computex 2013 as its next launch-pad. According to a leaked document intended for distributors and large retailers, desktop Core "Haswell" processors will launch only after May 27, before June 7, and retailers are told to hold off advertising the launch till June 2nd.

Among the products featuring in the new May 27 - June 7 launch window are the Core i7-4770K flagship product, i7-4770, i7-4770S, i7-4770T, i7-4765T, i5-4670K, i5-4670, i5-4670S, i5-4670T, i5-4570, i5-4570S, i5-4570T, i5-4430, and i5-4430S, all of which are quad-core parts. In addition, socket LGA1150 motherboards based on Intel Z87 (flagship, OC-ready), H87, Q87, Q85, and B85 chipsets, will be launched. In all likelihood, one piece of decoration the CES venue could miss, is the wall of LGA1150 motherboards, which is usually put up by Intel.

ECS has less than stable RSS and media channels (to our advantage). It may have accidentally blurted out model names of at least three upcoming Intel 8-series chipset based motherboards, for socket LGA1150 Core "Haswell" processors. Among the three are Z87H3-AX Extreme, Z87H3-AX Golden, and H87H3-M4. The two Z87H3-AX motherboards, going by the company's current 7-series chipset motherboard lineup, appear to be identical, with the Z87H3-AX Golden pimping out with gold-colored components and heatsinks. The boards will likely max out the feature-set of Intel's "Lynx Point" chipset family. The Z87 PCH succeeds the current Z77, in supporting overclocking, in addition to all features of the platform, including Small Business Advantage. The H87H3-M4 sounds like the name typically given by ECS to a micro-ATX motherboard based on the H87 chipset. H87 supports nearly every feature the Z87 does, except CPU overclocking.

Intel's 4th generation Core processor family will introduce socket LGA1150, and 8-series chipset. The company's own Desktop Board division plans as many as nine motherboard models for March 2013. The three 8-series chipset models making up the lineup are Z87 (high connectivity options, overclocking features), H87 (high connectivity options), and Q87 (essential connectivity, enterprise client features).

Intel plans as many as four motherboard models on the overclocking-ready Z87 chipset, two each in the Extreme Series and Media Series. The Extreme Series models include the DZ87KLT-75K "Kinsley Thunderbolt," DZ87KL-70K "Kinsley" (sans Thunderbolt); the Media Series models include DZ87CA-55K "Carryville," and DZ87CO-50K "Colebrook." The H87 lineup includes DH87MC "Meadow Creek," DH87RL "Round Lake," and DH87FB "Flat Bay." Among the Q87-based models are the DQ87RG "Rainbow Ridge" and DQ87PG "Spring Cave." Their specifications are tabled below.