The board

The layout of the board is classical: with the CPU socket pressed to (upper) the side of the board, to gain as much space for the expansion slots as possible. The board boasts double PCIe x16 slots, double x1 slots, and two classic PCI slots. On top of that you can see the black connector which serves for the Supreme FX audio add-in card. The board's power connections are similar to most other contemporary boards, featuring 24+8 pin connectors. I don't have any real remarks on the general lineup, unless maybe on the strange placement of the cmos battery, which is located in the dead center of the board. If you ever have to replace it, you'll probably have to reinstall, but this doesn't happen but once in a few years.



This is how Asus positions its "Blitz" motherboards: part of the "Republic of Gamers" lineup :

The Republic of Gamers consists only the best of the best. We offer the best hardware engineering, the fastest performance, the most innovating ideas, and we welcome the best gamers to join in. In the Republic of Gamers, mercy rules are only for the weak, and bragging rights means everything. We believe in making statements and we excel in competitions. If your character matches our trait, then join the elite club, make your presence felt, in the Republic of Gamers.

Specifications

CPU

LGA775 socket for Intel® Core™2 Extreme / Core™2 Quad / Core™2 Duo / Pentium® Extreme / Pentium® D / Pentium® 4 / Celeron® D Processors

Support Intel® next generation 45nm Multi-Core CPU

Compatible with Intel® 06/05B/05A processors

Chipset

Intel® P35/ICH9R with Intel® Fast Memory Access Technology

Front Side Bus 1333 / 1066 / 800 MHz

Memory

Dual channel memory architecture

4 x DIMM, support max. 8GB, DDR2-1066*/800/667 MHz, non-ECC and un-buffered memory

Expansion Slots

2 x PCIe x16 slot, support dual graphics solution

3 x PCIe x1 ( the PCIEx1_1 (black) is compatible with audio slot)

2 x PCI 2.2

CrossFire : support ATI CrossFire™ graphics cards (both at x8 mode)

Storage

ICH9R Southbridge:
- 6 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports
- Intel Matrix Storage Technology supports RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10.

JMicron® JMB368 PATA controller:
- 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66/33 for up to 2 PATA devices

LAN : Dual Gigabit LAN controllers, both featuring AI NET2

High Definition Audio

SupremeFX II Audio Card:
- ADI 1988B 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Noise Filter

Coaxial, Optical S/PDIF out at back I/O

IEEE 1394a : 2 x 1394a ports(1 port at back I/O, 1 port onboard)

USB : max. 12 USB 2.0 ports(6 ports at mid-board, 6 ports at back panel)

Overclocking Features

Fusion Block System

Crosslinx Technology

Extreme Tweaker

2-Phase DDR2

Loadline Calibration

Intelligent overclocking tools:
- CPU Level Up
- AI NOS™ (Non-delay Overclocking System)
- AI Overclocking (intelligent CPU frequency tuner)
- ASUS AI Booster Utility
- O.C Profile

Overclocking Protection:
- COP EX (Component Overheat Protection - EX)
- Voltiminder LED
- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)

Special Features

LCD Poster

Onboard Switches: Power / Reset / Cls CMOS (at rear)

ASUS Q-Connector

ASUS Q-Fan 2

ASUS EZ Flash 2

ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3

ASUS MyLogo3

Back Panel I/O Ports
1 x PS/2 Keyboard port(purple)
1 x PS/2 Mouse port(green)
1 x Optical + 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF Output
2 x LAN (RJ45) port
6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
1 x IEEE1394a port
1 x Clr CMOS switch

Internal I/O Connectors
3 x USB 2.0 connectors supports additional 6 USB 2.0 ports
1 x Floppy disk drive connector
1 x IDE connector for two devices
6 x SATA connectors
8 x Fan connectors: 1 x CPU / 1 x PWR / 3 x Chassis / 3 x Optional
2 x thermal sensor connectors
1 x IEEE1394a connector
1 x S/PDIF output connector
1 x Chassis Intrusion connector
24-pin ATX Power connector
8-pin ATX 12V Power connector
1 x En/Dis-able Clr CMOS
System panel connector

BIOS : 16Mb AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.4, ACPI2.0a Multi-Language BIOS

Manageability

WOL by PME, WOR by PME, Chasis Intrusion, PXE

O/S Compatibility : Window XP / Vista

Accessories

Fusion Block System Accessory

LCD Poster

DIY Pedestal

ASUS Optional Fan

SupremeFX II Audio Card

3 in 1 ASUS Q-Connector Kit

UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable

Floppy disk drive cable

SATA cables

SATA power cables

2-port USB2.0 + IEEE 1394a module

I/O Shield

Cable Ties

User's manual

Software

3D Game: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

Support DVD:
- Drivers and applications
- ASUS PC Probe II
- ASUS Update
- ASUS AI Suite
- Futuremark ® 3DMark® 06 Advanced Edition
- Kaspersky® Anti-Virus

Form Factor : ATX Form Factor, 12"x 9.6" (30.5cm x 24.5cm)

Some more details up next >>>