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Computer Parts: ASUS M4A88T-I Deluxe

Many users aren’t satisfied with light weight mini-computers that are made to look good, consume a very small amount of energy, but not without sacrificing a big part of the performance that an average PC should have.

Computer manufacturers realized this problem and came up with a compromise solution by eliminating a big part of a traditional mATX motherboard, leaving only the most important expansion slot (the high-speed PCI-Express 16X graphics slot), integrated graphics, the S-ATA controller and memory slots.

This specific model from ASUS, the M4A88T-I Deluxe is based on the latest AMD platform that consists of the AMD 880G chipset and a socket AM3 processor. The potential success of this motherboard relies on the support of a 95Watt six-core AMD Phenom II processor, which in an industry-first for such a small (mini-ITX format) motherboard. ASUS worked hard to integrate all features necessary for a THPC (home theater personal computer) that’s usually connected to a large screen. It has one of the best on-board graphics processors, the AMD Radeon 4250. Unfortunately this GPU doesn’t come with dedicated SidePort memory, but there wouldn’t be enough space on the motherboard anyway, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing that ASUS chose this chipset instead of the AMD 890GX (with SidePort memory support). While the Radeon 4250 GPU is fully capable of playing compressed FullHD video content, a discrete graphics card can be installed and set to work in Hybrid Crossfire with the on-board GPU. The user also has the option to install a high-end graphics card if the chosen power supply can provide enough power. A Radeon 5970 for example requires 300Watts of power, mostly from the additional power cables connected to it, because the motherboard can offer only up to 72 watts through the PCI-Express 16X port. In other words a small external power supply is out of the question, you’ll need at least a 600Watt (real) ATX power supply to install a high-end card and also a little extra space. As you probably already know, most graphics cards take up two slots worth of space in a computer case and the cooling fan also has to be able to draw air from under the card (when the case is in a vertical position).

The ASUS M4A88T-I Deluxe has two memory slots supporting up to 8GB of total system memory. These are two SODIMM DDR3-1333 slots, not the type of memory slot you would expect on a typical desktop motherboard, but engineers were really running out of space on this small board, so they had no choice.

ASUS managed to integrate all major port types: four USB ports, one PS2 port for mouse or keyboard, optical audio out, HDMI, DVI-D (digital only! DVI to VGA adapters cannot be connected!), digital audio out, eSATA, two USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth adapter (above the red USB 3.0 ports), Gigabit Ethernet, analog audio ports and Wi-FI adapter with B, G and N mode support.

In the front of the motherboard ASUS also prepared a little surprise: two little switches. One switch is for toggling turbo mode and the other for enabling the Core Unlocker (which permits the operating system to use factory disabled CPU cores).

In conclusion this little board does most of the work of a mATX or ATX board, and it costs less than you’d think, only $125 (+VAT). Add to that a Phenom II X6 1045T processor and a Radeon 5970 graphics card, and you’ve got the smallest and strongest HTPC on the block, for the lowest possible price.