ASUS debuts the H97-Pro Gamer motherboard

ASUS today announced H97-Pro Gamer, a new ATX motherboard that speeds up gamers’ fun with 10Gibt/s M.2 and SATA Express connectivity, Intel® Gigabit Ethernet and exclusive GameFirst ll networking technology.

H97-Pro Gamer additionally benefits from exclusive SupremeFX for unrivalled in-game audio and exclusive Sonic Radar ll technology to lend players a stealthy advantage in first-person-shooter (FPS) games.

The new motherboard also includes ASUS Gamer’s Guardian, a collection of components hand-chosen for exceptional safety, durability and performance to protect gamers’ backs.

Faster gaming networking
H97-Pro Gamer’s networking is powered by Intel Gigabit Ethernet. This has the advantage of communicating directly with Intel processors to offer exceptionally-high Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) throughput, lowering overall processing demands and improving efficiency — releasing more power for games and gameplay. Using independent network-assessment tools, ASUS engineers calculated that Intel Gigabit Ethernet deals with the UDP data packets that are vital for responsive gaming up to two times (2X) faster than competing gaming-LAN technologies.

H97-Pro Gamer also has GameFirst II, an ASUS-exclusive traffic-shaping technology that reduces lag even further by prioritizing game-related data. Tests by ASUS engineers show that latency is greatly reduced — ping times are up to eight times (8X) faster with GameFirst II enabled. The EZ Mode lets users take advantage of low-latency gaming, with no need for expert knowledge.

Quicker gaming storage
H97-Pro Gamer has the fastest storage connectivity in the shape of SATA Express and M.2. SATA Express provides data-transfer speeds of up to 10Gbit/s from two PCI Express 2.0 lanes, ready for the next generation of super-fast SSDs and enabling H97-Pro Gamer players to speed up their game storage.

The new motherboard also has a built-in M.2 socket with two native PCI Express 2.0 lanes for data-transfer speeds of up to 10Gbit/s, so H97-Pro Gamer owners can choose their preferred method to speed up both storage and gameplay.

Superior gaming audio
H97-Pro Gamer players enjoy SupremeFX technology for near-lossless audio with a remarkable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 115dB that enhances every sound detail. The advanced audio chipset is isolated from electromagnetic interference (EMI) by a protective shield, preserving the integrity of the audio signals. Exclusive ‘red-line shielding’ horizontally separates SupremeFX audio components from the rest of the motherboard. This unique combination effectively eliminates analog interference to ensure flawless sound quality. Premium ELNA® audio capacitors are added to the mix to deliver a warmer, natural sound to complete the audio experience.

SupremeFX also has a built-in amplifier that drives high-quality headphones — all the way up to 300ohm impedance — for sound quality that’s as great as a dedicated sound card.

H97-Pro Gamer also includes Sonic Radar II, an ASUS-exclusive technology that displays a stealthy overlay showing the precise direction and origin of in-game sounds. This helps players to hone their enemy-pinpointing skills and giving them the edge in FPS games.

Exceptional durability
H97-Pro Gamer is engineered with high-quality, highly-durable components for exceptional real-world protection. We call these components ASUS Gamer’s Guardian.

Gamer’s Guardian includes onboard resettable fuses that protect the connection ports and DRAM against overcurrent and short-circuit damage, while exceptionally high-quality, Japanese-made 10K black-metallic capacitors offer greater temperature endurance and improved lifespans.

Gamer’s Guardian ESD Guards on the USB ports, audio connectors and Ethernet (LAN) port ensure that H97-Pro Gamer is actively protected against sudden electrostatic discharge (ESD). The result is that the components last much longer.

H97-Pro Gamer also has the ASUS-exclusive DIGI+ voltage-regulator module (VRM) to enhance performance, increase efficiency and ensure reliability, and a stainless-steel back input/output (I/O) panel that’s chromium-plated and corrosion-resistant to last up to three times (3X) longer than traditional panels.