Unboxing GIGABYTE’s A75-UD4H Socket FM1 Motherboard

AMD this week began shipping out its first 32nm Fusion processors in the form of the mobile part ‘Sabine’, based on the Llano architecture. The desktop variant, Lynx, is set to launch in the next couple of weeks. Some motherboard vendors have begun sending us boards to help us test out AMD’s latest and greatest (greatest in terms of tech, not performance), with GIGABYTE’s A75-UD4H being the first to hit our step.

Because AMD is currently juggling around a number of codenames, let’s first get things straight. ‘Llano’ is the upcoming APU architecture that combines a GPU and CPU on the same chip. Sabine is the mobile variant based on this architecture, while Lynx is for the desktop. The sockets that both plug into is FM1, a 905 contact solution based on the PGA form-factor. Despite the different socket, the mount allows AM2, AM2+, AM3 and AM3+ CPU coolers to install just fine. The first Llano desktop processors are going to be known as the A series (eg: A8-3850).

Llano shouldn’t be confused with Bulldozer, which is AMD’s architecture that will be destined for mainstream and higher desktop and server use. These will launch with at least 8-cores, and will not feature a built-in GPU. The processors based on Bulldozer are referred to as Zambezi, while the platform featuring the 990FX chipset is called Scorpius.

Confused? Great, let’s move on.

At launch, GIGABYTE will release at least four motherboards based on the A75 chipset: A75-D3H, A75-UD4H, A75M-D2H and A75M-UD2H. The one pictured above is the ATX-based UD4H, set to retail at around $149. In line with Llano being a more budget to mainstream solution, this board is likely to be GIGABYTE’s most expensive A75 offering.

Found on the board is the usual blue color scheme often found on the company’s mainstream and under boards. There are 4 DIMM slots with support for up to 32GB of RAM (with official support up to DDR3-1866), two full-length x16 PCIe slots (8x in dual-GPU mode), 3 x1 PCIe slots and 2 legacy PCI slots. As a modestly-priced offering, only five SATA ports are included, with the one facing upwards supporting SATA 3.0 (6Gbit/s).

And here we have a look at the new FM1 socket. Instead of the plastic bracket being one solid piece, it’s instead broken into two. As mentioned earlier though, AM2 and AM3-supported CPU coolers should mount without issue, as the two notches are located the same distance from one another. Kudos to AMD for introducing a new architecture like this and not requiring us to purchase a brand-new mount.

On the back panel, GIGABYTE has included quite a bit of functionality for a board of this price-range. We have all four common display ports to choose from; VGA, DVI, DisplayPort and HDMI. There are not 2, but 4 USB 3.0 ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports, eSATA, FireWire, a full range of audio outputs, LAN and also a PS/2 keyboard/mouse port.

For its $149 prospective price-point, this board looks like a potential winner. Though, since Fusion on the desktop is just begging to be shoved into an mATX board, I look forward to seeing those begin to trickle out as well. We don’t have an official launch date that we can announce, though you can expect us to post at least one more unboxing before it. Stay tuned.