Introduction and Specifications

With the Asus M2A-VM motherboard, we give the new AMD 690G chipset another spin and compare it to a similarly priced platform from Intel using the G965 chipset and its integrated graphics solution.

Introduction

Recently AMD launched its first new chipset using property from the recent acquisition of ATI, the AMD 690 series.  It comes in two flavors: the 690G that features integrated HDMI and DVI output and the 690V that does not.  My first review of this chipset was on the MSI K9AGM2 motherboard and today I am following up with an Asus model that was sent along a few days later.   

If you want additional information on the entire specifications of the 690 chipset, I strongly suggest you take a look at the previous AMD 690G review for all the details!

Specifications (from Asus.com)

CPU

Support AMD® Socket AM2 Athlon64 / Athlon64 FX / Athlon64 X2 / Sempron  
AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet™ Technology  
AMD64 architecture enables simultaneous 32-bit and 64-bit computing   
AMD Live!™ Ready  

Chipset
AMD 690G  
ATI  SB600  
Front Side Bus
2000 / 1600 MT/s
Memory
Dual channel memory architecture   
4 x 240-pin DIMM, support max. 8GB DDR2 800/667/533 ECC and Non-ECC,un-buffered memory   
VGA
Integrated  ATI Radeon X1250-based graphics  
Maximum shared memory of 256 MB  
Supports DVI-D with max. resolution 2560×1600 (@ 60Hz)
(It may not display 1080p smoothly when playing HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc due to current version player limit)
Supports RGB with max. resolution 2048 x 1536 (@85Hz)   
Dual VGA output support:  
RGB & DVI  
Note: DVI-D can not be converted to output RGB Signal to CRT.
Expansion Slots
1 x PCI Express x16  
1 x PCI Express x1  
2 x PCI   

Storage
1 x UltraDMA 133/100  
4 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s supporting RAID 0, RAID 1,RAID10  
LAN
PCIe Gb LAN
Audio
ALC883 High Definition Audio 6-channel CODEC   
Supports Jack-Sensing, Enumeration, and Jack-Retasking  
Supports S/PDIF out  interface  
Overclocking Features
SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection) from 200MHz to 400MHz at 1MHz increment   
Adjustable CPU Voltage at 0.0125V increment  
ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)   
USB
10 USB2.0/1.1 ports
Special Features
ASUS MyLogo2  
ASUS CrashFreeBIOS3  
ASUS EZ Flash2  
ASUS Q-Fan  
ASUS O.C Profile  
ASUS Music Alarm   
Back Panel I/O Ports
1 x Parallel   
1 x PS/2 Mouse   
1 x PS/2 Keyboard   
1 x DVI   
1 x VGA  
1 x RJ45   
4 x USB 2.0/1.1    
6-channel Audio I/O
Internal I/O Connectors
3 x USB 2.0 connector supports additional 6 USB 2.0 ports   
High Definition Front panel audio connector   
COM port connector  
CD audio-in connector   
1 x S/PDIF output connector   
CPU / Chassis/ Power Fan connectors  
Chassis Intrusion connector  
24-pin EATX power connector   
4-pin ATX 12V Power connector   
BIOS
8Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SMBIOS 2.3
Manageability
WfM 2.0, DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PXE,  WOR by PME 
Support CD
Drivers   
ASUS PC Probe II   
ASUS LiveUpdate Utility  
Anti -virus software(OEM version) 
Accessories
User’ s manual   
1 x Serial ATA cable  
1 x SATA power cable  
1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable   
1 x FDD cable   
1 x I/O Shield 
Form Factor
uATX Form Factor, 9.6″ x 9.0″ (24.5cm x 22.9cm)

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