Special Features; Product Highlights - Asus SK8N User Manual

1.3

Special features

1.3.1 Product highlights

Latest processor technology
The AMD Opteron™ processor for servers and workstations is based on
AMD's 64-bit architecture, which represents the landmark introduction of
the industry's first x86-64 technology. This next-generation processor
provides a dramatic leap forward in compatibility, performance, investment
protection, and reduced total cost of ownership and development. See
page 2-4 for details.
HyperTransport™ Technology
HyperTransport™ Technology is a high-speed, low latency, point-to-point link
designed to increase the communication speed between integrated circuits
in computers, servers, embedded systems, and networking and
telecommunicatons equipment up to 48 times faster than some existing
technologies.
Serial ATA solution, RAID support
The motherboard supports two interfaces compliant to the Serial ATA
(SATA) specification, an evolutionary replacement of the Parallel ATA
storage interface. The Serial ATA specification allows for thinner, more
flexible cables with lower pin count, reduced voltage requirement, up to
®
150 MB/s data transfer rate. With the Promise PDC 20378 RAID
controller onboard, the motherboard supports RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID
0+1 configuration using SATA drives. See pages 2-23, 5-17.
AGP 8X support
AGP 8X (AGP 3.0) is the next generation VGA interface specification that
enables enhanced graphics performance with high bandwidth speeds up
to 2.12 GB/s. See page 2-18.
6-Channel Audio solution
The SK8N uses an onboard audio CODEC that lets you enjoy high-quality
6-channel audio without having to buy advanced sound cards. See page
5-15.
S/PDIF out
The SK8N's S/PDIF out function turns your computer into a high-end
entertainment system with digital connectivity to powerful speaker
systems.
1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction