ASUS launches N3150M-E Braswell micro-ATX motherboard

by Mark Tyson on 19 May 2015, 10:51

Tags: Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), ASUSTeK (TPE:2357)

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ASUS has quietly launched a new motherboard which comes equipped with a fanless Intel Braswell quad-core processor. The ASUS N3150M-E micro-ATX Braswell motherboard has an Intel Celeron Quad-Core N3150 SoC processor on board. The 14nm Intel chip is based upon the 'Airmont' architecture runs at 1.6GHz (2.08GHz burst) and is rated at just 6W TDP.

Most of these Braswell Celeron chips are destined for portable systems like tablets so it's interesting to see them used in barebones desktop products. However, regular HEXUS readers will remember that MSI has already launched a trio of Braswell motherboards, incorporating various new Celeron processors, the mini-ITX MSI ECO range.

The ASUS N3150M-E offers the following key specifications in addition to the Intel Braswell SoC:

  • Graphics: Intel Gen8 HD graphics with 12 execution units and 320MHz base / 600MHz boost frequency. Maximum shared memory of 512MB
  • Memory: 2 x UDIMM slots (DDR3 1600/1066 MHz)
  • Internal expansion: 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x1 mode), 2 x PCIe 2.0 x1, 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
  • Internal connectors: 2x USB 2.0 ports, CPU and chassis fans connectors, front panel audio, system speaker, 24-pin ATX and 4-pin CPU power.
  • Ports and connectivity: 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x VGA, 1 x Parallel port, 2 x PS/2 Mouse & Keyboard, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet (Realtek), 3 x audio
  • BIOS: 64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.8, ACPI 5.0, Multi-language BIOS
  • Size: mATX Form Factor 8.9 inch x 7.0 inch ( 22.6 cm x 17.8 cm )
  • OS support: Windows 8.1 64-bit

ASUS provides a suite of 'special features' including protection for LAN, DRAM, ESD, quality capacitors and a stainless steel back I/O panel. It implements USB 3.0 Boost for "170% faster transfer speeds than traditional USB 3.0". The highest resolution graphics available are via HDMI, 3840 x 2160 @ 30 Hz. The VGA port can output 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz.

For a small low power system the ASUS N3150M-E appears to offer a lot of expansion, configuration and connectivity options. According to FanlessTech the N3150M-E costs 85 Euros and a similar motherboard equipped with a dual-core Celeron N3050 costs 75 Euros. We don't have any information regarding when these motherboards with integrated Braswell SoCs will appear at retailers.

HEXUS Forums :: 7 Comments

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Posted by scaryjim - Tue 19 May 2015 11:10
Mystified by the decision to put a full x16 physical connector on the board but run it in x1 mode, unless they can run the x16 slot at 75W despite only operating with a single PCIe lane? Anyone know?
Posted by ricksavoie - Tue 19 May 2015 11:16
That is so you can install a 980GTX in there. Not sure why, but that is the answer!
Posted by shaithis - Tue 19 May 2015 11:16
From reading the PCI-Express wiki, it seems like the cards themselves are the limiting factor and that means you couldn't get 75W from the slot if you put a 1x card in. I cannot see why it wouldn't be able to draw the full amount with a 16x card in though, as long as the power pins in the slot are connected.

Why put a 16x slot? I guess because it opens up possibilities that aren't there with only a 1x physical slot.
Posted by scaryjim - Tue 19 May 2015 11:21
shaithis
From reading the PCI-Express wiki, it seems like the cards themselves are the limiting factor and that means you couldn't get 75W from the slot if you put a 1x card in. I cannot see why it wouldn't be able to draw the full amount with a 16x card in though, as long as the power pins in the slot are connected.

Why put a 16x slot? I guess because it opens up possibilities that aren't there with only a 1x physical slot.

Yeah, I was just reading through that too. I suppose a physical x16 slot provides more physical support if you want to use an x16 card: I was more wondering why they wouldn't just stick an open-ended x1 slot in if they wanted to support larger cards, but that could lack stability….!

Also makes me wonder what the 4th PCIe connector from the SoC is powering, since (according to ark, at least) they could've provided an x2 slot if that wasn't in use elsewhere…
Posted by Pleiades - Tue 19 May 2015 11:25
That's a big ol' heatsink for a little cpu.

“Most of these Braswell Celeron chips are destined for portable systems like tablets”.

I'm not sure these are tablet bound, more like Cherrytrail Airmonts instead.

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