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ASUS released its new M4A78-HTPC Series motherboards that are developed specifically for use in Home Theater Personal Computers (HTPCs). HTPCs have become more prevalent due to the vast popularity of the Internet and the ease with which content can be found, downloaded and viewed. Also, the chipset technology that supports Full HD 1080p is maturing, and large-sized widescreen LCD monitors are becoming more mainstream - allowing users to download and watch HD videos directly on their PCs.
 M4A78-HTPC Series motherboards are based on the AMD 780G chipset, which fully integrates HDMI/DVI support to display HD videos smoothly. Furthermore, M4A78-HTPC Series motherboards come with a user-friendly media center dubbed Home Theater Gate and a low-noise, energy efficient Tranquil Mode that offer users greater convenience and a more conducive music environment respectively.
The M4A78-HTPC Series are the world's first motherboards to be equipped with ASUS Absolute Pitch Hi-Fi technology which dedicates an independent audio power connector solely to audio components. This effectively reduces electronic noise, ensuring purer sound quality. Additionally, the gold-plated RCA stereo audio connectors are compatible with amplifiers without requiring additional connectors—making it simple to link PCs to home theater equipment. Furthermore, the M4A78-HTPC supports DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC Technology for true high-definition home theater entertainment.
The ASUS Home Theater Gate is a media center specially designed for the ASUS HTPC series of motherboards. With its user-friendly interface, users can easily launch the most common media applications quickly via an integrated menu that brings various media types together, including music, video, photos and Internet radio. The large icons and intuitiveness of the software make it easy for users to remote control their PCs up to 10 feet away from the monitor or TV. Furthermore, the bundled remote controller allows users to launch the music player and Internet radio, or to enter Tranquil Mode for a quieter environment, with just one touch.
With the ASUS Tranquil Mode function, fan speeds are effectively reduced, lowering fan-generated noise by up to 28%, while at the same time saving 25% power when watching movies.
M4A78-HTPC series specifications:
CPU support: AMD Socket AM2+/AM2, AM3 Phenom II
Chipset AMD 780G/SB700
System bus: up to 5200MT/s; HyperTransport 3.0
Memory: dual-Ch, DDR2 1066/800/667, max. 16GB
Graphics support: Hybrid CrossFireX, HDMI/DVI/RGB, full HD 1080p
Audio: 8-ch HD audio support
Storage: 1x PATA controller up to 2 devices, 5x SATA ports with RAID 0, 1, and 10, 1x external SATA
Expansion slots: 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16, 2 x PCIe x1, 1 x PCI
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