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Hardware Asus "Pluto" Concept on Display
Anh Tuan Huynh (Blog) - June 7, 2006 3:25 PM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 14 comment(s) - last by Mudvillager.. on Jun 9 at 7:31 PM
EL lit back panel and a new text debugging LCD display

Asus has been demonstrating a concept motherboard at its booth. The Asus Pluto concept gives a glimpse into the future of enthusiast motherboards. The Pluto concept looks like a pretty normal Asus motherboard with a different slot color scheme but features a couple of new never seen before features such as an electroluminescent (EL) lighted rear I/O panel and text display debugger. Electroluminescent lighting has been used in the past by case modders but this is the first time it’s being used with a motherboard. The electroluminescent glow of the rear I/O panel makes it easier to see where to plug peripherals into in dim lit areas.

A blue glow lights up the PS/2, S/PDIF out, LCD debugger display, 1394, e.SATA, Ethernet and USB ports. Electroluminescent lighting comes from the rear I/O plate and not the motherboard itself which shouldn’t be too hard to implement on motherboards. Asus has implemented a new LCD debugger display in the rear of the Pluto too. The new LCD display debugger differs from the typical diagnostic code readout on current motherboards that displays a code and requires the user to look up the code in the user manual. Instead the new readout displays plain text of what’s wrong which should ease the diagnostic process quite a bit. Asus has also taken a hint from DFI with the Pluto concept in terms of audio. DFI LANParty UT motherboards place the audio codec on a separate Karajan module that helps reduce electrical noise.

The Pluto concept has a similar layout except the audio codec is on a separate riser that’s similar to the audio riser used on Abit Fatal1ty motherboards. In concept form the Pluto audio riser contains an Analog Devices 1988b high definition audio codec but there are plans for an X-Fi version. Lastly Asus had a water cooler on display too. There aren’t many details about the water cooler except it’s a completely isolated unit.

As the Pluto motherboard is a concept it isn’t expected to be produced in its current form. However, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some of the technologies and features used in upcoming Asus Premium motherboards.


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FUCK LEGACY!!!
By Mudvillager on 6/7/06, Rating: 0
RE: FUCK LEGACY!!!
By ksherman on 6/7/2006 6:29:29 PM , Rating: 2
*sighs*

ignorance


RE: FUCK LEGACY!!!
By Mudvillager on 6/7/2006 7:28:37 PM , Rating: 2
In what way was I being ignorant in my previous post?


RE: FUCK LEGACY!!!
By Stele on 6/7/2006 10:21:01 PM , Rating: 3
Quite a few, actually.

First off, some fellow DT members have previously pointed out elsewhere that PS/2 still serves a very useful function: they keep keyboards from having to take up valuable USB ports and in many cases support for USB outside of Windows is not completely problem-free.

Parallel ports are definitely on the way out as more and more peripherals have moved towards USB while other uses like communications etc have moved to serial or elsewhere. The Pluto board has none anyway so no cause for noise from you.

As to COM ports, to borrow a post from a previous DT thread, there're many uses for it, even today. While most users left the serial mouse and modem a long time ago, the port is still very much in demand in industry, programming (many still need one for CPLDs, industrial communications, PIC microcontrollers and so on, for example) and so on... it's simple and reliable. Of course, the regular "OMFG that board still has serial, TEH SUXXORS1111" kiddo couldn't care less and just call it 'obsolete' because his MX5000 mouse doesn't need it.

Coming to the issue of PATA, many people like them, if not need them. Most optical drives still use the IDE interface, for example, and the few SATA ones are neither easy to find nor terribly cheap worldwide. Primarily due to the fact that optical drives simply don't require blazing interface speeds yet, they usually lag HDDs by about a year or more - as it seems nowadays - in terms of interface adoption (ATA-33/66/ATA-100 being previous examples of the trend) so chipset manufacturers made the wise compromise of at least leaving one channel available for them.

As it is, it's tough enough that ICH8 has zero PATA, underscoring Intel's usual heavy-handed attempt to shove everyone towards what it considers "the future", regardless of desire or sensibility ("I just bought my dual-layer DVD-writer last month!"). Contrary to Intel's aim, motherboard manufacturers promptly deployed third-party PATA controllers, notably from JMicron.

Meanwhil, until Vista ships (and with the current rate of delays it'll be quite a while still), one still needs an FDD to install storage drivers when installing Windows. Sure, it's a one-off thing, but as they say, once is plenty enough. Especially if you have to reinstall for any reason later on. Besides, many would probably already have an FDD so might as well keep it instead of junking it and then having to go through the hassle and cost of buying/begging/borrowing/stealing an external USB FDD.

All in all, it's pretty clear that some of these legacy features are still useful...at the very least for one or two more generations. More importantly, there are many people out there in various markets that need them, though the average |337 gamerz who rarely come out mom's basement and the like are probably ignorant of that. ;)


RE: FUCK LEGACY!!!
By xsilver on 6/8/2006 12:10:56 AM , Rating: 2
yes i think the whold pata is going to be a problem
for people that have 2 optical drives they are unable to use another pata hdd; even just for backup purposes...
pata drives are available in at least 300gb sizes, so its not like you're trying to combine the lastest tech with a outdated 20gb hdd.

there was that benq article that said by 2007 they still only expect sata optical drives to take 25% share of their production. god knows how much the price will be.


RE: FUCK LEGACY!!!
By Missing Ghost on 6/8/2006 2:45:16 AM , Rating: 2
I would like to add two things: The new 750GB drives are available in PATA flavour, and I need a serial port to connect by serial console to stuff like network switches and routers. I would be really pissed to need to find a pcie serial port card and PATA port card. Super I/Os are so 1990, it should be all onboard today.


RE: FUCK LEGACY!!!
By ksherman on 6/8/2006 11:48:38 AM , Rating: 2
pretty much sums up what I meant :-)

thanks!

how many times doe we have to reply to people who want the legacy ports gone? Plus, what are you going to replace them with? 20 more USB ports? They are there for a reason, accept it and move on!


RE: FUCK LEGACY!!!
By Mudvillager on 6/9/2006 7:31:28 PM , Rating: 1
What I think you all need to consider is that we experienced PC users still are only a small fraction of all the users out there. "New" standards like SATA and USB simplifies the process of assembling a PC, which to me is a reason good enough for removing legacy ports.
The average user (which probably consists of 95% of all PC users out there) has probably newer used any other ports than USB.

Ok, so COM-ports are being used in the industry and by programmers - so f*cking what? Those few who do need the COM-port can buy themselves one tiny little USB converter for the cost of a cheap lunch.

Optical SATA drives USED TO BE expensive, but today you can find yourself a good 16X DVDRW for about $50 which I would hardly call expensive. And as SATA drives start selling well the prices will only continue to drop until the price difference won't even be a consideration at all when choosing between PATA or SATA drives in the near future (just like PATA/SATA HDD's today).

Putting drivers on floppy disks are CERTAINLY not needed for XP SP2 install (please don't start flaming me for not considering older OS:s.
If you have a fairly new motherboard with native SATA support and a Windows XP SP2 cd you will most likely not have to insert a floppy disk during XP install.
Actually I haven't had the need for a FDD with any of my four latest motherboards.
If you are one of those who happen to not have support for your SATA controller there are other alternatives - like integrating the drivers onto the CD using apps like nLite (OMG you will have to waste another CD/DVD for that... no f*cking way man).

And in response to ksherman - maybe putting a few more extra USB ports wouldn't hurt? I'm finding the usual 4-6 USB a little too few, and by removing some of the legacy ports you could put a few more USB ports there instead.
Also putting some more SATA ports, which actually seem to be a current trend in the industry, would further deprecate the usage of PATA.

In my opinion Intel is actually starting to get their heads straight after their total failure AKA NetBurst. They are now pushing mobo manufacturers worldwide to rid of all these bloody legacy ports.

All in all - you are a VERY SMALL percentage of all the users out there, and I find it hard to understand why such a small minority should have so much influence in this "issue".


By Creig on 6/7/2006 6:09:22 PM , Rating: 2
I realize that sometimes it may be a bit dim behind a computer, but do we really need the added expense of a self-illuminated I/O panel? Just grab a flashlight for the 30 seconds you're back there.




By Stele on 6/8/2006 1:14:03 AM , Rating: 2
My thoughts exactly. Furthermore, notice that even when illuminated, you still can't see the most important things - the port openings themselves! I'd thought they would put an EL outline around the ports so that you can see where to plug what. As it is, it seems more like a cool-factor gimmick for bragging rights.


By captchaos2 on 6/8/2006 8:07:42 AM , Rating: 2
This backplate is a gimmick because the EL doesn't light up the actual ports you need to see, and because an LCD debugging readout needs to be in the front where it can be read! I have an MSI mobo that came with a rear slot cover which had 2 USB connectors and debugging LEDs, and I cut the plate down and screwed it into a 3 1/2 inch blank cover in the FRONT of the computer so I can actually use them!


took a while
By One43637 on 6/7/2006 3:30:02 PM , Rating: 2
about time they used OEMs used EL to lighten certain areas of the PC. i think it's a good idea to use that to light up the IO back panel, but that LCD diagnostice panel is what's really interesting. i hope they can pull it off.




RE: took a while
By Hare on 6/7/2006 4:15:45 PM , Rating: 2
The place for the display is inconveniant. It costs (theoretically). I can't see any benefit in that display compared to normal numerical dignostic led-display. I wonder if they have dumped the talking bios alerts...


Looks like a great board
By Operandi on 6/8/2006 12:28:30 PM , Rating: 2
I particularly like the separate audio card, to clean up the s/n as well as make room on the IO panel.

The LCD panel is nice step forward but maybe it could be more functional if they could incorporate some other features into it to make useful when the board is actually working. CPU and system temp readout perhaps.

The electroluminescent panel is no big deal but at least it serves some function unlike the UV reactive crap you see on DFI boards and some others.




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