Stefan Mileschin

The Golden Limited Edition Z77H2-AX & Z77H2-A2X: Promising Power, Reliability and Class

April 8th , 2012, Taipei, Taiwan – Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS), the world's top 3 motherboard maker, today reveals their first production of Z77 Black Extreme Series - Golden Limited Edition. Available in two models, Z77H2-AX and Z77H2-A2X, they are the top-of-the-line motherboards in the ECS Black Extreme Series, which enriches the series' themed slogan -- 'My Game, My Rules'.

The ECS Z77 Black Extreme Series - Golden Limited Edition features triple-thickness gold plated connectors and has passed the strictest quality tests, giving power users the security that the gold plating won't wear out after extensive component upgrades, safe guarding the board from the threat of corrosion.

The individually-numbered, handcrafted motherboards are stunningly outfitted in cool black with dazzling gold plated key components, giving both the Z77H2-AX and Z77H2-A2X a sophisticated and classy appearance that is unprecedented in the PC motherboard industry. Key features include: ATI CrossFireXTM and NVIDIA® SLI® graphics support with next generation PCI Express 3.0 to achieve the ultimate in 3D gaming performance and visual quality, QoolTechTM IV visible temperature technology to protect your valuable PC components, and support for the fastest 3rd generation Intel Core processors.

Unprecedented reliability

To ensure maximum reliability and customer satisfaction ECS has enhanced its already stringent quality control procedures by increasing the testing cycle for each of these very special boards to three times longer than the industry standard and by raising the burn in testing temperature to 125% of the industry standard.

The Z77 Black Extreme Series boards are the first to provide full support for Intel's next-generation Ivy Bridge CPUs for cutting edge performance, but they still maintain compatibility with older socket 1155 CPUs to provide an easy upgrade path. The new Intel® Z77 chipset at the heart of these motherboards is the first to include USB 3.0 support without external chips, bringing greater performance, expandability and reliability. Moreover, the Z77H2-AX and Z77H2-A2X are the first generation with official support for PCI Express 3.0 add-on card technology, to get the most out of future generations of graphics cards as well as today's most powerful models. The new Lucid Virtu MVP chip gives consumers both the high performance of add-on graphics cards and the economical power saving of integrated graphics - by switching between them seamlessly and automatically.

The ultimate in realistic 3D graphics

The Z77H2-AX is at the forefront of the performance desktop PC market with support for three PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, providing astonishingly realistic high speed graphics and physics performance for the latest games and entertainment. The Z77H2-A2X has two PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, as well as a mini PCI Express slot. Both models provide enormous expansion capacity with an additional 2 PCI Express 2.0 slots, and even 2 PCI slots to support older add-on cards.

The ECS Golden Edition Z77H2-AX and Z77H2-A2X both incorporate the Mini PCIe feature that provides mini SATA or mini PCIe interface in order to support Intel® Smart Response / Intel® Smart Connect / Intel® Rapid Start technologies, enabling better power saving as well as system longevity with greater responsiveness.

Huge high speed storage capacity

ECS' Z77 Black Extreme Series - Golden Edition provides huge capacity for ultra high speed storage. The Z77H2-AX is equipped with eSATA x2 (6Gb) and SATA x6 (6Gb/s x4 + 3Gb/s x2), while the Z77H2-A2X has eSATA x1 (3Gb) with DVI output. It is worth to mention that the Z77H2-AX model features the PLX ExpressLane™ PEX 874 Multi-Graphics Solution Chip, effectively doubling PCI Express 3.0 support to 2x16, enabling the user to take advantage of all 3 PCIe slots and the possible combinations of x16 and x8 channel cards.

Both the Z77H2-AX and Z77H2-A2X models offer Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, USB 3.0 x6 and USB 2.0 x6 support, 3-way NVIDIA® SLI or ATI CrossFireXTM support, EZ charger and 1 Gigabit LAN to boost stronger Internet connectivity functions and expansion ability to your computer.

Power user features

For overclockers and modders, ECS' Black Extreme Series - Golden Limited Edition provides a wealth of tweaking, control and adjustment features. Solid long-life capacitors in all critical areas guard against failure even in the most challenging conditions. Triple thickness gold plating on CPU, memory and add-on card sockets ensures these two models always provide a reliable connection, even with heavy use and in hostile environments. Thor Ultra Protection guards against component damage from static electricity in dry climates. And in a sea of lookalike products, the distinctive gold and black Z77H2-AX and Z77H2-A2X boards are undoubtedly the best-looking motherboards around.

Exclusive limited edition

The Z77H2-AX and Z77H2-A2X models are already available worldwide. Each of these high-end Z77 Black Extreme Series - Golden Limited Edition motherboards is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity personally signed by the Director of Research and Development of ECS, emphasizing the company's determination to guarantee quality, performance and ultimate reliability to its customers.

Introduction videos for the ECS Black Extreme - Golden Limited Edition can be found here:

a. ECS Z77 black series motherboard introduction http://youtu.be/h1bOE6zFFog

b. ECS Z77 fine tuned golden board http://youtu.be/aNuIRbBEEss

About ECS

Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) has been a pioneer in designing and manufacturing computer motherboards since 1987. Today, the motherboard maker also designs and manufactures desktop PCs, notebooks, servers, motherboards, video cards, wireless solutions and handheld devices for distributors worldwide. Headquartered in Taiwan with operations in North America, Europe, China, Korea and Japan, ECS also has ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified manufacturing facilities in China. For more information, please visit ECS at www.ecs.com.tw.