Asus' Project Avalon: A Functional Modular Motherboard And Chassis

[IInuyasha74]

Asus showed its proof of concept system called "Project Avalon," which is a functional modular motherboard.

Asus' Project Avalon: A Functional Modular Motherboard And Chassis : Read more

 

[aria_perdana]

wow, pc of the future. Can't wait for it to be ready for market.

 

[beayn]

Its like travelling back in time to when you had to buy sound cards and IO cards separately.

 

[jlr01]

Hope they could make both budget and server grade modular motherboards, that would just make troubleshooting a lot easier.

 

[bit_user]

Hot-swap disks & power supplies are nothing new. It's standard in servers, and not uncommon in PC-based workstations. It just adds a lot of cost for a little convenience and wow-factor.

Do we know whether the case will work with standard ATX power supplies via some kind of adapter, or would this case limit you to PSUs designed specifically for it?

Not that I'd buy one, either way. Just curious how much compatibility people would be sacrificing for the premium price they'd surely have to pay.

 

[Lutfij]

Project Ara for a PC DIY enthusiast! I like!

 

[kyle382]

So if Asus forgets to put an m.2 slot on your ITX board you can add one later? Lele

 

[Phuntasm]

Absolutely nonsensical idea. I have no idea what the target market is.

It's incredibly ugly to boot. They are going for some kind of home theater look with 80s styling, but the whole thing just looks awkward and bulky.

 

[Beholder88]

Absolutely nonsensical idea. I have no idea what the target market is.

It's incredibly ugly to boot. They are going for some kind of home theater look with 80s styling, but the whole thing just looks awkward and bulky.

I would buy something like this as an HTPC. The possibilities for this and the tech created to support it could bleed into other areas. If all I wanted was an HTPC or a customer NAS box, I could tailor the modules I need for just those uses.

 

[jaber2]

Don't get too excited, proprietary systems never worked in small DIY market

 

[arneberg]

I have waited for this like 20 years but want more flexibility like x99 or upcoming Skylake-e and more flexibility with how many graphic cards you can put in and memory put in a sas also and lots of U.2 and i would be grateful flexibility is the key otherwise it´s only a special.

 

[Aspiring techie]

I don't care what the quality of the board is, just getting a modular one requires some extraordinary engineering. My hat's off to Asus.

 

[Paganisrock]

Has anybody noticed that ram?!

 

[turkey3_scratch]

And they said it couldn't happen! And it did.

 

[f-14]

Its like travelling back in time to when you had to buy sound cards and IO cards separately.

you must be a millennial, go back further to daughter boards and ram extension slots
https://ancientelectronics.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/wang5.jpg
https://tonystecnophilia.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/wpid-dell-precision-workstation-690-pc-ram-memory-riser-card-set-m9008-j9272-jf807_2616660613301.jpg
https://xdevs.com/oc/pure/pcim6.jpg
http://yesterbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/terraiiplus-microsoft-ram.jpg?imgmax=800
http://www.nekochan.net/photos/PICT1344.JPG
http://cdn.overclock.net/a/a6/a642264a_RSC-R2UG-A2E16-A.jpeg

 

[IInuyasha74]

I have waited for this like 20 years but want more flexibility like x99 or upcoming Skylake-e and more flexibility with how many graphic cards you can put in and memory put in a sas also and lots of U.2 and i would be grateful flexibility is the key otherwise it´s only a special.

Well, right now the actual chipset and CPU support for this board isn't important, because if the project is successful and leads to actual products on the market, we will see multiple motherboards and chipsets. Put simply, Asus isn't going through all of this trouble for a single platform.