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ASUS AM3 Plus Motherboard

ASUS AM3 Plus Motherboard

Bottom line: The ASUS AM3 Plus Motherboard: AM3+ socket ready for AMD FX and late Phenom II CPUs; main trade-off: AM3+ is an end-of-life socket with no new CPU releases.

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By , Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014, focused on GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. Synthesises community benchmarks, manufacturer specs, and public forum data into actionable buying guides.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ AM3+ socket ready for AMD FX and late Phenom II CPUs
  • ✓ ASUS EPU moderates power draw in real time by PC load
  • ✓ USB 3.0 onboard at 4.8Gbps, 10x USB 2.0 transfer speed
  • ✓ Turbo Key gives a one-touch overclock without a BIOS trip

Cons

  • ✗ AM3+ is an end-of-life socket with no new CPU releases
  • ✗ Core Unlocker results vary by chip; unlocked cores may be unstable
  • ✗ Turbo Key overclocking is coarser than manual BIOS tuning
  • ✗ AI Suite II utilities are Windows-only, no Linux equivalent

Manufacturer description

Its headline feature is ASUS EPU, an Energy Processing Unit that reads current PC loading in real time and moderates power delivery to critical components, so an always-on retro or secondary rig draws less at idle. USB 3.0 onboard moves data at up to 4.8Gbps, roughly ten times USB 2.0 throughput, with backward compatibility for older USB 2.0 drives and peripherals. For tuning, Turbo Key gives you a touch-and-boost overclock without a BIOS trip, while Core Unlocker attempts to enable dormant cores on supported AMD chips. Anti-Surge acts as a full-time power guardian, watching for voltage…

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SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored ASUS AM3 Plus Motherboard using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the motherboards category. Compare with similarly-priced alternatives in the motherboards category before committing. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for motherboards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

What CPUs does this ASUS motherboard support?

It is AM3+ CPU support ready, covering AMD Socket AM3+ processors. Confirm your exact chip against the ASUS CPU support list for this model before buying, since BIOS revision matters on AM3+ boards.

Does this board have USB 3.0?

Yes. It includes USB 3.0 at up to 4.8Gbps, about ten times faster than USB 2.0, and it stays backward compatible with USB 2.0 drives and peripherals.

What does ASUS EPU actually do?

EPU, the Energy Processing Unit, detects current PC loading and moderates power usage to critical components in real time, trimming consumption when the system is not under load.

How do Turbo Key and Core Unlocker work?

Turbo Key is a touch-and-boost overclock trigger, and Core Unlocker attempts to enable dormant cores on supported AMD processors. Both are exposed through the ASUS AI Suite II interface in Windows.

Key Features

  • AM3+ CPU support ready
  • Turbo Key- touch-n-boost
  • ASUS EPU- system level energy saving
  • Anti-surge-full-time power guardian-make system free from risk
  • Core Unlocker-unleash true core performance intelligently

Full Specifications

BrandASUS
TurboYes
USB 2.010
PlatformWindows 8.1
CPU ModelAMD FX
CPU SocketSocket AM3+
Model NameM5A78L-M/USB3
Unit Count1 Count
Chipset TypeAMD 760G
Model NumberM5A78L-M/USB3
Built-In Media2 x Serial ATA cable, Motherboard - micro ATX, Software
Mfr Part NumberM5A78L-M/USB3
Number of Ports18
Total Usb Ports6
Item Part Number90-MIBG70-G0EAY00Z, 90MIBG70G0EAY00Z, M5A78L-M/USB3, M5A78LMUSB3
Processor SocketSocket AM3+
Total PCIe Ports1
Total SATA Ports6
Compatible DevicesPersonal Computer
Memory Clock Speed1333 MHz

Benchmark data for other processors

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