ASUS intros P5Q mainboard with built-in Linux

ASUS on Friday released details on its P5Q motherboard, which the company says sports five exclusive features. Key among them is Linux-based Express Gate technology that is basically a simplified OS and loads up only the programs that are needed to access the Internet. Instead of waiting for Windows to load up, users are able to access a web browser, IM programs, YouTube videos or email clients in as little as five seconds.

An integrated EPU energy saving chip is able to detect PC load in real time and moderate power supply accordingly. For further energy savings, ASUS' VRM voltage regulation module makes use of the company's proprietary 16-phase power design. Under high CPU loads, all 16 phases are utilized, while low processing periods turn on a 4-phase system. The high-quality conductive capacitors provide improved stability, low temperatures and a reduced risk of voltage spikes.

Finally, ASUS implemented safety features into the P5Q to ensure physical and file protection. The board comes with electrostatic discharge and overcurrent protection designs, while Drive Xpert software encourages fine-tuning hard drive performance and backing up files with its graphical interface. Finally, the company's Data Guardian program secures user data with a TPM chip and encryption key.

ASUS did not release prices or ship dates for its P5Q-series motherboards.