Layout/Features

Board Layout

One of the first things that concerned us about the CUSL2 layout was the space between the Socket interface and a bank of seven nearby capacitors. Quite frankly we were initially a bit concerned how well our Golden Orb heatsink would fit, but fortunately we didn't run into any problems. (The SE6 spaces the capacitors a bit further away from the socket than the CUSL2) We haven't tested the CUSL2 with an Alpha, but our oversized Pentium III 933 heatsink fit fine, so we're pretty sure Alpha's will as well.

Plenty of space between the heatsink and capacitors

Another thing you'll notice is that the CUSL2 doesn't ship with the audio ports we're so accustomed to seeing on today's motherboards. Since our CUSL2 didn't have an Audio Codec, these ports obviously aren't necessary. The cutouts for these features were present on our motherboard however, the CUSL2 manual lists them as optional components.

Optional Game Port

Like all of ASUS's newer motherboards, the CUSL2 features an AGP Pro slot. With this slot, the CUSL2 can natively support video cards up to 110W. Pay careful attention to how you install your video card however, improper installation could damage your video card or the AGP Pro slot itself. If you choose to stick with the integrated graphics offered by the 815 chipset, the AGP Pro Slot also supports AGP inline memory modules (AIMM) for up to 4MB of display cache.

The AGP Pro Slot

More features

Other nice touches on the CUSL2 design are the three fan headers; two near the CPU and one located on the bottom of the motherboard. With two fan headers on the top of the motherboard, end users can install a chassis fan right behind the CPU, perfect for supplying those hot components near the top of the motherboard (the CPU and AGP video card) with cool fresh air from outside the system case.

Another nice feature is the Power LED. With it, you'll instantly know if your motherboard is receiving power.

CNR Slots and the Power LED

The only thing missing from the CUSL2 design that we've seen on newer motherboards is a bank of diagnostic LED's. With diagnostic LED's in place, you'll instantly know why your system isn't booting properly. Simply look up the color pattern displayed by the LED's in your motherboard manual and you'll have the information you need to repair the problem or tell your customer support technician over the phone.

The ASUS iPanel

If all that wasn't enough, ASUS will also be offering the iPanel. The iPanel is an easy to access 5 ¼" drive bay box with front I/O ports for connections such as USB, serial, and audio. Tired of reaching around the back of your computer to hook up your digital camera or headphones? With ASUS's proprietary iPanel, this nuisance is gone. The iPanel can also provide system management functions to monitor items such as CPU temperature, fan speeds, boot errors, and voltages.

For those of you who don't wish to dedicate an entire drive bay for a component so small, the iPanel can also be used to store a hard drive.

The final specs and pricing for the iPanel aren't complete, but we were able to grab this image from a piece of marketing material ASUS sent us:

ASUS iPanel mockup