Let’s take a look at one of the first socket LGA1155 motherboards that will reach the market, the ECS H67H2-M, based on the forthcoming H67 chipset for future Intel processors based on the “Sandy Bridge” architecture with integrated video.

The next-generation Intel CPUs, codenamed “Sandy Bridge,” will be released in January, 2011, and will use a new socket, called LGA1155 or “socket LGA1155.” To match this new CPU generation Intel will launch two chipsets, the H67 and P67. The first one is targeted to computers with integrated video (keeping in mind that the video itself is produced by the CPU, and not by the chipset), while the second one is targeted to mid-range and high-end motherboards without integrated video.

The H67H2-M will be available in the microATX form factor, making it a strong candidate for HTPCs (Home Theater PCs). Finally ECS is using a more sober color patter on their products instead of using three hundred different colors. ECS decided to use white and gray on the H67H2-M, making it to have a very professional looks, even though the shades of white and gray used on the USB headers and SATA connectors don’t quite match the one used on the expansion slots and memory sockets.

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Figure 1: ECS H67H2-M motherboard