ECS revealed its new technology called 15 microns Gold Contact which ensures longer lifespan, better reliability and excellent contact for motherboards. Both Intel and AMD processors supporting new ECS motherboards have this technology integrated. Four new ECS motherboards include one based on Intel P55 Express chipset.

Usually, the processor sockets and memory slots have metal pins flashed with 5 Microns Gold in order to avoid oxidized rust formation. Now, ECS has introduced four new motherboards that have 15 Microns Gold Contact (gold plating) flashed on the metal pins over processor sockets and memory slots. Three times more Gold promises three times more protection.

Along with protection, the Gold Contact also increases reliability and lifespan of the motherboard. The two Intel based ECS motherboards with 15 Microns Gold Contact include G41T-M2 Gold and P55H-A Ultra. Of these Intel platform ECS motherboards, the P55H-A supports 45nm Lynnfield processors from Intel with Socket LGA 1156, DDR3 memory, eSATA and offers S/PIDF out. The G41T-M2 motherboard is based on Intel G41 Express chipset and supports 45nm Intel Core 2 Duo chips, DDR2 memory modules and DVI out.

On the other hand, AMD platform motherboards with 15 Microns Gold Contact include A785GM-M Ultra and A790GXM-AD3 Gold. Out of both these board, the latter one is surprisingly not certified as Windows 7 compatible. The ECS A785GM-M motherboard supports Socket AM3 Phenom II processors, DDR3 memory and has ATI Radeon HD 4200 integrated graphics. The A790GXM-AD3 motherboard also supports 45nm Phenom II processors, DDR3 memory, and just like A785GM-M, it is CrossFireX configuration ready.  

Both AMD platform motherboards feature HDMI out while Intel platform ones don't. ECS hasn't shared prices of any motherboard since it's a launch. We'll update this space as soon as we hear from them.