ASUS need no introduction, but the AM3+ platform may require a memory refresh for our younger readers. The AM3 platform was released way back in 2009 as AMD started to ship their Phenom II CPUs with a DDR2/3 memory controller. Come 2011 AMD were ready to release their Bulldozer based CPUs with the natural progression to the AM3+ socket. This socket was very similar to the AM3 socket, so much so that motherboards with good enough power regulation could support AM3+ CPUs with a BIOS update... give or take a refreshed CPU here or there, this is where the high end AMD platform, still, currently remains.

Though it is too early to say of the future, there has been interesting news from AMD about their plans and it would seem that the AM4 platform is on its way, unifying both APU and CPU platforms into one, along with interesting news about future CPU/APUs.

Back on topic, here we find another example of ASUS creating for the sake of creating, and never to let their product line lag too far behind, the 970 PRO GAMING/ AURA, is part of the AURA series that features customisable RGB LED lighting. 2015 seems like a prelude to 2016 in regards to RGB lighting and this is the first glimpse of that glorious spectral delight shining down on AMD. ASUS didn't stop there, they have added 2x USB 3.1 ports, having twice the standard bandwidth of USB 3.0 and geared this motherboard towards enthusiast gamers by including support for AMD's CrossFireX and NVIDIA's SLI.