Just released into the retail space from ASUS, sporting one of AMD's latest 9-series chipsets, the M5A97 EVO is a full-size entry-level product equipped with the new AMD970 chipset. With AMD set to release a slew of new CPUs and APUs in the near future, the ASUS M5A97 EVO's release is a pre-emptive strike, allowing users an easy incremental upgrade using their current AM3 CPUs, so their systems are ready and waiting for the upcoming AMD AM3+ CPU/APU launch. With a standard black and blue color scheme, the M5A97 EVO seeks to punish the competition, offering several exclusive features not seen elsewhere.