Q: does this motherboard require a video card, or is it optional? The specifications say no on board video, but that just may be because it uses the CPU core.

It will use the CPU's included video. For example, I'm building a steam-streaming box for my TV and using this motherboard in conjunction with an A4-6400 cpu, which includes onboard video branded as Radeon 8370. Originally picked this motherboard up as a recommendation from a site detailing it as a great board for a small htpc, and they used their amd cpu's included video processing as well. Hope that helps!

Q: how do I get the USB 3.0 to work? can windows 7 support it?

Usb 3.0 uses the 19 pin headers on the motherboard. Your usb port has to also be a 3.0, as the port is a 9 pin connection instead of the standard 4 in regular usb (there are 5 contacts in front of the 4 normal usb contacts inside the port). If you have a 3.0 connected to the correct header on the motherboard, all you need to do is install the driver from either the motherboard cd, or manufacturer website

Q: This is my second time building an AMD-Based Computer so please excuse my lack of knowledge but I'd rather ask someone who knows about AMD motherboards. My question is: Will this motherboard support APU-FM2 Processors? Thanks in advance!

Yes, I installed an Amd A10 6700 in this mobo which is an APU FM2 socket. Hope this helps.

Q: Does this mobo support FM2+ processors out of box? Or do you have to update the BIOS for it to be compatible. Any answers appreciated!!

I am very pleased with the ASRock FM2A88X-ITX+FM2+ mother board. It does support the AMD A10-7850K Kaveri 3.7GHz Socket FM2+ 95W Desktop Processor with an AMD Radeon R7 series GPU built in. I bench tested of the MB, CPU and memory with a BR burner and SSD added for testing before placing into the case. To my surprise it work right out of the box with out having to do a lot of tweaking of the BIOs. I was able to load and operating system on to the SSD with no trouble. It is in the case now and runs seamlessly. Now only if I could get the 6 drive raid 5 up and running on it. The only thing I wished it had would be 2 USB3 headers on the MB. So you could have a pair going out and a pair for internal devices. But this is a deficiency most all MBs have! TLMc

Q: Is the HDMI input record-able?

From the apps that are included, I don't believe it is. The ability to switch between your desktop and another hdmi connected source (cable box, blu-ray, etc) with the use of a hotkey is all I see.

Q: Is this compatible with an amd a8? I put that processor in this board and I cannot get a picure now

As long as it is an A8 with an FM2 or FM2+ socket it should work. If you can't get a picture, it is probably more of an issue of the on board GPU conflicting with your graphics card (if you have one installed)

Q: Does this mobo support any video card to be used? In the future I may want to get a high end one (And turn off the IGP)

Yes, the standard PCIe lane will support nearly any standard PCIe product. You may also want to consider saving some money by buying a matching GPU to the one inside your APU. You can get a cheap crossfire setup as such, and not have to buy as expensive of a video card later on.

Question 1

Does this have onboard video? i want to use it as a media center to run 1080p movies and see that it has hdmi out along with dvi out but the specs say no onboard video.

Accepted Answer

Not exactly, but you don't need to worry. This board is meant to be used with FM2/FM2+ processors. These processors are AMD's line of APUs. An APU is basically a computer processor (CPU) that has graphics processing cores (like what you would have in a graphics card, or GPU) built on to the same physical unit. An easier way to understand this is to say that an APU is both a processor and a graphics card. So while the mobo itself has no onboard video, the APU you will be using with the board will permit you to drive and output video through the motherboard's video ports, without the use of a dedicated video card. I hoped this helped and wasn't too confusing.

Question 2

Where do you plug in the wifi antenna? I don't see a port for that on the back.

Accepted Answer

Simple answer is you plug the antenna to the Antenna Ports.  You install the ports yourself.

Instructions below.

Installing the SMA Wi-Fi Antenna Cables and ASRock Wifi Antenna.

Step 1.  Take the Antenna Cables out of the box. 
Step 2.  Locate the WiFi Module that is installed on the motherboard's half/full (mSata) mini-PCI Express Slot.  Then attach the SMA Wifi Antenna Cables to the Wifi Module.  (on mine module was pre-installed)
Step 3.  Insert the Wifi Antenna Connects to the ---> ANTENNA PORTS <--- on the I/O shield.  
Step 4.  Fasten the screw nuts to secure the connectors (on the outside of the case).  Then connect ASRock Wifi Antenna to the antenna ports on the I/O shield.  (on the outside of the case)

Question 3

does this motherboard require a video card, or is it optional?  The specifications say no on board video, but that just may be because it uses the CPU core.

Accepted Answer

It will use the CPU's included video. For example, I'm building a steam-streaming box for my TV and using this motherboard in conjunction with an A4-6400 cpu, which includes onboard video branded as Radeon 8370. Originally picked this motherboard up as a recommendation from a site detailing it as a great board for a small htpc, and they used their amd cpu's included video processing as well. Hope that helps!

Question 4

how do I get the USB 3.0 to work? can windows 7 support it?

Accepted Answer

Usb 3.0 uses the 19 pin headers on the motherboard. Your usb port has to also be a 3.0, as the port is a 9 pin connection instead of the standard 4 in regular usb (there are 5 contacts in front of the 4 normal usb contacts inside the port).

If you have a 3.0 connected to the correct header on the motherboard, all you need to do is install the driver from either the motherboard cd, or manufacturer website

Question 5

This is my second time building an AMD-Based Computer so please excuse my lack of knowledge but I'd rather ask someone who knows about AMD motherboards.

My question is: Will this motherboard support APU-FM2 Processors?

Thanks in advance!

Accepted Answer

Yes, I installed an Amd A10 6700 in this mobo which is an APU FM2 socket. Hope this helps.

Question 6

Does this mobo support FM2+ processors out of box? Or do you have to update the BIOS for it to be compatible. Any answers appreciated!!

Accepted Answer

I am very pleased with the ASRock FM2A88X-ITX+FM2+ mother board. It does support the AMD A10-7850K Kaveri 3.7GHz Socket FM2+ 95W Desktop Processor with an AMD Radeon R7 series GPU built in. I bench tested of the MB, CPU and memory with a BR burner and SSD added for testing before placing into the case. To my surprise it work right out of the box with out having to do a lot of tweaking of the BIOs. I was able to load and operating system on to the SSD with no trouble. It is in the case now and runs seamlessly. Now only if I could get the 6 drive raid 5 up and running on it.

The only thing I wished it had would be 2 USB3 headers on the MB. So you could have a pair going out and a pair for internal devices.  But this is a deficiency most all MBs have!  TLMc

Question 7

Is the HDMI input record-able?

Accepted Answer

From the apps that are included, I don't believe it is. The ability to switch between your desktop and another hdmi connected source (cable box, blu-ray, etc) with the use of a hotkey is all I see.

Question 8

Is this compatible with an amd a8? I put that processor in this board and I cannot get a picure now

Accepted Answer

As long as it is an A8 with an FM2 or FM2+ socket it should work. 
If you can't get a picture, it is probably more of an issue of the on board GPU conflicting with your graphics card (if you have one installed)

Question 9

Does the HDMI output put out sound and video or only video?

Accepted Answer

Both sound and video, confirmed. I've honestly never even heard of an HDMI port that can't transmit sound. Although you're wasting your money on such a good gaming motherboard if you don't plan to pair it with one or two quality graphics cards (which would have HDMI)...

Question 10

Does this mobo support any video card to be used? In the future I may want to get a high end one (And turn off the IGP)

Accepted Answer

Yes, the standard PCIe lane will support nearly any standard PCIe product.

You may also want to consider saving some money by buying a matching GPU to the one inside your APU. You can get a cheap crossfire setup as such, and not have to buy as expensive of a video card later on.

CPU Socket Type	FM2+ / FM2
CPU Type	A- Series (FM2+) / Athlon Series

Number of Memory Slots	2x240pin
Memory Standard	DDR3 2400+(OC)/ 2133/ 1866/ 1600/ 1333/ 1066
Maximum Memory Supported	32GB
Channel Supported	Dual Channel

PCI Express 3.0 x16	1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16
Mini Card Slots	1 x Half/Full (mSATA) mini-PCI Express Slot

Serial ATA (SATA)	6 x SATA 6Gb/s
SATA RAID	0/1/5/10

Audio Chipset	Realtek ALC1150
Audio Channels	7.1 Channels

ASRock FM2A88X-ITX+ FM2+ / FM2 AMD A88X (Bolton D4) USB 3.0 HDMI Mini ITX AMD Motherboard

Learn more about the ASRock FM2A88X-ITX+

Customer Reviews of the ASRock FM2A88X-ITX+

Warranty & Returns

Warranty, Returns, And Additional Information

Warranty

Return Policies

Manufacturer Contact Info

LAN Chipset	Qualcomm Atheros AR8171
Max LAN Speed	1Gbps
Wireless LAN	WiFi IEEE 802.11 a / b / g / n
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0 Class II

Back I/O Ports	1 x D-Sub / 1 x DVI-D / 1 x PS/2 / 2 x HDMI / 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 / 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 / 5 x Audio Jacks
PS/2	1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port
Video Ports	1 x D-Sub 1 x DVI-D
HDMI	1 x HDMI-Out 1 x HDMI-In
USB 3.0	2 x USB 3.0
USB 1.1/2.0	4 x USB 2.0
eSATA	1 x eSATA
S/PDIF Out	1 x Optical
Audio Ports	5 Ports

Onboard USB	2 x USB 3.0 + 4 x USB 2.0
Other Connectors	1 x Chassis Intrusion Header 1 x TPM Header 1 x CPU Fan Connector (4-pin) 1 x Chassis Fan Connector (4-pin) 1 x 24-pin ATX Power Connector 1 x 4-pin 12V Power Connector 1 x Front Panel Audio Connector

Model
Brand	ASRock
Model	FM2A88X-ITX+

Physical Spec
Form Factor	Mini ITX
Power Pin	24 Pin

Item#: N82E16813157464