Gigabyte GA-EX58-EXTREME Motherboard Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First impression: it's heavy compared to other high end motherboards!
This motherboard's build quality grabs your attention the moment you unpack it, when you carry it you feel it's rigid build and strong chassis. I tried to bend it, not a chance!
I love the 24 GBs of RAM that it can handle and the fact it is a 3-WAY SLI ready!
Comes with 10 SATA ports, 4 of them are RAID capable, what can you ask more for internal storage? Just make sureyou have a powerful PSU and stuff your case with HDs the way you want.
One more thing, two SATA calbes come with 90 degrees bend incase you had something in your case that is very close to the SATA ports! what can I say, SMART!
A very cool option, they have a massive heat sink that covers the North and South Bridges, then heat pipes goes out from the North Bridge, around the LGA 1366 socket to cover the voltage regulators!
GIGABYTE didn't stop there; they have included a passive huge heat sink with heat-pipes that attaches to the North Bridge to transfer heat to from the Bridge to the passive heat sink, then the heat sink fins open at the back of your case to radiate heat. They could have thought of including a tiny fan inside it but it is still great.
Guess what, they didn't even settle with this! The heat sink that is already attached to the North Bridge is ready for your LCS! just attach the LCS pipes and you're done!
There is an on-board two hex-digits that tells you the status of the board when you switch on the PC! if it reads (FF) then everything is OK, if there was a problem (your RAM or graphics card is not mounted well) it will display a different number depending on the fault. No more guessing what the heck the loud noisy beeps are indicating anymore!
There is also a Clear CMOS button next to the USB ports, so if you mess up while overclocking your board you don't need to open it to clear CMOS, just press it and fire away!
Also available on the board some LED indicator on the over-clocking and over-voltage status that tells you whether you are reaching the critical zone or not! Those LED are next to the RAM modules so they are visible if you have a see-through case.
I really can't think of something else this motherboard is missing.
From 10 SATA ports to huge heat sink solution, 24 GB RAM capacity and 3-way SLI, 8 USB, even it has two PS/2 ports and FDD port along with IDE.
The only two things I personally wish were true are:
1- A small fan in the passive North Bridge heat sink
2- The board could have been a bit bigger, everything seems to be tight next to each other but at least nothing is interfering with anything. They should have considered that people buying a > $300 motherboards would already have a full tower case. It just looks small for this price tag.
In summary: this board has everything you think of, no old technology is too old and no new technology is far of reach...
If you got the money to spend, don't look anywhere else.

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INTEL X58+ICH10R LGA1366

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EVGA 132-BL-E758-TR x58 SLI Mainboard with Intel LGA 1366 chipset Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Just finished building this out with an i7 920, and am really pleased so far. It's going to be a monster gaming machine, and runs Ubuntu (64 bit) with no issues. On-board RAID card is nice, though you'll want to ditch the stock CPU cooler if you plan on doing any overclocking.
A few things to be aware of:
- There are some issues with component layout. Right under that big heat sink near the chip is where they decided to place both CPU fan and board power sockets. It's a really bad place, as it's hard to get to and places cables near a component known to get hot.
- The audio plug is between the two PCIe slots, which will be a cable routing challenge if you're doing SLI with monster video cards.
- Not a big fan of how they did the 9 SATA ports (10 really, if you count the eSata port on the backplane). Sata 0-5 are run off the Intel southbridge, and SATA 6-7 and 8-9 are run off separate chipsests. SATA 7 is a port in the middle of the board, designed to drive a port on the front of the case. Anyway, you can only RAID each of the chipsets, meaning any big array you build will need to run off 0-5. There are also pauses during start for each chipset, which is annoying.
- A minor annoyance, but this board takes a while to POST (~20s).
Some things I really like:
- There are power, reset, and CMOS reset switches on the board, so you don't need to make case hookups while you debug stuff.
- There a 2-digit LED on the board, which shows error codes for anything wrong during POST, then turns into a CPU temperature monitor.
- Overclocker's dream. Control over all multipliers voltages needed to take your chip well past 4GHz.
My rig:
This board, with i7 920 (modest overclock to 3.5GHz)
Zalman CNPS9900LED Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler, with Arctic Silver 5
CORSAIR XMS3 12GB (6 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
GIGABYTE GV-N275UD-896I GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Video
3 x Western Digital RE3 WD1002FBYS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
(2 running in RAID1, the spare running as a scratch).
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Very nice!

Click Here to see more reviews about: EVGA 132-BL-E758-TR x58 SLI Mainboard with Intel LGA 1366 chipset

The nForce x58 SLI Motherboard from EVGA is designed for the win. With VDroop control for maximum stability while overclocking, 100% solid state capacitors, Onboard Clear CMOS, Onboard power and reset buttons, E-LEET tuning ability, and onboard Debug LED's for current temperature reading, your system will be able to handle the latest games, high definition digital video, and Windows Vista with aplomb. The features of the 132-BL-E758-TR include support for Intel Core I7 processors, Triple Channel DDR3 up to 1600MHz, Enthusiast Layout supporting 2-way SLI, 3-way SLI, and Crossfire X, 10 SATA II 3 GB ports with 1 e-SATA, 2 GB ethernet ports, 8 channel audio, support for up to 12 USB 2.0 ports, and 2 1394 slots.Built for Microsoft Vista with Intel LGA1366 chipset and innovative chipset fan with sideways exhaust. Product comes with a 1 year warranty and a second year free if registered at www.evga.com within 30 days of purchase.

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EVGA X58 Classified3 Motherboard 141-GT-E770-A1 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've built a few computers in my time using motherboards from different companies but this was definitely the easiest I've had the pleasure of setting up and using! I was tired of being a "guinea pig" for some company's effort of selling a board without doing what seemed to be proper testing, then waiting for a new Bios to fix the problems that everyone would be having. Being that this was my first i7 build along with using newer hardware that I had no experience with (OCZ Revo 120 Gb Pci SSD),all went together very easily. Not one hiccup. After reading a little about Overclocking the i7 ,this board took me there with very little effort, tested and stable. I doubt if there are any "better" motherboards out there and from what I read EVGA has THE BEST customer service. Great layout,good OC'er,great customer service,and Lifetime Warranty on this board, along with Amazon's fast shipping, you can't go wrong. I will buy EVGA again you can count on that!

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The EVGA X58 Classified3 takes the already amazing performance that the Classified Motherboard line is known for and adds the benefits of the next generation USB 3.0 and STA III 6GB/s! The Enthusiast layout allows for 2-way and 3-way SLI and with the extra slot allows for a 3-way SLI configuration with the addition of a dedicated PhysX card. Also offering the 10 Phase digital PWM with switching frequencies up to 1333KH600MHz+ (up to 24GB), Supporting 2-way SLI, 3-way SLI, or 3-way SLI plus PhysX and CrossFireX, 2 SATA III 6.0GB/s ports, 6 SATA II 3.0 GB/s ports, 2 1394 Ports (firewire one I/O, one onboard), 2 Gigabit Ethernet Ports (10/100/1000), 8 channel high definition audio, 2 USB 3.0/2.0 ports and 12 USB 2.0 ports (8 I/O, 4 internal), 10+3 Phase PWM w/switching frequency up to 1,333KHz, 100% solid state capacitors, EVGA Vdroop Control, EVGA E-LEET Tuning Utility enthusiast software for overclocking, EVGA EZ Voltage Read Points, Onboard Clear CMOS, Power, and Reset Buttons, EVGA Dummy OC, PCI-E Disable Jumpers, Onboard CPU Temperature Monitor, More Gold Content and EVGA EVBot Support.

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EVGA X58 SLI 3 Motherboard with USB 3.0 and SATA III 6 GB/s - Two Year Warranty 131-GT-E767-TR Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First, if you want to run multiple ATI 5000 series Garaphics Cards in SLI... go on to another MOBO.
This MOBO is x16/x8 in 2-way SLI capable, but not x16/x16 in 2 or 3-way SLI.
But, for someone like me who is content with running one high-performance card...it's great!
I'm running a XFX HD5850, and a SATA III SSD harddrive, this thing is a Beast!!!
added on 12/4/2010... ordering another one of these today. The ASUS X58 Extreme MOBO in my other PC just Failed after just one year. (piece of crap).
Oh Yea...AMAZON ! Get on the Stick...there is a $10 Rebate on this MOBO until December 31st !!!
Promotion Offer Code: EGA-10368


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The EVGA X58 SLI 3 Motherboard brings all the performance from the award-winning EVGA X58 lineup with the added benefit of USB 3.0 and SATA III 6GB/s! The EVGA enthusiast board layout makes sure that 2-way and 3-way SLI configurations are compatible with all chassis. With addition of the Next generation USB 3.0 and SATA III 6GB/s ports you now have all of the expandability for what you have now, but also devices you may have in the future. Features include support for Intel Core i7 1366 processors, Intel X58/ICH10R chipset, 6 DIMM Triple Channel DDR3 1600MHz+ (up to 24GB), Enthusiast Layout supporting 2-way SLI, 3-way SLI or CrossFireX, 2 SATA III 6.0GB/s ports, 6 SATA II 3.0 GB/s ports, 2 1394 Ports (firewire two onboard), 8 channel high definition audio, 2 USB 3.0/2.0 ports and 12 USB 2.0 ports (8 I/O, 4 internal), onboard CPU temperature monitor, 100% solid state capacitors, EVGA Vdroop Control, EVGA E-LEET Tuning utility enthusiast software for overclocking, EVGA EZ Voltage Read Points, Onboard Clear CMOS, Power, and Reset Buttons, Passive Chipset Heatsink and EVGA Dummy OC. Ships with EVGA driver installation CD with EVGA E-LEET, Rear Case I/O panel, 2 SATA data cables, 1 SATA power cable, 2-way and 3-way SLI bridge, 2 port USB/1394A firewire bracket, visual installation guide, and manual. Product comes with a 1 year warranty and one additional year free if registered at www.evga.com within 30 days of purchase.

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ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 - Motherboard - ATX - iX58 - LGA1366 Socket - UDMA133, SATA-300 (RAID), eSATA - 2 x Gigabit Ethernet - FireWire - HD Audio (8-channel) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As others have noted this is a quality board. As a several time Asus user, I expect that, but this board is a step above. Chipset heat sink (with fan you can apply if you are setting it up the right way), connectors (SATA, etc) that are in the right spaces for case usage, etc. A few quibbles 1) as I note there is no floppy cable included (even though the board has a floppy connection), 2) (not sure this is Asus' fault, but...) why is there so little space between the PCI connectors for these double slot vid cards? I've got a EVGA 285 that is hogging two slots but is only connected to one. If I had it set up in SLI, I'd only have *1* PCI slot left over. I guess the price you pay for the cool heat sinks around the board.
Still very satisfied with the purchase.
Update 9/9 - wanted to add that I got everything fully functional and for once even the powering down stuff works as it should. A couple of other nits - 1)it is either RAID or straight SATA. This is noted in the forum boards and what not, but is a bit of a pain; and 2) the e-SATA isn't hot plug.
Still very satisfied with the purchase. Runs well you can tweak the heck out of it and it has all the right connections.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 - Motherboard - ATX - iX58 - LGA1366 Socket - UDMA133, SATA-300 (RAID), eSATA - 2 x Gigabit Ethernet - FireWire - HD Audio (8-channel)

pP6T Deluxe V2 Desktop Board delivers a host of new features and latest technologies, making it another standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards. It supports the latest Intel Core i7 processors in LGA1366 package which has memory controller integrated to support 3-channel (6 DIMMs) DDR3 memory. Supporting Intel QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) with system bus up to 6.4GT/s and a max bandwidth of up to 25.6GB/s, the Intel Core i7 processor is one of the most powerful and energy efficient CPU in the world./p

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EVGA X58 FTW3 Edition Motherboard with USB 3.0 and SATA III 6 GB/s 132-GT-E768-TR Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Here in California my ambient temps get hotter than preferred in the Gaming world and having a northbridge blow down directly on my GPU does not help me keep those big ovens cool.
Why cant EVGA figure out a way to vent it outside of the case?
Other than that much love to EVGA and all EVGA products.

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The X58 FTW3 Motherboard from EVGA brings all the performance from the award-winning EVGA X58 lineup and now includes USB 3.0 and SATA III 6 GB/s. The EVGA enthusiast board layout makes sure 2-way and 3-way SLI configurations are compatible with all chassis, and award winning overclocking features make this board the perfect choice for any performance enthusiast. With all these features and much more, it's not wonder why EVGA products are for those who demand no less than the ultimate in performance. Features include support for Intel Core I7 i366 processors, Intel X58/ICH10R chipset, 6 DIMM Triple Channel DDR3 up to 1600MHz+ (up to 24GB), Enthusiast Layout supporting 2-way SLI, 3-way SLI or CrossFireX, 2 SATA III 6.0GB/s ports, 6 SATA II 3 GB/s ports, 2 Gigabyte ethernet ports (10/100/1000), 8 channel audio (includes COAX and optical), 2 USB 3.0/2.0 ports, and 8 USB 2.0 ports (6 I/O, 2 additional), 8+2 phase PWM with switching frequency up to 1,333 KHz, 100% solid state capacitors, EVGA Vdroop Control, EVGA E-LEET Tuning utility enthusiast software for overclocking, EVGA EZ Voltage Read Points, Onboard Clear CMOS, Power, and Reset Buttons, Passive Chipset Heatsink, EVGA EVBot support and EVGA Dummy OC.

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eVGA P55 Classified 200 - Motherboard - extended ATX - iP55 - LGA1156 Socket - SATA-300 (RAID), eSATA - 2 x Gigabit Ethernet - FireWire - HD Audio (8-channel) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This motherboard is beautiful and amazing. Containing the same features as the x58 Classified motherboards, this is a potent device. Used as a replacement for another motherboard in a p55 system and it has performed flawlessly. Over-clocking is extremely easy - i5 760 to 4.2 on air with no stability problems on first attempt; fine tuning: 1.185 volt to cpu, 1.2 imc, 1.65 dimm, and 1.975 PLL are overall very low for the speed gained. The end result is an overclocked i5-760 running almost almost as cool as stock speeds under 100% load.
Compared to the old board it replaced, I measured a 9.5% performance gain with 3dMark in 3D rendering that I can attribute only to the dedicated 2-way SLI this board can offer with 16x performance (I replaced nothing else in the computer).
I only have three complaints. If you use an air-cooled video card that is long in the upper-most PCI-e x16 slot, it ends up directly over the p55 chipset heat-sink. It will be five to almost ten degrees warmer under idle conditions compared to a card installed immediately below it. Water cooling the video card negates this issue, but, it also means that water cooling the p55 chipset at the same time is impossible. Not that you have to do it anyway - it is plenty cool. But, using the lower PCI-E configurations would be recommended to keep heat down on the video cards.
My second complaint is about the location of the on-board BIOS/POST LED panel. It is directly in line with the second PCI-E x16 slot, thus long graphics cards will cover it. Again, the use of a water cooling block on the graphics card reduces the problem, but does not remove it entirely.
Finally, the cost of this board without any rebate or sale price is prohibitive for a cost-effective LGA-1156 build. But, with rebates/sales, you may be able to get it for little more than comparable p55 motherboards.
I am pleased to give this board extremely high marks and recommending it to anyone looking for a performance p55 motherboard.

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EVGA P55 Classified 200 Edition Motherboard The EVGA P55 Classified 200 Edition is built with the new Intel® P55 Express Chipset, supporting the all new Intel® Core™ i7 and Intel® Core™ i5 processors in the LGA1156 package. The revolutionary two-chip layout enables lower power consumption and more advanced performance tuning for a smoother, more realistic experience. EVGA has brought incredible overclockability to this board using 100% Solid State capacitors, raising the standard DDR3 memory specification, hitting speeds of 2600 MHz or faster. The P55 Classified 200 also uses 300% more gold content in the CPU pins, ensuring a better connection between the CPU and the motherboard

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5000X Dp Dual Core LGA771 24GB Atx Sata 2PCIE16/4(X16SLOT) 2/2PCIX Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been using this board for a week now. The board is using dual Xeon 5120 processors that have been overclocked to 2.33Ghz from 1.86Ghz using the BSEL mod (a simple piece of nonconductive tape placed over one of the chip pins).
Please note that you will not get the full memory bandwidth available on this board until you fill the board with at least four sticks of FB-DIMM's.
The board, using the Xeon 5120's at their normal operating speed, has a combined processing power greater than that of a 3.4Ghz Xeon Irwindale dual cpu motherboard. I tested this using Sisoft Sandra 2007.
I was able to mount the board into an Aluminus ATX form factor case with no modifications.

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Dual Intel64-bit XeonDual-Core 667 / 1066 / 1333 MHz FSB. Intel5000X (Greencreek) Chipset. Up to 24GB 667/533MHz DDR2 ECC FB-DIMM (Fully Buffered DIMM). Intel(ESB2/Gilgal) 82563 Dual-port Gigabit Ethernet Controller. 6x 3Gb/s SATA Ports via ESB2 Controller. 1 (x16) & 1 (x4 in x16) PCI-Express 2x 64-bit 133/100MHz PCI-X 2x 32-bit PCI 33MHz1x UIO Slot.

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eVGA nForce 680i SLI Motherboard 122-CK-NF68-A1 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just got this thing in the other day. Installed it in a Cooler Master 690 case. Fastened my Intel Quad Core Q6600 with 4 gig of ram and 8800 GT video card. The Zalman 9700 heatsink fits nicely. What can I say this thing screams.

Click Here to see more reviews about: eVGA nForce 680i SLI Motherboard 122-CK-NF68-A1

The eVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 nForce 680i SLI 775 ATX Motherboard, A1 Version supports Intel Core 2 Extreme, Intel Core 2 Quad, Intel Core 2 Duo, Pentium EE, and Pentium processors. The card's NVIDIA SLI technology dramatically scales performance by allowing two graphics cards to be run in parallel, and its featured NVIDIA Native Gigabit Ethernet offers the fastest Gigabit Ethernet performance you'll find anywhere, eliminating network bottlenecks and improving overall system efficiency and performance.The eVGA 780i SLI features three 16x PCI express slots, PCI express 2.0, and full support for Intel 45nm Core 2 CPUs. The three 16x PCI express slots provide the best platform for NVIDIA 3-way SLI, the latest in SLI technology. The EVGA 780i is ESA (Enthusiast System Architecture) certified, which provides the best monitoring and fine tuning of your PC.A third PCI-Express expansion slot provides future support for three GPU applications, and NVIDIA RAID technology implements standard RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 0+1 techniques to maximize storage assets. NVIDIA RAID technology also introduces many innovations that simplify and optimize the management of RAID features and disk resources. NVIDIA's patent-pending isochronous StreamThru Data Transport System provides uninterrupted data streaming for superior networking and broadband communications. StreamThru assists in making streaming video and audio smoother and jitter-free.Unified Driver Architecture guarantees forward and backward compatibility with software drivers and simplifies upgrading to a new NVIDIA product because all NVIDIA products work with the same driver software. And NVIDIA's nTune Performance Application enables the easiest, safest, and highest performing overclocking available for NVIDIA nForce-based PCs.What's in the Box nForce 680i SLI motherboard, I/O shield, floppy cable, three 2-port SATA power cable, 1394 cable, 4-port USB cable, six SATA signal cables, comm2 bracket cable, IDE-ATA133 HDD cable, SLI connector, and chipset fan.

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ASUS Rampage III Gene LGA 1366 Intel X58 Micro ATX Motherboard Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is great MB with most new features. SATA3 (6GBs) controller (2ports), USB3.0 controller (2 ports), 6 DIMM slots (2 banks of 3, good for later upgrade), user-friendly BIOS, 2 PCIe-16 connectors (supports SLI/CrossFire), many other "bells and wistles". And it's small!
I connected 1TB WD Black drive (Sata3, 64MB cash) and it works notably faster than in Sata2 controller. Corsair XMS3 6GB kit was easy to install and configured to work in Cas7 mode. Core i7-950 CPU was easily configured and overclocked.
Drivers for the chipset and on-board peripherals (GBLAN, audio, USB, SATA etc.) installed under Win-7 without a glitch. After installation it downloaded a few newer drivers during Update and also installed those smoothly.
On-board SATA controllers can be raid-configured through bios and are raid-bootable.
The MB is relatively dummie-proof: when I set wrong/bad parameters in BIOS and it would not boot-up, then it would roll-back to previous "good" settings after reboot. Saved me a few nervous minutes. During POST it would inform if "overclocking failed" if needed and continue with "normal" settings, so it's safe to experiment.
Thermal management in BIOS is somewhat advanced: it allows to speed-control not only CPU fan, but also a case fan, so in "silent" mode the PC is very quiet when not in active use.
Personally, I like this MB alot, so it would be my choice for another PC, unless I want to build some super-duper liquid-cooled performance monster.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS Rampage III Gene LGA 1366 Intel X58 Micro ATX Motherboard

ASUS Rampage III Gene - The ASUS Rampage III Gene is a micro ATX R.O.G. motherboard that delivers maximum performance with the portability important to LAN gamers. Featuring the Intel X58 chipset and supporting DDR3 triple-channel memory architecture, the Rampage III Gene offers tremendous memory bandwidth at speeds up to 2200 MHz. For maximum tuning capability, ASUS\' ROG Connect allows users to overclock on-the-fly at a purely hardware level. CPU Level Up allows users to easily level up CPU speed for an instant upgrade. GameFirst prioritizes gaming network traffic to help you dominate your opponents. Be immersed in the game with true-to-life EAX 5.0 in-game surround sound effects provided by an onboard SupremeFX X-Fi 2. Improve CPU utilization with Intel Gigabit LAN for high performance gigabit network connectivity.

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EVGA X58 FTW3 Edition Motherboard with USB 3.0 and SATA III 6 GB/s 132-GT-E768-KR Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was curious about EVGA brand, so this build use this mobo, and GTX465 video card,
at first, not too impressed by the mobo's finishing quality, some parts soldered slantly,
board feels thin, in comparing other Asus mobo,
but after the build, and installed Windows 7, it performs rock solid and reliable,
called EVGA's customer service to ask some questions, I could get hold of a person in reasonably
short time, they are very courteous and helpful.
So my 1st impression with EVGA is good, I would not hesitate to buy their other product from now on.


Click Here to see more reviews about: EVGA X58 FTW3 Edition Motherboard with USB 3.0 and SATA III 6 GB/s 132-GT-E768-KR

The X58 FTW3 Motherboard from EVGA brings all the performance from the award-winning EVGA X58 lineup and now includes USB 3.0 and SATA III 6 GB/s. The EVGA enthusiast board layout makes sure 2-way and 3-way SLI configurations are compatible with all chassis, and award winning overclocking features make this board the perfect choice for any performance enthusiast. With all these features and much more, it's not wonder why EVGA products are for those who demand no less than the ultimate in performance. Features include support for Intel Core I7 i366 processors, Intel X58/ICH10R chipset, 6 DIMM Triple Channel DDR3 up to 1600MHz+ (up to 24GB), Enthusiast Layout supporting 2-way SLI, 3-way SLI or CrossFireX, 2 SATA III 6.0GB/s ports, 6 SATA II 3 GB/s ports, 2 Gigabyte ethernet ports (10/100/1000), 8 channel audio (includes COAX and optical), 2 USB 3.0/2.0 ports, and 8 USB 2.0 ports (6 I/O, 2 additional), 8+2 phase PWM with switching frequency up to 1,333 KHz, 100% solid state capacitors, EVGA Vdroop Control, EVGA E-LEET Tuning utility enthusiast software for overclocking, EVGA EZ Voltage Read Points, Onboard Clear CMOS, Power, and Reset Buttons, Passive Chipset Heatsink, EVGA EVBot support and EVGA Dummy OC.

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ASUS ATI Radeon HD 5870 1 GB GDDR5 SDRAM DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort Video Card EAH5870/2DIS/1GD5/V2 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This card was an easy install. The card performes beautifully. It is a bit long especially with the connectors on the end of the card rather than the top. I would highly recomend this product.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS ATI Radeon HD 5870 1 GB GDDR5 SDRAM DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort Video Card EAH5870/2DIS/1GD5/V2

EAH5870/2DIS/1GD5/V2; Copper Fins + Extra Large Fan for 17% Cooler Performance;ASUS Exclusive oltage Tweak Technology for up to 50% performance; Equipping with 8.5cm Extra Large Fan & Pure Copper Fins, we proudly deliver 17% cooler performance than reference design.

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ASUS DSEB-DG LGA771 Intel 5400 FB-DIMM DDR2-800 SSI EEB Motherboard Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Bought this as an open box item off of Newegg in 2009, and couldn't be happier with it. Mine is the non SAS version, which was more expensive and I didn't have a use for.
First - my configuration:
ASUS DSEB-DG mainboard
(2) Intel Xeon 52XX - these were low power (35W each) engineering release chips (not for sale)
(2) Dynatron H39G CPU coolers
8 GB FBDIMM, DDRs 800 (4 sticks, so 4 free slots right now)
PNY GTX 265
(1) WD Velociraptor 300 GB
(1) Caviar Black 1 TB
(2) Pioneer DVD Burners
Creative X-Fi Sound Card
Corsair 1000W power supply
Thermaltake Armour Case
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
Pros:
Dual CPU
8 DIMM Slots
TONS of SATA Inputs (6 + 8: see notes below)
4 Gigabit LAN ports
Very straightforward BIOS
SLI capable dual CPU socket board!
45 nm capable
1600 MHz system bus!
Excellent Fan speed control
Cons:
Marvel RAID controller still software based
Only 4 USB - 2 on back of board, and 2 more on board header
No built in sound - at all
Some notes:
If you're going to buy this board, make sure you have a power supply that has the correct plugs. It has the main 24 pin (standard) plug, then a 4 pin. I had a power supply that I had bought to be used in a dual xeon configuration like this (SSI EEB), and it didn't end up having the right configuration of plugs.
Next, the FBDIMM memory tends to run hot. However, if you get the same dynatron coolers that I have, then they blow right over the memory keeping it reasonably cool. I would NOT recommend getting the ASUS memory cooler unless you are ready to change out the fan on it (notoriously bad)
Third - you cannot load an OS onto a hard drive connected to the red (i.e. marvell controlled) SATA plugs. Also, some have reported issues with using DVD drives on the marvell plugs. It would seem as though boot drives, and optical drives must be plugged into the non-marvell SATA ports (the black ones). Once you have an OS and get the marvel drivers/software, you can plug in some drives and start building your RAIDs. I has a RAID 1 for a while, but 'discarded' it in favor of a Synology NAS RAID1
Next - and you should expect this since you're buying an SSI EEB board - this is an EATX form factor board (13" x 12") so make sure you have a case that can fit it.
Bottom line, there are probably more modern dual CPU socket boards out there now, and that's why there are so few people buying this one, but if you have a 5400 generation Xeon CPU (or ideally 2), then give this board a shot - its been stable, powerful, and given me plenty of room to expand. The acquaintance of mine who got me the engineering release CPUs built several dual Xeon systems, and this board was the best of the ones he tried (he tried a smaller, cheaper one that didn't have good fan control, and those dynatron coolers SCREAM when run at full speed)
Happy System Building!

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Item #: Q07557. ASUS server board DSEB-DG/SAS is based on 45nm Intel Xeon 5400/5300/5200/5100 processor with the green design of 90%+ power efficiency. Featured with leading-edge technology including FSB 1600MHz, FB-DIMM 800MHz, PCI-Express Gen2 x16 and SAS support, the DSEB-DG/SAS is the most out-performance server board which is ideal for enterprise-class and computing demanding applications. Product Description: ASUS DSEB-DG/SAS - motherboard - SSI EEB 3.61 - Intel 5400Product Type: MotherboardForm Factor: SSI EEB 3.61Dimensions (WxDxH): 12 in x 13 inChipset Type: Intel 5400 / Intel 6321 ESBMulti-Core Support: Dual-Core / Quad-coreMax Bus Speed: 1600 MHzProcessor: 0 ( 2 ) - LGA771 SocketCompatible Processors: Dual-Core Xeon 5100 series, Quad-Core Xeon 5300 series, Dual-Core Xeon 5200 series, Quad-Core Xeon 5400 series64-bit Processors Compatibility: YesRAM: 0 MB (installed) / 64 GB (max)Supported RAM Technology: DDR2 SDRAMStorage Controller: ATA-100, Serial ATA-300 (RAID), Serial Attached SCSI (RAID)USB Ports Configuration: 4 x USBStorage Ports Configuration: 1 x ATA, 6 x SATAGraphics Controller: XGI Volari Z9s - 32 MBNetworking: Network adapter - Intel 82563EB / 82573L - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet Customers also search for: Discount ASUS DSEB-DG/SAS - Motherboard - SSI EEB 3.61 - Intel 5400, Buy ASUS DSEB-DG/SAS - Motherboard - SSI EEB 3.61 - Intel 5400, Wholesale ASUS DSEB-DG/SAS - Motherboard - SSI EEB 3.61 - Intel 5400, 0610839160433, DSEB-DG/SAS, Motherboards

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ASUS Crosshair IV Formula - AM3 - AMD 890FX - DDR3 - Republic of Gamers - ATX Motherboard Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Asus has hit a homerun with this mobo! Using the Asus Crosshair IV Formula and my new AMD 1055t Athlon II x6 processor, I was able to easily OC the stock 2.8 Ghz proccy to 3.76 Ghz with almost no effort whatsoever. I had originally intended to go with the AMD 1090t proccy but couldn't see paying almost $100 extra (at that time). I realize now the Black Edition processors are a little better with faster through put but I'm still very happy.
My first impression of the packaging was simply "WOW". Normally you expect to get a mobo in a box that's been clear-tape sealed with a disk an instruction booklet and a CD and perhaps some cables/ribbons. This package is like no other mobo you'll ever buy. An extremely detailed booklet with plenty of info on anything and everything about the board and it's features as well as Bios tips. Cables, tie straps, and an amazing rear IO plate that put my faith back into premium quality mobos. Also included is an ROG (Republic Of Gamers) badge sticker as well as a pretty large side case sticker that goes perfectly with my Red and Silver Backtrack 4 logo ;). Assembly of the board is standard except for the RAM slots which feature one end clip on each slot. Yep, no more fumbling around underneath wires to have to pop out your RAM sticks with two latches, this feature alone is enough for me to be happy but it doesn't stop there. Asus has gone out of their way to deliver not only performance but a great assembled package that shows the pride of the ROG community. Some (including one of my closest friends) balked at the color scheme until he got a longer look at it. Admittedly, red wouldn't have been my first choice either since I like blue and green better but it quickly grows on you aesthetically. Now, many have complained about the heat of the Northbridge which in some cases featured incorrect standoff heights. For a new and "featured" product it was sad to see such a blatant mistake which also proved a lack of QC/QA on Asus' part before shipping (IMO) on one of their premiere and premium prodcuts. However, with that said, I was one of the fortunate ones who had no problems with the heat of the NB.
Assembly was typical like any other motherboard until it came time to start it up. I have to admit this was the first time ever I had no problems running it correctly the first time with absolutely no flaws. Loaded in Windows Ultimate 7 64 bit and away it went.
For this build I opted for all top of the line products including: Corsair H70 proc cooler, 8Gb G.Skill Flare RAM, OCZ 850w GamerXStream PSU, Diamond ATI 1Gb DDR5 5870 GPU, Antec BluRay BD ROM, LG DVD/CD reader/burner, NZXT Sentry 2 LE Fan Controller, Lian Li 4 port mini-duckbill light switches, Cooler Master Sickle Blade Fans (6), Antec 1200 case, Sabrent 51 in 1 card reader, WD RE3 Enterprise Edition 1Tb drives (2), Corsair C300 64 Gb SSD, Bulgin LED Power Switch, Flatron 24" HDMI monitor,Logitech G19 Keyboard and last but not lease the Logitech G5 gaming mouse. And all fed through a Logitech 540 5.1 sound system.
My intention was to future proof this build as much as possible within a set budget and I've easily accomplished that with a few dollars leftover. The lighted switches, buttons on the motherboard are flat out sexy too. I've also got to admit the AMD 890 chipset totally rocks! My previous system was an Asus A8N32-SLI Premium mobo with an AMD Opteron 170 which is still a good build but nothing compared to the newest screamer! If you're looking for performance, capability, consistency and overclocking capabilities I would have to put this at position #1 with a bullet!
I had originally intended to use the Noctua NHD14 cooler which is mammoth but fits my case, until that is, I attempted to put it in with the performance RAM from G.Skill. If you're intending to use the Noctua cooler you can only use standard side cover heat spreaders on your RAM. Forget about the add-on top heat spreader such as the G.Skill Flare or Corsair Dominators, it just won't fit. The bottom 3-5 fins of the NHD14 hit the top of the RAM and will not seat anywhere near the top of your processor as it should. Hence the Corsair H70 which works like a charm and provides excellent cooling.

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ASUS Crosshair IV Formula - AM3 - AMD 890FX - DDR3 - Republic of Gamers - ATX Motherboard

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Asus P5W DH DELUXE/WIFI-AP GREEN Socket 775 Motherboard Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Ok, you see the other reviews, great board, tons of great features, all true. HOWEVER!!!!! The software will not work if you install Vista directly on and then try to load the motherboard software. The GOOD NEWS is that if you install to XP first, no problemo! The board does run fast, quiet and generally cool. The ASUS site has all updated drivers, so it's only the initial install. Of course, if ASUS now sells the board with the updated drivers, then great, but be advised to check out the version of software the board comes with, or be prepared.

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ASUS P5W DH Deluxe is specially designed for Gamers, Personal Workstation, SoHo, high-end and multi-tasking PC users. The Intel 975X is Intel most high-end desktop chipset designed to support Intel next generation CPU, ATI CrossFire Graphics, maximum 8GB dual-channel DDR2 800/667/533 architecture, 1066/800 FSB (front-side-bus). Easily build an entertainment PC or create a multimedia environment with its exceptionally high bandwidth. Together with the Serial ATA ports enabled through the SATA 3Gb/s RAID controller integrated in the ICH7R Southbridge, the Intel 975X satisfies multi-task processing and data security.

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Intel DX38BT Extreme Series X38 ATX DDR3 1333 3xPCIe 2.0x16 1333MHz FSB LGA775 Desktop Board - Retail Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm fan of Intel products. During many years I've been use motherboards of this brand. Without no doubt this is the better of all of them. This motherboard is for extreme and hard uses. If that not is your case It's a waste of money (there are many others Intel options less expensive).

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Manufacturer Product Description With resource intensive games and multimedia tools constantly evolving to the next technological level, you need equally advanced hardware to ensure the best possible computing experience. Hardcore gamers and multimedia enthusiasts can take solace in the fact that next-generation Intel® Extreme Series Desktop Boards combine with the latest Intel processors to run the most demanding software applications with ease.
Amazon.com Product DescriptionWith resource intensive games and multimedia tools constantly evolving to the next technological level, you need equally advanced hardware to ensure the best possible computing experience. Hardcore gamers and multimedia enthusiasts can take solace in the fact that next-generation Intel® Extreme Series Desktop Boards combine with the latest Intel processors to run the most demanding software applications with ease.Intel® Extreme Series Motherboards Product HighlightBuilt to deliver extreme performance for workstation needs, hardcore gaming, media editing, and still offer significant headroom for future upgrades, Intel Extreme Series Desktop Boards are the motherboard of choice for truly hardcore users who refuse to compromise.CrossFire ReadyWhether it's a single graphics card or ATI CrossFire, a system outfitted with the latest graphics cards can deliver unparalleled visual realism when playing 3D games. With compatible applications, multiple cards can share the graphics processing burden and allow for streamlined data processing that ensures high frames per second. Quad-Core CompatibleMaximize the performance of your Intel Extreme Series Desktop Board by capitalizing on its support for Intel's latest quad-core processors. Support for up to two physical quad-core processors enables Intel Extreme Series Desktop Boards to support up to eight processing cores. With more computing "brains", new multi-core processing systems can run more resource intensive games and multimedia applications simultaneously with ease.Overclocker Friendly1Built to be tweaked and pushed to the limits, Intel Extreme Series Desktop Boards include features and software that make it easier than ever to overclock while keeping an eye firmly fixed on system specs. And because these boards are built to Intel's exacting standards of quality, reliability and performance, you can push them to the limits with confidence. For performance enthusiasts looking to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of their hardware, Intel Extreme Series Desktop Boards provide a stable foundation for a benchmark-shattering system.1 Warning: altering clock frequency and/or voltage may (i) reduce system stability and useful life of the system and processor; (ii) cause the processor and other system components to fail; (iii) cause reductions in system performance; (iv) cause additional damage; and (v) affect system data integrity. Intel has not tested, and does not warranty, the operation of the processor beyond its specificationsOnboard AudioUtilizing the Intel® High Definition audio chipset, the Intel® Extreme series can deliver 360° Dolby Home Theater audio through 10-channel, 7.1 surround sound. Know exactly where your opponent is coming from by the sound of their footsteps as you dominate an online battle. Sit in the middle of a catastrophic explosion as you enjoy a five-star action movie in high definition. Whatever you do, enjoy every decibel coming at you in all directions. Advanced Technical Specifications
Supported CPU
CPU Socket Type: Single or up to two identical LGA771 Intel® Processors
CPU Type: Intel® Core™2 Extreme Quad-core / Quad-core Intel® Xeon® / Dual-core Intel® Xeon®

Chipsets
North Bridge: Intel® 5400 Express Chipset

Memory
Memory Slots: 4 Fully Buffered DIMM (FBDIMM)
Memory Standard: FBDIMM DDR2 800/667 MHz
Maximum Supported Memory: 16 GB

Expansion Slots
PCI Express x16 connectors: 4
PCI bus connectors: 2

Storage Devices
PATA: 1
SATA (3Gb/s): 6
eSATA: 2

Onboard Audio
Audio Chipset: Intel® High Definition Audio
Audio Channels: 10-channel (7.1) Dolby Home Theater
S/PDIF Out: 2 digital audio outputs
Audio Ports: 5 analog audio outputs

Onboard LAN
Max LAN Speed: 10/100/1000 Mbits/sec

Onboard USB
Onboard USB: 10 USB 2.0 ports (6 external ports, 4 via 2 internal headers)

Onboard IEEE 1394
Onboard IEEE 1394: 2 IEEE1394a ports (1 back panel connector, 1 internal header)

Physical Spec
Form Factor: SSI/EATX (Extended ATX)
Dimensions: 13 inches x 12 inches (3330.20 mm x 3044.80 mm)

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ASUS P6T7 WS SuperComputer - Motherboard - SSI CEB - iX58 - LGA1366 Socket - SATA-300 (RAID), SAS, eSATA - 2 x Gigabit Ethernet - FireWire - HD Audio (8-channel) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is one of the best MOBOs in the market. The feature that I like the most is the full cover heatsink... It looks great!...
After spending a lot of hours looking for the best MOBO for my new system the P6T7 was my pick for many reasons... Some of them are:
1. Looks. It has a very attractive layout.
2. Stability. What's the use to spend in a ultra-super-mega MOBO if you're gonna have at least 2 BSOD a day?!?... With the P6T7 you can be relax.
3. Features. I love that it have a third USB internal connector and have SAS support. SSDs are still expensive and don't have great capacity but using a SAS 15k RPM HDD you can have a bit more performance than with the 10k RPM HDD. The software included in the cd is great too.
The only con is that you need to upgrade the bios to the latest version if you pretend to use the new Intel 980x cpu.
Now... For the overclocking part... I was pretty easy, the only thing I did was increase the multipliers to 31 and the Vcore to 1.34 and thats it... Regarding the memory I'm using the Corsair Dominator 1600mhz (not a GT model) and the only thing I did was to set the XMP profile and that's all... Using programs like Everest you can do a stability test on your system and for me it was rock solid stable...
If you are looking for a watercooling solution for the MOBO I suggest the Koolance waterblock.
BTW... Don't be confused by the CEB form factor.. It fits perfectly in my Coolermaster Cosmos 1000...
My system: Intel 980x @ 4.1Ghz 24/7, Asus P6T7 WS Supercomputer MOBO (0804 bios), 6GB Corsair Dominator Memory, 2 x XFX HD5870, Asus Essence STX sound card, Logitech Z-5500 speakers, Intel X-25 80GB SSD, 2 x WD Velociraptor Raid 0, 3 x WD 1TB Caviar Black, Pioneer BDR-205 Blu-ray burner, Antec Quattro 1000w PSU, ViewSonic 22" monitor, Hanns-G 28" monitor, Coolermaster Cosmos 1000, Logitech G27, Logitech G940, Logitech Performance MX mouse, Logitech Illuminated Keyboard, Windows 7 Ultimate and Roccaforte Ultimate Game Desk (MS-010)... CPU, MOBO, Video are watercooled by Koolance and HDD waterblocks, pumps, reservoirs and radiators are from Thermaltake (dual loop)...

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS P6T7 WS SuperComputer - Motherboard - SSI CEB - iX58 - LGA1366 Socket - SATA-300 (RAID), SAS, eSATA - 2 x Gigabit Ethernet - FireWire - HD Audio (8-channel)

Asus P6T7 WS SuperComputer Workstation Board P6T7WSSupercomputer Workstation Motherboards

Click here for more information about ASUS P6T7 WS SuperComputer - Motherboard - SSI CEB - iX58 - LGA1366 Socket - SATA-300 (RAID), SAS, eSATA - 2 x Gigabit Ethernet - FireWire - HD Audio (8-channel)

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