Product Showcase

Expansion slots then, the mobo comes with five PCIe 3.0 x16 slots expansion slots: In fact let me bullet it up:

• 5 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8 or x8/x16/x8 or x8/x16/x8/x8)
• 1 x PCIe 2.0 x4
• 1 x mini-PCIe 2.0 x1

The graphics card slots support NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossfireX. The board also supports LucidLogix Virtu MVP Technology and thus Supports NVIDIA SLI and up-to 4-Way CrossFireX.

And check that out, a PLX PEX8608 has been added. PLX PEX8608 generates more PCI-E lanes for PCI-E devices. It allows high-bandwidth devices (i.e., USB 3.0 and SATA-600 devices) to be used at the same time without impacting performance

Here you can see the ThunderBolt / DisplayPort connector with behind it the controller IC. Monitors wise, Thunderbolt requires DisplayPort 1.1a or newer monitors. To the right you can see the ThunderBolt controller IC, the traces are close to the port keeping data signal optimal. Thunderbolt is based on the very Mini DisplayPort connector developed by Apple and delivers two communications methods, or protocols, on a single cable: PCI Express for data transfer and DisplayPort for displays. Thunderbolt is interoperable with DisplayPort 1.2 compatible devices. So remember that, the Thunderbolt connector functions both as display port and Thunderbolt connector
Thunderbolt technology delivers transfers data in each direction, at the same time (full duplex) - using a single cable to connect devices. That way it's no longer needed to connect multiple devices directly to your PC using multiple cables. By using multiple connection in a daisy chain, the amount of cables directly attached to your PC will be reduced while maintaining maximum throughput. However at this time, it is recommended to not pass 3 meters. Once the optical connectors will become available, that will be tens of meters.

You can share up-to 7 devices on one connection (sharing that bi-directional 10 Gbps of course), so your motherboard ThunderBolt connector could lead to your monitor, the monitor leads towards a storage unit and your storage unit could lead towards a Thunderbolt audio card.
 

And here alive and in action the Maximus V Extreme. I'm really missing the red backlights the Formula had.