ECS A990FXM-A review - Introduction

A990FXM-A (V1.0)

With big steps AMD Bulldozer FX processors are getting closer to a release in September. But yeah, I've stated it many times already, the accompanying AMD 990FX chipset release was launched way too soon. Here we have all these new scrumptious motherboard releases yet we're lacking the Bulldozer FX processors to show off the (hopefully) real muscle power.

Meanwhile all reviews and tests that are published are based on the latest 3.7 GHz Phenom II processors, and on a 990FX motherboard... well you are just not going to see anything different, not in features and not in performance.

Sure, SLI support has been announced, but the driver from NVIDIA... well at this point it just does not open up SLI at driver level, and truth to be told, comparing high end-SLI on say Sandy Bridge platforms to Phenom II... well that doesn't have my preference either.

Meanwhile, the motherboard manufacturers chunk out the most beautiful hardware. I mean look at what we are reviewing today, it is the A990FXM-A (V1.0) from ECS. Admittedly a really nice looking motherboard that already comes with all the chipset reference features and then they added some more.

The ECS Black Extreme A990FXM-A comes with 140W AM3+ processor support and harbors AMD CrossfireX and NVIDIA SLI technology compatibility.

You'll spot 3 PCIe x16 slots, dual gigabit jack, it has 7.1 channel High Definition audio, USB 3.0 and well... just a lot more. We'll have a look at the motherboard performance, based on Phenom II processors. Have a peek at that motherboard and then let's head onwards into the review.