ECS X79R-AX Extreme review - Product Showcase

Alright, let's take a closer look - above, packaging.

Included in the box next to the ATX sized ECS X79R-AX Extreme motherboard you'll find the defaults like SATA cables, SLI connector, IO plate, manuals and driver CD.

Rear IO connectivity -- first thing we notice, a legacy PS/2 combo port, preferred by hardcore gamers. We spot 4x USB 3.0 and 6x USB 2.0, 2 x Gigabit LAN (Realtek RTL8111E), optical audio out as well as 7.1 audio which is managed by the Realtek ALC892 codec which supports High Definition audio up-to 7.1 channels.

The little black button to the lower left is a clear CMOS button. Colored in red you can see two eSATA ports (6Gb/s) and you will also see a Bluetooth radio receiver and hey now, a wireless LAN dongle (that wire is an antenna).

Chucked and stuffed full is the keyword here, we absolutely love it.

When we flip the board around a little we stumble into the processor area. Reasonably spacious, the four DIMM slots draw attention but do cost space. But it makes sense to have them as close as possible to the processor (memory controllers) for optimal signal quality of course. The wire leading out is the Wireless LAN antenna.