eVGA x58 SLI Classified review

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teaser

Some classified features and specs

 

All right, let's get our hands dirty. Meet 'the Classified'. A motherboard with distinct looks and nearly excessive overclocking options, in a positive way of course.

As you understand by now the Classified edition is among the cream of the crop X58 motherboards, for the über-highend PC enthusiasts. And watch closely how I used the word 'über' there as whenever I use that word ... you need to understand we are dealing with an expensive product alright.

We just talked you through X58 chipset, but let's chat about what eVGA added to the overall X58 product to make it more 'special'. Several key elements jump into perspective here, for example the motherboard has a 10-phase Volterra digital PWM circuitry with dual 8-pin 12V inputs that allows 600 Watt of current for your CPU. Why so excessive your ask? Well 8-thread Core i7 CPU tests over 5 GHz CPU can draw an excess of 400W peaks on this platform. Does 600W sound so weird now?

Even things like DDR3 memory are addressed slightly different as well, it has a 4-phase circuit, also and 3-phase North bridge power. But of course there's no EVGA without the support for NVIDIA SLI, ... not only does it allows triple-SLI graphics technology, it even has a fourth PCIe slot for you to take advantage of, say a dedicated PhysX card. Check out some of the Classified features and then we'll chat some more.

Memory Slots Six 240-pin DDR3 DIMM Slots
Triple-Channel Configuration
Regular Unbuffered DDR3 Memory to 12GB Total
Expansion Slots 4 - PCIe 2.0 x16, Supports up to NVIDIA 3-way SLI Technology + PhysX
1 - PCIe (1.x) x1
1 - PCI Slot 2.2
Onboard SATA/RAID 6x SATA 3.0Gbps Ports - Intel ICH10R
Hot Plug and NCQ Support; RAID 0, 1, 5 RAID 0+1 Support; Intel Matrix Technology Support
Onboard IDE Additional SATA 2x JMicron JMB363 PATA Controller (up to 2 UDMA 133/100/66 devices) 1 External eSATA port + 3 Internal JMB363 SATA Ports
Onboard USB 2.0/IEEE-1394 10 USB 2.0 Ports - (8) I/O Panel, (2) via headers
1x 1394a Ports - (1) I/O Panel, (1) via header
Onboard LAN with Teaming Dual Realtek RTL8111C PCIe Gigabit Ethernet Controllers
Onboard Audio Realtek ALC 889 -8 Channel HD audio codec
Power Connectors ATX 24-pin, Dual 8-pin ATX 12V
I/O Panel 1 x PS/2 Keyboard
1 x eSATA
1 x SPDIF - Coaxial Out, 1 x Toslink Optical Out
1 x IEEE 1394
2 x RJ45
6 X Audio Out
8 x USB 2.0/1.1
Fan Headers 1 CPU + 4 Additional Headers

So four PCI-E x16 slots can be driven by the Intel X58 chipset in collaboration with NVIDIA's NF200 switch chip, allowing four actual x16 PCI-E slots. The NF200 is a PCI-E 2.0 x16 bridge-chip solution.

So yes, you could go for four graphics adapters with this bad boy if you desire that of course.

The X58 3X SLI 'Classified' motherboard obviously carries support for all Intel's socket 1366 processors. You can go for dual- or triple-channel DDR3 memory on the six DIMM slots available to you, next to that the motherboard has a scrumptious 10 SATA ports (1x e-SATA), 10 USB ports, 4 PCI-Express x8/16 slots, one PCI-Express x1 and one PCI.

Also noteworthy is the inclusion of EVGA's ECP (EVGA Control Panel), an overclocking solution that enables enthusiasts quick access to system tweaking. Along with that concept the comes a small (external) PCB. This little PCB supports functions like power, reset, CMOS clear, a hex diagnostic POST code LED display, on-the-fly VCore adjustment for overclocking, and PCI-E disable jumpers. The four PCI-Express Enable/Disable jumpers, one per slot allow multi-GPU setups to be trouble-shooted without having to take out the cards.

Something fairly new eVGA is working on is an onboard ROM that will store memory SPD files. This way you can select at BIOS POST to actually override the memory module default SPD.  To be able to take control of that EVGA made a software allowing to interchange SPDs.

For the overclocking experience eVGA is offering a wicked BIOS ready for you to go bonkers in. And surely they will provide users with the E-LEET tuning utility as well, which enables easier overclocking and system monitoring from within Windows, on the fly.

In addition to all this the CPU core power circuitry has been redesigned with Super-low ESR and ESL Film capacitors placed right behind the CPU Socket. According to eVGA, only the cleanest power goes into the CPU. A high-quality CPU socket is also used, with three times the normal amount of gold content for the lowest impedance and highest current transfer. The LGA 1366 Socket is also slick and shiny with a black anodized coating.

Also, the layout and cooling ... you'll spot intricate heatpipe based coolers over the board's Northbridge and VRM areas to keep temperatures up-to par.

Some of the more prominent features:

  • Supports Intel Core i7 Processors
  • Intel X58 Express Chipset with the ICH10R Southbridge
  • Supports over 6.4 Giga-transfers per second
  • Supports Intel Turbo Boost Technology
  • Supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 10
  • EVGA VDroop Control
  • 100% Solid State Capacitors
  • 6 DIMM triple-channel DDR3
  • Enthusiast layout supporting 2-way, 3-way SLI and CrossFireX with an additional PhysX / 1x PCIe card.
  • 10 SATA II 3.0GB/s ports (1 e-SATA)
  • 2x Gigabute Ethernet
  • EVGA EZ Voltage
  • Adjustable PWM Frequency
  • EVGA E-LEET Tuning Utility Software
  • EVGA SPD Tool
  • EVGA ECP (EVGA Control Panel)

We nearly forgot about it, but since the basis of the motherboard is a X58 chipset, it will also allow users to take advantage of a CrossFireX setup. Price-wise the X58 SLI Classified is yours for about US$450, yeah we said 'über' remember?

eVGA X58 3X SLI Classified motherboard review

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