Introduction

To date one of the most reputable processor series has to be the Core i7 based on socket LGA 1366. When that puppy was released merely two years ago nobody knew that the first ever wave of Nehalem processors would be that strong and powerful. When Lynnfield (Core i7 on the 1156 socket) was released we certainly all loved the new processors, but leading by a significant amount in overall performance was still the high-end Core i7 965 and 975 processors.

Last month Intel added a new processor in the line-up, the ever so strong Core i7 980 Extreme six-core processor. Seriously breathtaking, and to date the fastest consumer processor on the globe with very decent overclock potential as well.

That was reason enough for most ODMs to make new updates and revisions of the X58 chipset based motherboards, as next to the new processor we have also seen the gradual adoption of features like USB 3.0 and SATA3 6G. That sparked ODM's to bring these new innovations to your doorstep by inventing solutions themselves. More costly yes, but by embedding a NEC USB 3.0 controller and Marvell SATA3 6G SATA/AHCI/RAID controller onto that motherboard you can actually bring some interesting features to the table and literally rehash the X58 motherboard line-up.

So the ODMs went back to the drawing board, added custom controllers on the motherboards and re-released their X58 series motherboards. However, a few of them decided to completely overhaul the design and fit it with the latest features, most high-end components and decided to design a severe über-cool motherboard to targeted at the high-end enthusiast consumers.

MSI is one of the ODMs releasing something really special, and today we'll review the Big Bang X58 XPower motherboard. It is chucked full with the latest gadgets and features; it is equipped to make sure you get the very best overclock out of it and heck, even if you can't overclock, flick a button and the motherboard will do the work for you, completely automated.

An extraordinary motherboard with an exemplary sound solution and even an external overclock LCD dashboard. Have a peek, and be shocked and awed .. this is one fine motherboard my fellow Guru's. Next page please.