MSI Big Bang Marshal P67+Hydra motherboard

Straight from Taiwan comes a new batch of photos that depict the almost finished Big Bang Marshall XL-ATX motherboard from MSI which is based on the Intel P67 chipset, has support for LGA1155 processors, and comes equipped with one Lucidlogix HydraLogix chip.

The Big Bang Marshall is nothing if not hardcore and impressive since it features a 24-phase DrMOS PWM design, Military Class II components, no less than eight PCI-Express x16 slots (working at x8 when all are used), two 8-pin CPU power connectors and one 6-pin plug for supplying graphics cards, switches for disabling out PCIe x16 slots, voltage read points, and three BIOSes.

MSI’s board also includes the OC Genie II one-button overclocking function, four SATA 6.0 Gbps and four SATA 3.0 Gbps ports, eight USB 3.0 connectors, dual Gigabit Ethernet, 7.1 channel audio, two eSATA ports, Power, Reset, Clear CMOS and OC buttons, as well as the ClickBIOS (UEFI).

Big Bang Marshall is expected to debut around mid-Q1 (2011) and will surely cost an arm, and a toe

 

ECS officially unveils the A890GXM-A2 AM3 motherboard

ECS (Elitegroup Computer Systems) has just announced its newest AM3-supporting motherboard bearing the Back Series banner, the A890GXM-A2. This new full ATX board makes use of the AMD 890GX / SB850 combo and is claimed to be the first solution with a real PCIe Gen.2 bandwidth USB 3.0 controller.

ECS’s offering has a black PCB, four DDR3-1800 memory slots, Radeon HD 4290 integrated graphics backed by 12MB of SidePort memory, three PCI-Express x16 slots for Hybrid CrossFire or CrossFireX setups, one eSATA and five SATA 6.0 Gbps ports, 7.1 channel audio, dual Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 3.0 connectors, D-Sub, DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, and Power, Reset buttons.

The motherboard’s price tag was not announced.

EVGA launches the X58 Classified3 motherboard

EVGA has just rolled out a new ATX motherboard based on the X58 chipset, the X58 Classified3 which boasts both USB 3.0 and SATA 6.0 Gbps ports, and supports the latest LGA 1366 processors, including the hexa-core Core i7-980X.

Known as the X58 Classified3, the new board has a black PCB, 10-phase Digital PWM, six DDR3 memory slots, four PCI-Express x16 slots for SLI setups, two SATA 6.0 Gbps and six SATA 3.0 Gbps ports, dual Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 3.0 connectors, 7.1 channel audio, a debug LED, voltages read points, CMOS, Power and Reset buttons, PCIe disable jumpers, and other OC goodies.

The X58 Classified3 is now available @ $379.99.

Asus Debuts Powerful AMD-Based ROG Crosshair IV Extreme Motherboard

Whenever Asus introduces a new product in their Republic of Gamers line, there’s a fair chance that it will be pretty awesome. Expensive, powerful, and awesome. The ROG label is reserved for Asus’ most compelling products, reserved for hardcore gamers who are willing to spend extra to be on the cutting edge. The new ROG Crosshair IV Extreme is a new AMD motherboard that’s gorgeous to look at, but the specifications may be even more impressive.

Asus claims that this mobo sets a new bar for the AMD enthusiast crowd, and that it’s “engineered from the ground up for exceptional performance, stability, overclocking prowess, cutting edge BIOS controls and most of all, reliability under extreme conditions.” The board is based on the AMD 890FX / SB850 chipsets and supports the six-core Phenom II X6 processors and up to 4-way SLI video card configurations using CrossFire X. There’s also integrated Lucid HYDRALOGIX support and the company’s own CrossLinx 3 technology.

ROG Connect is also included, as is RC Bluetooth support, not to mention USB BIOS Flashback technology. With ASUS’ dual BIOS technology, users can keep two unique BIOS versions for different purposes. The first BIOS can be used for the overclocking, while the second BIOS can used for gaming or applications. In addition if a BIOS becomes corrupted, users can still use the system with the secondary BIOS. That’s the kind of fail-safe we like.

The board also fully supports SATA 6G, USB 3.0 and Intel Gigabit Ethernet, and as with any other high-end motherboard, this one’s not cheap either. It will be available soon from Asus Retailers for $309.

Biostar P67 and H67-based motherboards spotted in Taipei

The first hardware goodies from the Computex floor have begun to pop up, including a couple of new Biostar motherboard that are powered by the 2011-bound, Sandy Bridge CPU-supporting Intel P67 and H67 chipsets, the Tseries TP67XE and TH67XE, respectively.

Both of Biostart’s upcoming boards have an LGA 1155 socket, four DDR3 and two PCI-Express 2.0 slots, eSATA and SATA (likely 6.0 Gbps) ports, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and 7.1 channel audio. The micro ATX TH67XE includes DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs while its sibling lacks any such connectors but packs a debug LED. Too bad they are pretty far off.

Tseries TP67XE

Asus shows off the Rampage III Gene micro-ATX motherboard

Holding a pre-Computex event of its own, Asus has this week presented some of its newest ROG (Republic of Gamers) hardware, including the yet unannounced Rampage III Gene micro-ATX motherboard powered by Intel’s X58 chipset.

A quick comparison with its predecessor (Rampage II Gene) results in the conclusion that the biggest addition to the new model is USB 3.0 and SATA 6.0 Gbps support but that’s not the only thing enticing about it.

The Rampage III Gene comes with a nice black/red color scheme, a heatpipe-equipped cooling solution, 8-phase power, one LGA 1366 socket, six DDR3 memory slots, two PCI-Express x16 slots for SLI or CrossFireX setups, two SATA 6.0 Gbps and six SATA 3.0 Gbps ports, two USB 3.0 connectors, Gigabit Ethernet, integrated 7.1 channel audio, FireWire, and on-board Power, Reset and Clear CMOS buttons. Being a ROG product, the motherboard also includes advanced overclocking features.

There’s no word on pricing or availability yet but we’d guesstimate that the Rampage III Gene will cost around or over $250 and become available in June. Feel free to provide your own prediction and/or praise to the new ROG hottie.

EVGA’s Classified SR-2 dual-socket board up for pre-order

More than two months have passes since EVGA officially announced the Classified SR-2 motherboard powered by the Intel 5520 chipset and while it still isn’t shipping, the dual-headed overclocking bad boy has been made available for pre-order.

Costing $600, the Classified SR-2 (Super Record 2) has an HPTX form factor and boasts two LGA 1366 sockets supporting Xeon 5500/5600 processors, 8+2 phase power, 12 DDR3 memory slots, two NF200 bridge chips connected to seven PCI-Express x16 slot enabling 2-way/3-way/Quad-SLI or CrossFireX configurations, as well as two SATA 6.0 Gbps and six SATA 3.0 Gbps connectors.

EVGA’as motherboard also packs active cooling, dual Gigabit Ethernet, 7.1 channel audio, two USB 3.0 and two eSATA ports, jumpers for disabling PCI-E slots, Clear CMOS, Power and Reset buttons, plus support for the EVBot handheld OC device. According to its maker, the Classified SR-2 will begin shipping next week, on June 2nd.

EVGA coming out with the X58 FTW3 motherboard

Overclockers beware as EVGA is out to hunt your cash and it is equipped with a new weapon, the X58 FTW3 (For Teh Win) motherboard which makes use of Intel’s X58 chipset and includes both SATA 6.0 Gbps and USB 3.0 support.

Seen below, the upcoming board (codenamed 132-GT-E768-KR) has a blue PCB and a quite beefy air-based cooling solution, what it seems like a 10-phase power design, support for LGA 1366 processors, six DDR3-1600+ memory slots, three PCI-Express x16 slots for 2-/3-way SLI or CrossFireX setups, two SATA 6.0 Gbps and six SATA 3.0 Gbps ports, dual Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 3.0 connectors, 7.1 channel audio, and FireWire.

The X58 FTW3 is now available for pre-order in North America @ $342.39.

Gigabyte GA-H55N-USB3 mini ITX motherboard goes official

Gigabyte has just sent out a press release to mark the introduction of the GA-H55N-USB3 aka, the ‘world’s first’ mini ITX motherboard to feature USB 3.0 connectivity. As its name suggests, the compact board is powered by the Intel H55 chipset and supports LGA 1156 processors.

Looking as blue as all other Gigabyte motherboards on sale today, the GA-H55N-USB3 has an Ultra Durable 3 design, a 2oz copper PCB, the Dynamic Energy Saver 2 for lower power consumption, two DDR3-1666 memory slots, one PCI-Express x16 slot, four SATA 3.0 Gbps ports, one eSATa and two USB 3.0 connectors, Gigabit Ethernet, 7.1 channel audio, as well as D-Sub, DVI and HDMI outputs.

The new board should be hitting stores very soon.

Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD9 motherboard goes on sale

Gigabyte’s mightiest X58 motherboard ever, the GA-X58A-UD9, has begun shipping this week and can be found on stock in several markets (not Europe yet apparently) by overclockers and enthusiasts with reasonably-large wallets.

Announced earlier this month, Gigabyte’s board has a 2oz copper PCB, an Ultra Durable construction, a 24-phase power design, dual power switching and the Dynamic Energy Saver 2 technology, and a large cooling system that mostly relies on air flow but includes a waterblock for the northbridge.

The GA-X58A-UD9 supports LGA 1366 processors and packs six DDR3-2200+ memory slots, seven PCI-Express x16 slots backed by two Nvidia NF200 bridge chips, two SATA 6.0 Gbps and eight SATA 3.0 Gbps ports, dual Gigabit Ethernet, 7.1 channel audio, two eSATA and two USB 3.0 connectors, FireWire, Power, Reset and Clear CMOS buttons, and the age-old DualBIOS.

Those interested can get the motherboard for $700 . Anyone willing to donate $700?