While this board does have some features that do cost a lot to make (that huge northbridge cooler for example) I`m pretty sure that when it comes to such niche products margins are pretty huge.

I might be tempted if it had some really innovative features but this one does not. There have been cheaper boards offering intergrated wlan, audigy sound cards and similar power circuitry.

Yes, it is intended for people who overclock and benchmark a lot, but those same people would also appreciate an imroved sound chip or a good raid controller instead of the cheap stuff that comes with high end boards today.

I like this oc mobo. But I also want more from my pc. I want a radio tuner, a TV tuner, better add a dvb-t adapater, at least one ssd (why waste an entire harddisk slot?). This mobo comes with no wlan, that means I need another adapter. And I want umts. Don't gimme usb - it sucks - not to mention the cable hassle. I second Anonymouse comments. More slots would be good. Mini pcie looks nice. Heat is already a serious issue in my current oc system. Wouldn't want to touch this baby. Neither Acer's $6000 boxes. ;-)

The web page on this board says Max. 12 gigs ram and the PDF spec page available for download on that page says 24 gigs max. ram ---Which one is correct ?
posted by : Classified, 20 March 2009............

Ok I'm back and noticed EVGA now edited/fixed the web page to read 24 gig max. ram,but they left no comment like "Oh thank you INQ reader for noticing our web page mistake" (which really is false advertising if incorrect as it was). So now new readers that don't see the error because EVGA webmaster fixed it will think ...oh just another screwed up misinformed INQ commentor. Well now thats fixed how bout some MORE detailed info as other mobo manufactures list on their boards! LIKE ...What onboard networking chipset is used and what onboard Sound chipset is used. What raid controller chipset is used. etc. COMPLETE SPECS ! WHY ? Because I like to know for example if ADL sound chipset (which I heard is going out of sound business = no future support. ) Lack of those specs could mean it has cheap chips/IC's for those features ,otherwise they surely would brag about them if they were Top Quality ,and LIST THEM ! Are you hidding these spec for a reason EVGA ?

First of all, yes you can 3 Way SLI and have a PhysX card: 3 GPUs in x16 slots 1, 2, and 4 starting from the top. PPU would go in 3rd slot, and you would still have the x1 audio slot left.

It comes with two different 3way SLI bridges for this very purpose.

No other motherboard offers this.

Second, as previously mentioned, it offers more power and cleaner power than any motherboard out in the market allowing for previously unattainable i7 OCs.

It will also allow CPUs to run at much colder temps than any other board on the market.

That is just the start. This board is obviously for a niche crowd, and those that don't truly understand the technology behind it can not appreciate it. This board is definitely not for many of those leaving comments here but yet it is a board that has been yearned for by the Xtreme OCing community and a small company like EVGA had the balls to make it. I can not wait to get my hands on it!

are you driving homer-mobile by a chance that you want mini-pci slots with that? what more will you ever need to expand on this board (apart from the obvious part the buyers of this monstrosity looking to expand)?

that said - 450$? for a main board? what the hell is happening in this world?

ONE additional PCIe 1x slot, that's it? For 450 dollars?

@Anonymouse, you need to take a closer look as 2 of your 3 main complaints are incorrect/imprudent.

If you look closer you will see an additional PCIe x1 slot just below the chipset cooler. The have provided adequate space for a user to add a sound card, or Tuner card in that location, as it will not be blocked by the chipset cooler or any of the graphics cards. The single PCI slot would not be covered up unless you are using Tri-SLI and all your cards are dual slot design, which is common for most boards that support Tri-SLI.

As for the heat generated from the CPU socket... you realize that most users will never come close to using 600w of power from their CPU, and normal i7 overclocks will not produce more heat than any other X58 board.
EVGA states that it can support UP TO 600w, which is obviously geared towards Extreme Overclockers using exotic setups with liquid nitrogen to get insane CPU overclocks. No doubt a lot of engineering forethought went into the development of this board, to be used for enthusiasts, not your average system builder.

This is arguably the best overclocking X58 Motherboard on the market, so don't cry foul simply because you can't afford it. Some are willing to pay the price for the best performance possible.

Three serious issues:
- price
- heat
- lack of slots

The price is NUTS. 450 dollars? Try to sell this motherboard used, and you will see how much money you wasted.

Put your hands close to six (6!) hot 100W bulbs. That is how hot this thing can get. Now take a look at the motherboard and the usual PC enclosure.
Those 600W are heating everything on the motherboard, plus your harddisks (can you say data loss?) and other drives. Not to mention the energy loss from the power suppy, adding another 20%, or more.

Last, but not least, I like to mention the lack of expansion slots. 3 graphic adapters plus a (physics) co-processor sounds great, but besides the fact that heat sinks and fans may block some of the slots, that is really not enough.
Beyond that there is no way to expand the system.
Why can't these motherboard makers come up with a better concept? Why not add for example Mini PCIe slots, lots of them, on a separated bus with PCIe-to-PCIe bridge to the large PCIe bus?
The best thing would be to attach the CPU with memory to the PCIe bus, thereby making it just another card. That way the heat problem could be at least localized by adding heat shields.

Damn, for 450 dollars so little engineering, that drives me mad.

It has no Lucent Hydra. Where will wii be when STeWie lands?

The web page on this board says Max. 12 gigs ram and the PDF spec page available for download on that page says 24 gigs max. ram ---Which one is correct ?

what's funny is, the only thing that has over the Rampage II Extreme, is the extra 8 lanes for full speed tri-sli..that's it and nto enough to justify another $100..if you have 3 dual slot video cards, that nice lil "physx" pci-e slot is gone. For $450 a motherboard better wipe your @$$ considering a $350 motherboard can do the same d@mn thing

Unfortunately Hopes of new connector are dashed, this main is from 20feb'9 Here:http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3519
Those words classified are MODEL Name, Black stuff has nothing to do with Main, just plastic cover. So -1 for STeWie. Ahso ati 9.3 get Media Center going, yet after hour, FREEZE.This must be Black Rainbow Day. Better than first runs before 9.3, yet after chunky commerical, you need log out & reenter 7, as entire Media Center Freezes. Yet Audio Hold ThruOut. Ahso, on 9.3 leaving computer till screen saver means you need turn machine off by switch, then repowers itself just like sleep. So, Maybe World+Dog is Mostly Doggie, Today. Sorries About that, I Had Such hope for those black things. if it where true whole media would be headlining now. drashek

That is one badass board !!!

Notice word classified twice on main, one looks like all new connectors & other maybe ?SSD.(Most Likely just heat sinks though. there are 6 memory slots & looks like 4 sata ports hanging on edge next to floppy. This Might Be Advancement of porportions Greater than Ultee', if SSD can run at FULL Steam. especially if it is 24 connectors. Might Be Apollo of Mains or maybe just bunch of Icing, yet amd, take another BEATING.STeWie drashek

Huh only 3 way? What about the Foxxcon X58 jobbie with 4 PCI-E x16 slots?