Hardware Canucks » Motherboards

ASUS Sabertooth X79 Motherboard Review

skymtl — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:20:53 +0000

In mid November we saw the launch of the enthusiast-based Sandy Bridge Extreme platform along with the X79 (code name Patsburg) chipsets and since then we have brought you reviews of the i7-3960X CPU and the Rampage IV Extreme motherboard. Today we continue our walk down the LGA2011 road and bring you another highly anticipated board from ASUS: the Sabertooth X79.

MSI Z68A-GD80 G3 Z68 Motherboard Review

skymtl — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:55:04 +0000

MSI has been fighting an uphill battle against the likes of Gigabyte and ASUS for the last few years but their new Z68A-GD80 G3 looks to even the playing field. It features a long 5 year warranty, PCI-E 3.0 slots, user friendly auto overclocking options, a great layout and an intuitive BIOS which in many ways surpasses the competition’s offerings. But can MSI complete this near-perfect equation with stability? We find out in this review.

ASUS X79 Rampage IV Extreme Socket 2011 Motherboard Review

skymtl — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:12:27 +0000

With Sandy Bridge E processors finally hitting retailer’s shelves it was high time that we began looking at some X79 motherboards. The ASUS Rampage IV Extreme is currently one of the most expensive Socket 2011 boards around but it holds to the Republic of Gamers pedigree by offering a long list of features, some of which we have never seen before.

Gigabyte Z68XP-UD5 LGA 1155 Motherboard Review

skymtl — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 01:51:06 +0000

With Sandy Bridge processors becoming all the rage, motherboard manufacturers have had to step up their game in the face of mounting competition. Gigabyte may have a horrifyingly confusing lineup which consists of no fewer than 20 different Z68 models but their Z68XP-UD5 seems to have what it takes to stand apart from many other Sandy Bridge supporting products. It may be on the expensive side of the fence but this board can overclock like no one’s business and has a long list of appealing features.

Gigabyte G1.Sniper 2 Z68 Motherboard Review

skymtl — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:42:07 +0000

Gigabyte has been pushing their G1 series “gaming” motherboards for some time now but the Sniper 2 represents their first step away from the aging X58 platform. Not only is this board more affordable than its predecessor but it also comes with Z68-exclusive features like SSD caching and Virtu GPU switching technology.

EVGA P67 FTW Motherboard Review

skymtl — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:48:52 +0000

With the release of Intel’s Z68, the P67 chipset may have become yesterday’s news but no one seems to have told EVGA since they have recently introduced their flagship P67 FTW. This motherboard has some big shoes to fill considering its predecessor –the P55 FTW- was a genre defining product. But with a long list of features and EVGA’s pedigree of creating overclocker friendly boards, this new FTW should have what it takes.

Gigabyte A75-UD4H FM1 Llano Motherboard Preview

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:01:28 +0000

With AMD’s Llano architecture about to make its way into the desktop market via the Lynx platform and FM1 socket, motherboard manufacturers are ready with supporting A75 and A55 products. In this article we take a quick tour around Gigabyte’s upcoming A75-UD4H; a fully featured yet well priced FM1 board that supports everything from Crossfire to USB 3.0 to SATA 6G.

GIGABYTE X58A-OC LGA1366 Motherboard Review

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:12:45 +0000

Based on the platform that just won’t die, the GIGABYTE X58A-OC is arguably the first motherboard that has been designed from the ground up for the hardcore overclocking community. Featuring the very latest electrical components, some never-before-seen overclocking features, and a stripped out specifications list, can this model differentiate itself from every other X58 LGA1366 motherboard?

ASUS Sabertooth P67 Sandy Bridge Motherboard Review

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 04:40:23 +0000

With most of the focus of the last month or so on the Z68 launch, P67 chipset may have taken a back seat but the motherboards based around it are still highly appealing. The ASUS Sabertooth in particular is a unique P67 board which sports a great price along with high end features.

ASUS Sabertooth 990FX AM3+ Motherboard Review

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 02:34:54 +0000

With Zambezi CPUs right around the corner, AMD is gearing up for their big launch with a “new” chipset dubbed the 990FX. Motherboards based around the newest FX-series will have support for the upcoming AM3+ processors as well as backwards compatibility with current AM3 CPUs. ASUS will have a full range of 990FX products but in this review we will be looking at the new Sabertooth; a well priced, fully featured board with an interesting design.

Intel Z68 Review – The Sandy Bridge Platform Expands

admin — Wed, 11 May 2011 04:41:51 +0000

With Intel’s Z68 platform finally here, there is a long list of new features like Intel’s Smart Response Technology and Lucid’s Virtu that need to be put under the microscope. In this article we do just that in order to gauge whether the this new chipset is really worth more to the end user than P67.

ASUS P8Z68-V PRO Z68 Sandy Bridge Motherboard Review

admin — Wed, 11 May 2011 04:00:51 +0000

Intel has officially launched their highly anticipated Z68 chipset. It has all of the overclocking powers of P67 while adding in features like GPU switching through Lucid’s Virtu software and Intel’s own Smart Response Technology which allows SSD caching for dramatic load time improvements. In this review we take a look at ASUS’ P8Z68-V PRO, a motherboard that incorporates the best of P67 and Z68 into one impressive product.

GIGABYTE G1.Assassin G1-Killer LGA1366 Motherboard Review

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:14:35 +0000

“Gaming” motherboards seem to be a dime a dozen these days but it’s rare to see a product that’s built from the ground up to cater to the unique needs of the gaming community. This is exactly what Gigabyte is looking to accomplish with the G1 Killer series; particularly with the flagship G1.Assassin. Packing a Bigfoot Killer E2100 NPU and a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi digital audio processor, this motherboard seems to have what it takes to make a splash in a highly competitive market.

Gigabyte P67A-UD7-B3 Sandy Bridge Motherboard Review

admin — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 03:42:36 +0000

Earlier this year, Intel’s new Sandy Bridge architecture went on a bit of a hiatus as a recall swept the market clean of supporting motherboards. Now all-new “B3″ models have started hitting retailers’ shelves and one of the premier boards is Gigabyte’s P67A-UD7. It boasts a remarkably full feature set, some great overclocking potential and the B3 refresh also brings some much-needed refinements to the table as well.

ASUS P8P67 PRO LGA1155 Sandy Bridge Motherboard Review

admin — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:41:39 +0000

Even though Intel’s Sandy Bridge has had its fair share of ups and downs, it remains one of the better price / performance platforms currently on the market. With B3 revision motherboards finally arriving at retailers, we take ASUS’ budget friendly yet feature rich P8P67 PRO board out for a test drive.

ASUS M4A88TD-M/USB3 & M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 AM3 Motherboards Review

admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 05:24:03 +0000

AMD has made it a point of marketing to concentrate upon adding value to certain price segments and their supporting motherboard manufacturers have really caught on. Today we will be taking a look at two products which take this mantra to heart: the sub-$110 ASUS M4A88TD-M/USB3 and M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3. Both use the 880G/SB850 chipset combination and are looking to offer consumers a broad range of features for a budget friendly price.

Sapphire Pure Black X58 LGA1366 Motherboard Review

admin — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 04:32:25 +0000

Around here, we usually see motherboards from the like of ASUS, Gigabyte and MSI. Even EVGA makes an appearance every now and then but there is one other company which is trying to break into this market once again: Sapphire. With their new Pure Black X58, they hope to once again make an entry into enthusiast circles but is this board too little, too late? We’re going to find out.

MSI P67A-GD65 Sandy Bridge Motherboard Preview

admin — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:11:37 +0000

MSI has long been held in relatively high regard by the vast majority of the enthusiast community but competing against the likes of Gigabyte and ASUS is never easy. Nonetheless, their upcoming 1155 lineup is looking strong and in this preview we will be taking a look at the P67A-GD65, a board that will certainly hit the right price for the features it boasts.

Gigabyte P67A-UD7 & P67A-UD4 Sandy Bridge Motherboards Preview

admin — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 16:16:52 +0000

With Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture right around the corner, motherboard manufacturers are naturally chomping at the bit to introduce their newest generation of products. Gigabyte will have a full lineup of P67 and H67 boards and in this article we take a quick look at two of them: the inexpensive P67A-UD4 and the enthusiast-oriented P67A-UD7

ASUS P67 ‘Sandy Bridge’ Motherboards Preview

admin — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 05:45:45 +0000

Many have heard rumors of Intel’s upcoming Sandy Bridge architecture and the motherboards which are sure to accompany any upcoming products. Naturally, motherboard manufacturers are well on their way towards releasing supporting designs and in this article we take a quick look at some of ASUS’ offerings.

Gigabyte 890FXA-UD7 AM3 Motherboard Review

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 03:51:03 +0000

With AMD’s release of the Phenom II X6 processors, the popularity of their products has slowly been on the rise. Motherboard makers have been taking advantage of this newfound popularity by releasing a wide range of products which cater to the needs of everyone from enthusiasts to entry level users. Gigabyte has attacked the high end market with their Gigabyte 890FXA-UD7, a feature rich board that should cause many to sit up and take notice.

ASUS Crosshair IV Formula 890FX Motherboard Review

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:18:58 +0000

With the release of the 890-series chipset, AMD firmly planted their flag in the enthusiast arena. Interestingly enough, most motherboards sporting the 890FX retail for significantly less than their Intel counterparts while being equipped with similar feature sets. In this review we take a look at one such board from ASUS’ Republic of Gamers series: the Crosshair IV Formula.

GIGABYTE 870A-UD3 AM3 Motherboard Review

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 03:22:38 +0000

AMD processors have come a long way in the last year and have been making some serious inroads in the price / performance market. The motherboards have been following along with the newly-released 800-series chipsets competing directly with the best Intel has to offer. In this review we will be looking a fully featured, sub-$110 board: the Gigabyte 870A-UD3.

GIGABYTE 890GPA-UD3H 890GX AM3 Motherboard Review

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:04:40 +0000

The current motherboard market is full of feature rich high end products but finding a capable mid-range board can be a lesson in frustration for many users. AMD’s new 890GX looks to be an answer for many consumers who are looking for the perfect mix of performance and features while retailing for less that $150. But can it live up to everyone’s expectations by offering AMD users something Intel’s faithful are still waiting for?

AMD’s 890FX Chipset: An Evolution for the AM3 Platform

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 04:24:25 +0000

With the Phenom X6 finally being released and the 890GX motherboards already retailing for several months, AMD is now releasing their new flagship chipset called the 890FX. Not only does this chipset represent a significant evolution for AMD’s current lineup but it is also meant to go hand in hand with their Thurban processors. In this article, we take a closer look at this chipset and what it has to offer.

ASUS Maximus III Extreme LGA1156 Motherboard Review

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:29:24 +0000

The LGA 1156 platform has quickly become the de facto standard for people looking for a budget-friendly Intel system. However, manufacturers are constantly evolving their motherboard offerings with new technologies and features in a effort to differentiate themselves from the competition. ASUS has taken things to the next level with their new Maximus III Extreme and while it may be one of the most expensive 1156 boards on the market, it also offers everything you could ever want in a motherboard.

Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD7 LGA 1156 Motherboard Review

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 02:25:33 +0000

While many may think of P55 motherboards as a less-expensive alternative to an X58-based product, enthusiasts have learned that many LGA 1156 processors can be pushed to obscene speeds when paired up with the right board. As such, manufacturers have been releasing P55 boards of increasing potential at a feverish rate. Gigabyte’s P55A-UD7 is meant to be the pinnacle of their P55 lineup, but does it have what it takes to bring things to the next level?

ASUS ROG Rampage III Extreme LGA1366 Motherboard Preview

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:39:29 +0000

The Republic of Gamers series from ASUS has always been known for being among the best in the industry and the Rampage motherboards are at the their forefront. The new Rampage III Extreme will soon be released and will represent one of the highest-end motherboards on the market. In this preview we take the board out for a spin with some extreme cooling in tow.

ASUS Crosshair IV Formula AM3 890FX Motherboard Sneak Peak

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:51:37 +0000

ASUS hasn’t been making much noise in the high-end AMD market as of late and has instead concentrated their new Republic of Gamers series motherboards towards Intel users. That is all about to change with the upcoming release of their Crosshair IV Formula which is based off of AMD’s 890FX chipset. In this sneak peak we give you a quick glimpse at this new board.

ASUS RoG Maximus III Extreme LGA 1156 Motherboard Preview

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:01:54 +0000

ASUS has long been known for their Republic of Gamers series of motherboards and while they have products already in place for both of Intel’s P55 and X58 platforms, they felt it was time to take things to the next level. The Maximus III Extreme follows closely in the footsteps of the original Maximus III Formula but adds a bevy of new features that are sure to make enthusiasts go weak in the knees.