EVGA X58 3X SLI Classified LGA1366 Motherboard Review

Specifications & Features

As we mentioned in our last X58 review, this being the fifth X58 motherboard review in the last couple months, we will by-pass the X58 chipset diagram as we should all be quite familiar with it by now. There have been no updates, changes, or items of note so if you wish to go over the specifications that the EVGA X58 3X SLI Classified is based on; have a look at either our ASUS Rampage Extreme II or EVGA X58 SLI reviews. Here are the specifications for the Classified as outlined by EVGA.

Performance	Based on Intel X58/ICH10R chipset Supports Intel Core i7 Processors 133 MHz QPI
Memory	6 x 240-pin DIMM sockets Triple Channel DDR3 Maximum of 24GB of DDR3 1600MHz+
Expansion Slots	4 x PCIe x16/x8 1 x PCIe x1 1 x PCI (32-bit PCI, support for PCI 2.1)
Storage I/O	1 x UltraDMA133 9 x Serial ATA 300MB/sec supports RAID 0, RAID1, RAID 0+1, RAID5, JBOD
Integrated Peripherals	8 Channel High Definition 2 x 10/100/1000
Multi I/O	1 x PS2 Keyboard 12 x USB2.0 ports (8 external + 4 internal headers) Audio connector (Line-in, Line-out, MIC) FireWire 1394A (1 external, 1 header)
Form Factor	EATX Form Factor Length: 12in – 304.8mm Width: 10.375in – 263.5mm

If you are familiar with the EVGA X58 3X SLI motherboard, you will immediately notice that there are a lot of similarities, but also a lot of key differences. We will discuss some of these differences further while taking a closer look at the motherboard.

Features

The features section is chalk full of unique firsts in the motherboard market that EVGA has accomplished with the Classified. This board is designed to be pushed to the absolute limits during sub-zero benching, but also comes heavily coated in useable features, even if you aren't going to be boiling off liter after liter of liquid nitrogen.

Intel® Core i7 Support The Intel X58 chipset is designed for one thing and one thing only, the best performance Intel has ever seen. With four physical cores in addition to four more virtual cores thanks to the return of Hyper-Threading, the Intel Core i7 is a multi-threading monster and clock-per-clock; the fastest desktop processor available right now.	Up To 3-Way SLI® Support EVGA has taken the SLI capabilities of the Intel X58 chipset to the next level offering for the first time ever, 3-way SLI + PhysX + 1X PCIe device capabilities on a single motherboard. The X58 3X SLI Classified provides the ability to run three graphics cards, plus a dedicated PhysX card, and a 1X PCIe device such as a soundcard or RAID controller card.
2 x 8PIN EPS Connectors Another consumer motherboard first, the Classified offers dual 8-pin EPS 12v+ connectors that offer up to 600W of available power for the CPU. This level of available power may not help your daily overclock on air, but under LN2 conditions, CPU stability is second to none thanks to this feature.	10 phase Digital PWM All of the available power is handled by the beefiest Digital PWM available on current X58 motherboards. The difference between the Classifieds digital PWM and others is the ability to change the switching frequency in the BIOS providing a switching frequency of up to 1333KHz. Higher switching frequencies results in smoother power delivery.
3X Gold Content in CPU Socket With three times the normal amount of gold in the CPU socket pins, the Classified again is ahead of the class. The higher gold content in the pins lowers the impedance and resistance of current going through the pins. This in turn provides a "smoother" path for current to get to the CPU.	EVGA EZ Voltages Like the predeceasing EVGA X58 3X SLI, the Classified offers onboard voltage read points but expands on the four that the first generation EVGA X58 motherboard offered. The Classified provides read points for every adjustable voltage. These read points make reading voltages with a digital multi-meter much easier, and safer, than poking around the motherboard without them.
OnBoard Power/Reset/CMOS Clear Buttons Like so many other features on the Classified, the onboard buttons offered cater this motherboard to the benchmarking enthusiast who doesn't run their system in a case. These onboard buttons facilitate the motherboards use in an open air benching platform.	EVGA Control Panel This "extension" of the motherboard controls offers the same Power/Reset/CMOS Clear buttons as well as the LED diagnostic readout that are present on the motherboard. This functionality will come in handy for users with fully insulated and populated bench setups or the daily users looking to mount the Control Panel for exterior control over PCI-E jumpers or to see the LED readout.

We will be going over a few of these features in more depth as we continue through the review. We have of course only touched on a few of the more unique features the Classified offers here but there is plenty more to talk about. Let's start with a look at the package and the accessories that accompany the EVGA X58 3X SLI Classified.