EVGA X58 3X SLI Classified LGA1366 Motherboard Review

Package & Accessories

With the transformation from retail stores to online shipping warehouses, the computer hardware package has actually increased in its necessity to be well designed. The esthetic design on the outside really doesn't play a role amongst an army of informed consumers anymore and people interested in the Classified aren't going to be buying this motherboard based on the graphics on the outside, rather the contents inside. Where the package plays an important role is when it comes to shipping. Is the package going to protect the lovely piece of hardware its job is to protect?

Before we dip inside the package, we still want to highlight a couple design elements of the exterior. EVGA has finally done away with the slip cover that accompanied their previous 680i/780i/790i/X58 offerings, and beefed up the Classified with a genuine cardboard box. No plastic molded tray wrapped in a thin outer shell. The previous packages seemed to do the job just fine, but when you grab the X58 3X SLI Classified package, you know the contents inside are going to be safe. The thick cardboard box is quite sturdy, very solid, and exudes confidence in being able to protect the hardware inside. EVGA has stuck to the same design as the X58 SLI that preceded the Classified and simply added the Classified badge to the graphics. The specifications aren't the only thing that is similar between the original X58 SLI and the X58 3X SLI Classified.

One of my favorite aspects of EVGA packages is that they actually attempt to deliver an un-opened package to the customer. Too many motherboards and video cards these days seem to come in a box that negates the ability to ensure that the hardware inside is un-molested when purchased. Any ASUS motherboard you find at your local computer shop can be opened and rifled through without much effort. The opportunity to use the motherboard and then replace it in its package without anyone the wiser is also there because of a lack of security sticker or wrapping. Now we are not suggesting that the sticker EVGA uses on their packages - as seen above - is tamper proof, but it does provide at the very least a deterrent to would-be hardware testers. It may seem small and insignificant, but knowing that you have received an un-touched piece of hardware after laying down your hard earned money is also a comforting feeling.

The Classified package opens up to three layers of contents. The top layer contains three zip locked bags containing cables and such, the second layer is comprised of a foam surround and the motherboard itself wrapped in an ESD safe bag, and the bottom layer contains further accessories comprised mostly of our SLI bridges. Here is a complete list of accessories that accompany the EVGA X58 3X SLI Classified.

• 1 x Sleeved IDE Cable
• 6 x SATA Cables
• 3 x 4-Pin Molex Connector > Dual 5-Pin SATA Connector
• 2 x USB 2.0 & 1 x 6-pin Firewire PCI Expansion Bracket
• Single 6-Pin Firewire PCI Expansion Bracket
• EVGA Control Panel & cables
• 2 Way Flexible SLI Bridge
• 3 Way Solid SLI Bridge (standard)
• 3 Way Solid SLI Bridge (extended)
• Manual, Software CD, Installation Guide, Limited Edition Certificate
• Rear I/O Panel

The accessory list isn't the largest we have typed out, but it does contain everything we should need with this motherboard. The lack of a floppy cable all but gives away the fact that we don't have a floppy drive connector on this motherboard, like the EVGA X58 3X SLI.

As for what we do receive, EVGA has once again gone with their high end black SATA cables that we received with the X58 SLI and 790i motherboards. We also receive a single IDE cable sleeved to appear round, as well as a handful of 4-pin Molex to 5-pin SATA power connections. There is a PCI extension bracket to provide additional USB and Firewire connections and a clip less rear I/O plate.

The assortment of SLI bridges is due to the fact that we can run so many different SLI configurations on the Classified. We have a flexible cable to run SLI in any slot configuration, a standard 3-way SLI bridge and also the Extended 3-way SLI bridge for those going all out running 3-way SLI and a dedicated PhysX card in the fourth PCI-E 16X slot. The ECP (EVGA Control Panel) is EVGA's answer to the ASUS TweakIt hardware that comes with the Rampage Extreme II and debuted with the Rampage Extreme. Although the ECP doesn't provide the same overall functionality that TweakIt does, it still provides a much needed boost to the Classified package. It may not be as polished a package or provide as many functions, but what it does provide can be quite useful. It is good to see EVGA step up and try to add something superfluous to the EVGA X58 3X SLI Classified that wasn't on the original X58 SLI.

We will be discussing some of the items seem here later on in the review, but for now, let's focus our attention on the Classified motherboard itself. Next up is the closer look at the EVGA X58 3X SLI Classified.