EVGA X58 SLI Micro LGA1366 Motherboard Review

Conclusion

How can we possibly sum up what we learned about this board in just a couple short paragraphs? The EVGA X58 SLI Micro is definitely a mATX motherboard. With that said though, you wouldn't know it without physically seeing the board. The X58 SLI Micro hosts all but the full slate of features that the X58 chipset can offer. Not to mention the EVGA specific features we have enjoyed on the full size ATX X58 motherboards like the voltage read points and the onboard power and reset buttons that double as hard drive activity and power lights.

Our overclocking experience had us feeling like we were on the original X58 3X SLI or even the Classified at times because the X58 SLI Micro simply responded in the same manner as those boards do. We had a small hiccup in memory clocking over DDR3-1900 but as mentioned in the review, high memory clocks do not equate to performance. Still, we would have liked to been able to run our DDR3-2000 memory at their rated frequencies. The power delivery on a couple key components like VTT seemed to be slightly weaker but more than adequate for ambient cooled overclocking.

Perhaps this section of negatives is more of a product of our knowledge of the EVGA X58 lineup more than faults of the motherboard, but we have quite a list of dirty laundry - albeit it somewhat petty at times. The small accessory package, lack of extended Crossfire bridge, lack of BIOS/E-LEET enhancements from the original X58 motherboard, and lack of ability to view NB temperatures in Windows are some very minor things we have been hoping to see changed as the EVGA X58 lineup matured. These items are easily dismissed because what they would replace is already more than adequate. The one major issue we have is the heat sinks and the complete lack of VTT MOSFET cooling. We understand the passive cooling as silence is better than noise and at stock clocks, the cooling the heat sinks offer are more than enough. It is very simple, if you want to heavily overclock the X58 SLI Micro, be prepared to add a fan to help the existing heat sinks. That we understand, but the lack of VTT cooling has us scratching our heads, especially after losing our X58 3X SLI due to an overheated and failed VTT PWM. Again, this is a mATX motherboard and it is quite possible we are just trying to have our cake and eat it too.

Regardless of the negatives, this board impressed us. Like all previous EVGA X58 boards, we loved working with it. The BIOS is laid out well, the board responds to voltage and timing adjustments as it should, and the results were predictable when working our overclock up from stock. From an aesthetic point of view, the heat sinks and board design is fabulous. Building a themed system with the EVGA X58 SLI Micro would be a piece of cake as it is designed incredibly well. The EVGA team has really nailed the design on the head with this board and we look forward to getting our teeth into the P55 series as it appears to take over where this board has left off. If you are looking for a powerful X58 motherboard in the mATX form factor, you cannot go wrong with the X58 SLI Micro from EVGA. Heck, even if you don't absolutely have to have the mATX form factor, the X58 SLI Micro is a solid option for any new build if your expansion needs aren't large simply for the price, the look, and the solid performance.

• Fully featured board despite the smaller footprint
• Individual heat sinks don't force users to upgrade all three
• Overclocks a system as good as any X58 board we have seen
• Passively cooled heat sinks should be more than enough for a non-overclocked setup
• EVGA support and community driven forums

• Lack of a double spaced CrossFireX bridge
• Limited accessory package, just a couple more SATA cables would be nice even
• Label BIOS profiles
• E-LEET enhancements
• Monitor NB temperature in Windows
• Issue with high memory overclocks that could not be solved
• Motherboard heat sinks just aren't enough passively cooled for overclocking & VTT needs heat sinks IMO