EVGA X58 SLI Micro LGA1366 Motherboard Review

Package & Accessories

EVGA wastes no cardboard turning this small motherboard into an oversized package. Quite often in this industry a bigger package seems to be better, that is definitely not the case with the EVGA X58 SLI Micro as EVGA presents a package that cannot be any larger than the motherboard itself. This may or may not be a beneficial aspect of the package, we will explain shortly.

Like the EVGA X58 SLI, X58 SLI Classified, and X58 SLI LE before it, the X58 SLI Micro maintains the same theme that all EVGA X58 motherboards have touted on the outside of the package. The machined steel lettering backed by an almost carbon fiber like cloth material provide a very rugged and industrial look to the package. Our sample arrived wrapped in cellophane providing the end user with the security that their motherboard is new and untouched. The front of the package contains very little more than the name of the motherboard and EVGA branding. The rear of the package hosts slightly more information with a features list, contents list, and a brief explanation of the warranty with directions for more warranty information on their web site.

What we really like about the EVGA X58 SLI Micro package is that the cardboard used is the same as that of the X58 Classified. This beefy heavyweight cardboard provides an extremely strong and secure exterior packaging for the contents inside. The corners are not going to crumple if dropped on the edges, a puncture is going to take some force to get through, and the overall feel of the package is very tough. We liked this about the Classified box, and we really like seeing it here with the X58 SLI Micro as well.

Another nice touch is the sticker that is immediately present upon first opening the package. EVGA is so confident in their customer service that they don't want you taking the motherboard back to your retailer should you encounter a problem. Instead, they would prefer you contact them directly. An ulterior motive for this may be that EVGA can then better track issues in production or simply keep track of RMA'd motherboards better than they could should the retailer handle issues.

Further into the package we find two layers. The top layer houses the manual, installation CD, quick start poster, and accessories. Underneath the cardboard separator is the X58 SLI Micro motherboard. The board is simply sitting on the box with no protection surrounding the motherboard. As we mentioned earlier, the package couldn't have been any bigger than the motherboard and we were right. Given the thick cardboard used for the outer package, and the fact that the motherboard really can't slide around at all inside this package, we feel the safety of the motherboard during transport is more than adequate. Sure we would love to see a foam insert protecting the motherboard further like in the X58 SLI Classifieds package, but understand that not every motherboard can get the premium package of the Classified.

We mentioned that the accessories accompanying the X58 SLI Micro are located in the top layer of the package, here is a list of the very minimalistic accessory package:

• 1 x 4-Pin Molex Connector > Dual 5-Pin SATA Connector
• 2 x Black SATA Cables
• 1 x Double Spaced Flexible SLI Bridge
• 1 x USB 2.0 & 1 x 6-pin Firewire PCI Expansion Bracket
• Clip less Rear I/O panel
• User Manual
• Visual Quick start Poster
• Driver Installation CD

The obvious missing component is the double spaced CrossFireX bridge. EVGA has failed to supply Crossfire bridges in all of its X58 motherboard offerings. With bridges that are suppose to accompany the video cards, this wouldn't be an issue, but the problem is that many video cards are only supplied with single spaced Crossfire Bridges which are useless on a double spaced motherboard. We understand EVGA pushing SLI capabilities of their X58 lineup due to the fact that EVGA only sells NVIDIA based video cards, but to not supply double spaced Crossfire bridges - which cripples the use of the motherboard - is unacceptable in our opinions. It would cost EVGA literally pennies to supply the appropriate bridge where the end user will have to pay up to or over $10 to acquire one...if they can be found. Again, we understand the lack of promoting Crossfire on your motherboard EVGA, but not supplying an appropriate Crossfire bridge is just stupid in the mind of this reviewer.

On top of the continued lack of a Crossfire bridge, the rest of the accessory package is painfully small. Only two SATA cables are provided and nothing else is offered to allow the X58 SLI Micro to stand out from the competition. We just have to keep in mind that this clearly isn't a premier package and the accessories that accompany it are also not that of a premier package.

Normally we would look at a couple of the interesting accessory items but since none of those exist in this package, we will leave this section at that.