EVGA P55 Classified 200 LGA1156 Motherboard Review

Specifications & Features

We will have a quick look at the chipset diagram supplied by Intel first, then get into the detailed specifications and features of the EVGA P55 Classified 200.

The P55 Express chipset is a little bit different from that of the X58 chipset. The most notable is the lack of two hubs, more specifically, there is no hub that carries the traditional terminology of "north bridge". Instead we basically just have a "south bridge" or in this case, the P55 chipset itself, also known as the PCH (Platform Controller Hub). The P55 PCH is manufactured using a 65-nanometer process. The reason Intel has been able to reduce the chip(set) to a single chip is because the Lynnfield processors that run on the P55 chipset handle the memory controller duties - like the LGA1366 Bloomfield before it - and now handle 16 PCI-E 2.0 lanes as well.

The X58 chipset really is nothing more than a PCI-E hub and with those 16 PCI-E 2.0 lanes going directly to the CPU, the old hub could be removed. So we are left with a single P55 PCH to handle all the traditional I/O (input/output) duties. We won't really go into the chipset too much further aside from saying that P55 motherboards will offer a single PCI-E 16X lane with the option of splitting those two up into two PCI-E 8X slots for dual GPU solutions such as CrossFireX or SLI (licensing permitted). For a more in depth look at recent changes to the chipset, please reference Patrick's excellent review of the new Lynnfield processors and their P55 chipset here.

What we are about to see, however, is that the P55 Classified 200 isn't at like your typical P55 based motherboard; and why the number 200 is in the name of this motherboard.

Performance	Based on Intel P55 chipset Supports Intel Socket 1156 Processors
Memory	4 x 240-pin DIMM sockets Dual Channel DDR3 Maximum of 16GB of DDR3 2600MHz+
Expansion Slots	5 x PCIe x16, 1 x PCIe x4, 1 x PCIe 1x
Storage I/O	0 x UltraDMA133 6 x Serial ATA 300MB/sec supports RAID 0, RAID1, RAID 0+1, RAID5, JBOD 2 x eSATA
Integrated Peripherals	8 Channel High Definition 2 x 10/100/1000
Multi I/O	1 x PS2 Keyboard 13 x USB2.0 ports (7 external + 4 internal headers) Audio connector (Line-in, Line-out, MIC) FireWire 1394A (1 external, 1 internal header)
Form Factor	mATX Form Factor Length: 12in – 304.8mm Width: 10.375in – 263.5mm

The specification sheet of the P55 really doesn't have anything that jumps right out aside from the 5 x PCIe 16X slots and slightly larger than ATX width. Keep in mind, most of those slots run at 8X when multiple cards are being used but we'll go over the logistics in our extensive 3D/Gaming Benchmarks section a little later on. Where the Classified really stands out from the crowd is in the features it offers, let's have a look at a few key ones now.

Features

We will now highlight some of the features that the EVGA P55 Classified offers that either make it unique from the other P55 boards on the market, or simply come across as important in our eyes.

Intel® Core i5/i7 Support This is a basic feature but also a primary and potentially confusing one. Intel's wonderful idea to name P55 compatible processors i7 is a confusing decision for many consumers. The X58 chipset also supports i7 processors, but the two are completely different. The P55 platform only supports LGA Socket 1156 i7 processors that are labeled 8xx and all i5 processors. Get it? Exactly, way to go Intel.	2-Way SLI and CrossFireX Support A major feature that is a carry-over from the Intel X58 chipset is the continued support of both NVIDIA SLI and ATI CrossFireX support with the P55 chipset. Despite a seemingly lack of ATI CrossFireX support on the EVGA P55 Classified 200, it definitely supports the technology so all of you ATI video card fans can be rest assured your setups will work in this motherboard.
Dual 8-pin EPS Power Connector As was the case with the first EVGA Classified motherboard, the P55 Classified 200 comes with dual 8-pin CPU power connectors offering up to 600W of useable power for the CPU. This feature is only of interest for extreme overclockers but one of the main features in allowing the EVGA X58 Classified to be the extreme overclocking champion it is. Adding this feature to the P55 Classified is a no brainer to help make it the ultimate P55 overclocking motherboard.	Individual Passive Heat Sinks As we saw in the recently reviewed EVGA X58 SLI Micro, individual passive heat sinks were seen as positive evolution of the EVGA X58 platform cooling. This evolution continues with the P55 Classified 200 as EVGA has again gone with three passive heat sinks that are in no way connected. This allows individual changes of these heat sinks without having to change others. We thoroughly enjoy EVGA's decision to make this change from the heat pipe connected cooling of the X58 Classified.
On-Board Power/Reset Buttons A staple of the EVGA motherboard platform going back as far as their 680i offerings. EVGA has always supplied onboard power and reset buttons, even when onboard buttons were not the industry standard. Accompanying these buttons on the P55 Classified 200 are also onboard CMOS reset buttons on the motherboard, and at the rear I/O area for easy access, even when mounted in a case.	On-Board Diagnostics LED Readout Another feature that we take for granted these days is the inclusion of an onboard LED POST diagnostic readout. Again, EVGA has always offered the onboard LED readout as a feature on their motherboards and there is no reason to stop now. In the manual a list of POST codes help identify issues with the system should it not POST. Personally, I just find it easier for recognizing the quirks of a motherboard being able to see its POST routine.
On-Board Digital Multimeter We consider this feature a pure luxury. One that takes on-board LED readouts to a whole new level. Not only does EVGA offer a POST LED readout, they now offer a complete on-board digital multimeter solution. With the single test probe, we are able to measure the actual voltages of the motherboard via the on-board test pads without any additional hardware required. Again, this may seem like a novelty item but we have found it quite handy to have integrated into the motherboard.	Multiple Selectable BIOS's Yet another new feature has found its way onto the P55 Classified 200 from EVGA and that is the inclusion of multiple on-board BIOS chips. Not only has EVGA offered the multiple BIOS options, but has included an on-board switch to easily allow the user to select which BIOS they want the system to be running off of. This is an overclockers and enthusiasts dream as it provides multiple BIOS settings, or even completely different BIOS versions, to be selected by the flip of a switch.