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Three-Way X99 LGA 2011-v3 ATX Motherboard ShootoutSep 18, 2014 - in Reviews
Buyers of Intel's X99 platform, which supports Intel's Haswell-E and new DDR4 memory, were probably prepared to pay a premium for mid-market boards. Are any of these $240 to $300 models worthy of Intel’s latest CPUs?
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Four Z77-Based Mini-ITX Motherboards, ReviewedJan 9, 2013 - in Reviews
Yes, you can get all of the functionality enabled by Intel's Z77 Express chipset in a tiny mini-ITX form factor! We round up four motherboards that uniquely approach the gaming and media center markets with a range of features and prices. Which is best?
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Six Socket FM2 Motherboards For AMD's Trinity APUsNov 25, 2012 - in Reviews
After just one generation, Socket FM1 is dead. We test six Socket FM2-based motherboards able to take AMD's newest APUs built using the Trinity architecture. Can any of these platforms, armed with AMD A85X Fusion Controller Hubs, get us to upgrade?
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Six $220-280 Z77 Express-Based Motherboards, ReviewedOct 9, 2012 - in Reviews
Expanded graphics card support, enhanced on-board features that include Thunderbolt on some models, and more-robust voltage control are all good reasons to consider paying a little extra for a higher-end motherboard. Today we examine five top choices.
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Seven Sub-$160 Z77 Express Motherboards, ReviewedJul 22, 2012 - in Reviews
Intel’s LGA 1155 interface is designed for mainstream buyers, yet the firm’s Ivy Bridge-based processors put it in the performance spotlight. We compare seven Z77 Express motherboards that deliver enthusiast-class performance at mainstream prices.
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Everything You Need To Know About ThunderboltJun 11, 2012 - in Reviews
A year after its debut on Apple platforms, Thunderbolt is finally available for PCs. Both fast and scalable, the technology’s 10 Gb/s connectivity and potential for external graphics promises to inspire innovation. But is it ready for prime time?
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Six $160-220 Z77 Motherboards, Benchmarked And ReviewedApr 29, 2012 - in Reviews
Combining the newest features with moderate expandability, Intel’s mainstream platforms provide high value to most gaming and overclocking enthusiasts. We compare six examples with Z77 Express to find the best features, overclocking, and efficiency.
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Intel’s Z77 Express And Lucidlogix MVP: New Features For GamersApr 8, 2012 - in Reviews
Integrated USB 3.0, advanced management features, reduced power consumption, and a new software package from Lucidlogix separate the Z77 Express motherboards from the Z68 chipset that preceded it. Were these capabilities worth waiting for?
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Six $200-$260 LGA 2011 Motherboards, ReviewedFeb 26, 2012 - in Reviews
We know that Intel's X79 Express platform hosts the fastest desktop processors in the company's portfolio. But can it be made more affordable? We round up the least-expensive $200-$260 motherboards to determine how much you have to give up for cheap X79.
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Seven $260-$320 X79 Express Motherboards, ReviewedJan 11, 2012 - in Reviews
With 40 lanes of PCIe 3.0 connectivity to host all of our high-bandwidth devices, LGA 2011 certainly qualifies as a premium processor interface. Today we examine seven X79-based motherboards that offer high-end features at a more palatable price.
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Five $160 To $240 990FX-Based Socket AM3+ MotherboardsNov 6, 2011 - in Reviews
Forty-two PCIe lanes give the 990FX a clear connectivity lead over competing Intel chipsets. We compare five class-leading products using AMD's FX-8150 to see which offers the best combination of performance, overclocking, integrated features, and value.
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Man Vs. Machine: Four Automatic Overclocking Techs, ComparedOct 12, 2011 - in Reviews
Targeting inexperienced tuners with easy-to-use buttons, several motherboard vendors now provide one-touch overclocking technologies that take away the guesswork. We examine the ease, effectiveness, and safety of methods provided by four major brands.
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Round-Up: Four Z68 Motherboards From $220 To $280Sep 18, 2011 - in Reviews
A real enthusiast chipset deserves a real enthusiast motherboard. Today we're comparing four feature-packed platforms that most folks who call themselves hardcore (and informed enough to know what hardware meets their needs) can actually afford.
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Six A75-Based Motherboards For AMD’s A8 And A6 APUsAug 16, 2011 - in Reviews
Advanced on-board graphics put AMD’s Llano-based APU far ahead of Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture, at least when it comes to 3D apps. But you’ll still need a new motherboard to support the Socket FM1 platform. Today we test six affordable contenders.
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From $100 To $160: Five Z68-Based Boards, ComparedJul 10, 2011 - in Reviews
Value-oriented system builders celebrate new-found performance and features as Intel continues pushing its mainstream platform towards the high-end. Today, we draw a line in the sand and consider five motherboards priced between $100 and $160.
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The 990FX Chipset Arrives: AMD And SLI Rise AgainMay 30, 2011 - in Reviews
AMD is laying the foundation for its Socket AM3+, Bulldozer-based Zambezi processors with the 990FX chipset, functionally identical to 890FX. The big news is that motherboard vendors are licensing SLI again, and we want to compare performance to Intel.
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High-End P67 Express: Five $200-250 MotherboardsApr 25, 2011 - in Reviews
With mainstream boards based on Intel's P67 Express chipset now priced well beyond $150, we reached into the $200-250 range to see what kinds of enhancements high-end buyers could expect just ahead of the anticipated Z68 Express launch.
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P67 Motherboard Roundup: Nine $150-200 BoardsJan 9, 2011 - in Reviews
Improved per-clock performance and higher achievable frequencies are sure to put Intel’s latest K-Series CPUs on top of many builders’ whish lists, but they’ll still need a new socket to put it in. We test nine enthusiast-oriented LGA-1155 motherboards.
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HydraLogix Vs. SLI And CrossFire: MSI's P55A Fuzion TestedOct 25, 2010 - in Reviews
LucidLogix forges ahead with its promise of multi-GPU compatibility across multiple graphics architectures and platforms. Today we see how its latest drivers stand up to the performance standards of CrossFire and SLI on a much more cost-sensitive board.
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X58 To The Max: Three New Flagship LGA 1366 MotherboardsJul 20, 2010 - in Reviews
Supporting Intel’s highest-performance processors with twice the bandwidth of its mainstream counterpart, the X58 chipset proves the staying power of good ideas. We take a closer look at what makes the latest generation of premium motherboards special.
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Mainstream Or Hardcore? Two X58 Motherboards ComparedJul 3, 2010 - in Reviews
You need Intel’s LGA 1366 interface and an X58-based platform in order to run the latest six-core processors, but which board should you pick? We're comparing a mainstream and flagship platform from the same company to explore the worth of high-end X58.
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Five AMD 890FX-Based Motherboards ComparedJun 1, 2010 - in Reviews
Adding SATA 6 Gb/s and two more USB 2.0 ports, AMD’s flagship northbridge has evolved into the 890FX. Just as important are the evolutionary steps several manufacturers have taken in motherboard design. Today we examine five examples.
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USB 3.0, SATA 6Gb/s, Motherboards, And Overcoming BottlenecksMar 24, 2010 - in Reviews
Soon, 4.8 Gb/s USB 3.0 and 6 Gb/s SATA will be hitting the mainstream. But be careful when you buy your next mainstream motherboard; some don't handle these technologies very well. We compare three implementations and recommend best practice solutions.
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AMD 890GX Unveiled: Three Motherboards ComparedMar 1, 2010 - in Reviews
AMD’s new chipset promises big performance increases with its Radeon HD 4290 graphics core and built-in SATA 6Gb/s controller. Asus, Gigabyte, and MSI sent their latest motherboards to help us find out how well 890GX and SB850 deliver on those promises.
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Budget Computing: Nine H55 And H57 Motherboards ComparedFeb 24, 2010 - in Reviews
Providing an HDCP-compliant audio path for its latest integrated-video CPUs, Intel’s new H55 and H57 chipsets are certain to appeal to both home theater and office system builders. We inspect nine samples to find out what else these value boards can do.
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PCIe And CrossFire Scaling: Does Nvidia's NF200 Fix P55?Jan 31, 2010 - in Reviews
The P55 chipset proved woefully inadequate for adding a third graphics card to our most recent CrossFireX configuration. Does attaching Nvidia’s nForce 200 PCIe bridge to the processor’s on-die controller fix the problem? In short, yes. Yes it does.
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Compact P55: Four MicroATX Motherboards Tried And TestedJan 28, 2010 - in Reviews
ASRock, Foxconn, Gigabyte, and MSI sent us their latest P55-based microATX motherboards for users wanting smaller solutions. We benchmarked, overclocked, and measured the efficiency of these diminutive platforms that work with Lynnfield and Clarkdale.
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Extreme P55: Four LGA 1156 Motherboards Over $250Jan 19, 2010 - in Reviews
With better efficiency and more aggressive Intel Turbo Boost binning, LGA 1156-based processors could be the right choice for some high-end machines. We look at a few premium motherboards that make these builds possible. Do they best Intel's X58 platform?
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MSI Big Bang Fuzion: Pulling The Covers Off Of Lucid’s Hydra TechJan 7, 2010 - in Reviews
After more than a year of waiting, LucidLogix's Hydra engine is ready to ship on MSI's Big Bang Fuzion motherboard. We have the platform in our lab and have spent the past week throwing Radeon HD 5870s and GeForce GTX 285s at it. Read on for the results!
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Say Goodbye To Your BIOS: Hello, UEFI!Dec 29, 2009 - in Reviews
Alright, so it's not as simple as waving the BIOS away. While the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface is ready to replace the old and inflexible BIOS, most platform vendors aren't prepared, even though we’re about to run into a new storage barrier.