First place overclocker Foxconn FlamingBlade gives way to second-place overclocker MSI X58 Pro-E when more than three memory slots are required. Comparing features, the FlamingBlade supports a second Gigabit Ethernet connection, while the X58 Pro-E supports a third x16-length card in its x4 slot. Both also support two full-bandwidth PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, but the same can be said of any X58-chipset motherboard.
Anyone more interested in performance leadership than top overclocking might instead choose the Gigabyte X58-UD3R, its higher-spec eight-phase voltage regulator and two ounce copper PCB providing cooler VRM operation rather than an overclocking crown. Equally priced to the X58 Pro-E but with slightly less room for memory and expansion cards, its lower operating temperatures might make it a more reliable choice in high-stress environments.
Perhaps the most surprising board in today’s comparison, ASRock’s X58 Extreme came in third place in both overclocking and performance while also having the lowest price. Lacking no features compared to MSI’s high-flying X58 Pro-E, the X58 Extreme puts a little more emphasis on easy installation with front panel connections located above the board’s center line. ASRock even includes a floppy header to ease RAID driver access during Windows XP installation, and its Port 80 diagnostics display is unmatched by the X58 Pro-E.
Supporting up to five graphics cards, Jetway’s BI-600 provides the best combinations of features for the price. It also won our efficiency comparison, but only by using lower-than-specified CPU voltage. From a features perspective it’s a terrific bargain, but we won’t be able to recommend it until Jetway does some serious work on its BIOS, and we’re hoping improved BIOS might also address its severe core voltage droop.
With the BI-600 out of the running in recommended value, the ASRock X58 Extreme’s combination of great overclocking, good performance, and lowest price earn it our “Recommended Buy” award.
- More For Less, More Or Less
- Features Comparison
- ASRock X58 Extreme
- Asus P6T SE
- ECS X58B-A
- Foxconn FlamingBlade
- Gigabyte EX58-UD3R
- Jetway BI-600
- MSI X58 Pro-E
- Test Settings
- Benchmark Results: Call Of Duty, Crysis
- Benchmark Results: Far Cry 2, World In Conflict
- Benchmark Results: Audio/Video Encoding
- Benchmark Results: Productivity
- Benchmark Results: Synthetic
- Power, Heat, And Efficiency
- Overclocking
- Conclusion

At the time the review was written, the P6T SE web page read that it supported SLI. Perhaps Asus changed the web page following a complaint?
The big difference between the P6T SE and the P6T is the missing Jmicron SATA multiplier. By removing it, Asus killed the pathway that went to it, leaving the JMB363 controller with a "dead port".
I never trust a seller as a source: Asus listed the P6T SE as having SLI support as little as four weeks ago, and now has a completely different page for it. They weren't the only company that advertised SLI capability and leave out the bridge, but it now appears the former P6T SE web page must have been an error, probably from the company copying its P6T page and editing it for the P6T SE, but missing one detail.
Though first on my priority list is a better monitor (and rent).
Neat article regardless.
I've skipped the Foxconn page, wouldn't buy from them anyway.
Thank you Tom's. Reminds me why this is my home page since 2001.
Give parallel ATA a break! it still has a valuable place on the mb!
A very large valuable space mind you. Not to mention the air space
The X58 Pro-E doesn't seem to like S3 sleep. The power and HDD LEDs turn off but the fans are still going and I think the HDDs might be as well. I've made it turn off completely once, but then USB didn't work right once it woke, so I had to restart anyway.
I don't think there will be too much difference between the 2.
Agreed, the Foxconn boards are fine (actually quite good) for one time things on LN2 etc, but reliability for 24/7 is lacking.
Agreed. However, they should eliminate floppy, Parallel,MIDI/GAME ports.