X58 To The Max: Three New Flagship LGA 1366 Motherboards

Features
By Thomas Soderstrom
published

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.

Rampage III Extreme Utilities

Local Software

BIOS-based CPU Level Up overclock settings can also be changed from within Windows.

Asus TurboV Evo accesses most BIOS overclock settings from within Windows.

Asus PC Probe II has grown to include more sensors, with alarm settings to notify distracted overclockers of any problems.

Remote Software

Many overclockers prefer to use the BIOS GUI because it doesn’t require a program that consumes resources or that might otherwise be the cause of a crash, while others like the ability of Windows overclocking programs to change settings without rebooting. Asus RC TweakIt fills the gap by using the Windows installation of a second PC (or notebook) to change the BIOS adjustments of a running Rampage III Extreme motherboard.

Running on a second PC, RC TweakIt adds temperature and fan-speed monitoring to the features found in TurboV.

RC Poster reports Rampage III Extreme system status to the second PC when the instant boot is initiated. RC Remote allows the motherboard to be started, reset, or shut down from a second PC, while RC BIOS Flashback allows the BIOS to be updated from a second PC.

Overclocking profiles can be created and stored from a second PC in the same way as provided by O.C. Profile in the BIOS.

RC Diagram provides graphical logging for several of the Rampage III Extreme’s key functions, again through a separate PC.

While we don’t see having a second PC around just for tuning the Rampage III Extreme as a practical solution in most environments, it could save a lot of time and effort in time-limited competitions, such as our previous event.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
67 Comments Comment from the forums
  • one-shot
    No EVGA SR-2? :(

    Ok, Hold on. Three Flagship LGA 1366 Boards and no overclocked power consumption results? These boards are obviously made for overclocking and those results would be very interesting to see.
    Reply
  • Tamz_msc
    A good 250$ X58 board is enough for most people.
    Reply
  • Lmeow
    9498281 said:
    No EVGA SR-2? :(

    The EVGA Classified SR-2 is based on the Intel 5520 chipset and uses Xeons, so it's not an X58 board technically speaking which is why it doesn't qualify. ;)

    If I could spend that much on a motherboard I'd have chosen the Rampage III Extreme, not only does it have good features it also has the best colour scheme. ^^

    Does anyone know why I try to submit a comment it doesn't show up, and I have to use the forums instead to post a comment instead?
    Reply
  • lashabane
    I want more.
    Reply
  • sudeshc
    I am totally impressed by ASUS they always come up with best solution in every category, but the price is a killer for me :(
    Reply
  • rottingsheep
    IMO, the only interesting part about motherboard reviews is the overclocking and power consumption portion.
    Reply
  • avatar_raq
    Nice article..I have only catch: Of all the mobos tested, Quad SLI is not possible on the ASUS R3E, courtesy of nVIDIA's drivers
    http://www.guru3d.com/news/quad-sli-on-asus-rampage-iii-extreme-is-not-possible/
    Reply
  • dragonfang18
    Whats the point when Intel will come out with new processors with different sockets next year?
    Reply
  • Crashman
    avatar_raqNice article..I have only catch: Of all the mobos tested, Quad SLI is not possible on the ASUS R3E, courtesy of nVIDIA's drivershttp://www.guru3d.com/news/quad-sl -possible/Awesome, thanks. Manufacturers don't actually discuss this stuff.
    dragonfang18Whats the point when Intel will come out with new processors with different sockets next year?That's what people like you were saying months before LGA 1156 was released. We see which direction that went.
    Reply
  • dragonfang18
    That's what people like you were saying months before LGA 1156 was released. We see which direction that went.

    Yeah... they are changing 1366 to some socket R... Well... At least I can look forward to these motherboards going down in price by next year when they go to Socket R's for performance than 1366's. I guess ill be happy with 1366's. Hopefully they go down by at least $100.
    Reply