EVGA X58 Classified - Trophy Board
by Rajinder Gill on May 8, 2009 3:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Specifications and Features
| EVGA X58 Classified | |
| Market Segment | Enthusiast and Extreme Benchmarking |
| CPU Interface | LGA-1366 |
| CPU Support | LGA-1366 Nehalem i7 Series of Processors |
| Chipset | Intel X58 |
| BCLK Speeds | 133~500 MHz in 1MHz increments |
| DDR3 Memory Speed | 800, 1067, 1333, 1600, 1867, 2133, 2400, 2667, 2933 Frequency Ratios |
| Uncore Frequency | Full i7 Processor IMC multipliers supported, Options available as per CPU |
| PCIe Speeds | Auto, 100MHz - 140MHz in 1MHz increments |
| Core Voltage | Auto, 1.00V to 2.24V in 0.00625V increments |
| CPU Vdroop Compensation | Enabled, Disabled |
| CPU Clock Multiplier | Dependant on Processor, all available multipliers supported |
| DRAM Voltage DDR3 | Auto, 0.70V ~ 3.39V in 10mV increments, 1.50V standard |
| DRAM Timing Control | tCL, tRCD, tRP, tRAS, + 17 additional timings + Chipset Configuration |
| DRAM Command Rate | Auto, 1T, 2T |
| IOH Voltage | 1.10V - 1.875V in 25mV increments |
| ICH Voltage | Auto, 1.05V ~ 1.825V in 25mV increments |
| CPU VTT (Uncore) Voltage | Auto, 1.17V ~ 2.17V in 25mV increments |
| CPU PLL Voltage | Auto, 0.60V ~ 2.70V in 75mV increments, 1.80V Base |
| IOH PLL Vcore | Auto, 0.60V ~ 2.70V in 75mV increments, 1.80V Base |
| QPI PLL Vcore | Auto, 1.10V ~ 1.875V in 25mV increments, 1.10V Base |
| IOH/ICH Voltage | Auto, 1.50V ~ 2.275V in 25mV increments, 1.50V Base |
| NF200 Voltage | Auto, 0.70v~1.075V in 125mV increments, then 1.20V~2.70V in 25mV increments. 1.20V Base |
| Memory Slots | Six 240-pin DDR3 DIMM Slots Triple-Channel Configuration Regular Unbuffered DDR3 Memory to 12GB Total |
| Expansion Slots | 4 - PCIe 2.0 x16, Supports up to NVIDIA 3-way SLI Technology + PhysX 1 - PCIe (1.x) x1 1 - PCI Slot 2.2 |
| Onboard SATA/RAID | 6x SATA 3.0Gbps Ports - Intel ICH10R Hot Plug and NCQ Support, RAID 0, 1, 5 RAID 0+1 Support and Intel Matrix Technology Support |
| Onboard IDE and Additional SATA | 2xJMicron JMB363 PATA (up to 2 UDMA 133/100/66 devices) 1 External eSATA port + 3 Internal JMB363 SATA Ports |
| Onboard USB 2.0 and IEEE-1394 | 10 USB 2.0 Ports - (8) I/O Panel, (2) via headers 1x 1394a Ports - (1) I/O Panel, (1) via header |
| Onboard LAN w/Teaming | Dual Realtek RTL8111C PCIe Gigabit Ethernet Controllers |
| Onboard Audio | Realtek ALC 889 - 8 Channel HD audio codec |
| Power Connectors | ATX 24-pin, Dual 8-pin ATX 12V |
| I/O Panel | 1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x eSATA 1 x SPDIF - Coaxial Out, 1 x Toslink Optical Out 1 x IEEE 1394 2 x RJ45 6 x Audio Out 8 x USB 2.0/1.1 |
| Fan Headers | 1 CPU + 4 Additional Headers |
| Fan Control | Full Fan speed Control Via BIOS |
| BIOS Revisions Used | IX58S21R |
Overall layout is excellent with everything accessible enough even when the board is fully loaded. The ECP panel allows remote positioning of power, reset, hex code, and PCI-E disable jumpers as well as VCore boost options in 0.1V steps totaling a maximum 0.3V overvolt on-the-fly. There are only four fan headers available (three with fan control via the BIOS) on the board, but positioning of each one is reasonably good and allows access in all configurations.
Slot layout is a big feature of the X58 Classified board, allowing multiple GPU configurations and a discrete soundcard to be used in tandem. When loaded fully, the NF200 provides the following lane allocation to the PCI-E slots: with three of the x16 mechanical slots loaded the lane allocation is 16x-16x-16x; with all four x16 slots loaded, the allocation is 16x-16x-8x-8x.
Realtek's ALC 889 fills the role of onboard sound here - nothing special, but it does work reasonably well in Vista. Hardcore gamers tend to veer towards the Creative Labs range or vendors like ASUS and Auzentech for alternative solutions. That said, the ALC 889 is clear enough and offers decent detailed audio in games and music, but lacks the wide midrange and bass punch of a dedicated soundcard. It is also a little low in maximum signal gain but not too bad compared to other onboard solutions. Microphones needing higher levels of gain or lower impedance headphones will lack a bit of clarity and overall volume when driven by the onboard Realtek solution.
The lower power rails (such as PLL circuitry) are all supplied by linear regulators, which offer low noise and clean power into sensitive circuitry. This does result in a higher overall heat dump into the motherboard PCB, but such side effects are expected on a board that attempts to break down all potential barriers for achieving high processor clocks with subzero cooling. Included in the hardware bundle are SATA/IDE cables, USB/FireWire extension headers, the ECP panel, three different SLI bridges for multi-GPU setups, and SATA to Molex converter cables. Packaging is excellent and both of our boards arrived from overseas shipping locations without any component or motherboard damage.
EVGA's excellent E-LEET software is part of the Classified's repertoire. We think this software is the best OS tweaking utility currently available from a manufacturer. A simple and clean interface based upon the CPU-Z GUI allows software level control of voltages and bus speed manipulation with minimal system overhead. This means you will not be hindered in achieving maximum overclocks due to system loads imposed by unnecessary graphical fluff and light shows. All of our heavier overclocks were obtained using E-LEET, saving us a tremendous amount of time compared to the set and reboot process. Temperature monitoring is also offered, although it's curiously lacking a temperature report for the IOH, which given the need for active cooling would be an appreciated addition. If EVGA could devise a way to offer memory tweaking then E-LEET would be close to our personal favorite, abit's wonderful uGuru program. Of course, EVGA is still in business so we can let that slide for now.
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TA152H - Saturday, May 16, 2009 - link
You're really an idiot if you don't see any difference here.PCI-Express can, in rare, situations offer additional performance to AGP, or the AT-Bus (ISA is properly called the AT-Bus, IBM invented it, so they get to name it).
USB gives no additional benefits for keyboards or mice, and in fact cost performance.
There's no parallel here. If you admit they use clock cycles, then what system you use is irrelevant. They waste clock cycles for no reason. As I mentioned, it's very, very slight, but why pay for it at all? Especially with a board geared for performance, why waste clock cycles on USB? It makes no sense. If USB keyboards or Mice did something PS/2 port versions couldn't, I'd at least see some point. But, they don't, so there's no point. This is different from the moronic examples you gave, where there can be some advantages.
takumsawsherman - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - link
I completely agree. This unit forces you to use a USB mouse, which is ridiculous at $450. I was being sarcastic. Personally, I use all PS/2 input devices, because they just work. Every time. That can't even nearly be said about USB.TA152H - Sunday, May 10, 2009 - link
You make $450 sound like a real lot of money for people. I remember when the 386 was out, you'd pay over a grand for it, if you wanted the 82385 and 32K cache. That's when a grand was worth almost twice that now. $450 is nothing, I'd buy it just so I got a warm fuzzy feeling, if it were actually worth it.For that price, throw some SRAM on the motherboard, and get a few extra percentages of performance at any speed. Why sell a half-rate motherboard for $450, when you could slap a nice L4 cache on the motherboard, for not too much more, and then boast real performance improvements no matter how you run it? Seems silly to me.
Besides, who would get a warm fuzzy from buying a motherboard from a EVGA? It's a stupid name, it sounds like a video card of the late 80s that ran VGA resolutions on an EGA, digital card. Supermicro, yes, or a killer Intel motherboard, or even IBM if they still made them. EVGA????? Well, I guess they have to start to build a reputation somewhere, and maybe this is a good move by them to get some press, and become known as a high end motherboard maker. So, I guess I understand it. Just add some SRAM and make it a real killer!
bob4432 - Saturday, May 9, 2009 - link
weak. evga is for the Microphallus crowd.i wouldn't own one of their items and really wonder why anandtech is wasting the time on this that 99% of the readers wouldn't even give too looks at.
Screammit - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - link
I like to see a company raising the bar, even if it is ridiculously priced. Someone has the cash and the will to buy it, which hopefully will prompt other manufacturers to compete with similar devices, eventually driving prices down. It may be a microphallus product, but it has only positive effects on the market as a whole. What could be wrong with that?Rajinder Gill - Sunday, May 10, 2009 - link
As I stated on page 1 of the comments, this is a perf product and generally speaking these reviews fall under my duristiction for the audience these products are aimed at (nobody said they were the majority). We're in the process of introducing someone new to take over the more mainstream stuff. The perf review will continue as is, while the lower-mid market stuff gets a boost in article frequency by adding somebody else to the mix.later
Raja
Rajinder Gill - Sunday, May 10, 2009 - link
*jurisdiction*..lolhemipowered - Saturday, May 9, 2009 - link
For absolute OC'ing I haven't seen any better. But I bought mine for looks and its ability to OC, it is a shame Anandtech didn't report/show screenshots of what the board does when running with the Lights on itrazorsimon - Saturday, May 9, 2009 - link
I'm really disapointed that you guys have given EVGA the free marketing on this board. Thier treatment of us in Europe over supply is so shamefull that I will always look to buy another brand from now on.The Classified is unique and the only EVGA product worth waiting for. I really hope another manufacturer comes up with something better and blows the Classified and EVGA where they belong.
Just to clarify the situation - my supplier in the UK gets told every week by EVGA europe that they are due this week. This has been going on for 2 months and so far about 20 boards have come through... yet they are in stock with suppliers in USA.
EVGA are not being honest and stringing us poor customers and thier retailers along.
EVGA's credability in Europe has been destroyed.
Fluxcored Arcweld - Sunday, May 10, 2009 - link
Made me laugh cause at the same time I'm unable to get the German watercooling I want for my i7 build here in the US. Low production products in a niche market segment trans Atlantic; we have to be realistic about availability methinks...Shout out to watercool.de !!