14 DAY TRIAL // The holiday season is almost here, which means that you are probably already planning out your shopping budget by taking a look at some of the latest products that have recently been launched on the market. Now, if you are looking for a new desktop computer system, you are likely to choose among Intel's latest P55-ready processors or AMD's new Phenom II CPUs. Choosing the former means that you will require a new P55-based motherboard, which can be found in a wide variety. If you are on low budget, then ASRock might have something to meet your requirements.
The Taiwan-based motherboard maker has recently updated its portfolio with the introduction of a new board, specifically designed to provide a choice for Intel's new Core i5 and Core i7 processors in a budget-friendly package. Featuring an ATX form factor, the P55DE3 comes with a 4+1 phase power design and features support for LGA 1156-compatible processors. The board also comes with four DDR3-2400 memory slots, two PCI-Express x16 slots with support for AMD's CrossFireX technology, in addition to four SATA 3.0Gbps and two eSATA ports.
Although it has been built for the value-minded user segment, the board offers a pretty extensive list of features, including Gigabit Ethernet, 7.1 channel audio, the Instant Boot embedded OS, allowing for faster boot times, and also a C.C.O (Combo Cooler Option), which will enable users to use the older LGA 775-compatible coolers.
With that said, the most important feature of ASRock's P55DE3 motherboard is its price point, which has reportedly been set at just under 87 Euro, according to the listing on the website of an European retailer. The board looks like a good choice for users looking to build themselves a cost-efficient computer system using the latest technologies.