14 DAY TRIAL // MSI has definitely made a strong and lasting mark on the enthusiast market lately, having unleashed a significant number of AMD 800 Series-based motherboards and even selling Hydra 200-enabled platforms. Now that this side is covered, the hardware maker can turn its gaze back towards Intel central processors and their ongoing need for platforms with ultimate overclocking potential. In fact, the company has already completed development of its latest beast, aptly dubbed the MSI Big Bang-XPower, and has set it up for pre-order at roughly 300 Euro.
The mainboard uses the X58 socket and is more than eager to push any CPU into the beyond. Six DDR3 slots will make short work of any overclocking headroom limitations, whereas the Military Class components, including Hi-c CAP, Solid Caps, and Icy Chokes, will keep the board alive and stable throughout the process. Also, the product features the company's OC Genie overclocking technology, APS (Active Phase Switching) and V-Check points.
To make sure that the CPU itself has all the power it needs to push its clock as high as end-users want, the board is equipped with not one but two 8-pin power connectors. Other features include a 16-phase DrMOS PWM and a passive cooling system with SuperPipe. Basically, this platform should be able to let CPUs go as high as end-users want without dying, even if the chip itself does.
Of course, the Big Bang-XPower would not be called an enthusiast and gaming board if its graphics, storage and I/O options weren't on the same level. As such, the device features no less than six PCI Express X16 slots, a pair of SATA 6.0 Gbps ports, six SATA 3.0Gbps connectors, dual Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire, a debug LED, two USB 3.0 ports and two eSATA connectors. Finally, the platform is bundled with a PCIe x1 Quantum Wave audio card, with support for Creative EAX Advanced HD 5.0.