EVGA X58 Classified - Trophy Board
by Rajinder Gill on May 8, 2009 3:30 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Final Words
Our experience with the Classified has been a very enjoyable to say the least from an overclocking viewpoint. Our retail board from EVGA has worked flawlessly throughout an extended test period in which we absolutely abused the board, and yet it came back for more. User experiences of the Classified have generally been excellent barring the occasional PSU compatibility and S3 fan resume problems. BIOS support has been excellent with any minor gripes solved as soon as they surfaced.
However, stock distribution into areas outside the USA seems to be limited and arrival slow. EU and Asia-Pacific product release has been hampered with EU availability being delayed several times. Boards have begun to trickle through to various distributors and retailers in these regions but widespread stock availability is still limited. Stepping up retail support in these territories would go a long way towards instilling end-user confidence that EVGA's USA support system is not a one-off affair. We are almost certain they have lost a number of adopters over the past few weeks due to availability problems in these regions.
The widespread release of Core i7-920 D0 stepping processors (with 950/975 due shortly) from Intel will certainly bolster the X58 platform appeal to users who are crazy about benchmarking. We have already discovered in early testing that the D0 stepping processors will not only allow higher overclocks (the 975 will be something special) at lower voltages, but the overclock consistency between each CPU is leagues better than the C0 stepping. Even though a "budget" 920 D0, Corsair Dominator GT, and X58 Classified motherboard seems like a pricing mismatch, the potential in this combination of parts is nothing short of stellar.
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We are proud to present the EVGA X58 Classified motherboard our Gold Editors' Choice award. We debated heavily amongst each other during the award process as the conveyance of this award for a motherboard with such single-minded focus on overclocking concerned us. Yet, that single mindedness by EVGA to develop and release a motherboard specifically for the overclocking community is what won us over in the end. In a market full of competitors all trying to outdo each other with the same basic X58 blueprint, it is refreshing for a manufacturer to step outside of the box and take a chance on a unique product. Yes, this motherboard is expensive and over the top in many ways, but you get what you pay for in this case. The EVGA X58 Classified is truly an outstanding product from both usability and engineering viewpoints. In addition, it also perfectly fits its market niche along with having some of the best customer support and service in the business. If your passion is subzero cooling, then we would stake our jobs on the simple fact that no currently available X58 motherboard is going to beat the EVGA X58 Classified for outright CPU clocking potential. The board is simply that good.
Now for the rest of us who utilize air- or water-cooling. You may find a slight advantage with the X58 Classified in terms of reduced system voltages and memory clocks over the mainstream motherboards. In reality, the gains are very small when you compare final overclock limits. Cooling is still king as always, and no board is going to bestow a magical 3GHz overclock upon you if your cooling is not worthy.
The i7's integrated memory controller takes a lot of the onus away from board level engineering until you really start to push very high QPI frequencies. Under a 4.5GHz CPU core speed it's difficult to discern any real differences between any of the enthusiast level boards in outright overclocking potential. It is when you get to the fringe of overclocking where a couple of nifty Classified BIOS functions that extend signaling margins really come into play. It's using these additional functions that has enabled us to benchmark our 920 D0 processor at QPI frequencies over 4.3Ghz under full eight thread loads. Couple the BIOS tweaks along with the subzero boot up workarounds and it is very difficult to look elsewhere when considering another X58 board designed for overclocking.
If we have to gripe (and we enjoy it at times), it has to be that the stock board cooling requires the end-user to supply their own fan before the board is really suitable to be used inside a PC case when overclocking. A 40mm fan in the retail package would not have broken the bank and would certainly earn the solution a few extra points. One also has to consider if adding the NF200 has brought anything worthwhile into the mix. Based upon our comparative benchmarks in the preview article, we would have to say no at this point, although it could help increase clock rates slightly.
The non-NF200 version is $50 less and based on the same board design and features. It should provide improved 3D scores in most setups but the jury is out on overclocking compared its big bother right now. Obviously, there is no getting around the cost of either board, as you simply must be in a different frame of mind to spend this much on a motherboard. However, having had the chance to use it, if you asked us if we would buy one we'd emphatically say yes. Simply because it is the only X58 board we have used that can truly bring out the maximum unhindered overclocking potential of the Intel Core i7. If that's what you're all about then look no further than the X58 Classified. It really is something special.
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Bolas - Tuesday, September 8, 2009 - link
When do we get a version of the classified board that supports USB 3.0?vanilla guerilla - Sunday, November 1, 2009 - link
why? are all your usb 3.0 devices upset that their present interfaces are too slow?MHz Tweaker - Thursday, June 25, 2009 - link
First off, it is good to see so much back and forth about a product. While I may not agree with some views, I value everyone's right to express them.My last few boards were as follows:
Asus P4P800 Deluxe
Epox Epox 9NDA3+
Asus A8N-SLI
DFI LT X48-T2R (horrible board and company)
eVGA Classified w/ NF200
I am not a fanboy of any company. If a company makes a product that fits my needs then I buy it. If my needs are not met, I look elsewhere.
I enjoy overclocking. I have large storage requirements. While not an avid gamer, I do play once in a while. I multitask with dozens of things going on at once. I am very impatient ;-)
I wanted a board that would allow me to load it down with internal and external drives, printers, video cards and overclock at the same time. For me the Classified is that board. This is the first board I have owned that has given me capability and stability in the same package.
I know there was a lot of hype leading up to the release of the Classified board. Based on eVGA's first x58 board and my experience with them as a company, I was one of the first to buy this board. I am not sure I agree with this review's title. To me a "Trophy Board" would be more about being costly and exclusive than function. While this board is costly AND expensive, it very much delivers the goods. Just my opinion. In the same breath, I also believe that there are boards out there that offer a better value for the money if you just want a solid board. As others have said, this board is not for everyone. It does shine when every port, slot and socket is filled and pushed to the bleeding edge.
I run the 920 C0 @4GHz w/6gig Dominators. I have 10internal HD's, 4 external HD's,2 DVD and 1 blueray burner(s) . I have dual 4850's and a 4870x2 driving 3 28" LCD's. I have 3 printers connected.
I think back over the last 10-15 years how much component prices have come down and how capability has soared. I can remember spending four times the price of this Classified board for 1.7gig SCSI hard drives. I can remember spending double the price of the i7 920 chip for a P166 chip back in the day. I can remember running Windows 3.11 for workgroups on that same P166 chip with an external Philips CDD-521 CD burner that cost $5000. I can remember saying a prayer every time I burned a $40 blank CD that the coaster goblins would not claim it.
Compared to other boards, the Classified is more expensive yes. For me this extra money was well spent in that I now have a board that meets my above requirements. I also have a board that should something go wrong it I can make a phone call and another board will be sent to me overnight via the advanced RMA program. I think about all the times I have spent less(and MORE) money on things only to be plagued with technical problems or trying to deal with a horrible company (DFI). When I have dealt with eVGA, I have been given quick straightforward solutions. For this alone I would pay extra.
It is good see eVGA release derivatives of the classified board at different price points.
At the risk of being labeled "fanboy", I am happy with this board and eVGA as a company. The thing about setting the bar high is eventually another hungry company will rise to the challenge. Excellence is not a resting place, keep striving and do the best you can with what you have.
Sabresiberian - Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - link
Wow. Just found out about the dual-processor Mac Pro. don't know much about it, but Apple has actualy produced a product interesting to me, which it hasn't done since the Lisa.So, any chance of a dual-CPU Classified?
:D
Necrosaro420 - Friday, May 15, 2009 - link
Im sure this will be like a typical evga motherboard. Itll be flawed for about 9 months until they finally come out with a bios to make it work correct.CMDRSweeper - Sunday, May 17, 2009 - link
Actually it won't...Why? Because this time it isn't one of the crappy Nvidia chipset's like the ones you think of.
That wasn't EVGA's fault but Nvidia's blind Intel trust and overall stupidity and of course lack of knowledge in chipset design.
This one has only an NF200 chip, an annoying rascal in itself but harmless if kept cool.
The chipset however is from Intel, and we all know how rock solid those are.
FXi - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - link
1 Firewire 800? Need it, buy a card. Don't care for the price, don't buy this product, it's not for you.2 Complaints about price or reviewing high end products? Anand has reviewed many cheaper products from many vendors, Asus, MSI, etc. This is a review on a Ferrari! If you don't want it that's ok. I don't need one either. But appreciate that it's a unique and low volume product meant for a few specific kinds of customers. And then just appreciate that it can do 200mph, even if YOU will never do that speed :)
3 People complain about the price, but there are plenty of EVGA products priced lower. ENTHUSIASTS have been crying for this kind of board, high, high, super high end with some very unique features. This board does serve that purpose very well. If it doesn't meet your feature set, you need a different board. And there are tons out there :)
Only complain is that maybe a slightly more expensive $5 Intel network chip might have been nice as well as some more effective cooling. But they did a bang up job and gave a very good showing on the cooling, so not much of a negative really. EVGA did very well. Even the NF200 doesn't really harm much. NB temps would also have been helpful.
Overall it's the Super Man of motherboards, and you took it to places it was meant to go. Congrats AT.
takumsawsherman - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - link
Dual Gigabit ethernet? Need it, buy a card.See how easily that fits? After all, most people who are overclocking this board will never use the bandwidth available in a gigabit ethernet solution over the fast ethernet.
I agree that some people are single minded, and will give up a lot to be able to freeze a computer and overclock it. So I think the board should use fast ethernet only (one port), keep the firewire400-only solution it currently uses, and get rid of the SP/DIF port. Very few people need that. And a PS/2 keyboard? What high roller uses PS/2 anyway? Speaking of, it is almost equally hilarious that they acknowledge that PS/2 keyboards are sometimes necessary, since USB keyboards can be fussy with the whole "Press Delete to enter BIOS" bit, especially until they are "accepted" by Windows. But then they leave out the Mouse port, which means that until you log into Windows without issue (yum, tab keys) your mouse may be quite useless.
I tell you, when they focus on overclocking, any compromises are acceptable. Just buy a card! Heck, use one of the PCIe x16 slots, since you aren't gonna put 4 video cards in this thing anyway.
TA152H - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - link
Actually, there's no reason to use a USB keyboard. PS/2 keyboards have less overhead, so are a better choice. Why have an overclocker that uses extra cycles on the keyboard because it's using the Universally Slow Bus? USB was invented by Intel to slow down your computer, so you'd need a Pentium processor. It's bad at everything it does, whether it be handling a mouse, or a keyboard, or a hard disk interface. There's always a better option, except when it doesn't matter. For a high performance motherboard, performance matters. Every little bit.I will not buy a motherboard that doesn't have PS/2 ports. USB based mice and keyboards do nothing they don't, and slow the system down. It's, admittedly, very, very slight on today's processors, but still, why pay any penalty for nothing gain?
Necrosaro420 - Friday, May 15, 2009 - link
Sure, why not just leave the pci-e off and use agp or pci. Hell, put an isa video card slot on there while your at it.USB keyboard/mouse isnt going to slow your system down unless your running a p1 or original celeron.