Monday, August 20th 2012

ECS X79R-AX Stealth Motherboard Pictured

ECS is working on the X79R-AX Stealth, a high-end socket LGA2011 motherboard that borrows a design concept from ASUS TUF Sabertooth series, on which the jury is still out - a shroud covering most of the non-critical areas of the motherboard, which ASUS refers to as "Thermal Armor." The X79R-AX Stealth uses a similar shroud, except it isn't as perforated on the surface, and instead uses vents along its edges for ventilation and connections.

The shroud appears to borrow its design from some of the earliest 5th generation (stealth) fighter aircraft, such as the F-117 Nighthawk. Only key components such as the CPU socket, expansion/memory slots, and power connectors protrude from cutouts in the shroud, most other connections such as on-board headers appear to be arranged perpendicularly, and open out along the edges of the board. Most other features of the board appear to be consistent with that of the X79R-AX Black Series. According to ECS, the board should be out very soon.
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38 Comments on ECS X79R-AX Stealth Motherboard Pictured

#26
Vancha
MoonPigOh look, it's an Asus Sabertoo- ... Oh, no, wait...
20mmraincough "rip off" cough
Hayder_MasterECS stealth saberooth
Should ASUS have the monopoly on motherboard shrouds? If they're beneficial, I'd expect to see every brand coming up with their own versions.
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#28
No_Asylum
I dont like the Ram slots on both sides of the CPU. It makes using the CPU fan to cool your ram that much more difficult.
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#29
hellrazor
So just exactly where are the SATA slots, or are we just not supposed to have any storage?
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#30
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
hellrazorSo just exactly where are the SATA slots, or are we just not supposed to have any storage?
I think they are angled on the right side. I'm thinking it's the same with panel IOs.

Anyhow, I like the concept of these things, but not the execution. I have no idea what to improve though.
Posted on Reply
#31
SP3KT3R
:wtf: I'll never understand that full board cladding, Looks horrid. As for the SATA ports , you can barely see a feint location on the bottom edge of the board (left side, just below the power/reset)
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#32
Morgoth
Fueled by Sapphire
looks like a texture of a model
Posted on Reply
#33
pantherx12
Worst render ever : [ looks like it's done in ms paint.
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#34
unholythree
I think a shroud just for the expansion slot area would be a great idea, especially for aftermarket Video card heatsinks that dump hot air directly in the case.

Quick and dirty sketch:

(in ms paint for pantherx12)

No motherboard component can be more than 15mm tall in that area to meet speck; so all you would need is a piece of acrylic or insulated sheet metal on standoffs and you have a separate thermal zone.

This is really more of an idea for case designers rather than mobo manufacturers.
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#35
SIGSEGV
nice board, if they used aluminium cover that would be impressive, heat spreader and also dust cover for the board components, i wish asus havent patented their sabretooth design
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#36
pantherx12
unholythreeI think a shroud just for the expansion slot area would be a great idea, especially for aftermarket Video card heatsinks that dump hot air directly in the case.

Quick and dirty sketch:
i.imgur.com/ncOlE.jpg
(in ms paint for pantherx12)

No motherboard component can be more than 15mm tall in that area to meet speck; so all you would need is a piece of acrylic or insulated sheet metal on standoffs and you have a separate thermal zone.

This is really more of an idea for case designers rather than mobo manufacturers.
Thanks! :laugh: funnily enough yours looks better somehow :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#37
qwerty_lesh
pantherx12Thanks! :laugh: funnily enough yours looks better somehow :laugh:
ECS could learn a thing or two from unholythree :roll:
Posted on Reply
#38
jalex3
20mmraincough "rip off" cough
And this is why I like cars, You hardly ever see people complaining they ripped each other off.
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