ECS Golden Board Z77H2-AX LGA 1155 Preview

[cadaveca]

What you've labelled as the ASM1081 USB 3.0 controller is an ASM1061 SATA 6Gbps controller...

Hrm. Could be. Which would power the eSATA ports. Odd that two SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports are missing from chipset, although one is likely matched with mSATA port.

 

[15th Warlock]

Thanks for the preview! That board sure packs a ton of bling! The thing that caught my attention though was the use of a PLX chip, making this an ideal choice for triple card configurations on Z77.

I have two questions, maybe you can help me with:

First, I didn't see a 3 way SLI bridge included in the board like other manufacturers included in previous models that support this feature, but I noticed three single SLI bridges, can you daisy chain those for multiple cards?

Second, how would you compare the quality of this board to the likes of Asus ROG line from both a hardware as well as software (UEFI BIOS) point of view?

Once again, thank you for your preview.

you said testes

Freudian slip?

 

[Steven B]

Is it me or is their back panel different than yours: http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Pr...&DetailName=Feature&MenuID=103&LanID=9#Socket 1155
In the manual it says there is only 1 eSATa ont eh backpanel, but I see two in your pics?

The way I now see is is that the mSATA port is also PCi-E so it uses a PCI-E lane from PCH and no the SATA port disabling thing. That way there is an even number of SATA ports, 2 in the rear are Intel Z77 PCH's SATA revision 2, and 2 in side are the same but not eSATA, 2 more are ASMedia SATA revision 3, and then 2 from PCh are SATA revision 2. mSATA is not connected to SATA subsystem and thus is also for mPCIE as well.

BTW I like your review!

 

[cadaveca]

Is it me or is their back panel different than yours: http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Pr...&DetailName=Feature&MenuID=103&LanID=9#Socket 1155
In the manual it says there is only 1 eSATa ont eh backpanel, but I see two in your pics?

The way I now see is is that the mSATA port is also PCi-E so it uses a PCI-E lane from PCH and no the SATA port disabling thing. That way there is an even number of SATA ports, 2 in the rear are Intel Z77 PCH's SATA revision 2, and 2 in side are the same but not eSATA, 2 more are ASMedia SATA revision 3, and then 2 from PCh are SATA revision 2. mSATA is not connected to SATA subsystem and thus is also for mPCIE as well.

BTW I like your review!

That board in your link is a different product. There are two "Golden Board" products...one with the PLX PEX8747, and one without. Mine has the PLX chip.

 

[cadaveca]

First, I didn't see a 3 way SLI bridge included in the board like other manufacturers included in previous models that support this feature, but I noticed three single SLI bridges, can you daisy chain those for multiple cards?

Second, how would you compare the quality of this board to the likes of Asus ROG line from both a hardware as well as software (UEFI BIOS) point of view?

I do believe you can just use the flexible bridges in the absence of PCB-based tri-SLI bridge. I don't run nvidia cards though, so I am not sure about that one, but it would expalin why they included so many.


As to the quality bit...physically, this board is pretty impressive. I wanted very specific features from Z77, and this board very much fits the bill for what I want for my personal rig. I haven't spent too much time in the BIOS yet, and haven't installed anything off of the budled disc yet, but you can be sure that those things, plus performance, will be covered in the full review in about a month from now. You'll probably see a whole lot more of this board too, because as it stands, it's going to get a lot of use as my daily driver.

 

[15th Warlock]

I do believe you can just use the flexible bridges in the absence of PCB-based tri-SLI bridge. I don't run nvidia cards though, so I am not sure about that one, but it would expalin why they included so many.


As to the quality bit...physically, this board is pretty impressive. I wanted very specific features from Z77, and this board very much fits the bill for what I want for my personal rig. I haven't spent too much time in the BIOS yet, and haven't installed anything off of the budled disc yet, but you can be sure that those things, plus performance, will be covered in the full review in about a month from now. You'll probably see a whole lot more of this board too, because as it stands, it's going to get a lot of use as my daily driver.

You are very lucky to have that board as it seems like it's gonna be a very exclusive item! It's amazing how far ECS has come in terms of quality! Good luck with your new board and please share your thoughts once IB is available

Thanks for your reply

 

[NHKS]

ECS Fine Tuned Golden Board @ youtube (click)

 

[Steven B]

ahh okay so yours is the AX not the A2X my bad.

 

[South_DL]

What an ugly mobo, ECS on this leagues???, what else?

 

[TheLostSwede]

Hrm. Could be. Which would power the eSATA ports. Odd that two SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports are missing from chipset, although one is likely matched with mSATA port.

I think you'll find that two of the Intel SATA 3Gbps are for eSATA/mSATA and the two ports from the ASM1061 are for two additional internal SATA 6Gbps ports, not an unusual arrangement.

 

[cadaveca]

I think you'll find that two of the Intel SATA 3Gbps are for eSATA/mSATA and the two ports from the ASM1061 are for two additional internal SATA 6Gbps ports, not an unusual arrangement.

No, it's not, however, the ASM1061 for the additional internal SATA 6Gb/s ports is under the PCH cooler, and was not pictured in my preview. THe one pictured in the preview is just below the rear I/O, near the board's left edge.

It actually seems there are two ASM1061 controllers..the one pictured above, is for the rear I/O eSATA. USB 3.0 on the rear I/O is provided by the Z77 PCH. The mSATA is controlled by Z77 PCH, and the secondary internal SATA 6 Gb/s ports are powered by yet another ASM1061 right near the SATA ports. One of the Z77 SATA ports is unused.




All thanks to a conveniently placed speck of dust. I'll have everything proper on the full review, after IVB launch.

 

[TheLostSwede]

No, it's not, however, the ASM1061 for the additional internal SATA 6Gb/s ports is under the PCH cooler, and was not pictured in my preview. THe one pictured in the preview is just below the rear I/O, near the board's left edge.

It actually seems there are two ASM1061 controllers..the one pictured above, is for the rear I/O eSATA. USB 3.0 on the rear I/O is provided by the Z77 PCH. The mSATA is controlled by Z77 PCH, and the secondary internal SATA 6 Gb/s ports are powered by yet another ASM1061 right near the SATA ports. One of the Z77 SATA ports is unused.




All thanks to a conveniently placed speck of dust. I'll have everything proper on the full review, after IVB launch.

That explains it... oh well, such is life sometimes

 

[m1dg3t]

Nice preview dave, very concise, can we expect a review soon?

 

[TheMailMan78]

Nice preview dave, very concise, can we expect a review soon?

I think......

All thanks to a conveniently placed speck of dust. I'll have everything proper on the full review, after IVB launch.

 

[fullinfusion]

Thanks Dave and Great review

And your 1 0f 200 Hmmm
Addy!!! where you live?

 

[m1dg3t]

I think......

Thanks! Missed that Guess i should have read the entire thread and not just the preview

 

[dj-electric]

I can update that till now i have a very good experience overclocking with that board. ECS has clearly done a good job there.

 

[cadaveca]

I can update that till now i have a very good experience overclocking with that board. ECS has clearly done a good job there.

They really have. ECS has come pretty far in making sure they meet enthusiast needs.

 

[jumex]

Ahh damn...ECS have had to make this sooner to help us with that !

 

[dj-electric]

im about to build a black-gold PC build based on the ECS golden board soon (with water cooling) but im still thinking hard if i should leave my amazing asus motherboard for it.

 

[radrok]

Your board is really good but the colour scheme is meh

 

[EarthDog]

im about to build a black-gold PC build based on the ECS golden board soon (with water cooling) but im still thinking hard if i should leave my amazing asus motherboard for it.

You would be the first I bet!

 

[dj-electric]

Destiny has been sat. Ordered some shiny gold plated and black watercooling stuff from Performance PCS to match the color scheme. Please god forgive me for im about to sin.

 

[cadaveca]

Destiny has been sat. Ordered some shiny gold plated and black watercooling stuff from Performance PCS to match the color scheme. Please god forgive me for im about to sin.

Me too. Yes, It's that good.

 

[cadaveca]

Happy to report the bridge chip works just fine with SNB chips, and allows triple VGAs @ x16/x8/x8.

IT's worth noting that the primary VGA is no longer the top slot in this config, and it switches to the second slot. Also, this is hte slot that retains the x16 PCIe link. PCIe 2.0 devices working just fine! Tri-SLI or TriFire on SandyBridge? You bet.