EVGA X79 Dark Motherboard Launched

[btarunr]

EVGA launched its flagship socket LGA2011 motherboard, the X79 Dark (model: 150-SE-E789-KR). It made its debut at this year's International CES event. Designed for open-air benches, this motherboard requires a case that can seat E-ATX motherboards. It measures 304.8 x 263.5 mm (LxW). It draws power from a combination of a 24-pin ATX input, two 8-pin EPS inputs, and a 6-pin PCIe input, to stabilize bus-supplied power for add-on cards. The X79 Dark from EVGA comes with a plethora of features for CPU and VGA overclockers alike. In addition to onboard controls, EVBot support, consolidated voltage measurement points, EVGA deployed a brand new UEFI setup program interface, which debuted with some of its premium Z87-based motherboards.

EVGA X79 Dark features a 12-layer PCB. It uses a 12+2 phase VRM to power the CPU, a 4-phase VRM for the memory, and features power-gating to individual PCI-Express slots. On the expansion front, you get five PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, from which two are electrical x16-capable, and all five electrical x8-capable, depending on how the slots are populated. Storage connectivity includes six SATA 6 Gb/s internal ports, two of which are from the X79 PCH, four from third-party controllers; four SATA 3 Gb/s ports from the PCH, and two eSATA 3 Gb/s. The rest of its connectivity includes 8-channel HD audio, two gigabit Ethernet interfaces (both driven by Intel-made controllers), six USB 3.0 ports (four on the rear panel, two by header), Bluetooth, and a number of USB 2.0/1.1 ports. EVGA X79 Dark bear a street-price of US $399.99.



Many Thanks to Radrok for the tip

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[MxPhenom 216]

I'm not sure that giant red e is necessary.

 

[radrok]

Been waiting on this board, let's hope reviews come out fast.

It has to be good tho, EVGA has a lot to lose if this board doesn't deliver after the whole X79 lineup fail.

 

[chickenbeef]

Designed for open-air benches, this motherboard requires a case that can seat E-ATX motherboards.

POSCaps around the CPU would have been a good idea if this is meant to be their "overclocking" board.

 

[sc]

Launching this less than a couple of months before IB-E means that will be no new chipset to go along with the new CPUs?

 

[draecko]

Launching this less than a couple of months before IB-E means that will be no new chipset to go along with the new CPUs?

Nope, new one comes with Haswell-E

 

[GreiverBlade]

I'm not sure that giant red e is necessary.

since its a EVGA board their signature has to be somewhere obvious isnt it?

 

[Mindweaver]

I'm not sure that giant red e is necessary.

I don't think it's big enough.. I mean look at it, they couldn't even get the whole "e" on it.. [/sarcasm]

 

[RejZoR]

I want moar high end microATX boards... existing selection is pathetic. Back in days of LGA775 and LGA1366 there were loads of them.

 

[Aquinus]

I want moar high end microATX boards... existing selection is pathetic. Back in days of LGA775 and LGA1366 there were loads of them.

There is little reason to put skt2011 such a small form factor though. You lose the room to use half of the features that skt2011 offers you. Although if I was thinking small form factor, I wouldn't be going with skt2011 to begin with.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Red and black is deffo in at the moment it seems.

 

[ensabrenoir]

This looks like a job for CADAVECA!!!!!

 

[buildzoid]

from the phase setup I can't see this beating the RIVE in overclocking because there is no true 12+2 phase controller so EVGA must be using a doubled 6+1 or 6+2 controller which will give less voltage stability than a true 8+3 which is what the RIVE uses. But it looks a lot better than a RIVE IMO and the PCI-e are better setup for triple slot heat sink cards.

 

[capolavoro]

can't wait for the water block.. hopefully it will be nice xD

 

[RejZoR]

There is little reason to put skt2011 such a small form factor though. You lose the room to use half of the features that skt2011 offers you. Although if I was thinking small form factor, I wouldn't be going with skt2011 to begin with.

And why not? I also stuffed Core i7 920 into tiny case when everyone else were using massive tower cases. Or using some underpowered components.

I took it as a challenge and it turned out really nice. Small cute box which is super silent and still very powerful. I couldn't go smaller because of graphic card, otherwise i'd use the smallest Lian Li case.

 

[Deadlyraver]

Looks so cheap with the giant glossy "E" to be honest.

 

[Nordic]

So shallow getting stuck on a little heatsink that will in the end be hidden inside a computer case, except when you look at it once a month or less.

Even if you have a window, how often do you actually look inside.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

This looks like a job for CADAVECA!!!!!

To bad he doesn't get stuff from EVGA.

 

[radrok]

So shallow getting stuck on a little heatsink that will in the end be hidden inside a computer case, except when you look at it once a month or less.

Even if you have a window, how often do you actually look inside.

Designed for open-air benches

If the motherboard targets an open case environment then it should take a beating if it doesn't deliver aesthetically too

 

[Ciric]

So shallow getting stuck on a little heatsink that will in the end be hidden inside a computer case, except when you look at it once a month or less.

Even if you have a window, how often do you actually look inside.

Quite a lot of people have their case sitting on the desk, showing the inside of the case.

Not that i'm one of those people. Likes my case to be nice looking, but the madness has to stop somewhere

On topic:
It's far to late that EVGA comes up with a decent X79 board :shadedshu

 

[ensabrenoir]

To bad he doesn't get stuff from EVGA.

cruel twist of fate..... anybody know of any other reviewer thats on the level? Or if any Evga reps reading this.... AMEND YOUR WICKED WAYS

 

[AlienIsGOD]

im most interested in the UEFI BIOS. Im looking at the Z87 Stinger for a ITX/HTPC build and if this BIOS can deliver, then im all over that board. Not saying the Z77 Bios is bad, its just too old school looking compared to every other companies UEFI BIOS.

 

[johnnyfiive]

I wish DFI still existed. EVGA has become terrible with motherboards all the sudden...what happened to the EVGA LGA1366 socket eliteness, c'mon!

 

[radrok]

I wish DFI still existed. EVGA has become terrible with motherboards all the sudden...what happened to the EVGA LGA1366 socket eliteness, c'mon!

What they have done with Z77 and X79 is unforgivable but to give a word of relief towards them it must not be easy to find yourself without half of your motherboard team all of a sudden.

If I was EVGA I would just have hold the production until they sorted out their internal issues.

 

[cadaveca]

cruel twist of fate..... anybody know of any other reviewer thats on the level? Or if any Evga reps reading this.... AMEND YOUR WICKED WAYS

EVGA reps have emailed me to arrange reviews and to arrange samples