MSI Readies Big Bang XPower X58 Motherboard

[btarunr]

MSI seems to be almost ready with a new high-end motherboard for the socket LGA-1366 Intel Core i7 platform. The new MSI Big Bang XPower motherboard is based on the usual Intel X58 Express + ICH10R chipset, and offers six PCI-Express x16 slots, which which it can support CrossFireX, SLI, and still have room for dedicated PhysX accelerators or other PCI-E devices. The XPower also features support for SATA 6 Gb/s and USB 3.0 using additional controllers.

The CPU is powered by a 16-phase DrMOS PWM, which draws power from two 8-pin power connectors. It makes use of High-C capacitors for higher durability. An additional 6-pin PCI-Express power input adds electrical stability to the PCI-Express x16 slots. The socket is wired to six DDR3 DIMM slots for triple-channel memory support, which are powered by a 3-phase VRM.



Audio is spun off to a "Quantum Wave Audio Card", which sits on the lone PCI-Express x1 slot, gives out 7.1 ch audio, and supports THX TruStudio PC Suite and EAX 5.0 HD. There are two gigabit Ethernet interfaces, two USB 3.0 and a number of USB 2.0 ports, and FireWire, along with two power eSATA ports. The ICH10R gives out six internal SATA 3 Gb/s ports, while an additional controller gives out two SATA 6 Gb/s ones. The XPower supports MSI's OC Genie and Easy Switch overclocking features. As mentioned earlier, the board is just almost ready, it doesn't seem to have been pictured with its final chipset-VRM cooling. MSI expects it to be released by March. The way its product roadmap is designed also gives us the indication that there could be something even better than this in the works by MSI.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Duffman]

Sharp looking board. That's a whole lot o PCIE

 

[roast]

The stock cooling solution is a big fail...

 

[DrPepper]

The stock cooling solution is a big fail...

There's no need since the memory controller is on the cpu. It doesn't get that hot. That said I never noticed there was no VRM cooling. Either it's not needed or they're going to add it to the production version.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Eh, read the text, it says that the board will have a heat pipe cooler...
If you're regular readers here you lot ought to know that early board never have the final cooling solution. In this case they obviously just wanted to get a picture out of the board to show the general layout.

 

[Morgoth]

i have a bad expierance with msi mainboards
2 of them died in a row :/ , but it looks nice

 

[douglatins]

There's no need since the memory controller is on the cpu. It doesn't get that hot. That said I never noticed there was no VRM cooling. Either it's not needed or they're going to add it to the production version.

When did that happen? EVGA classified x58 have some big ass heatsinks and still gets very hot, so are these new revision. Those hsf are definitely to skinny.

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

That is definitely sharp looking.

 

[DrPepper]

When did that happen? EVGA classified x58 have some big ass heatsinks and still gets very hot, so are these new revision. Those hsf are definitely to skinny.

I wasn't sure I'd seen alot of pictures of mobo's without heatsinks but apparently they add them in the production version like thelostswede says.

 

[jjFarking]

OMG. I hope those DIP switches aren't a sign of things to come..

 

[JrRacinFan]

i have a bad expierance with msi mainboards
2 of them died in a row :/ , but it looks nice

Don't sway potential buyers man. you're making MSI look very very horrible when they are actually mediocre and decent.

When doing an RMA one wouldn't need an invoice since they go by manufacturing date and serial number of the board to process. They really aren't all that bad.


Regarding the board itself, it just sounds like a power hog with all those needed connections to the psu.

 

[roast]

There's no need since the memory controller is on the cpu. It doesn't get that hot. That said I never noticed there was no VRM cooling. Either it's not needed or they're going to add it to the production version.

There will be VRM cooling, I'm positive of that. I can imagine with a heavy OC and plenty PCI devices, the chipset would get pretty hot...

Eh, read the text, it says that the board will have a heat pipe cooler...
If you're regular readers here you lot ought to know that early board never have the final cooling solution. In this case they obviously just wanted to get a picture out of the board to show the general layout.

Im aware of the fact it will need a VRM cooler, but what about the chipset itself?? I dont see any heatpipes...

 

[Easy Rhino]

is big bang the sound it makes after you try and overclock it?

 

[PP Mguire]

The damn chipset cooler will be added later. This isnt a final production shot.

What i dont get is where the hell is the board everybody and their cousin is waiting for. Nobody wants this crap.

 

[btarunr]

The stock cooling solution is a big fail...

Please read the article.

 

[DrPepper]

There will be VRM cooling, I'm positive of that. I can imagine with a heavy OC and plenty PCI devices, the chipset would get pretty hot...



Im aware of the fact it will need a VRM cooler, but what about the chipset itself?? I dont see any heatpipes...

X58 chipset isn't hot at all. My chipset cooler is absolutely tiny compare to that one.

 

[erocker]

Don't sway potential buyers man. you're making MSI look very very horrible when they are actually mediocre and decent.

I disagree with that statement. They are pretty horrible. I wouldn't sway any potential buyers to actually purchase a MSI product.

 

[Yellow&Nerdy?]

Everybody, please don't freak out about the heatsinks. They aren't so dumb, that they don't put proper VRM and chipset heatsinks on such an "ultra high-end" mobo. And this is probably the prototype.

Looks quite nice. But probably will cost quite a lot. So maybe P55 would be better

 

[WarEagleAU]

Looks to be a bad ass board, I am liking what is coming out of the MSI camp these days.

 

[PP Mguire]

I disagree with that statement. They are pretty horrible. I wouldn't sway any potential buyers to actually purchase a MSI product.

Maybe the ones you have used but i have used most of their high end boards and they are hands down pretty badass boards.

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

Don't sway potential buyers man. you're making MSI look very very horrible when they are actually mediocre and decent.

When doing an RMA one wouldn't need an invoice since they go by manufacturing date and serial number of the board to process. They really aren't all that bad.


Regarding the board itself, it just sounds like a power hog with all those needed connections to the psu.

Msi is beign an ass on my rma, ill send you a link

 

[erocker]

Maybe the ones you have used but i have used most of their high end boards and they are hands down pretty badass boards.

I was speaking high end. Granted about 1 year out. Two friends of mine and myself have had to deal with MSI incompetency. I'm sure there are those at the opposite spectrum of me. All I got was bad bios', bad support and bad customer service. It all just left a bad taste in my mouth. I truly understand how many others can have the opposite experience. I don't claim to speak for everyone. I hope they have gotten better.

 

[Hunt3r]

This is good for those who have sponsorship from MSI now who have to buy in the shops it will be just a dream..heheh

 

[Lovers Night]

My first MSi mobo was the 790FX-GD70, and it was a solid motherboard. I think MSi is really trying to climb the ranks with this new line of motherboards, and their Lightning Series GPUs are undeniably nice.

 

[PP Mguire]

I was speaking high end. Granted about 1 year out. Two friends of mine and myself have had to deal with MSI incompetency. I'm sure there are those at the opposite spectrum of me. All I got was bad bios', bad support and bad customer service. It all just left a bad taste in my mouth. I truly understand how many others can have the opposite experience. I don't claim to speak for everyone. I hope they have gotten better.

When was this? Like what gen of mobos and platform? Cause ive dealt with many P55 boards, an X58 board, and the GD70.