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Top ECS Black Extreme Z77 Motherboards Detailed

btarunr

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ECS had its top LGA1155 motherboard based on Intel Z77 chipset, the Z77H2-AX ready as early as in January, at CES. We're now getting to see it in its final form, complete with its wireless LAN connection that was absent on the CES exhibit. Apart from that, ECS also unveiled its next-best Z77 motherboard, the Z77H2-A2X. Both models feature wireless LAN, only implemented slightly differently. While most other motherboards are using PCIe-based Wireless LAN devices, the one on these boards appear to be USB based. One can notice a Bluetooth dongle sticking out from the rear-panel (towards the top), and a wire from the back of another port cluster. This wire is serving as an antenna.

The Z77H2-AX is designed for 3-way SLI/Crossfire setups. It uses a PLX PEX8747 bridge chip, which takes in the PCI-Express 3.0 x16 link from the processor, and gives out two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 links. The second x16 link is split into two x8 links, in case the third PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot is populated. Other notable features include mSATA slot, four internal SATA 6 Gb/s, two internal SATA 3 Gb/s, and two eSATA 6 Gb/s. The board also features Lucid VirtuMVP technology, which balances graphics processing loads between all available graphics hardware.



The Z77H2-A2X is a lite version of the Z77H2-AX, it lacks fancy PCIe switching circuitry, and features just two PCI-Express 3.0 x16, which configure themselves to x8/x8, if the second x16 slot is populated. This board features mSATA, too. Other SATA connectivity includes four SATA 6 Gb/s, two SATA 3 Gb/s, and one eSATA 3 Gb/s. Both models feature LGA1155 sockets with 15 μm gold-plated contacts, and ECS Qooltech IV VRM heatsinks.

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i like this, looks pretty tough
but why just 6 sata? not 8
 
Boards seem good on features! mSATA slot is a valid choice in Z77 (for caching)..
I guess this along with e-SATA is the reason for the presence of just 6 internal SATA ports.

But why legacy PCI slots(2 of them) on extreme branded boards? thats debatable..
Also, topmost PCI-E x1 slot may cause the add-on card to interfere with heatsink on the Z77H2-AX.
 
Boards seem good on features! mSATA slot is a valid choice in Z77 (for caching)..

they should include Msata as standard on all current boards. It would be a great idea, I know Gigabyte has been the only one to implement and now ECS has it!
 
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