Long time Fatal1ty brand partner OCZ Technology showed off its latest range of DDR3 DIMM modules carrying the Fatal1ty Profess1onal badge. The module uses OCZ's Blade 2 series heatsink, which makes it slightly taller than conventional modules, and helps keep the module cool at high voltages. It is expected to be available in DDR3-1600 speeds, and optimized for Intel Sandy Bridge processors. Here, it's pictured on ASRock's P67 Fatal1ty motherboard.

EVGA officially announced its first socket LGA1155 motherboard, the EVGA P67 SLI. The motherboard is tailored for performance segment gaming PCs with discrete graphics, running Intel Core i5 and Core i7 "Sandy Bridge" processors. It is priced at US $199.99. The CPU is powered by an 8-phase VRM. It is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting up to 16 GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory. Expansion slots include two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x8/x8 when both are populated), one PCI-E x16 (electrical x4), and three PCI-E x1. NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX are supported.

Storage connectivity includes four internal SATA 3 Gb/s, two internal SATA 6 Gb/s, and one eSATA 3 Gb/s. Other features include 8+2 channel HD audio, two USB 3.0 ports, two gigabit Ethernet connections, Firewire, and a number of USB 2.0 ports. EVGA-exclusive features for overclockers include power/reset buttons on board, diagnostic display, redundant BIOS, EVBot support, and rear panel CMOS control. The company also announced that its high-end LGA1155 motherboard, the EVGA P67 Classified, will be released a little later.

Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced its 8GB 2133MHz HyperX memory kits have achieved Intel XMP certification for the P67 Sandy Bridge platform. The HyperX T1 kits of four (Kingston part #: KHX2133C9AD3T1FK4/8GX) are the world's first 8GB memory kits to be validated. Intel has posted the XMP certification results here.

"The new 8GB HyperX memory kits were designed to push the memory boundaries of the new P67 motherboards in both speed and capacity," said Mark Tekunoff, senior technology manager, Kingston. "Our 2133MHz T1 modules featuring the signature tall heatspreaders passed the rigorous testing requirements both in-house and at Intel to achieve XMP certification. This is the perfect kit for enthusiasts who want to maximize performance from the new Sandy Bridge platform."

Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the release of HyperX Genesis Special Edition Grey. The high-performance dual-channel memory kits are engineered to complement the new motherboards featuring the Intel P67 Sandy Bridge platform as well as existing P55-based systems.

"The modern design and look accentuates the new black and grey P67 motherboards just reaching the market," said Mark Tekunoff, senior technology manager, Kingston. "With performance memory frequency initially at 2133 MHz and 1600 MHz, these new additions to the family of HyperX products meet the demands of everyone from the enthusiast vying for the fastest benchmark score to the weekend gamer."

OEM major Foxconn's very own channel brand is ready with its first high-end socket LGA1155 motherboard based on the Intel P67 Express chipset, supporting upcoming "Sandy Bridge" processors. The motherboard falls into Foxconn Channel's gamer and overclocker oriented Quantum Force brand. The Quantum Force P67 from Foxconn uses bleeding-edge components such as digital PWM offering precise voltage control for the processor, multi-phase VRM for the four DDR3 memory slots, and is rich in connectivity options.

The LGA1155 socket is powered by a 14-phase digital PWM circuit using independent single-phase PWM inductors made by CPL, and memory using a 2-phase VRM. Expansion slots include two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x8/x8 with both populated), three PCI-E x1, and one PCI. Both ATI CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI are sure to be supported. Storage connectivity includes two internal SATA 6 Gb/s, four internal SATA 3 Gb/s, two eSATA 3 Gb/s, and one ATA connector supporting up to two IDE devices.

Intel's next-generation 2011 Core Processor Family "Sandy Bridge" isn't very far from launch. Among several interesting architectural features surfacing about the new generation of processors, fresh reports suggest that the dual-channel DDR3 memory controller supports twice the amount of memory as the previous generation. A user has been able to populate each of the four DDR3 DIMM slots on a MSI P67A-GD65 motherboard with high-density 8 GB modules to achieve 32 GB of total memory. The memory controller is able to detect the memory amount and run it properly on a Windows 64-bit variant that supports over 16 GB of memory (Professional/Server series/Ultimate). If the trend keeps up, future LGA2011 processors with their massive quad-channel DDR3 memory controllers will give consumers access to 64 GB of memory, capacities that are the luxury of only high-end servers.

EVGA unveiled its next enthusiast-grade motherboard, the P67 Classified. The board is designed for upcoming "Sandy Bridge" processors from Intel in the LGA1155 package, and uses the Intel P67 Express chipset. EVGA's main design goes seem to be: 1. giving the processor a strong VRM that helps with overclocking; and 2. to expand the board's PCI-Express resources using an nForce 200 bridge chip. The CPU is powered by a 12-phase VRM that draws power from two 8-pin EPS connectors. Knowing EVGA, the CPU socket is of premium-grade, with higher gold content on the pins. The four DDR3 DIMM slots are powered by a 3-phase VRM. The main ATX power connector is angled for better aesthetics.

Expansion slots include six PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x16/x8;x1;x16/x8;x8;x16/x8;x8), making the board capable for 4-way SLI. A single PCI-E x1 is tucked away on top. Connectivity includes two internal SATA 6 Gb/s, four internal SATA 3 Gb/s, two front-panel and two rear-panel USB 3.0, 8-channel HD audio, two gigabit Ethernet controllers, FireWire, and eSATA. The board supports a plethora of overclocker-friendly technologies, including EVGA's EV-Bot module. One can expect more information once Intel's upcoming processors are out.

ASUS unveiled its new workstation-grade socket LGA1155 motherboard that supports 2011-series Core i3/5/i7 processors, as well as, upcoming Xeon LGA1155 processors, the P8P67 WS Revolution. It is packed to the brim with features. To begin with, the CPU is powered by a 16+2 phase digital VRM, the socket is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots for dual-channel memory, supporting speeds of over DDR3-2200 MHz. There are four PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots, supporting 3-way SLI/CrossFireX, probably using a bridge chip such as the NVIDIA nForce 200, and three PCI-E x1.

Storage features include four SATA 6 Gb/s ports, and four SATA 3 Gb/s. Connectivity features include two Intel GbE controllers, 8+2 channel HD audio, two USB 3.0 ports, and a number of USB 2.0 ports. Other features include a system diagnostics card, EPU energy-efficiency processor, TurboV Processing Unit (TPU), and Quick Gate instant-on OS. ASUS will announce pricing when it most probably releases this board in January.

Leading professional gamer Fatal1ty has branded all kinds of PC hardware, including peripherals, headsets, sound cards, graphics cards, and even motherboards made by erstwhile Abit. Motherboards with the Fatal1ty branding are making a comeback, this time under the charge of ASUS. It is reported that a new manufacturer is designing some socket LGA1155 motherboards based on the Intel P67 chipset using the Fatal1ty branding. The company will show off its latest motherboards at CES 2011, which will also be the time when Intel unveils its 2011 Core processor family. Socket LGA1155 processors, coupled with Intel P67 platform is the key segment that targets gamers.

UPDATE: The board in question is made by ASRock, it's called Fatal1ty P67. It features a high-end VRM, 3-way NVIDIA SLI/CrossFire capability, a high-grade 16-phase digital CPU VRM, a unique USB port that automatically steps up polling rate of gaming mice, THX audio, four SATA 6 Gb/s, and two USB 3.0 ports. Fatal1ty detailed the board himself, in the TweakTown article linked below.

ASRock unveiled its socket LGA1155 motherboard lineup in grand style, showing off eight models, including four value-thru-enthusiast grade motherboards based on the Intel P67 chipset, and four essential-thru-mainstream motherboards based on the Intel H67 chipset. The series is topped by the P67 Extreme6, which packs no less than six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, four external and two internal USB 3.0 ports, three PCI-Express x16 slots, 18-phase CPU VRM making use of high-grade capacitors, and a huge set of connectivity features. Next up is the P67 Extreme4, which is a notch lower than the Extreme6, but it still gives you four SATA 6 Gb/s and four USB 3.0 ports (two external, two internal via header), the same expansion slot layout as the Extreme6, and a slightly slimmer connectivity feature set.

The two Extreme boards are trailed by mid-range ones, starting with the P67 Pro3. The P67 Pro3 has a simple layout and offers not much more than the chipset's feature-set. There are two SATA 6 Gb/s and two USB 3.0 (rear) ports, expansion slots that include just one PCI-Express 2.0 x16, three PCI-E x1, and three PCI. The CPU is powered by an impressive (for this category) 10-phase VRM. Further down the line is the P67 Pro, which is further slimmed down. It does away with USB 3.0 but retains SATA 6 Gb/s. A simpler 4+1 phase CPU VRM is used. Most other features are the same as the Pro3.

MSI seems to be ready with its first wave of motherboards for socket LGA1155 processors, based on the Sandy Bridge architecture. At this point the lineup is quite simply three models - P67A-GD65, the performance segment offering, the P67A-GD55, upper mid-range, and H67MA-ED55, a micro-ATX board ready for integrated graphics. All three motherboards seem to carry high-grade components such as solid chokes (that don't whine), high-C capacitors, and offer a level of overclocking headroom enhanced by OC Genie II.

The P67A-GD65 features two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x8/x8 when both are populated), three PCI-E x1, and two PCI slots. Connectivity includes six SATA 3 Gb/s ports from the P67 PCH (of which four are internal, two eSATA), two SATA 6 Gb/s ports provided by a Marvell-made controller, and two additional SATA 3 Gb/s ports by a third-party controller; two USB 3.0 ports, 8-channel HD audio, FireWire, and gigabit Ethernet. There are several overclocker-friendly features such as consolidated voltage measure points with proper sockets to hold multimeter leads, OC Genie controls, and a heat pipe distributing heat evenly between the VRM heatsinks.

Gigabyte has been one of the first motherboard manufacturers to show off its LGA1155 motherboard way back in June, even as some of its prime competitors are keeping their products embargoed. The company just let out pictures of its entire 12-strong LGA1155 product lineup with box-art, that targets almost every price point with its discrete graphics requiring P67A lineup, and integrated graphics ready H67A lineup. All it did to make sure it didn't step on Intel's toes is blur out the new Intel logos.

The top-tier P67A-UD7 and P67A-UD5 have been discussed in some detail, in an older article. So were the P67A-UD3R, P67A-UD3, and H67MA-UD2H, in this article. What are new to us, are a number of space-filling models, that fill any gaps in price-points between earlier known models. These include: P67A-UD4, P67A-UD3P, H67A-UD3H, H67MA-D2H, and H67M-D2.

ASUS showed off its high-end socket LGA1155 motherboard lineup in London, including from its two top brands, ROG and Sabertooth TUF. The ROG Maximus IV Extreme, TUF Sabertooth P67, P8P67 Deluxe and P8P67 were on display. All four models are based on the Intel P67 Express chipset, designed to support upcoming Sandy Bridge architecture derived LGA1155 processors, or the 2011 Core processor family. Leading the pack is the Maximum IV Extreme. This board is literally bursting with features and is geared for extreme overclocking. There are no less than four PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots, possibly driven by a PCI-E bridge chip, which allows 3-way and 4-way SLI/CrossFireX; four each of USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gb/s ports, and ROG-exclusive features such as ROG Connect, and redundant BIOS.

Next in line is the TUF Sabertooth P67. Keeping in tune with the TUF series' main feature of providing very high durability, the Sabertooth P67 uses ceramic heatsinks and high-grade components. For the first time, we're getting to see a protective scaffolding covering most of the board's area on its obverse side (we've seen it on the reverse side on older models). ASUS is calling it "tactical vest". This board only supports two PCI-E x16 devices, 2-way SLI/CrossFireX.

Biostar is ready with its pair of mid-range motherboards for the upcoming LGA1155 Sandy Bridge processor platform, based on the Intel P67/H67 Express chipsets. The two were earlier pictured in their pre-release forms at this year's Computex event. Both models fall into the company's mid-range TSeries family. The TSeries TP67XE is the larger (ATX) model that builds slightly over the chipset's feature set, it is outfitted with USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gb/s (2 ports each). The rather high-end looking CPU VRM uses a total of 9 phases, power is drawn from two 8-pin ATX EPS connectors (probably connecting both connectors is optional, and only to enhance overclocking). Expansion slots include two each of PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x8/x8, when both are populated), PCI-Express x1, and PCI. Connectivity includes 8-channel HD audio, gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, FireWire, eSATA 3 Gb/s, and a number of USB 2.0 ports.

The second smaller (micro-ATX) board, the TSeries TH67XE, is based on the H67 chipset, and supports FDI that lets you use the integrated graphics processor on some processors. It uses a simpler 6+1 phase VRM, and goes slightly easy on the overclocking-capability department, but does retain USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gb/s. Expansion slots include one PCI-Express 2.0 x16, one PCI-Express x16 (electrical x4), a PCI-Express x1, and a PCI. One out of six of the SATA 3 Gb/s channels from the PCH are assigned as an eSATA port. Other connectivity features include 8-channel HD audio, FireWire, gigabit Ethernet. Display connectivity includes DVI and D-Sub. Both boards will be out by the year's end, when Intel releases its new processor platform.

ECS is designing an upper-mid range socket LGA1155 motherboard based on the Intel P67 Express chipset, ready with upcoming Sandy Bridge processors, called the P67H2-A. A pre-release version was shown to the press. The highlight here is ECS' use of the LucidLogix Hydra Engine chip that lets the motherboard mix and match graphics cards of different makes and types. The CPU is powered by a 14-phase VRM, it is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots for dual-channel memory, speeds of up to 2600 MHz are supported by overclocking. Expansion slots include three PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (likely x16, x16, NC / x16, x8, x8, thanks to the Hydra chip), and two each of PCI-E x1 and PCI. Four out of six of the SATA 3 Gb/s ports from the P67 PCH are assigned as internal ports (color-coded orange), two SATA 6 Gb/s controllers give out two ports internal (color-coded red). Connectivity includes 8-channel HD audio, dual gigabit Ethernet, two NEC USB 3.0 controllers that give out two ports on the rear panel and two for the front-panel via header, eSATA 6 Gb/s, and a number of USB 2.0 ports. The final version may look slightly different, of course those jumper wires won't be there.

Here's something you'll need to see to believe: Gigabyte made its first motherboards with black-colored PCBs, breaking away from its blue PCB mold! The company's high-end LGA1155 motherboard lineup includes two models: the GA-P67A-UD5 and the GA-P67A-UD7. Apart from the black-colored PCB, the color scheme also includes graphite-colored heatsinks with a dash of blue (UD5) or with a dash of gold (UD7), black-colored memory and expansion slots, mostly black internal ports and headers. The GA-P67-UD7 uses a 24-phase VRM to power the LGA1155 processor. Its expansion slots include four PCI-E 2.0 x16, there seems to be a PCI-E bridge chip (likely nForce 200 or something from PLX), which lets it run in 2-slot x16, or 4-slot x8 modes. There are two PCI and a PCI-E x1. Connectivity on this includes six SATA 3 Gb/s, two SATA 6 Gb/s internal ports, two gigabit Ethernet, 8-channel HD audio, four USB 3.0 ports, FireWire, and eSATA.

The GA-P67A-UD5 has a 20-phase VRM, a slightly lighter expansion area with three PCI-Express x16 slots (likely x16, NC/x8, x8), the third slot could be electrical x4. Connectivity on this one includes two SATA 6 Gb/s, four SATA 3 Gb/s, two eSATA, 8-channel HD audio, gigabit Ethernet, two USB 3.0 ports, and FireWire. Both motherboards feature Ultra Durable 3 construction. The two could be part of the company's first wave of LGA1155 motherboards.

If you recall, at this year's Computex event held in Taipei, almost every motherboard vendor scuffled to show of their first motherboards based on the Intel P67 and H67 chipsets, that support new socket LGA1155 socket processors based on the next-generation Sandy Bridge architecture. The Intel Developer Forum (IDF) 2010 event is presenting many of them a second chance, and we're beginning to see some new designs that didn't make it to Computex. Intel's own Desktop Board division came up with a new Extreme Series motherboard, the DP67BG "Burrage". As with every other Intel Desktop Board, this one looks clean, and well spaced-out. While there's nothing fancy about the heatsinks, the glowing skull is there, and this time it's positioned properly.

The processor is powered by a 4+2 phase PWM circuit, it's wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots for dual-channel memory support. Among few of its kind, the Burrage makes room of all seven expansion slots in the ATX specification. There are two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (x8, x8 when both are populated), three PCI-E x1, and two PCI. Apart from six SATA 3 Gb/s ports from the P67 PCH, there's an additional Marvell-made SATA controller that drives an eSATA port. Connectivity includes 8-channel HD audio, gigabit Ethernet, a number of USB 2.0 ports, FireWire, and eSATA. After being neophobic toward USB 3.0, Intel has finally embraced it on its Desktop Board brand, an NEC/Renesas controller gives out two ports on the rear-panel. This feature-set should put rest to rumors of Intel embedding USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gb/s into its chipset. The DP67BG from Intel should be out when the first-wave of LGA1155 processors make it to the market.

Having turned its most profitable quarter, Intel is banking on its vast lineup of the 2010 Core processors, which will be updated towards the end of the year. By 2011, Intel will have a new series of second generation Core i7, Core i5, and Core i3 processors, based on a brand new architecture, and built for new sockets and chipsets. A roadmap of the same reached sections of the European media, which shows the company to be almost ready with a full-fledged lineup of desktop processors covering most price-points, by 2011.

The new architecture on which these processors are based is referred to by Intel as "Sandy Bridge", key features of which include the inclusion of the new Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX), a more advanced instruction set than SSE, to accelerate complex applications. AVX aside, there's Turbo Boost technology 2.0 that comes with even smarter algorithms to automatically manage clock speeds of individual processor cores to maximize performance within the processor's TDP envelope, AES-NI, which is a more manageable hardware data encryption instruction set, and processors with integrated graphics (IGP) controllers will have even faster ones, because Intel will be relocating the IGP and memory controller to the same die as the processor cores, this IGP is referred to as Intel "GT2" graphics.

As motherboard manufacturers frantically came up with socket LGA-1155 motherboards to display, most ended up showing their upper-range (performance and enthusiast segments) products, barring ASUS which seems to be ready with a cost-effective ATX board based on the Intel P67 chipset called P8P67D, and micro-ATX based board based on the Intel H67 chipset, called P8H67D-M. The P8P67D uses a simple 4+2 phase CPU VRM that's controlled by the ASUS EPU chip, has expansion slots that include one PCI-Express 2.0 x16, four PCI-E x1, and two PCI. The TPU unit makes overclocking easier. Connectivity includes 8-channel audio, gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, SATA 6 Gb/s, IDE, and eSATA.

The P8H67D-M is based on the H67 chipset that features the Intel Flexible Display Interface (FDI), and connects the processor's on-die graphics controller to display connectivity which includes DVI and D-Sub. Expansion slots given are one each of PCI-Express 2.0 x16, PCI-E x1, and two PCI. The board makes do with six SATA 3 Gb/s ports, IDE, its connectivity features include 8-channel audio, gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0 and eSATA. One can expect these boards to be out in 2011.

ECS showed off a trio of socket LGA-1155 Black Series motherboards based on the Intel P67 chipset, designed for next-generation Sandy Bridge processors. It consisted of the high-end P67H2-A, upper-mid range P67H2-A2, and mid-range micro-ATX P67H2-M. The P67H2-A packs most high-end features, making use of an nForce 200 bridge chip, to give out three PCI-Express x16 slots (x16, x16, NC or x16, x8, x8), supporting 3-way SLI and CrossFireX, USB 3.0, SATA 6 Gb/s, and certain overclocker-friendly features. Expansion slots include 3x PCI-E x16, 2x PCI-E x1, and 2x PCI. Connectivity includes dual Gigabit Ethernet.

The P67H2-A2, while lighter on features, is equally overclocker-friendly, in fact more. A rotary-knob on the board has 9 digits, each digit stepping the BClk by 5%, giving the knob the ability to overclock the processor by 45% on the fly. Expansion slots include 2x PCI-E x16 (x16, NC or x8, x8), PCI-E x1, and 2x PCI. There are two SATA 6 Gb/s controllers for 4 internal ports, 4 SATA 3 Gb/s, dual gigabit Ethernet, 8-channel audio, and USB 3.0. The P67H2-M is the simplest of them all. The micro-ATX motherboard features PCI-E x16, 2x PCI-E x1, and PCI; 2x SATA 6 Gb/s, 3x SATA 3 Gb/s, 2x eSATA 3 Gb/s; 8-channel audio, dual Gigabit Ethernet, and USB 3.0. As with every other LGA-1155 motherboard, these can be expected only in 2011.

Gigabyte is next in line to exhibit its product readiness for Intel's next-generation "Sandy Bridge" socket LGA-1155 processors that release next year, with the company showing off its high-end GA-P67A-UD7 motherboard. Resembling the GA-P55A-UD7 in many aspects, this board features a 24-phase VRM. Apart from the Intel P67 PCH, an NVIDIA nForce 200 bridge chip multiplies the processor's 16 PCI-E 2.0 lanes intro 32 PCI-E 2.0 lanes, which split up between four PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots, depending on how they are populated. The monolithic VRM+chipset cooler has a water-block for better cooling. Other expansion slots include one PCI-E x1, and two PCI. The usual plethora of connectivity features, such as dual Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, SATA 6 Gb/s, eSATA, and 7.1 channel HD audio, are also present. Expect this board to be out in 2011.