MSI is working on its first Big Bang series motherboard based on the Intel Z77 Express chipset, supporting Core "Ivy Bridge" and "Sandy Bridge" processors in the LGA1155 package, which is called Big Bang ZPower (we could be wrong with the name), carrying an MSI internal model number MS-7751 v 3.0. The model number seems to suggest that the PCB design is similar to that of the Z77A-GD65. For now we only have two cutout teaser pictures with us.

The pictures reveal the ZPower to be a bustling metropolis with a swanky heatsink design that keeps up with the theme of MSI's Lightning series graphics cards. The motherboard will be designed for 3-way multi-GPU setups, although a PLX-made bridge chip won't be used. Instead it will use Pericom PCIe lane switches to split the x16 link from the processor into x8/x8/NC or x8/x4/x4. The focus of this board will be towards overclocking, a lot of overclocker-friendly features, options (in the UEFI BIOS setup program), and a strong VRM will be added to the mix. MSI is likely to exhibit the new motherboard at the upcoming Computex event.

Pericom Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: PSEM), a leading supplier of high-speed connectivity, signal-conditioning and timing solutions, today announces the launch and volume production ramp up of its USB 3.0 ReDriver Signal Conditioning product family. The product family is being designed into platforms offering the new USB 3.0 serial protocol, and enables these high speed channels to operate over longer distances and still meet the signal specifications.

In related news, the 'Pericom Add-On Card 7741' has passed all USB-IF workshop compliance tests and has been awarded official SuperSpeed USB certification. Pericom's latest generation PI3EQX7741 USB 3.0 ReDriver signal conditioning IC was mounted on the add-on card and directly in the signal path for all USB 3.0 tests.