We really had a hard time forming any opinion about the ASUS M5A97 EVO, until we considered the price. Our testing showed low numbers when compared with other recent products, but this was largely influenced by the CPU used, a rather old 45nm chip, while the others are 32nm. We do see a lot of potential in the M5A97 EVO; the BIOS, software, and VRM are all very robust, but at the same time, we do know that ASUS has spent a lot of time focusing on these critical areas. The only real issue we ran across was the problems with software installation, which is easily remedied, and the lack of accessories in the box, again, expected for products within this price range. Seeing the ASUS M5A97 EVO supply 275 watts of power was a definite treat for overclocking, leaving superb headroom for those that want more than what stock offers. Points were lost due to the problems we encountered, the lack a front panel USB 3.0 header, and for the poor USB 3.0 performance, but we could not find anything else wrong with the ASUS M5A97 EVO. ASUS has done a fantastic job on this product and in this price range, which we are sure will become more obvious once we add more AMD results to our performance compares. Good job ASUS, another stellar product; it did take a few lumps, but quickly brushed them off, and kept on fighting.
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