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ECS X79R-AX Black Series Smiles for the Camera

btarunr

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Last week, ECS showed off its top-of-the-line HEDT (high-end desktop) segment motherboard in the making, the X79R-AX Black Series. This socket LGA2011 motherboard based on the Intel X79 chipset is expected to be launched along with the Core i7 "Sandy Bridge-E" processors. It targets the gamer-overclocker market, providing support for up to four graphics cards in 4-way SLI and CrossFire. The LGA2011 socket is powered by a 14-phase VRM, is is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots on its either sides, supporting up to 32 GB of quad-channel DDR3 memory.

Expansion slots include four PCI-Express 3.0 x16, that can be electrically configured as x16/NC/x16/NC (single card or 2-way), x16/NC/x8/x8 (3-way), and x8/x8/x8/x8 (4-way). Other slots include two PCI-Express x1. Storage connectivity includes 12 internal SATA ports, and two eSATA. The data-rates of the internal ports are not known, but it most likely has two SATA 6 Gb/s and four SATA 3 Gb/s ports wired to the X79 PCH, while the remaining six ports are driven by additional SATA 6 Gb/s 2-port controllers. The eSATA ports run at 6 Gb/s.



The board is using cost-effective TI-made USB 3.0 controllers, there are four USB 3.0 ports on the rear panel, and two via a standard USB 3.0 internal header. The 8-channel HD audio is driven by a Realtek-made CODEC, which also gives out optical SPDIF through a TOSLINK connector. There are two gigabit Ethernet connections, both driven by Realtek 8111E chips. A few interesting connectivity addons bundled with this board are a Bluetooth dongle, and what appears to be a Wireless N USB adapter.

Overclocker-friendly features include CMOS-reset button on the rear-panel, diagnostic numerical display, diagnostic LEDs spread all over the board, consolidated voltage manual measurement points, and a thermometric strip over the chipset heatsink that gives out a very rough analog temperature reading. The chipset and VRM heatsinks are linked via a 6 mm-thick heat pipe. Power/reset buttons are on board. The X79R-AX most likely uses UEFI firmware.

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looks kinda boxxy
 
The thermometric strip is kinda cool :)
 
USB 3.0 !!!!



I read that for the new x79 chipset was not supported !
 
I do not see the four CPU cooler holes but four threaded nuts. Did anyone notice? How to cool the beast? What if the threads spoilt?
 
where is the heat pipes?
 
USB 3.0 !!!!



I read that for the new x79 chipset was not supported !

It's not supported natively (AKA it's not on-chip), as you can see above, they chose cost-effective Ti USB 3.0 chips.
 
:eek:
12 SATA ports...
This board is excessive in all directions...I hope this one won't end up being the only one... :D
 
Meh it's ECS it will break 4 months after you buy it.
 
I'm actually extremely impressed with my ECS P67 board. Blanket assumptions like that aren't really helpful :(

They really are stepping out from a traditionally OEM-only brand into the enthusiast market. Their boards aren't perfect yet, but this looks promising.
 
I'm actually extremely impressed with my ECS P67 board. Blanket assumptions like that aren't really helpful :(

They really are stepping out from a traditionally OEM-only brand into the enthusiast market. Their boards aren't perfect yet, but this looks promising.

I have bought 2 ECS boards in my lifetime, 1 broke after 3 months, and ECS refused me an RMA and blamed me for the failure, the second lasted 2 years but after 6 months underclocked the processor and ram and was not fixable even with a bios flash, or cmos reset, and again ECS refused me an RMA. Maybe I have a grudge but I also have reason for one.
 
Next time, post the reason along with the grudge, so people are better informed :) Sorry to hear about your bad luck; Don't blame you for avoiding the company after that.

Either way, let's hope they turn out to be a better company than they've ever been!
 
ecs boards are fine there basically carbon copies of the basic intel boards with some heatsinks switched from the looks so... pretty much its an intel branded board with custom pcb color and heatsinks, it works thats all that matters im also fairly impressed with my current motherboard. which is an ECS P67 Black Deluxe
 
ecs boards are fine there basically carbon copies of the basic intel boards with some heatsinks switched from the looks so...
I didn't know that. Thanks!
 
pretty much thats what my P67 it its so close to Intels board thats Intels very out XTU Extreme overclocking tool works with the board its actually needed in order to set sub timings on the memory etc but yea overall, ECS Black Deluxe boards are just Intel boards with different looks.
 
On the third picture you can see them it along the side of the RAM slots.

oh yeah sorry i missed that
for this level the board looks 'low profile' not 'aggressive'
 
A marketing image they just sent me.

TH0HO.jpg
 
I wonder who was in charge of the starbusts.
 
More starbursts, I say!
More!!!!!
 
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