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There is no doubting that Sapphire are onto a winner with their Pure Black X58 motherboard. Performance throughout our testing was better than the excellent MSI X58 motherboard that we have incorporated into one of our high end test systems.
While the bundle isn't the most comprehensive we have seen, the build quality of the board itself is excellent and no corners have been cut in regards to PCB design and layout. We particularly appreciate the fact that every connectivity option is included, from older PS/2 connections to the latest USB 3.0 and Sata 6Gbps interfaces.
Power regulation is first class, thanks in part to the new ‘Sapphire Diamond Chokes' (patent pending) which helped us to push our Intel Core i7 980x Extreme Edition to a solid 4.5ghz on air. This is the highest stable overclock we have achieved with this particular processor. Japanese polymer solid capacitors with super low ESR and gold plated 15u-30u contacts are welcome additions to the mix.
With the release of the cost effective Intel Core i7 2500k and 2600k processors the mid range performance goal posts have been moved, but it is clear than an overclocked 980x is still far out of reach of anything on the market right now. It will be some time before Intel update their flagship range, so the Sapphire Pure Black X58 partnered up with a 970/980x in an overclocked state is one of the fastest systems money can buy. We are even more impressed that such an early preproduction board with a beta bios proved to be rock stable throughout our intensive stress testing and overclocking phase.
KitGuru says: For an ultimate performance system this board has proved to be right up there with the best of them.
What a fantasic product, any ideas of a price?
I wonder who the maker is. Foxconn? Still, hell of a release from Sapphire, certainly put them on the map in 2011, but I wonder if it will sell well due to the new socket which gives mega performance for a fraction of the price
Nice board design not much to fault, apart from the medicore bundle. When is it released? I could never get the sapphire power supplies here, so ill be curious to see availabity.
Class name too, instead of DU-23723 V12 like you see with many makers, we need catchy, memorable names. Sapphire always do this, ‘toxic. etc.
This kind of setup is way out of my price range, ill be aiming for 2500k in a few months.
really nice review, mega testing. gotta love the noctua NH D14!
any chance I could get that system mailed over to me? ill cover postage.
Good board layout and cant see much wrong with it. Id like a CMOS button on the back of the board though for easy pressing if needed.
Hey zardon, I know you love the noctua NH D14, but how far would this CPU go on the mobo with something a little less expensive? im curious
I wonder how often they will update the bioses on these boards. I doubt they make them, so im guessing the bios update situation might be a ‘second’ priority for the motherboard originator
Where did this come from? I never read any announcements about it. Hell of a good OC on air there guys. will be curious to see the pricing.
way 2 go sapphire, but why not an AMD board !
‘why no amd board?’
They probably know that an intel board like this will sell much better than an AMD product. its a high end enthusiast product and unfortunately AMD cant compete. probably why dirk meyer is collecting an early pension. I hope it changes.
oh yeah, great review Z.
Well I am rather impressed with this product. Have you any ideas on the availability date yet >?
Most excellent. great overclocking results. I cant get my 980 past 4.1ghz on my asus board.
Noctua NH D14 FTW. great review!
I’ve had enough of apple and all their difficulties. It’s one scandal right after another with their products. No more will I fall into apples marketing propaganda which is all hype. Don’t believe the paid bloggers on here who defend or deny the many countless problems of apple products.