ECS X58B-A (Intel X58)
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Date: 10.02.2009 |
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These days (early 2009), the assortment of motherboards based on the Intel X58 chipset is relatively scarce. Retail shops are offering one Intel's model, two ASUS' models which we reviewed previously - P6T Deluxe and ASUS Rampage II Extreme, as well as one from Gigabyte and MSI each. In the most recent future, this list will be complemented by the model X58B-A made by ECS.
ECS X58B-A Specifications
| ECS X58B-A |
| CPU |
- Core i7 QPI 133 MHz
- Socket LGA1366 |
| Chipset |
- North bridge Intel X58 (MCH)
- South bridge Intel ICH10R
- Interbridge communication: DMI |
| System memory |
- Six 240-pin slots for DDR3 SDRAM DIMM
- Maximum memory capacity 24 GB
- Supported memory DDR3 800/1066/1333/1600*
- Triple- and dual-channel memory access
- Power indicator |
| Graphics |
- Two PCI Express x16 slots
- Support for the AMD CrossFire
- Support for the NVIDIA SLI |
| Expansion options |
- One 32-bit PCI Bus Master slot
- One PCI Express x4 slot
- Two PCI Express x1 slots
- Twelve USB 2.0 (6 integrated + 6 additional) ports
- Two IEEE1394 (FireWire; 1 integrated + 1 additional)
- High Definition Audio 7.1
- Two Gigabit Ethernet LAN controllers |
| Overclocking options |
- QPI adjustable within 133 to 511 MHz in 1 MHz increments;
- Adjustable voltages on the CPU, memory, memory controller, and the chipset |
| Disk subsystem |
- Support for SerialATA II (6 links - ICH10R, with support for RAID)
- Support for SerialATA II (2 links - JMicron JMB362, with support for RAID 0, 1) |
| BIOS |
- 16 Mbit Flash ROM
- AMI BIOS with support for Enhanced ACPI, DMI, Green, PnP Features |
| Misc |
- One serial port, ports for PS/2 keyboard and mouse
- Onboard power indicator + buttons to power-on and reset
- CMOS reset button
- 7-stage POST indicator
- STR (Suspend to RAM)
- SPDIF Out |
| Power management |
- Wake-up on modem, mouse, keyboard, LAN, timer, and USB;
- Main 24-pin ATX power connector;
- Additional 8-pin power connector;
- Additional 4-pin Molex power connector; |
| Monitoring |
- Monitoring the temperatures of the CPU, system, voltages, rotational speed of the two fans |
| Dimensions |
- ATX form factor, 245x305 mm (9.63" x 12") |
Package
The box with the ECS X58B-A board is pretty massive and has a handle to carry it around:
Besides, the box has a flap which savor to the product. The package opens up like this:
Package bundle
The package bundle includes the following items:
- motherboard;
- User's Manual in English;
- Software & drivers CD;
- six SerialATA cables;
- one eSATA cable;
- a bracket for 2 additional USB 2.0 ports and a Firewire port;
- a cap for the rear panel of the housing.
All the additional items are in a separate box.
Their quantity does not match the status of a high-end product.
In particular, the user's guide is thin enough, and the CD offers no third-party software. We also note that no matching power adapters are added to the 6 SerialATA cables.
Besides, the board supports six additional USB 2.0 ports, but the package bundle offers merely one bracket for two USB ports.
We are not yet rating the package bundle but would rather wait until the board appears in the retail. Quite probably, the "price/abundance of the package bundle" ratio will be more attractive than that for the specimen which we received for tests.
ECS X58B-A: Board Layout
The PCB design of ECS X58B-A is free from any specific traits. Like most products based on the Intel X58 chipset, this board uses six DIMM slots, and the CPU socket LGA1366 is turned by 90 degrees.
It is really convenient to assemble a system based on the X58B-A: the power connectors are positioned over the board's edge, with the latches of DIMM slots not blocked by a PCI Express video card. By the way, we should note that the board uses an optional Molex power connector (near the north bridge).
Near the CPU socket, there is a 4-pin CPU_FAN connector for a matching cooler.
Along with it, the board has one more 4-pin connector (SYS_FAN; near the 7-stage indicator), as well as two 3-pin connectors: PWR_FAN on the left-hand edge, with NB_FAN near the north bridge.
On the north bridge, there is a massive radiator connected to the radiator on the power supply module with a heat pipe. Also, using the heat pipe the heat from the south bridge is transferred to the north bridge.
We should note that our specimen had a poor contact of the radiator with the chip of the north bridge. As a result, the system was running unstably under long loads. The problem was solved accidentally - with a can of beer placed for heating on the NB radiator. And even once the beer was used up, the system went on running stably. Evidently, the long-term pressing provided the best contact, and the thermal interface fixed the final position. Let's hope this flaw is related to our test specimen only.
Under the north bridge, there are six 240-pin DIMM slots for DDR3 memory modules. They are partitioned into three groups of two slots, with the alternating colors. In the end, to enable the triple-channel mode, you've got to install modules into slots of the same color (an option with three modules).
The board supports DDR3-800/1066/1333/1600 memory, and the maximum memory capacity makes 24 GB. Once power is applied to the board, a red LED near the main power socket lights up.
There are two PCI Express x16 slots onboard (both with latches) which are meant for video cards.
Besides, the board uses a pair of PCI Express x1 slots, one PCI, and one PCI Express x4 slots.
Expansion options
ECS X58B-A uses the ICH10R south bridge with a radiator. In the end, the board supports 6 SerialATA II ports and allows merging disks into RAID arrays of levels 0,1,5, and 10. The ports are painted orange and orientated in parallel to the board's plane.
Besides, the board supports two SerialATA links with the JMB362 controller made by JMicron whose matching ports have been brought over to the board's rear panel. We also note that the board supports neither ParallelATA nor FDD.
Then, the board uses 12 USB2.0 ports: six on the rear panel, with 6 more plugged in with brackets (the board comes bundled with 1 bracket for 2 ports). Besides, the motherboard supports the IEEE1394 ("Firewire"). For that, there is an additional onboard VT6308P controller made by VIA. Therefore, the board offers support for 2 Firewire ports: one mounted on the rear panel, with the other one connected with a plate (available in the package bundle).
ECS X58B-A offers 8-channel integrated Intel High Definition Audio, with ALC880S chip used as the codec. A few words on the network support: the board uses two high-speed Realtek RTL8111C (Gigabit Ethernet) network controllers connected to the PCI Express (x1) bus.
Both the RJ-45 connectors are brought over to the rear panel which has the following configuration:
Engineers at ECS have completely given up placing outdated LPT and COM ports on the board. However, one COM port has been implemented with a bracket which is missing in the package bundle.
ECS X58B-A uses the only jumper: CLR_CMOS - to clear the CMOS settings (in the bottom left-hand corner). For the same purpose, there is a button on the rear panel. There are two more buttons to start-up and reboot the system:
Besides, the board uses a 7-stage POST indicator:
Now on to the BIOS settings.
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