MSI X58 Pro 'Affordable' Core i7 Mainboard

MSI have announced what they're calling the most affordable mainboard for Intel's latest Core i7 processors.  The MSI X58 Pro has Intel's X58 Express chipset, along with an ultra-high bandwidth QPI (Quick Path Interconnect) transmission system and support for high-speed 3-channel DDR3 RAM.  There's also a 3GB/s eSATA port for fast, easy storage expansion.

In addition, the X58 Pro has triple x16 PCI Express graphics slots, supporting ATI CrossFireX.  Power efficiency is improved by virtue of the Gen.2 DrMOS, which makes the X58 Pro 'board more than 93-percent more efficient, together with exclusive BIOS-level Active Phase Switching (APS) technology.

Ports include six SATA connectors, a single eSATA and IDE, twelve USB 2.0, FireWire, Gigabit Ethernet and 7.1 HD audio.  Maximum supported RAM is 24GB.  Rather bizarrely, MSI don't actually give an MRSP for their "most affordable" Core i7 mainboard, but it's already being listed online at around $190.

Press Release:

MSI launches X58 Pro, the most affordable mainboard for Core i7

[Taipei, Taiwan] MSI, the world's leading mainboard manufacturer, today announced its most affordable one of X58 mainboard, X58 Pro. It offers an innovatively new architecture that adopts the latest Intel® X58 Express chipset that supports the latest Intel® Core i7 processor, along with ultra-high bandwidth QPI (Quick Path Interconnect) transmission system and high-speed 3-channel DDR3 memory, resulting performance so extreme that has ever seen in mainboards. X58 Pro also has utilized the Gen.2 DrMOS, which introduced exclusively by MSI since the P45 series, improving its power efficiency more than 93% to bring best performance.

Insist on DrMOS to bring the maximum power-efficient

In order to maximize performance and provide a stable and adequate power supply environment, MSI X58 Pro has utilized the Gen.2 DrMOS, which is recommended by Intel for processor power design, along with the exclusive BIOS-level Active Phase Switching (APS) technology for better energy-saving. These advanced designs provide stable power supply capacity required by the high bandwidth operations in the CPU, and to save power for the entire system as well. "the MSI high-end mainboard comes with "Insist on DrMOS" concept is proved as the best power-saving and overclocking provider from several well-known testing media and end-users, we'll keep continue to utilize DrMOS into MSI mainboard product to deliver the most leading power design" said Jason Lee, DPS marketing director of MSI.

The triple PCIe x16 ready bringing ultimate 3D operating

X58 Pro is equipped with triple x16 PCI Express graphics slots for offering the possibility for multi-graphics operating like ATI 3-way CrossFireX; X58 Pro mainboard can supply dual full-bandwidth x16 connections and one more x16 PCI Express slot to creating the maximum bandwidth premium systems for 3-way graphics. This most powerful multi-graphic ready structure bring highest 3D gaming resolutions with more detail DirectX 10 effects, enhances the 3D frame rate to a higher level for more smooth hardcore gaming experience.

Plug & Play onboard eSATA interface for storage expansion

The X58 Pro, just like other MSI high-end mainboard product, comes with an onboard eSATA 3Gb/s interface to adopts the concept of plug & play storage. It allows users to connect a backup HDD in such an easy way requiring no complex setting and skill from users, leading to not only less accessing time and CPU resource requirements, but also better data transaction signal quality against hard disk failure.

Unlike the other eSATA bracket solution, X58 Pro is designed with onboard eSATA on rear I/O to give the direct link to extra storage chip and Intel chipset, provide the best compatibility with external storage device and stable quality when time goes by.