INTEL-BASED MOTHERBOARD
1BEST BUY
• nVidia nForce 650i SLI chip set
• 2 PCIe x16, 1 PCIe x1, 2 PCI slots
• 4 SATA, 2 PATA ports
• 4 + 2 USB, 1 FireWire, 1 eSATA ports
• Price when ranked: $149
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This impressive all-around SLI board has two ATA channels and an eSATA port, though only x8. You'll need a rear-panel breakout to get 7.1-channel analog output.
Test Report
2
• nVidia nForce 570 SLI chip set
• 2 PCIe x16, 2 PCIe x1, 3 PCI slots
• 8 Serial ATA, 1 PATA ports
• 4 USB ports
• Price when ranked: $95
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Easily the lowest-priced SLI board on the chart, this model is a very good performer. A lack of FireWire ports and limited x8 SLI are the only nits to pick.
Test Report
3
• Intel P965 chip set
• 2 PCIe x16, 2 PCIe x1, 2 PC slots
• 7 SATA, 1 PATA ports
• 4 + 2 USB, 1 + 2 FireWire ports
• Price when ranked: $135
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The best performing board, this model also offers a full complement of cutting-edge and legacy features. Only the lack of dual graphics kept it out of the top spot.
Test Report
4
• Intel P965 chip set
• 2 PCIe x16, 3 PCIe x1, 2 PCI slots
• 8 SATA, 1 PATA ports
• 4 USB, 1 FireWire, 0 + 4 eSATA ports
• Price when ranked: $198
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Another board with a complete set of legacy ports and state-of-the-art features. We love the friendly color scheme, but the price--not so much.
Test Report
5
• Intel P965 chip set
• 1 PCIe x16, 2 PCIe x1, 2 PCI slots
• 8 SATA, 1 PATA ports
• 4 + 2 USB, 0 + 2 FireWire, 1 eSATA ports
• Price when ranked: $150
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This great performer has contemporary ports to spare: ten USB (six on headers), eight SATA, and a single eSATA port. But a lack of legacy ports dropped its ranking.
Test Report
AMD-BASED MOTHERBOARD
1BEST BUY
• nVidia nForce 590 SLI chip set
• 2 PCIe x16, 1 PCIe x8, 1 PCIe x1, 2 PCI slots
• 8 SATA ports, 1 PATA ports
• 4 USB, 1 FireWire, 0 + 2 eSATA ports
• Price when ranked: $170
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Like its 965-based sibling on the Intel portion of the chart, this model has all the legacy ports and cutting-edge features you'll need--but at a better price.
Test Report
2
• nVidia nForce 590 SLI chip set
• 2 PCIe x16, 2 PCIe x1, 1 PCI slots
• 6 SATA ports, 1 PATA ports
• 4 + 2 USB, 0 + 2 FireWire ports
• Price when ranked: $170
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This board performed well at specified speeds and was born to overclock. If you don't need legacy parallel or serial ports, it's a terrific deal.
Test Report
3
• ATI CrossFire Xpress 3200
• 2 PCIe x16, 2 PCIe x1, 2 PCI slots
• 4 SATA ports, 1 PATA ports
• 4 + 2 USB, 1 + 1 FireWire ports
• Price when ranked: $130
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This very solid offering mixes all of the newest and oldest technlogies, but it performed a tad slowly in our testing, which kept it from the top of the chart.
Test Report
4
• nVidia nForce 590 SLI chip set
• 2 PCIe x16, 1 PCIe x4, 3 PCI slots
• 6 SATA ports, 1 PATA ports
• 4 + 2 USB, 1 + 1 FireWire ports
• Price when ranked: $249
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A tweaker's delight, with a ton of techie-oriented lights and other features. It's pricey if your needs are basic, but it's a great board for overclocking enthusiasts.
Test Report
5
• ATI CrossFire Xpress 3200 (AMD 580X)
• 2 PCIe x16, 1 PCIe x1, 1 PCI slots
• 8 SATA ports, 1 PATA ports
• 4 + 2 USB, 1 + 1 FireWire, 2 eSATA ports
• Price when ranked: $130
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The classy, retro pale green look belies a true overclocker's heart. But this board could use better SATA connectors, and Sapphire's support policies are stingy.
Test Report