The introduction of the XFX X58i Motherboard is loaded with firsts, all of which are good for XFX enthusiasts worldwide.

First, the XFX X58i Motherboard launches the XFX/Intel® enthusiast chipset motherboard. As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure that its customers receive the best product options available, XFX has integrated state-of-the-art Intel® technology into this product.

Another first involves the XFX X58i motherboard supporting the Intel Core i7 quad-core processor. The Core i7 are the first processors to be released using the Intel Nehalem architecture. The Intel Core i7 chip succeeds the popular Intel Core 2 family and represents the largest architectural change in the Intel x86 family since the Pentium Pro in 1985.

Additionally, the XFX X58i is the first motherboard to support Intel LGA 1366 processors and the only motherboard to support either NVIDIA 3-Way SLI or ATI CrossFireX, which allows two or more discrete graphics cards to work together to improve system performance and creating a substantial visual gamingexperience. Also featuring Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology, Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, Intel® Quick Path Interconnect (QPI), making the XFX X58i Motherboard truly unique and amazingly agile.

Hyper-Threading Technology allows each of the four cores to process two threads simultaneously, so the processor appears to the operating system as eight CPUs.

Intel®’s Turbo Boost Technology, automatically allows processor cores to run faster than the base operating frequency if it's operating below power, current, and temperature specification limits.

The Intel Quick Path Interconnect (QPI) technology, the successor to FSB, provides point-to-point high-speed links to distributed shared memory, and unleashes the parallel processing performance of the Nehalem architecture.

The XFX X58i motherboard supports Tri-Channel DDR3 Memory Architecture delivers up to 32.1 GB/s (10.7 GB/s per channel with DDR3 1333) of bandwidth and 12 GB memory addressability to ensure that data and information is transferred throughout the system as quickly as possible.

Additional features include Silent Heatpipe Cooling Technology, PCI Express 2.0, Dual BIOS, and Premium 8-Channel High Definition Audio (HDA).

For more information about the extremely agile XFX X58i 3-Way SLI motherboard, please visit http://www.xfxforce.com/.

Having a tough time waiting for Intel's Core i7 platform to finally reach retail shelves? While power users patiently wait for next generation components to emerge, Evga has offered up an early look at its upcoming X58 SLI FTW motherboard.

"Evga is proud to show a sneak peek of a new motherboard based on the Intel X58 Express Chipset, supporting the upcoming Intel Core i7 processor," Evga wrote in in a statement. "The Evga X58 SLI FTW motherboard will feature 6 DIMMs of triple channel DDR3 memory, and a board layout optimized for the enthusiast including 2-way and 3-way SLI support."

The new board represents a departure from what has been an exclusive partnership with Nvidia, at least in terms of the chipset. Nvidia will still be represented on the all-black PCB with SLI support, which has been a long awaited marriage between Intel chipsets and Nvidia graphics.As implied by the FTW moniker, Evga's upcoming motherboard boasts several features of interests to enthusiasts and overclockers, such as VDroop control, 100 percent solid state capacitors, and no less than 10 SATA ports with an eSATA port thrown in for good measure.

Evga says the board will be available in November for an as-yet undetermined amount.

No, this wasn’t a typo, GPU manufacturer Albatron Retrotechnology is actually releasing the Nvidia 8400, 8500, and 8600 for the PCI, not PCI-Express. What kind of performance can we expect from these “phat” cards riding the skinny bus?

Performance

Albatron claims the new GPU’s are capable of pounding out performance benchmarks in 3D Mark 06 of anywhere from 800 to 1200 depending on the model. While this is a considerable improvement over other PCI alternatives, it still pales in comparison with it’s PCI-E based brethren. A quick test with an XFX 8600 GTS Express card yielded results of close to 2200, almost twice as fast. This isn’t surprising given PCI’s meager 133 MB/s bus speed vs PCI-Express’s mammoth 8GB/s performance.Why Power Users Might Want One

While we all know the productivity benefits of multiple monitors, it is something that has always been hassle for those of us with SLI setups. Short of disabling multi GPU support in the driver, Nvidia power users have been forced to make do with a single monitor. Luckily, most dual GPU solutions from Nvidia leave a single PCI port exposed allowing for further expansion. By adding a third video card to your spare PCI slot you unlock the potential to run three monitors full time while still maintaining your SLI configuration. Adding an extra video card may all so unlock additional gaming potential down the line as Nvidia toys with the possibility of allowing users to dedicate spare GPU’s to physics processing.