Conclusion
What is there to say? The EVGA X58 E761 Classified is like an over-the-top blockbuster movie; it wows you on all fronts all the while costing an arm and a leg to produce. Core i7 is a new processor and motherboard and BIOS engineers are still figuring it out, but the team at EVGA has clearly stumbled across something to be able to release a board that pushes these chips past the notorious 220MHz base clock wall. This board reminds me a lot of the Asus LGA775 Rampage Extreme, except the Rampage Extreme came so late in the game.
For most consumers the EVGA Classified would be a step over the edge in both budget and features. Honestly, who on a daily basis needs the ability to disable PCIe lanes and measure vcore/vtt/vdimm from convenient measuring spots? This board was designed for enthusiasts who are willing to take their hobby to the next level. I would be lying through my fingers if I said the Classified is for everyone; it is the best board on the market but it really should only be considered by people who need as much performance as possible regardless of price. This same crowd would be the crowd that purchases Intel's Extreme Edition processors, Corsair's Dominator GT memory kits, and NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 295 video cards for a weekend of fun. With a price tag of $399.99 shipped, this board is also priced like other flagship parts.
I feel like I've hammered on this board enough regarding its price and I don't want you to walk away from this review thinking it is an overpriced piece of plastic and copper. The EVGA X58 E761 Classified is a piece of working art and it is meant to be enjoyed. The best comparison I can think of is an expensive supercar, something you take for a spin every so often just to remember how awesome it is to make something move stupidly fast. There is a reason this board is dominating all the overclocking records, and it surely isn't the price tag.
Legit Bottom Line: When performance at any cost is required, the EVGA X58 Classified motherboard is the only option.
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