Some time ago we completed the first round of tests on LGA1366 mainboards for Intel processors. If you check the corresponding section of our site devoted to mainboard reviews, you will see very well familiar names: ASRock, Asus, DFI, Foxconn, Gigabyte, Intel, MSI. Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean that we managed to cover all mainboard makers who offer solutions on Intel X58 Express. For example, our readers keep asking us if we are going to review any of the Biostar solutions, since this company offers three LGA1366 mainboards on this chipset. Unfortunately, we have to disappoint you: the company is not interested in promoting these solutions and refused to send us any review samples. Considering the small market share currently occupied by Bloomfield processors, this Biostar’s position is understandable. Hopefully, when new LGA1156 processors come out we will be able to finally offer you some reviews of the corresponding Biostar products, too.

While we are waiting for the new processors to launch, we didn’t want to keep our hands in pockets and waste precious time and decided to expand the variety of LGA1366 mainboards reviewed in our lab. From the list of manufacturers mentioned above only Intel has a single solution on Intel X58 Express chipset, all other makers offer several different modifications targeted for different user groups. At first we reviewed two flagship models from Gigabyte, then took a closer look at a mainstream solution and learned that the simpler model practically doesn’t yield to the top ones in anything. The comparison of two ASRock solutions looks even more convincing, where the junior model sometimes looks even more preferable than the top one. Today we are going to continue this good tradition and after the top-of-the-line EVGA X58 SLI Classified will talk about a relatively inexpensive EVGA X58 SLI LE mainboard.

Package and Accessories

EVGA X58 SLI LE mainboard ships in a box of standard size:

There are brief technical specifications, included accessories and warranty details listed on the back of the box together with a photo of the mainboard inside:

Besides the actual board, you get the following items:

• Two SATA cables with metal connector locks;
• Power adapter for two Serial ATA devices;
• Three SLI bridges of different lengths for 2-way SLI, 3-way SLI and 3-way SLI+ PhysX configurations;
• Additional bracket with two USB and one IEEE1394 (FireWire) port ;
• I/O Shield for the back panel;
• Colorful poster with brief assembly instructions;
• User manual;
• CD disk with software and drivers.

Besides the drivers, the CD disk also contains the PDF-version of the user manual and Adobe Reader program, E-Leet utility and desktop wallpapers for all resolutions from 1280x720 to 2560x1600.