ASRock X58 SuperComputer Intel X58 Motherboard Review

Installation

Test Rig:
Intel i7 920 (engineering sample, locked at 20x and 4.8GT/s QPI)
Kingston DDR3-2000 3GB Kit
Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 Toxic VaporX
Noctua NH-U12P CPU cooler with LGA 1366 installation kit
OCZ EliteXStream 800 watt PSU
NZXT Tempest extended midtower
Windows Vista Home 64-bit

Installation was pretty straightforward. First, prep the CPU and CPU cooler base by cleaning with isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth. Apply thermal compound to the CPU heat spreader per the manufacturer’s instructions. Install the CPU cooler and memory. Remember, the memory goes into the 2nd, 4th, and 6th slots. Install the motherboard offsets into the case. I could probably temporarily place the motherboard in the case at this time to see if there are any conflicts with the CPU cooler’s orientation.

ASRock X58 SuperComputer Intel X58 Motherboard ASRock X58 SuperComputer Intel X58 Motherboard ASRock X58 SuperComputer Intel X58 Motherboard
Install the optical drive and power supply into the case.

ASRock X58 SuperComputer Intel X58 Motherboard ASRock X58 SuperComputer Intel X58 Motherboard
 

Install the hard drive. Place the motherboard’s I/O shield into the opening, then install the motherboard. There was no problem installing the CPU cooler in the common configuration on this case that has a bottom-mounted power supply. I am pretty sure that a standard midtower will cause you to face a large tower cooler perpendicular to the common orientation.

ASRock X58 SuperComputer Intel X58 Motherboard ASRock X58 SuperComputer Intel X58 Motherboard
Connect the necessary wires to the motherboard. I really like the placement of the case header USB ports, they are where they always should have been.

ASRock X58 SuperComputer Intel X58 Motherboard ASRock X58 SuperComputer Intel X58 Motherboard
Install the video card, connect the PCI-E power cable(s). Double-check your work, and you’re done.


ASRock X58 SuperComputer Intel X58 Motherboard