Intel continues its multiple chipset strategy for separation of their highest end CPUs and their more mainstream and value CPUs. They have two Sockets on the market, Socket LGA-1366 for the high end CPUs (9xx series) and LGA-1156 for the mainstream and value (8xx, 7xx, 6xx) CPUs. This has the advantage to Intel of requiring the user to buy a more expensive chipset to use the more expensive CPU.
ASRock is a spin-off of ASUS and has been known in the past for their special features on some of their motherboards. They were one of the first motherboard manufacturers to embrace the SATA 6 Gb/second protocol and USB 3.0 interface. Today, ASRock is on the forefront of technology again being the first to offer external SATA ports on the motherboard based upon the SATA 6 Gb/second interface. Today’s review is on ASRock’s latest motherboard to use the x58 chipset the ASRock X58 Extreme3.
