MSI Big Bang-XPower II X79 Motherboard Review

Brolloks · 01-10-12, 10:40 PM

Thanks Mark...and Matt

MarkS · 01-10-12, 11:10 PM

It looks like a good board, although I am not too impressed with the heat sink design. I would be embarrassed for someone to see that in my possession. Those "bullets" really do look like metal crayons. I would probably just remove them and water cool the chipset and mosfets. Still, I'm waiting for a dual-CPU board...

madhatter256 · 01-11-12, 12:34 PM

And I thought the gigabyte "sniper" series motherboards had tacky heatsinks...

It makes the board look like a gimmick.

nzaneb · 01-12-12, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkS

Still, I'm waiting for a dual-CPU board...

You'll need an SR3 and Xeon CPU's for that little venture.

bmwbaxter · 01-12-12, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkS

Still, I'm waiting for a dual-CPU board...

Quote:

Originally Posted by nzaneb

You'll need an SR3 and Xeon CPU's for that little venture.

I believe the x79 one is going to be called SRX not SR3

they posted an article about some stuff EVGA has at CES and they have a picture of the SRX in it. it looks sexy

MarkS · 01-12-12, 03:36 PM

Ah. I am not going to spend the money on two Xeon CPUs.

nzaneb · 01-13-12, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkS

Ah. I am not going to spend the money on two Xeon CPUs.

Unfortunately only Xeon CPU's have the ability to communicate with eachother in a Dual CPU setup, and not all Xeon CPU's are even capable of it.

Starting with Nehalem you had Gainestown and Beckton; then you had the Westmere line with Westmere-EP and Westmere-EX, that were capable. Xeon grade: Clarkdale, Lynnfield, Bloomfield, Jasper Forest, Gulftown... all incapable.

MarkS · 01-13-12, 12:23 PM

I was unaware of that. The performance of a dual-CPU setup just doesn't justify the price of Xeon CPUs. At least not in my case.

DigitalMonkey · 01-17-12, 05:29 PM

Does anyone know the wattage and voltage of each 4-pin PWM output on this mobo?

EarthDog · 01-18-12, 08:26 AM

Its usually not much... I cant imagine more than 1A(12W) would be safe to put on a mobo fan header... but I could be wrong on this robust board.

DigitalMonkey · 01-18-12, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EarthDog

Its usually not much... I cant imagine more than 1A(12W) would be safe to put on a mobo fan header... but I could be wrong on this robust board.

The reason why I asked is because I wanted to connect some MCP35X pumps via PMW.

EarthDog · 01-18-12, 08:41 AM

Not sure I would do that.. those are over 1A. I will email the MSI rep and ask as I dont see it listed anywhere. I will report back for you.

MattNo5ss · 01-18-12, 08:57 AM

The pumps only use the PWM and sense wires to connect to the motherboard, they use a 4pin Molex for power. So, you should be good.

DigitalMonkey · 01-18-12, 08:58 AM

The pumps will be connected to 4-pin molex for power and the pwm will be used for monitoring the pump speed.

EarthDog · 01-18-12, 08:59 AM

Oh... heh... well, now that is clear (sorry dont own that pump, though you were powering it over a PWM). Like MattNo said, shouldnt be an issue as that is just an RPM signal essentially.

DigitalMonkey · 01-18-12, 09:03 AM

Im just being cautious, just making sure I dont

up my mobo once I get it.

Hardass · 01-18-12, 09:05 AM

Great review, but I would expect no less from you.

DigitalMonkey · 02-11-12, 04:32 AM

Will this mobo ever come to the US?

TheQuadFather · 02-11-12, 05:39 AM

those heatsinks.. i never thought the old msi big bang design was bad, i like the switch to black but the thing about bullets and ammo cartridges like on the assassin boards from gigabyte need to go.

Brolloks · 02-13-12, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitalMonkey

Will this mobo ever come to the US?

Good question, will ask the MSI rep

01-10-12, 10:40 PM	#21
Brolloks Benching Senior on Siesta Premium Member #8 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Land of Long Horns	Thanks Mark...and Matt
	QUOTE Thanks

01-10-12, 11:10 PM	#22
MarkS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX	It looks like a good board, although I am not too impressed with the heat sink design. I would be embarrassed for someone to see that in my possession. Those "bullets" really do look like metal crayons. I would probably just remove them and water cool the chipset and mosfets. Still, I'm waiting for a dual-CPU board...
	QUOTE Thanks

01-11-12, 12:34 PM	#23
madhatter256 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: CFL	And I thought the gigabyte "sniper" series motherboards had tacky heatsinks... It makes the board look like a gimmick. __________________ Heatware
	QUOTE Thanks

01-12-12, 03:36 PM	#26
MarkS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX	Ah. I am not going to spend the money on two Xeon CPUs.
	QUOTE Thanks

01-13-12, 12:23 PM	#28
MarkS Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX	I was unaware of that. The performance of a dual-CPU setup just doesn't justify the price of Xeon CPUs. At least not in my case.
	QUOTE Thanks

MSI Big Bang-XPower II X79 Motherboard Review

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01-17-12, 05:29 PM	#29
DigitalMonkey Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago, IL	Does anyone know the wattage and voltage of each 4-pin PWM output on this mobo? __________________ Project Akachi Coming Soon...
	QUOTE Thanks

01-18-12, 08:26 AM	#30
EarthDog Senior PITA Member Overclockers.com Editor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Stuck in Maryland...	Its usually not much... I cant imagine more than 1A(12W) would be safe to put on a mobo fan header... but I could be wrong on this robust board. __________________ C2D/C2Q Overclocking Guide / i3/i5/i7 (s1366/1156) Overclocking Guide/Info / SandyBridge/ Ivybridge Overclocking Guide / AMD Overclocking Guide / Power Supply Guide SSD Reliability/Write Endurance / JOIN THE BENCHING TEAM! / Bulldozer Overclocking Guide / Forum Etiquette Want to see your writing featured on the overclockers.com Front Page? PM me, I can help! "We have more information and more ways of accessing it than ever, yet seem increasingly less inclined to do so."- Michael Wilbon
	QUOTE Thanks

01-18-12, 08:41 AM	#32
EarthDog Senior PITA Member Overclockers.com Editor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Stuck in Maryland...	Not sure I would do that.. those are over 1A. I will email the MSI rep and ask as I dont see it listed anywhere. I will report back for you. __________________ C2D/C2Q Overclocking Guide / i3/i5/i7 (s1366/1156) Overclocking Guide/Info / SandyBridge/ Ivybridge Overclocking Guide / AMD Overclocking Guide / Power Supply Guide SSD Reliability/Write Endurance / JOIN THE BENCHING TEAM! / Bulldozer Overclocking Guide / Forum Etiquette Want to see your writing featured on the overclockers.com Front Page? PM me, I can help! "We have more information and more ways of accessing it than ever, yet seem increasingly less inclined to do so."- Michael Wilbon
	QUOTE Thanks

01-18-12, 08:57 AM	#33
MattNo5ss b4n4n4 dr4g0n d00m3d m0d3r4t0r Overclockers.com Editor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: AL	The pumps only use the PWM and sense wires to connect to the motherboard, they use a 4pin Molex for power. So, you should be good. __________________ i7 3770K \| Asus Maximus V Gene \| 4x2GB Dominator GT DDR3-1600 6-6-6-20 \| eVGA GTX670 SC \| 50GB OCZ Vertex 2 \| SeaSonic SS-1000XP i7 2700K \| Gigabyte G1.Sniper M3 \| 4x2GB G.Skill Eco DDR3-1600 7-8-7-24 \| eVGA GTX680 \| 256GB OCZ Vertex 4 \| SeaSonic X750 E8700/E6750/P4 631 \| Rampage Extreme & EP45T-Extreme & Commando\| Whatever I Can Find Laying Around... O/C Author Profile \| HWBot Profile \| Heatware (89-0-0) \m/ OverClockers mATX L33T Club \m/ Projects: Copper-Framed, MDF Station \| PVC-Framed, MDF Station \| Custom Cascade Cart/Case \| Untitled TJ07 Build
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01-18-12, 08:58 AM	#34
DigitalMonkey Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago, IL	The pumps will be connected to 4-pin molex for power and the pwm will be used for monitoring the pump speed. __________________ Project Akachi Coming Soon...
	QUOTE Thanks

01-18-12, 08:59 AM	#35
EarthDog Senior PITA Member Overclockers.com Editor Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Stuck in Maryland...	Oh... heh... well, now that is clear (sorry dont own that pump, though you were powering it over a PWM). Like MattNo said, shouldnt be an issue as that is just an RPM signal essentially. __________________ C2D/C2Q Overclocking Guide / i3/i5/i7 (s1366/1156) Overclocking Guide/Info / SandyBridge/ Ivybridge Overclocking Guide / AMD Overclocking Guide / Power Supply Guide SSD Reliability/Write Endurance / JOIN THE BENCHING TEAM! / Bulldozer Overclocking Guide / Forum Etiquette Want to see your writing featured on the overclockers.com Front Page? PM me, I can help! "We have more information and more ways of accessing it than ever, yet seem increasingly less inclined to do so."- Michael Wilbon
	QUOTE Thanks

01-18-12, 09:03 AM	#36
DigitalMonkey Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago, IL	Im just being cautious, just making sure I dont up my mobo once I get it. __________________ Project Akachi Coming Soon...
	QUOTE Thanks

01-18-12, 09:05 AM	#37
Hardass Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: S.W. Florida.	Great review, but I would expect no less from you. __________________
	QUOTE Thanks

02-11-12, 04:32 AM	#38
DigitalMonkey Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago, IL	Will this mobo ever come to the US? __________________ Project Akachi Coming Soon...
	QUOTE Thanks

02-11-12, 05:39 AM	#39
TheQuadFather Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Hampshire, England	those heatsinks.. i never thought the old msi big bang design was bad, i like the switch to black but the thing about bullets and ammo cartridges like on the assassin boards from gigabyte need to go. __________________ This is not the signature you are looking for. Please Fold For Team32!
	QUOTE Thanks

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