Asus P7H57D-V EVO Motherboard

The year of 2010 has commenced with quite a bang, offering the release of mainstream LGA1156 processors. These processors are significant for two reasons. First and foremost, these are the true successors to Intel's Core 2 Duo and Quad processors, marking the slow and painful demise of LGA775. Second of all, it should mean that peasants such as myself are able to afford an upgrade to a current generation Intel platform. As part of the Q1 launch, we saw the arrival of five dual core processors, listed below.

For those who are greatly angered by product naming schemes today, I suggest you find an inanimate object to attack to prevent causing harm to your near and dear...as the naming scheme has just got worse. Prior to this release, the Core iX was split into two families over two sockets. The Core i7, which exists on the triple channel LGA1366 platform and the dual channel LGA1156. Meanwhile, the Intel Core i5 consisted of a single Quad Core processor on the LGA1156 socket, sporting all of the Core i7's features minus Hyperthreading Technology. As of now, the Core i5 range now includes a number of dual core processors, which support Hyperthreading technology and turbo boost. To complement these processors, Intel also included Core i3 processors, which are just like the aforementioned Dual Cores...minus Turbo Boost. Finally, the Pentium brand has been added as the Matt Damon of the range, lacking Turbo Boost, Hyperthreading Technology and a reduced Level 3 Cache. To add to the confusion, the range topping Core i5 660 is priced higher than Core i5 750 and Core i7 920 processors.

Rant aside, Intel has also reconsidered it's implementation of integrated GPUs. Much like the Intel Core i5/i7 Quads that have integrated PCI-Express controllers, the Intel Core i3/i5 duals have a similar configuration, with the exception that an integrated GPU has been placed under the hood too. It should also be mentioned that the Core i3/i5 Dual Core PCI-Express controller does not have sufficient lanes to operate nVidia SLI or Ati Crossfire in 8x/8x mode.

Slight problem. In order for these integrated GPUs to do anything, they need motherboards that physically implement them and sport the relevant video ports. This is where the Intel H55 and H57 chipsets come into the picture. The H55/H57 chipsets are naturally the first to natively support Intel's 32nm Dual Core processors and although they can support Core i5/i7 Quads, the provision for Integrated Graphics use has been made available thanks to the implementation of DVI/VGA/HDMI/Displayport inputs (dependant on manufacturer).

  
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As expected, H55/H57 motherboards have arrived in all shapes and sizes. Today, we'll be taking Asus' flagship H57 motherboard to the test. Meet the Asus P7H57D-EVO.

While Asus certainly need no introduction, it should be said that given the popularity of Asus' X58 and P55 motherboards, we hope to see these new H55/H57 boards following suit. With the bar set and the scene fully painted, let's get cracking.