** BadAxe 2 **

[lopri]

VR-Zone has a preview of upcoming BadAxe 2 with previously un-thinkable features on Intel motherboards. The launch is reportedly to accompany Kentsfield debut.

http://www.vr-zone.com/?i=4111&s=1

Some of the shocking features include:

- EPP (Enhanced Performance Profile) support :Q
- VDIMM up to 2.8V :shocked:
- On-board power button
- Graceful exit of crashed system due to aggressive OC :laugh:

Intel definitely wants to grab enthusiasts' mindshare, and don't want to lose it out to RD600 or the revised NF680i, I guess. If one were to look at the specs only, it'd appear as one of DFI's high-end boards. Whatever the reason for the change of direction, it can only be a good thing for enthusiasts. Very impressive, Intel!

 

[Corporate Thug]

looks like it has a lot of potential, esp with the pencil mods.

 

[hardwareking]

Well bad-axe 2 should fix all thats worng with intel's present bad-axe such as limited OC options,and limited voltage modification options.
It should be competition for RD600 and NF 590 for sure.

 

[Skott]

They had to lower the Quad core down to a 8 multiplier. I wonder if you have to do this with E6600 and up Conroes as well?

 

[lopri]

It looks like the revised C55X?$(#$& (not sure what exactly it is) will have nForce6XX moniker. Corrected the first post accordingly.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Those 3 PCI-e 16X slots are Bad Axe!!!

Is anybody else getting Slot 1 P2 and P3 heatsink flashbacks when looking at that Bad Axe northbridge heatsink???

 

[lopri]

Suprised not many people seem to be interested in this mobo.. Guess I'll get this for cheap when it comes out just like I did with my P5W-DH. And watch the price goes up by $50 later on.. :laugh:

 

[Skott]

Originally posted by: lopri
Suprised not many people seem to be interested in this mobo.. Guess I'll get this for cheap when it comes out just like I did with my P5W-DH. And watch the price goes up by $50 later on.. :laugh:

People are waiting for review I imagine. Last I heard the BIOS wasnt finished on it. The ASUS and Gigabyte mobos are getting the most attention lately.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Performance seems just fine (that too for a beta BIOS).
3.4GHz on a quad with high-end air cooling also seems pretty great. I thought C2Q wouldn't OC much compared to C2D. 3.4GHz isn't anything extreme, but nice nonetheless.

Price this for ~$200 and Intel will see them fly off the shelves. But alas, I'm sure this will come in at $300 at launch and settle at $250. At that price point, you have options.

I miss the days of Socket 939 DFI LANParty mobos that were consistently available from $130-$180 (Ultra-D vs. SLI-DR). Sigh.

 

[Skott]

Well, the original BadAxe was highly talked about and sold fast in the beginning but the Gigabyte and ASUS mobos proved more popular with the overclocking crowd. My thoughts are that Intel needs to match those overclock abilities and get the price down. Do that and people will fawn all over the BadAxe2. There are still alot of people waiting for a really good Conroe/SLI mobowith the C55 chipsets too so many are waiting for the 590 mobos due later in November. But yeah, if Intel can get the price down to $200 or less and it should sell very well. For a month or two until the 590s make their launch. ;-)