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We're not entirely sure what it is with the sudden propensity towards artillery themed heatsinks with respect to Intel's X79 chipset, only that it seems to be a popular motif. We saw it first with Gigabyte's G1.Assassin 2 X79 motherboard in the form of a pistol-shaped heatsink, and here again as a fake ammo belt on MSI's upcoming Big Bang XPower II X79 motherboard.
It's part of a gnarly design that includes lots of dark colors, Military Class II components, and other bits of artillery accents all around. In terms of the actual motherboard specs, this is another socket LGA 2011 board for Intel's upcoming Sandy Bridge-E launch. The socket is powered by a 24-phase VRM with driver MOSFETs, solid chokes, and High-C POSCAP capacitors.
There are four DDR3 memory slots on each side of the CPU socket for total of eight DIMM slots, a boatload of PCI Express slots, six SATA 6Gbps ports, eight USB 3.0 ports, HD audio powered by Creative's X-Fi MB2 software, and other goodies you can spy in our photo gallery below.
No word on price or availability.
Image Credit: MSI
Comments are closed on this article
h e x e n
November 09, 2011 at 5:01am
Have to agree with some of the others that the bullets look stupid as hell. Just my opinion. It looks like something a child would buy, aka, MW3 kids.
aferrara50
November 14, 2011 at 4:22pm
as if anyone would spend the $450 on a board (which it is likely to cost) and not replace the heatsinks with waterblocks.
Wingzero_x
November 09, 2011 at 2:37am
Well it could be worst...at least they don't look like penises.
kiaghi7
November 08, 2011 at 5:03pm
What's the big deal over those not liking the bullets?
Given the position of it, and the likelihood of someone looking at this board to have SLI/Crossfire for their high(er) end gaming rig is pretty significant, the bullet themed heat-sink will most likely be covered, or at least partially so...
So for those that don't like it, it won't typically be visible, or not very much so...
For those that do like it, you will still know it's there...
Also, if one were to really build a high end right around it, they may very well opt for water/liquid cooling, and while they were at it, getting a cooling block for a suitable replacement to the air-breathing heat-sink on there, this removing the item from the discussion anyway...
GavinFarrington...
November 08, 2011 at 3:39pm
Have to agree. I would specifically avoid a product like this, no matter how well reviewed, because of the cheesy fake bullets.
t.y.wan
November 08, 2011 at 2:33pm
Have no idea why they still use dumb and fake weapon parts for the heatsink...
and finally, after all these years, all PCI-e slots! Wonder if they are express 3.0 CERTIFIED or not...
It also seems unlike the old BIGBANG, the heatpipe is "smaller" and flattened, not quite as pleasing as it looked in the original bigbang, in my opinion.
Tenhawk
November 08, 2011 at 1:18pm
Debatable. On the right case, with some decent aforethought, it could look pretty cool. I mean it IS being marketed to Modern Warfare 3 gamers and the like, after all.
