There are photos online appeared of MSI’s latest addition to its Big Bang series. The Xpower II is based on the X79 chipset and has seven pci-express slots. To there place for to offer the board a xl-atx form-factor
The Xpower II is built around Intel’s lga2011 socket for the upcoming Sandy Bridge-E processors later this month be introduced. On the pictures you will see that on both sides of the socket, four ddr3 memory slots are placed. The board has the power supply in addition to a standard 24-pin connector two achtpins cables are required. For an optimal power supply to the pci-express slots can also have a 6-pin power connector to be plugged in.
The power supply to the chipset via a vierentwintigfasige vrm, while the memory vierfasige variant is used. The vrm heatsink is modeled after a gatling gun, and the heatsink on the chipset is in the form of a set of bullets are made. Gigabyte did this previously with his Sniper motherboards.
In total, the board seven pci-express slots, of which the first and fifth on sixteen lanes. The rest should be eight pieces. There are six sata 600 and four sata 300 ports are available, and the number of usb 3.0 ports comes in eight; four via internal headers and four on the back. Further to the back panel six usb 2.0 ports, two gigabit ethernet ports, and a firewire connection. Audio can analogue be connected but also via a coaxial s/pdif or optical cable. There is also a ps/2 port for a keyboard or mouse. The board has a xl-atx form-factor and can, therefore, only in an oversized cabinets be built.
