• ECS P55H-AK Black Series

    ECS P55H-AK Black Series

    Jayesh Limaye, Nov 17, 2010 1203 hrs IST

    A solid enthusiast board with CrossFireX and 3-way SLI

    Supports new unlocked Intel Core processors, comparatively inexpensive in its class, ATI CrossFireX and NVIDIA 3-way SLI, USB 3.0, SATA 3.0, dual Gigabit LAN, well-thought layout, good performer, supports all socket 1156 processors, supports dual channel

    No FireWire port

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Intel P55 Express is the mainstream chipset supporting the Intel Core i7 and Core i5 processors with the LGA 1156 socket and almost every manufacturer has motherboards based on this chipset charged at a premium. Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) on the other hand, has always been dedicated to provide consumers the best price/performance ratio.

Over the years, ECS has been known to be one of the largest OEM manufacturers for big companies, but its retail market presence has been comparatively weak. The first solid step it took into the retail market was with the launch of the Black Series motherboards which offered some good performance and features at a good price. But competitors still held the edge by offering even better products. Just when we thought that ECS may have given up, we spotted its brand new P55H-AK motherboard at Computex 2010 in July. In addition to support for new unlocked Intel Core processors, it boasts of CrossFireX as well as SLI (3-way), two Gigabit Ethernet ports, 15 micron gold contacts (thrice of what competitors offer), SATA 3.0 (6 Gbps) and four USB 3.0 ports. And that is not all, sporting a new color scheme, this motherboard is a serious looker. As you may already know, ECS "Black Series" motherboards are aimed at enthusiasts and gamers. Since this is a totally new test configuration, we will not be able to directly compare the results with anything, but you can still take a look at the results to get a general perception of how well the motherboard performs.




The first noticeable thing that caught our eyes is the new attractive packaging. The ECS P55H-AK comes packed in a Black Series box with a transparent side-window which is covered by a flap with the dragon mascot. Stickers have been prominently made use of, showcasing the various features of the motherboard. The summarized board specifications are there for your ready reference on the side, while detailed specs such as the M.I.B. BIOS and VRD 11.1 Compliancy are advertised at the back. You can also see the board layout on the back of the box, so that you do not need to open it to see the same.

Bundle






  • 2 SATA cables with one angled edge
  • 2 SATA 6G cables
  • Front port bracket and rear bracket for dual USB 3.0
  • 2 SLI bridges
  • CrossFireX bridge
  • I/O shield with neat labels
  • Quick Installation Guide
  • Manual
  • Driver disk


As you can see above, all the necessary accessories have been provided with this motherboard.

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Related Links
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Computex 2010: Intel P67 based ECS Mainboards
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ECS P55H-AK Black Series ECS P55H-AK motherboards



Discussion Board
(5) Comments
karthik
,Chennai, on Nov 17, 2010 12:12 PM
Why would anyone want to buy a P-55 mobo for 17k+ when we can get the Asus X-58 Sabertooth ~ 14k and the Gigabyte X-58 UD5 for 18k? Waste of money IMO.
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Nabil
,mumbai, on Nov 17, 2010 01:50 PM
because this supports new processors and X58 is ancient tech
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Sundar
,Chennai, on Nov 17, 2010 02:42 PM
^FYI Nabil, this is P55 not P67 which u pointing out' wrongly. This ECS P55H-AK is LGA 1156 soc which supports Lynfield and Clarkedale procys and not the Sandys which is for LGA 1155. Then who said X58 is ancient tech? Getting X-58 Sabertooth or Gigabyte UD5 Rev.20 is way better idea than this over priced P55 (LGA1156) board.
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manish
,mumbai, on Nov 17, 2010 04:27 PM
dear friends, how can you forget about the more expensive processors on those boards? it is better to buy AMD
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Nabil
,mumbai, on Nov 17, 2010 11:00 PM
@Sundar: for your information, I was pointing at the P55, and not the P67 or H67 which will support the future processor from Intel, codenamed Sandy Bridge, which will release in January 2011
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