EVGA X299 Dark, LGA 2066, Intel X299, SATA 6Gb/s, USB 3.1, USB 3.0, EATX, Intel Motherboard 151-SX-E299-KR

This is my first EVGA mobo and was by far the easiest setup and install. The UEFI menus are clear and intuitive and show that there was a lot of thought into the ease of use and not just the looks.Pros:Build quality: This is the first mobo I have ever used where the ATX power connectors could be easily be plugged and unplugged without some amount of wiggling or busting a finger on the case when the plug finally lets go.No bloat: You don't need special vendor software to unlock all of the features or setup correct fan curves.Plug layout: The overall layout and then having the more intrusive connections at 90 degree makes cable management much easier.Look: The entire Dark series is great for those of us that want a stylish mobo but not all of the RGB and color scheme. This allows an overall system design that doesn't have to work around "what matches my mobo lighting and colors?" Stylish, classic design and coloring.Cons:It's wide: EATX - make sure you have space.Fan Headers: There are a lot but not all are fully PWM capable.No front USB type C header. Not a deal breaker by any means (it has one on the back I/O) but something people may just assume is there.

So far all is good, I haven’t booted past bios and have some more stuff on the way to finish working on it. M.2 is easy to get to 3 screws and a plate to get past. Cpu and cooler are easy to get on and everything fits well so far. Tested a card and with some ram with long heat sinks it still fit well in slot 1. CMOS reset worked fine on first test and getting ready to throw it all into a mineral oil tank for fun.

Pro: -Fans everywhere-Loads of PCI Slots-Optional Overclocking in BIOS software that actively measures your system capabilities to run maximize its performance.- Looks cool and feels durable.Con: -If your going SLI only one card will be able to fit in the slot with the fan, unless you do further modifications to your GPU’s.Needs an additional 6 pin PCIe power connector for the extra fans, on top of the 2x 8 pin connectors for the CPU.*TIP*There is a tiny box in the top corner with 5 pin sized white switches. They turn your PCI Slots on and off. I had one turned off when it arrived and it took awhile to identify it.

Super amazed at this boards capabilities. I needed to learn a few new things, which was fun. But out of the box, it clocks your CPU to optimal performance. Be aware that this isn't a "workstation" replacement. This chipset is specifically built for HEDT overclockers, not like X58, X79, X99 series workstation chipsets. It's finicky unless you LEARN how to make it sing to you. Rest assured that higher memory clocks AND lower timings will be more stable, and CPU's will rage... without the VRM temps budging.LOVE this board!! And STILL learning its secrets.

Hitting 12,200+ on CPUZ testing. One thing is that you have to manually go through the bios to set fan speeds for the onboard fans (m.2 slots and VRM fans or they will howl) easy board for working with. Had used AsRock, gigabyte, MSI, Asus on other builds. For the x299 series of chips, these are the best all around I have found. We have them on the in the Lab constantly running at a 45 clock multiplier (stock is 30) they range between 28c and 58c in operation with a 360 size water cooler with Noctua triple fans.The VCM actually has a decent heat pipe as well. Only questionable point is where the m.2 cooling exits. It’s is a sealed system cooling two m.2 ssds. PCIE 4 can get hot, so active cooling is great. They should have vented that straight out the back of the mobo. Not sure why they did it the way they did in that there is a 90 degree turn the air has to make. Temps look good though so no complaints. Solid board.

New built.. Dark Mtherboard boot in the first try. Had to upgrade BIOS but that went smoothly . Sad is not PCI4 even when it says it is.. After 15 days no issues.. after 3 years the bios died, it literally fell off from the motherboard, not solder but appears glued. NOT FOR LONG TERM USE..

The Kings of motherboards.

Probably a great board, but was shipped out with the wrong bios chip, and couldn't even post to do an update. After a couple hours of trouble shooting and an hour on the phone (on 1/11) found out I might get the chip by 1/17. Guessing the board would work great at that point, but with a 1/17 deadline to meet, my system is currently useless and I'm going to have to go with another board. For the record, I believe it's jus the i9 10XXX chips that are impacted by this.TLDR - don't purchase if you're in an enterprise environment or have critical tasks.