Foxconn BlackOps: Extraordinary Mainboard on Intel X48 Express ...

Tag : mainboard

Hon Hai Precision Industry Company that owns Foxconn trademark wasfounded back in 1974. Today, the name of Foxconn Technology Groupis familiar to everyone who is at least a little bit intocomputers. In the end of August 2007 the company introduced QuantumForce mainboard series for computer enthusiasts. The first modelthere was Foxconn Mars, which we have already discussed in ourarticle called “ Foxconn Mars Mainboard on Intel P35 Express Chipset ”. In January 2008 at the CES show they demonstrated for thefirst time a new Quantum Force mainboard on Intel X48 Express. Italso got a name: Foxconn BlackOps. The board officially launched inthe end of April 2008 and today we decided to finally :) offer youa detailed coverage of its features and functionality. Package and Accessories
The front of the Foxconn BlackOps box is decorated with thecorresponding special force unit. The board model name is writtenin very original font, all the logos are there and themanufacturer’s name is very visible and eye-catching.

The back of the box lists some of its features:

We usually provide box shots in all our reviews so that the userwho liked the board could easily identify it on the store shelfamong a bunch of other solutions. However, there is one more reasonwhy Foxconn package will definitely catch your eye. This box is alittle taller, much longer and twice thicker as any of thetraditional mainboard boxes. So, it can blend in among the boxeswith large liquid-cooling systems, small system cases or consumerproducts, but not among other mainboards, that’s certain.

The external box is a decorative cover-box made of thin cardboard.The contents of the package is secured in an internal box of thickcardboard that holds a box with the mainboard and two small boxeswith accessories. The mainboard is bundled with FDD and IDE cables,two kinds of Serial ATA cables – with straight and L-shapedconnectors, rear panel I/O Shield and an additional bracket withtwo USB and one IEEE1394 ports. Among “pleasing extras”we could definitely point out plastic ties and a Quantum Flow-GPUBlower. In fact, it is a regular 120-mm fan with a set of retentionblackest and screws. It should supposedly help better cool thegraphics cards in the system.
Table of contents: Package and Accessories PCB Design and Functionality BIOS Setup Software Overclocking Conclusion