The ASUS TUF series components - standing for The Ultimate Force - are all about reliability and durability. Built using the highest quality parts and tested under extreme conditions, these motherboards can take almost anything you can throw at them.
After introducing a P55-based model last year, the company is applying the same rigorous standards to an LGA1366 board with the all-new SABERTOOTH X58.
ASUS is claiming that the motherboard is as durable and reliable as any server or mainframe component, capable of surviving round-the-clock use without giving up. This is made possible by a focus on thermal management that involves using ceramic heatsinks on key components. The circuitry has also been tested against military standards to withstand extremes of temperature and humidity.
Of course, opting for reliability doesn't mean that you need to sacrifice features. The new board supports USB 3.0, SATA 6Gbps, eSATA, and two-way SLI or four-way CrossFireX multi-GPU set-ups. However, the fact that the fourth GPU would be limited to a PCIe x1 slot makes using more than three graphics-cards less than ideal.
While the extreme reliability will make this motherboard perfect for mission-critical and long-life uses, its focus on thermal performance and extreme conditions could also make it an excellent option for overclockers. Rock-solid reliability should ensure that the SABERTOOTH X58 keeps running even under pressure.
While you'd expect the high-grade components to come at a price, ASUS' latest is far from the most expensive X58 board on the market. It may not include some of the more specialist features of consumer-focused models, but at a hair over £150 (inc VAT), the latest TUF motherboard looks like a good option for anyone who expects their system to go through the wars.
Full specs are available here.
