The X99 platform was recently refreshed with Intel's Broadwell-E range of processors designed to offer content creators and professionals working with multi-threaded workloads the absolute best performance. Those with deep pockets now have the opportunity to deploy the world's first 10-core processor outside of the Xeon family. From what I?ve seen so far, the new architecture hasn't enticed existing users to upgrade due to the hefty pricing and value of the 5280K on the second-hand market. Nevertheless, it's encouraged motherboard vendors to unleash new products which contain more gaming-orientated features. This is mainly because Broadwell-E motherboards are compatible with previous generation processors like the 5820K and 5930K. In particular, the 5280K became a firm favourite among high-end consumers due to the 6-core, 12-thread configuration which only cost slightly more than the i7-6700K. In theory, this should broaden the appeal of Broadwell-E motherboards sporting fresh and exciting designs.

ASUS has gained a lot of consumer confidence over the past decade and continues to innovate in the motherboard market. They?ve just compiled the first STRIX motherboard which retails at the very competitive price of £279.99 and looks absolutely stunning. As you might expect, the ASUS STRIX X99 GAMING utilises premium components and supports the spectacular Aura RGB lighting system. Additionally, it's capable of housing three graphics cards in either an SLI or CrossfireX setup. On another note, the motherboard can reach WiFi speeds up to 867Mbit/s and push NVMe storage devices to their maximum potential. Given the exceptional specification and marvellous aesthetics, I?m expecting the ASUS STRIX X99 Gaming to excel in every department.