MaQboard is basically just a motherboard that comes with an Intel Xeon 3.4GHz processor embedded into it.

They then included a bootloader so you can install OS X into the system. Of course, you will have to purchase the additional parts to complete your set-up. That means you pick your RAM stick, your desired GPU, hard drive, ODD and a PC case to complete the set-up.

Fortunately, the folks from IonTech already sent me the entire rig that’s been configured and pre-installed with OS X (MaQboard, 4GB RAM, 1GB GPU, HDD, CoolerMaster case).

All I needed to do was boot it up and try it out. That’s it!

So far, it’s been running just fine. The rig was pre-loaded with Mac OS 10.6.7 Snow Leopard and was working as expected. The additional peripherals I plugged into the PC worked as well.

The MaQboard and Intel Xeon 3.4GHz bundle costs about Php7,999 in stores which isn’t bad but I was hoping it could have offered a choice of processor, at least a dual-core model.

In any case, it’s a good start when you want o set up a really affordable OS X rig at home, especially if you have spare parts lying around. I might just do this project once I get some spare time.

The motherboard was designed to look like a rifle — just look at that magazine below that serves as some sort of a heat sink .

The G1 Sniper2 is for Intel processors and supports Socket 1155 with Intel Z68 Express Chipset.

It supports up to 4DDR3 DIMM slots with capacities of up to 32GB of memory as well as Support for Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory modules.

At the back, you got 1 HDMI port for 1080p video output, Gigabit LAN (Bigfoot Killer E2100 chip), eSATA, and support for AMD CrossFireX/NVIDIA SLI technology.

It’s got 14 USB 2.0/1.1 ports with up to 4 USB 3.0 ports. Just check out all those ports at the back panel of the board. Coolness, huh?

The Asus M4A89TD Pro was built with an AMD 890FX chipset but targeted to the more affordable category. The board can handle four (4) DIMMs of DDR3 RAM (1066MHz and 1333MHz clock speed) for a maximum of 16GB total memory capacity.

Asus M4A89TD Pro
AMD 890FX chipset
AMD SB850 Southbridge
4 x 4GB RAM support (16GB max)

There are quite a number of AMD CPUs you can use with this board. For the Athlon II, you’ve got the X2 (250u to 245e and the 260), X3 (415e @ 2.4GHz up to the 445 @ 3.1GHz) and the X4 (600e @ 2.2Ghz to the 640 @ 3.0GHz). With the Phenom II, it starts with the 910e running at 2.6GHz up to the 965 running at 3.4GHz.

The mobo has a conservatively good amount of ports and expansion slots:

• 2 x 16x PCI-Express 2.0 slots (x16/x16) with ATI CrossFire-X support
• 1 x 4x PCI-Express 2.0 slot
• 1 x 1x PCI-Express 2.0 slot
• 2 x PCI slots
• 2 x Realtek RTL8111E PCI-Express Gigabit LAN
• 6 x SATA 6Gbps ports from SB850 supporting RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5 and JBOD
• 1 x SATA 3Gbps ports and one IDE port from JMicron JMB361
• 2 x IEEE1394a Firewire ports (one rear I/O, one via pin-out)
• 14 x USB 2 ports (eight rear I/O, six pin-outs)
• Realtek ALC892 7.1 channel w/ coaxial and optical S/PDIF outputs

We think that’s more than enough ports to go around.

The Asus M4A89TD Pro motherboard will have a suggested retail price of Php9,790 when it comes out in stores. Not that cheap but ti’s one of the better alternatives you can get to pair with the newer CPU models.

It’s got dual Gigabit LAN, a 16MB Flash ROM and the USB 3.0 is powered by a NEC D720200F1 chip that supports 2 ports on the back I/O panel. This is the world’s first motherboard that supports the new USB 3.0 that allows data transfer rates up to 600MB/s (Note though that on October 27th, 2009 Gigabyte announced 7 new P55 chipsets motherboards that included onboard USB 3.0, SATA 6Gb/s and triple power to all USB ports but these were just announcements and not actual release.).

LGA1156 socket for Intel Core i7 and Core i5 Processors
Intel P55 Express Chipset
Intel Turbo Boost Technology
4 x DIMM DDR3 (up to 16GB) 2200(OC)/1600/1333/1066 MHz
Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)

It is reported that Intel is not supporting USB 3.0 until 2011 but we’ll have to thank other manufacturers like Asus to introduce this to the market earlier. Expect external storage devices will offer support for USB 3.0 soon (like Freecom).

2 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots
2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots (2.5GT/s)
2 x PCI slots
Supports NVIDIA Quad-GPU SLI
Supports ATI Quad-GPU CrossFireX
6 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports
1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 for up to 2 PATA devices
2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports
VIA VT2020 10-channel High Definition Audio CODEC
Coaxial / Optical S/PDIF out ports at back I/O
2 x IEEE 1394a ports
2 x USB 3.0 ports
10 x USB 2.0 ports (4 ports at mid-board, 8 ports at back panel)

Note: The first USB 3.0 ports were featured on the Asus P6X58 motherboard, however this board was canceled before it hit production.

Expect this model to sell for around Php15,000.

It has a micro ATX form factor so it’s perfect for small media PC systems. It’s actually a bit tiny for a micro-ATX form factor.

Specs: Asus P5QPL-AM
Intel G41 chipset with ICH7
Socket LGA 775 for Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad CPUs
FSB 800/1066/1333 MHz
2 x DDR2 dual-channel slots of up 8GB memory
PCI Express 1.1 x16, PCI Express x1, 2 x PCI slots
4 SATA 3Gb/s
1 x IDE
6-channel Realtek Audio
Gigabit LAN (Atheros)
Intel GMA X4500 Integrated Graphics

Don’t expect a lot from this motherboard since the Socket LGA775 has been around for almost half a decade now. These types of motherboards usually have built-in graphics in them (in this case, a GMA X4500).

Expect this low-cost motherboard to sell for around Php3,000 in stores (possibly lower). At that price range, this mobo is as practical as you can get with the specs worth the price tag.

The P7P55D Premium is the first motherboard to natively support a whooping 6Gbps data transfer with the latest SATA storage interface due to its exclusive expansion bridge. Other models in the series requires an expansion card to achieve the same result.

With its Hybrid Phase Technology, the P7P55D series motherboards deliver maximum efficiency and stable power. It has an active cooling technology that detects and balances power phase loadings and temperature in real time.

The new Hybrid Processor allows users to achieve superior overclocking very easily. Onboard tools prevents novice overclockers from making the system unstable.

The Hybrid OS meanwhile allows users to gain access to widely used application in mere seconds. It uses the built-in ASUS Express Gate which is based on a Linux distro to boot the machine in 5 seconds with limited functions which includes browsing.

For expansion slots, you get 2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 and 2 PCI slots. For GPU, it can handle ATI Quad-GPU CrossFire Technology and NVidia Quad-GPU SLI. It has 6 SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports supporting SATA Raid 0, 1, 5 and 10; an Ultra DMA for 2 PATA devices and up to 14 USB 2.0 ports as well as 2 IEEE 1394a ports.

It also features dual Gigabit LAN controllers from Realtek (first mobo we’ve seen that has 2 LAN ports) as well as a Via VT2020 10-channel (9.1) hidef audio codec.

The Asus P7P55D Series motherboards will come out in 5 different variants, from the Deluxe model to the Lite Edition (LE) and will have the following suggested retail price:

P7P55D Deluxe (16+3 Phase, SLI, CrossFireX, 2 Gigabit LAN) – Php 13,990

P7P55D EVO (12+2 Phase, SLI, CrossFireX, 10-CH audio) – Php 12,490

P7P55D PRO (12+2 Phase, SLI, CrossFireX, 2 x 1394a Firewire) – Php 10,990

P7P55D (P55 High Performance, 12+2 Phase, CrossFireX) – Php 9,490

P7P55D LE (Super-Value, 8+2 Phase) – Php 8,490

The Asus Maximus III Gene is another P55 motherboard which is compatible with most of the newer Intel Core i series processors (Core i5 750, Core i7 860 and Core i7 870).

The mobo supports up to 14 USB 2.0 ports, 6 SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports and an Gigabit LAN. There are 4 DIMM slots that support DDR3 memory.

There are several unique features of the motherboard that would attract gaming enthusiasts.

Speeding HDD. Utilising a dual channel design, Speeding HDD doubles data transfer rates, slashing game loading and data access times. To enjoy this technology, users simply have to connect two HDDs to the specially-marked SATA connectors on the Maximus III Series motherboard. The drives are set-up automatically — no manual configuration is required.

SupremeFX X-Fi. With its premium components and support for Creative Labs’ acclaimed Crystaliser, CMSS3D and EAX technologies, SupremeFX X-Fi delivers the most realistic and accurate audio in games. This iteration of SupremeFX X-Fi also supports Blu-ray output.

You’ll remember the Maximus III Formula which has an add-on card for the SupremeFX X-Fi, this model also has the same but it is already embedded on the board.

Asus tries to separate this form factor with the other — while the ATX Maximus III Formula is designed for hardcore gamers and performance seekers who demand the very best specifications and superior extensibility, the mATX Maximus III GENE is designed for case modders and budget-conscious gamers who prefer smaller machines, yet desire the power and features of RoG.

Of course, since this is a micro ATX form factor, it’s way smaller than Formula III and you only have less room to wiggle additional peripherals around.

Expect the Maximus III Gene to retail for about Php10,000 when it comes out in stores (about as half cheaper than the Formula III).

The Maximus 3 Formula is built for Intel’s Core i5 and i7 — sporting an LGA1156 socket that can run the 45nm Lynnfield and 32nm Clarksdale processors.

Specs and features:
4 x DIMM with 16GB maximum DDR3 RAM
2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 support single at x16 or dual at x8 mode
1 x PCIe x16 supports at x4 mode
2 x PCIe x1
2 x PCI 2.2
NVIDIA® SLI Technology / ATI® CrossFireX Technology Support
6 x SATA 3.0 GB/s ports
Gigabit LAN
2 x 1394a ports

There’s also a separate card — a SupremeFX X-Fi audio card as shown below (powered by Creative).

SupremeFX X-Fi discrete Audio Card
8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
EAX® Advanced HD 4.0
X-Fi CMSS®-3D
X-Fi Crystalizer
Creative ALchemy
Supports 1 x S/PDIF out header
Supports Coaxial/Optical S/PDIF out ports on rear
Blu-ray support

This one’s got the most number of ports we’ve seen yet — 14 USB 2.0 ports.

Similar to other RoG motherboards, the Maximus III Formula gets big scores for overclockers:
Extreme Engine Power Design (16-phase CPU power, 3-phase VTT power, 3-phase Memory power)
ROG Connect
CPU Level Up
Memory Level Up
Speeding HDD
iROG
Extreme Tweaker
Loadline Calibration
Intelligent overclocking tools (ASUS AI Booster Utility, O.C. Profile)
Overclocking Protection (COP EX (Component Overheat Protection – EX, Voltiminder LED, ASUS C.P.R. or CPU Parameter Recall)

We don’t have a suggested retail price but this item is listed on TipidPC for Php18,999.

This Asus Rampage Gene II otherboard is from the Republic of Gamers (ROG) series which specifically targets gamers and overclocking enthusiasts alike.

The Rampage II Gene sports an LGA1366 socket for Intel Core i7 and Intel X58 chipset. It’s got 6 DIMM sockets that can handle up to 24GB of DDR3 memory.

Expansion slots include 2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, 1 PCIe 2.0 x4 and 1 PCI 2.2 which supports NVidia SLI and ATI CrossFire technology. It also comes 7 SATA 3.0 ports, 1 eSATA and 1 ultraDMA 133 including 2 IEEE 1394a ports (FireWire).

There are 6 USB ports at the back panel and another 6 at the mid-board for a total of 12 USB 2.0 ports. The DVD installer that came in the box also contains some useful utilities:

• Asus Update
• Asus PC Probe II
• Asus AI Suite
• Asus AI Direct Link
• Asus TurboV
• Asus EPU-6 Engine
• Asus TweakIt

The Rampage II Gene mobo is compatible with the Asus OC Station we previewed here earlier. The OC Station allows users to easily control the speed and performance of the CPU/system from an display panel.

The board itself has a physical button switch for Start and Reset (as shown in photo above) of the system so you can kick-start it without even hooking it into the chassis.

It also comes with an LCD Poster — an external LCD screen that hooks up from the board and displays diagnostic info from the mobo. LCD Poster can display test and POST codes. It can also display current time, monitoring data like temperatures, voltages and fan speeds.

The Asus P7P55D Deluxe will support Intel’s Core i7 and upcoming Core i5 processors (LGA1156 Lynnfield). Based on Intel’s P55 express chipset, the Asus P7P55D can handle 4 DIMM for a maximum of 16GB of DDR3 RAM.

For expansion slots, you get 2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 and 2 PCI slots. For GPU, it can handle ATI Quad-GPU CrossFire Technology and NVidia Quad-GPU SLI. It has 6 SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports supporting SATA Raid 0, 1, 5 and 10; an Ultra DMA for 2 PATA devices and up to 14 USB 2.0 ports as well as 2 IEEE 1394a ports.

(click on images to see larger view)

It also features dual Gigabit LAN controllers from Realtek (first mobo we’ve seen that has 2 LAN ports) as well as a Via VT2020 10-channel (9.1) hidef audio codec.

What’s more impressive about this motherboard is that it features a remote controller (Turbo Key Touch-n-Boost) for users to be able to run the Turbo Mode. This means you can select a pre-configured overclocking profile at a press of a button. This reminds me of the good old days of the 386/486 era with that turbo button.

This is, by far, the only information we can share right now (we don’t even have any price points).