[section_title title=”Packaging”]Packaging
Starting with the front of the packaging as per our norm we can see it comes in true ROG fashion. We have the ROG logo in the top left with the model name just below. The background also has a nice red design going on and across the bottom we can see some of the man specifications/features of the Crossblade Ranger.
On what I would call the bottom, there is a list of some more of the features with a small description of each.
Onto the back and this is where things start to get fun! Here we have some more specifications and features listed, we can see the Crossblade Ranger comes equipped with SupremeFX, GameFirst II, KeyBot and Sonic Radar II among other things. Below that is a more detailed specification list of the Crossblade Ranger and what it can support. It goes on to let us know what CPU and memory it can support as well as how many expansion and USB slots it comes with.
One of the things I found nice and would go over well if I was in a shop purchasing a motherboard is the fact that ASUS have included even more information that is accessible by simply opening the front flap up a bit. Here we can see a full image of the motherboard, highlighting some of it’s main features.
On the top of the flap there is more information regarding the audio, networking, interface and the measures ASUS have taken to protect that which is the Crossblade Ranger.
As mentioned there is a full image of the motherboard pointing out some of the individual components that make it.
Inside the box aside from the motherboard there is a whole host of other things to help make sure people who purchase the Crossblade Ranger are all set and ready to go as soon as they open it up. Inlcuded are an ROG mouse pad, SATA cables, IO shield, HDD Label stickers, driver disk (though as always I recommend you go to the website and get the latest drivers if possible), a door hanger and of course a user guide should you come across any problems.
Any idea why the performance results are so much lower for the MSI A88XI board? Same CPU and same chipset, you’d expect the numbers to be similar… but that performance delta is HUGE!
It could be down to a number of things, advancements in drivers between the launch between them; with the APU focusing heavily on AMD software/drivers, it does make sense. But I appreciate what you are saying etc!