Intel's first Thunderbolt-certified desktop motherboard (pictures)
With the Intel Desktop Board DZ77RE-75K, the first Thunderbolt-certified motherboard that also supports USB 3.0, PC users are able for the first time to enjoy all the popular storage technologies, including Thunderbolt, USB 3.0/2.0, SATA 6Gbps, eSATA, and FireWire in one system. The board also has even more to offer.
Dong Ngo
CNET editor Dong Ngo has been involved with technology since 2000, starting with testing gadgets and writing code for CNET Labs' benchmarks. He now manages CNET San Francisco Labs, reviews 3D printers, networking/storage devices, and also writes about other topics from online security to new gadgets and how technology impacts the life of people around the world.
Intel Desktop Board DZ77RE-75K belongs to Intel's Extreme series of motherboards that are highly optimized for performance tuning and overclock the core speed as well as graphics speed. The board supports all processors that use socket LGA 1155, including the Intel Core -K processor.
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The board comes in two versions -- boxed and OEM -- that cost $280 and $260, respectively.
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Notice the actual Thunderbolt port at the back of the board. This is the first motherboard from Intel that comes with support for Thunderbolt.
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And here the port is hosting a Thunderbolt cable, one that works with once Apple-only Thunderbolt devices.
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Similar to the new Macs, the motherboard comes with just one Thunderbolt cable. The idea is that you can daisy chain more devices since most Thunderbolt devices come with two Thunderbolt ports.
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The Intel Desktop Board DZ77RE-75K offers lots of ports besides the Thunderbolt port, including HDMI and USB 3.0.
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It also comes with a USB 3.0 module (boxed version only) for adding USB 3.0 to the front of a desktop computer.
