Foxconn is the registered trade name of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of advanced computer, communications, and consumer electronics components, including motherboards, graphics cards, CPU coolers, barebone systems, and chassis for personal computer desktops and servers.

We asked Foxconn to provide us with their latest 775 socket based motherboard for Intel platforms, the 975X7AA-8EK7AA. This motherboard is designed for Intel's Pentium Extreme Edition, Pentium D and future Presler and Cedar Mill processors based on the Intel 975X + ICH7R chipset with 1066/800MHz FSB and Dual Channel DDRII 533/667 support. The 975X7AA-8EK7AA also has two PCIe VGA slots, dual Gigabit Lan and High Definition 7.1 channel audio.

- Features

• Supports Intel® Pentium® processor Extreme Edition, Pentium D and future Presler and Cedar Mill processors
• RoHS Compliant
• Intel® 975X + ICH7R chipset
• Exclusive FOX ONE technology
• 1066/800MHz front side bus
• Dual Channel DDRII 533/667 and more, max 8GB
• 2 x ATA133 + 6 x Serial ATA II
• 2 x PCIex16 (Signaling at x8), 2 x PCIex1, 2 x PCI
• Dual Marvell 8055 Gigabit (10/100/1000) Ethernet (PCIe)
• Realtek ALC882H; 7.1 channel (HDA)
• 8 x USB 2.0
• Redundant BIOS
• 64-bit and Hyper-Threading technology

- Specifications

Dual PCI-E Graphics Performance
The Intel 975X chipset supports a maximum 8 GB dual-channel DDR2 667/533 architecture, 1066/800 FSB, PCI Express x16 graphics and dual-core CPU. With the 5 x Serial ATA ports routed through the SATA 3 Gb/s RAID controller integrated into the ICH7R Southbridge, the Intel 975X satisfies the raw bandwidth needs of gamers when overclocking both the CPU and memory. The dual PCI-E graphics slots support two 8-lane PCI Express links for fabulous graphics performance for next generation GPUs and games as well as video rendering and other memory intensive applications. With an increasing number PC game developers taking advantage of dual GPU performance, the 975X7AA-8EK7AA is ready for tomorrow’s action.

The “FOX ONE” Advantage
The cutting edge “FOX ONE” central control system is designed exclusively for FOXCONN motherboards with Intel chipsets. It enables the automatic monitoring of a PC's system status, including system frequencies, voltages and temperatures, as well the automatic and intelligent adjustment of major system components. It also gives users the ability to make extensive manual adjustments. FOX ONE Technology enables users to choose between 4 modes: Auto, Power Gaming, Data Mining and Energy Saving. FOX ONE makes it easy for users to tailor their systems to match performance needs, without the risk of damaging the CPU or other components.

The 975X7AA-8EK7AA has a Realtek ALC882H onboard audio codec for HDA and 8-channel (7.1 surround) sound and audio. The board supports eight channel analog outputs along with two digital outputs through optical and RCA S/PDIF connectors. The board supports 8 x USB 2.0 ports. One really useful feature is a rear SATA II external connector that easily extends serial ATA device support without opening the chassis. Faster than USB, it is perfect for an extra SATA HDD or Optical device. The motherboard supports 64-bit and Hyper-Threading technology for the newest Intel processors and software applications. A Dual Marvell 8055 Gigabit (10/100/1000) Ethernet (PCIe) controller provides high performance LAN connectivity. Support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10, RAID 5 disk management is available as is the new RAIDm1 (Reliable Access In a Disk by mirror1) function that enables RAID 1 functionality in one hard disk, saving the cost of one drive.

The board includes seven super functions that allow users to customize, modify, personalize and backup their motherboard settings. A BIOS backup function is provided provide in case of BIOS boot failure or virus attack.

- Retail Package

The retail package includes:

• The motherboard
• 2 x SATA cables
• 1 x 2-port USB2.0 port module
• 1 x 2-port IEEE1394 port module
• 2 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
• 1 x FDD cable
• 2 x power SATA cables
• 1 x I/O Shield
• User' s manual
• 1 x CD with drivers and utilities