Big and Bold
Pros: 7 PCI-E slots, 128GB RAM capacity, Extensive Feature set
Cons: Large size, Styling (arguably)
When I started my new PC build in November 2012 I wanted (within price constraints) to have the "best of the best" so bearing in mind it was an LGA 2011 build it came down to a choice between the RIVE and the MSI Big Bang Xpower II. After reading as many reviews as I could I settled on the XP2, based mainly on the expansion capacity (7 full PCI-E slots and 128GB of RAM). Straight out of the box this thing is HUGE; fully 1.5 inches longer than my previous mobo, an ASUS Maximus IV Extreme Z, so large that I had to get a new case, a Coolermaster HAF-X. The only real criticisms I saw made against it were of the "military" styling but in practice the "bullet" heatsink is virtually hidden and the "gatling gun" heatsink is also inconspicuous at the top of the board. As you'd expect with a high spec board performance is faultless and I would thoroughly recommend it.
