Presentation and Bundle
One thing often overlooked in other motherboard reviews is the presentation of the product. At the end of the day it doesn't really matter if you get your motherboard in a brown paper bag, but when buying high end computer goods you do expect some 'style' when it comes to the packaging. If the packaging looks cheap and tacky it will only lead to you thinking the product is the same.
Upon opening the box you immediately realise that you are getting a lot of goodies for your money. Asus have furnished us with a large array of cables and some interesting add-on back panel connections.
From top left we have 2 serial ATA cables, an I/O back plate, 2 UMDA 133 IDE cables, a UDMA 33 cable, standard floppy cable, a game port and USB bracket, an audio bracket and a firewire bracket.
Something I have yet to see from other motherboard manufactures is the inclusion of a handy motherboard layout diagram. The diagram is to be stuck inside/outside the pc case, and provides a quick reference to any jumpers or pin-out connector details.
