"The EVGA X299 Dark was built from the ground up to be the best overclocking motherboard on the planel, no compromises."
- Vince "K Ι NGP Ι N" Lucido
Some motherboard companies believe it is enough to tell you that their boards are fast. Others put enough RGB LEDs on their boards to make you think racing lights will make your board go faster. EVGA could have designed a board like those...or it could engineer the X299 Dark - a motherboard line renowned for being the top choice of the world's best overclockers. A motherboard that has already broken 12 World Records...so far:
- Vince "K Ι NGP Ι N" Lucido
Some motherboard companies believe it is enough to tell you that their boards are fast. Others put enough RGB LEDs on their boards to make you think racing lights will make your board go faster. EVGA could have designed a board like those...or it could engineer the X299 Dark - a motherboard line renowned for being the top choice of the world's best overclockers. A motherboard that has already broken 12 World Records...so far:
EVGA introduces you to the ultimate in raw performance for the next-gen Intel® X-Series lineup, the EVGA X299 Dark. The Dark is crafted from the ground up to be the performance apex with everything you need to make a record-breaking benching run or a 24/7 number cruncher, and nothing you don't - a board that is as reliable as it is fast. The EVGA X299 Dark has all of the current gen top-tier component support:
M.2 SUPPORT
2x M.2 Key-M slots / 1x M.2 Key-E slot
INTEL® OPTANE™
Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready
U.2
2x U.2 Ports
USB
USB 3.1 Type-A / Type-C
SKYLAKE-X
Up to 64GB of 4000MHz+ (OC) Quad-Channel RAM on Skylake-X
KABY LAKE-X
Up to 32GB of 4133MHz+ (OC) Dual-Channel RAM on Kaby Lake-X
LAN
2x Intel® GbE LAN with teaming support
BIOS
EVGA's Full Featured GUI UEFI / BIOS
LEGACY LGA20XX SOCKET BACKPLATE
Allows for custom CPU cooling solutions (optional)
There is much to be said about a beautifully-engineered motherboard designed to handle the highest loads or the most extreme conditions, let alone the rigors and abuse constantly demanded by the best overclockers in the world and still look good doing it. This was achieved, in part, by using:
- 12-Layer PCB
12-layer high-speed EATX PCBA with gold-plated shielded edge enhances stability for heavy loads, improved overclocking, and durability for today's extreme cooling hardware. -
Highly-Efficient 16-Phase PWM
The X299 Dark features a 16-phase Digital VRM (12 VCore, 1 VSA, 1 VCCIO, 2 Phase Memory PWM) for the cleanest, most stable power design to ensure that you're ready for Intel®'s Core i9 Processors. With this kind of power, the X299 Dark is equipped with dual-fans to maintain optimal VRM temperatures even with watercooled 18-core CPU overclocking. - 100% Solid State Capacitors
The X299 Dark is installed with 100% Solid State Capacitors to ensure a longer lifespan. - 300% Higher Gold Content in CPU Socket
Higher volume of precious metal (300% Gold) used in the sockets greatly improves the conductivity and produces a cleaner signal due to less resistance / impedance. - External BCLK / Clock Generators
An external BCLK controller for fine-tuning KBL-X and SKL-X system performance. and an external clock generator for PCIe stability and performance. - 8 SATA Ports - 6 from Intel PCH / 2 from ASM edia ASM 1061
The X299 Dark features 8 SATA Ports. 2 are supplied by the ASMedia ASM1061, which supports Windows XP for ultimate benching OS flexibility.
- Triple BIOS Select Switch
Switch between up to 3 different profiles for overclocking, benching, 24/7 use, or anything you can think of. - PCIe Disable Switches
The X299 Dark offers PCIe disable switches to quickly shut off PCIe slots to troubleshoot or restore used resources without the need to physically uninstall hardware. - ProbelT Connector
Attach your Digital Multimeter to the included ProbelT adapter and monitor your voltages in real-time. - PS/2 Port
Despite the X299 Dark's technical feats, it still features an old school PS/2 keyboard and mouse port to reduce latency and resources for benching and gaming. - Creative Core3D Audio
Creative 5.1 Channel Audio with output amplifiers - the industry standard for audio quality. - Intel® VROC Header
Intel® Virtual RAID On CPU (VROC) header provides support for CPU-attached NVMe RAID.
Although the X299 Dark does not feature RGB LED support, it politely reminds you that you can't see pretty in the Dark. This board is engineered for the ultra-enthusiast, including these features:
ACTIVE PCH & M.2 COOLING
Keep your SSDs cool under even the longest gaming or benching sessions with the X299 Dark's I/O and expansion slot cover. This cover provides direct airflow over your M.2 devices and exhausts away from the rest of your components.
4-WAY SLI SUPPORT
4-Way SLI support without the need for PLX chips.
- 4-way SLI support with 44-lane Skylake-X processors
- 3-way SLI support with 28-lane Skylake-X processors
- 2-way SLI support with 16-lane Kaby Lake-X processors
POST INDICATOR
Multi-Function POST Indicator - Fully configurable in BIOS, these LEDs can be configured to show temperatures, voltages or cycle both in real-time.
POST INDICATOR
Visual Guide / Bench Table - Every EVGA X299 Dark is packed with a printed PCB showing components, LEDs, PCIe lane breakdowns, and other helpful information. More importantly, this PCB doubles as an open-air testing or benching station, providing clearance for heaters, condensation, or even extra power supply storage.
PCIe / DIMM STATUS LEDs
PCIe / DIMM status LEDs allow for easy system assembly and troubleshooting at a glance.
RIGHT ANGLE HEADERS
24-pin power, FAN and USB3.0 headers - Hand-crafted design to provide clean system assembly without cable clutter.
The X299 Dark proves once again that until you have used it, you don't know the power of the Dark side of the EVGA motherboard lineup.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Chipset: Intel® X299
- Socket: Intel® Socket 2066
- Form Factor: EATX
- SLI: 4-Way
- Memory: 4 DIMM Quad-Channel (up to 64GB) DDR4 4000MHz+ (SKX), 2 DIMM Dual-Channel (up to 32GB) DDR4 4133MHz+ (KBL)
- USB: 8 Native USB 3.0 / 4 USB 2.0
- USB 3.1 (rEAR I/O): 1x Type-A, 1x Type-C
- SATA: 6 Native 6.0 Gbps Ports + 2 Legacy ASMedia 6.0 Gbps Ports
- Ethernet: 2x Intel® Gigabit NIC
- Audio: 5.1 Channel Creative Core3D Audio
- Fan Headers: 7 (2 PWM, 5 DC/PWM)
- PCB: 12 Layers
FEATURES
- 300% more gold content in the CPU socket
- 4-Way SLI® Support
- 100% Solid State Capacitors
- Onboard CPU Temp Monitors
- CLEAR CMOS, Power and Reset
- Dual 8 Pin CPU Power
- EVGA Probe-It Connector
- 1x M.2 Key E(32mm) + 2x M.2 Key M (80mm, 110mm)
- Legacy Windows Support, including Windows XP™
- External Clock Gen