EVGA X58 SLI Classified E760 reviewed

Packaging
The EVGA Classified E760 comes in a large and very sturdy box albeit without a carrying handle. The front has a very clean, hardcore look with carbon fiber - yet offers little else than make, model, and chipset of choice. The photos and information on the rear are, however, more than enough to focus your attention.

Simple packaging, yet a powerful statement - this board is definitely classified.

The package is basically a reused Classified E759 box; the taped over line in the specification section is the "True 3x16 PCIe 2.0 Performance" due to this being a non-NF200 revision, although still being able to run 3-Way SLI. This is typical EVGA - company has one box design and then just applies stickers that differentiate the products, such as their GeForce line-up with standard, SSC and FTW editions. A similar sticker has been affixed to the right side of the package too, whereas the left side contains the original information concerning the EVGA Step-Up Program--allowing you to upgrade the board within 90 days following the purchase.

The board is placed in an antistatic bag surrounded by cardboard casing with a foam frame. All accessories are sealed in plastic wrappings with EVGA logo.

Note the sticker covering the "NF200 Bridge chip included" part.

Having subjected the packaging to our drop and kick test, we can report that the packaging survived without issues. Even with repeated attempts the box corners remain dent and partially cracked, but the cardboard keeps its shape and protective capabilities. The packaging is made up of recyclable cardboard, and all parts shipped in the kit are RoHS compliant, i.e. lead free.

Once opened, all contents and accessories are easily unpacked although a carrying handle for a package of this size and weight would have been nice. Altogether, we do consider it to be one of the better boxes in terms of motherboard packaging.

That being said, you can see the distaste for AMD's products e.g. ATI Radeon graphics cards. There isn't a single notion of Crossfire or CrossfireX on the packaging [or ATI logos as such]. Seeing that the E760 can run up to four ATI cards together; wouldn't that be an equally strong unique selling proposition? The answer is very simple - EVGA produces only nVidia boards and it will stay that way for quite foreseeable time, given the big "no" that happened a while ago - EVGA was told to "go away" on the subject of overclocked Radeon boards in order to protect the players such as Sapphire, Power Color and so on.

Support
While the packaging does not mention support, the visual guide as the only object does. The quick start guide is affixed with EVGA Premium Services mentioning both email and telephone numbers for technical support throughout Europe as well as North America.

EVGA also has its main website, EVGA.com, printed everywhere on the box, visual guide, and user’s manual. There you can complete product registration, learn about the Step-Up Program, and visit its support forums which are frequented by both staff helping out customers, and customers helping each other.

The Step-Up Program was formed to grant customers the greatest amount of flexibility when purchasing EVGA products: Participants will be allowed, for one time only, to trade in their existing EVGA item and upgrade to a greater or newer revision. Note that not all customers and products are eligible for this program.

In terms of warranty information, the Classified E760 – instead of limited life-time warranty for the U.S. - now calls for a limited 10 year warranty in the EU, upon product registration within 30 days of the original date of purchase. Bear in mind that the difference in warranties between EU and US has nothing to do with EVGA. Just like Corsair, OCZ and other premium vendors, EVGA cannot offer lifetime warranty in European Union. Instead, they all had to opt to offer the maximum allowable warranty, and given that EU allows a maximum of 10 years - 10 years it is. This applies to other products from EVGA as well.