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WITH A SIX PACK of Serial ATA RAID, dual Gigabit Ethernet controllers, High Definition Audio, and a whopping 46 PCI Express lanes, NVIDIA's nForce 590 SLI chipset is easily the most feature-rich core logic chipset available for AMD's new Socket AM2 platform. Squeezing all of those features onto a motherboard is a tall order, which is why NVIDIA enlisted Foxconn to help design its nForce 590 SLI reference board. NVIDIA was intent on providing a solid reference platform loaded with features for overclockers and enthusiasts, and Foxconn was so happy with the design that they've released it as a retail board: the C51XEM2AA-8EKRS2H.

Awkward name aside, the Foxconn board is essentially the nForce 590 SLI as NVIDIA intended it. Other mobo makers have a slightly different take on the chipset, though. While the Foxconn is a lean nForce 590 SLI implementation with few frills, Asus' M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition is an orgy of indulgent extras, including external Serial ATA, passive chipset cooling, integrated Wi-Fi, tinted windows, and spinners.

The C51XEM2AA and M2N32-SLI Deluxe represent opposite ends of the nForce 590 SLI motherboard spectrum, but are they really so different? Join us as we explore what these two extremes share, where they diverge, and which one is right for you.

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