Meet the new boss, but it's not the same as the old boss. When Foxconn released its previous 975X7AA-8EKRS2H several months later than competing solutions, we had to wonder why it hadn't had time to revise it for Core 2 support. After all, Core 2 specifications had become widely known by then. But though Foxconn could have reacted that quickly, the company evidently already had plans for a Core 2 version and wasn't about to rush the job.

More than just a rehash of the previous board with Core 2 support added, Foxconn decided it could make the 975X7AB-8EKRS2H better than the "AA" version was before. Better, stronger, faster -- might this be the Six Million Dollar board? Can it break performance records like Lee Majors' bionic strength broke down doors? And can it do so without running up a bionic man-sized price tag?