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I bought this product because I wanted to run a genuine PCIe 3.0 build using the X79 Intel Chipset and an Intel rated Rev 3.0 CPU. This paragraph here is my last one but I have dropped it in here so you can get the XEON E5-1660 info before reading the story behind it: I have sold the motherboard and CPU. I cannot take a chance with the Xeon, other than I checked it is in perfect working order and Intel has confirmed it is the newest and best and covered by warranty. It is back in the box as “Test Only” and “New” and will be on EBay asap. I cannot afford to build again after my losses and someone else will benefit from each one of these purchases including this XEON E5 -1660, which is REV 3.0 and is all and more than the 3960X was supposed to be. For the common home user, enthusiast, gamer, work-at-home, and build-your-own Desktop Computer, the only CPU that would legitimize every motherboard company's promised advertisement, was an Intel Xeon CPU. The Asus P9X79 WS (workstation) was the only Asus motherboard that was in the above mentioned build category, which listed the Xeon E5 1620, 1650, and 1660 as a compatible CPU. All of the X79 Gigabyte Boards listed the Xeon as a compatible CPU. Those were my two Motherboard company options from past experience. I had already purchased an Asus P9X79 PRO motherboard and the Intel 3930K Sandy Bridge E along with an Evga GTX 680 FTW+ 4GB Video Card, which was PCIe 3.0 capable, and the Areca 1882ix-12 4GB Memory, Rev. 3.0 Raid Controller Card which also was rated as PCIe 3.0 capable. These four components were all purchased based on the newly released PCIe 3.0 capable motherboards. Just these 4 components of the many needed components for the Desktop PC build, added up to nearly $2,500. I waited several months before opening any of the components due to the swirling rumors that apart from a "Registry Hack" or the small driver patch released by NVidia; PCIe 3.0 was at best a "better-than-nothing" improvement over PCIe 2.0. I was beyond my one month return time, but at least I had unopened New products if I were to decide to sell, unconvinced that the rumors and contradictory stories coming directly from Intel, NVidia, and the Motherboard companies, warranted my opening of $2,500 of quickly aging products. One day, based on a number of Forum's and News Outlet's reports, that “good news” was coming, I got out the razor blade and opened each package with precision; a step of faith with a backup plan that if I were to sell I could at least sell as “Tested Only” and “basically new” components that when repackaged it would be obvious to any buyer that what they saw would match my story that these components had less than two hours of use. Before the long-waited “unboxing” contacted Asus directly through phone and email to confirm that I was in safe territory. It turns out that the first phase of setting up and installing drivers, was unsuccessful I built the PC, updated the BIOS, loaded Windows 7 X64, installed every new driver, and ensured that this build was as “pure” as it could be. No PCIe 3.0. I have sold the motherboard and CPU. I cannot take a chance with the XEON E5-1600 as it is too valuable and will be an easy sell on EBay although I will probably lose more money. I did put it in the Asus X79 PRO to check it out completely before my return time expired. I didn’t want to open it but had no choice because I can’t sell a product that I am unable to vouch forRead full review