After spending a couple of days with this EVGA H55 Motherboard, we came up with a list of the good and the bad. Depending on what the intended use for this motherboard will be, it can be a fantastic option. Lets run down the good points first.

• The versatility of this board is one of it’s strongest points. You could simply buy a processor with built in graphics and have a very affordable office type workstation. Add a stand alone graphics card and you could have a very nice gaming system.
• Overclocking potential, while limited, is there and could be enhanced with BIOS updates.
• The six onboard fan headers are a great feature for those that utilize a lot of fans in their case.
• The voltage readout points are a feature the overclocking community will appreciate.
• Plenty of onboard USB headers along with eight more on the rear panel.
• JMicron SATA controller that supports RAID to supplement the Intel controller that does not.
• External clear CMOS switch at the back I/O area.
• Onboard power and reset buttons along with a post code LED display.

The bad.

• Limited overclocking with the current BIOS version, but may be limited by the CPU’s weak IMC.
• Display Port connection instead of HDMI. Display Port connectivity is not widely used by many components at this time. HDMI would have been preferred so one could connect the system to a TV that has HDMI ports and have sound without the need for additional audio cables.
• No S/PDIF connection. There is a header on the motherboard for S/PDIF but no bracket was supplied.
• BIOS chip is not replaceable.
• When using the CPU’s on chip graphics, raising the system bus speed also raises the graphics speed and you will quickly run in to problems with anything graphics intensive.
• Cold boots result in the global reset meaning the system will start, shut down for a couple seconds and restart again. When bus speeds or voltages are adjusted in BIOS the global reset actually happens twice.
• The user’s manual enclosed with the packaging is inadequate to say the least. Thankfully a very detailed manual can be downloaded from EVGA’s web site.

If you are looking for an entry level socket 1156 motherboard that is packed with features and has the ability to be upgraded to meet your desires, then the EVGA H55 should be near the top of your list. If your desire is to overclock to the extreme, then you may want to wait for a few BIOS releases to hit before diving into this EVGA offering. Given the proper attention by the EVGA BIOS team, this motherboard could become a real diamond in the rough.

The EVGA H55 Motherboard has earned Overclockers Tech Silver award and a 7/10 rating.

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