Im an AMD fan, and currently own an ASRock 890FX Deluxe3 board, so I've got some legitimate preferences on what I'd like to see in an 890FX/GX:
- Do away with PCI-E x1 or x4 (size) - full-sized PCI-Express slots are backwards compatible with shorter cards, so even if they only use 1/4/8 lanes, make them full length, for "just-in-case" flexibility, like a full size RAID/Sound card or something. And careful layout of all the slots, and include all 7 slots, not SIX (ASRock usually already does this). My ideal slots, from top to bottom, would be:
PCI-E x1/x4/x8 (full length)
PCI-E x16 (main)
PCI-E x1/x4/x8 (full length)
PCI-E x1/x4/x8 (full length)
PCI-E x16 (secondary)
PCI
PCI
^^^ This guarantees, that even if 2 dual-slot graphics cards are installed, a wireless, RAID, and sound card can be fit, which are typically PCI, PCI-E, and PCI-E/PCI these days; and all without using up too many lanes. Plus it'd look pretty sweet with 5 PCI-E in a row!
- Continue using the onboard Power/Bios-reset switches - I LOVE THOSE! And bios codes via onboard LED are also helpful.
- Network: Onboard wireless-N (dual-band) would make my life so much easier - there are no decent full-speed 300mbps add-on cards with dual-band support yet, and if ASRock jumped the gun on this one, I'd probably swap out my MB tomorrow for one. Dual-band is a must for me in my apartment, where microwaves, cordless phones, and dozens of other Wi=fi networks plague my reception on the 2.4GHz channel. Also, Dual Gigabit would be much appreciated. An external antenna as an option, or even standard, would be great too.
- Bluetooth 3.0 shouldn't be tough to implement, and would save me $30 or so of having to buy a USB dongle to hook up my already-pre-ordered Nokia N8 with bluetooth 3.0 support.
- All SATA (minimum of 6, prefer 8, I use all 8, and a dozen or more would be nice, ha) ports facing forward, not to the side, and NOT in any of the four potential slots for dual graphics cards! Nothing is worse than getting a second card to Crossfire, only to realize you have a clearance issue with four SATA ports. Put them on the bottom with the PCI Slots, PLEASE! Also, please keep them all in the same general area; my current ASRock board has two by themselves near the back side of the board, it just pisses me off.
- Make a modular front-port connector that's easy to throw all the connections on, and then you plug the entire thing into the motherboard at once, but also be capable of doing it manually. Some ASUS boards have/had this innovative option, and I loved it.
- If it's got onboard graphics (890GX), please stick with DVI/HDMI first, VGA can easily be adapted to, but DVI/HDMI to VGA is not very common, and is a pain, if your monitor doesn't have HDMI, but you don't want any analog shyte. Of course, if you can squeeze in VGA, go for it, but not too many will cry without it these days; that's what DVI-to-VGA adapters are for. If they need ONLY VGA, the shouldn't be buying a high-end 890GX board anyway, enough said.
- a single heatpipe running all over the NB/SB/PCBs, etc has helped keep system temps steady on a few past boards, I'd like to see that again; my system temp is usually 5-10 degrees (C) higher than my CPU temp, so that should be addressed...
- optical AND Coaxial audio options, both onboard, would be amazing, as a standard, in addition to analog 6-channel.
- Keep the power connection for the motherboard as far up in the corner as possible; people with bottom mounted PSU's should have sufficient cabling anyway, and that gets the power cable away from all the sATA/PCI-E (and even ATA, if you're kicking it old-school still) clutter, and helps a tad with ventilation in some cases.
- AT LEAST 10, maybe even 12 onboard USB options. You can never have enough, and it's not too much to ask for. As many as possible should be 3.0 these days too. Please put at least 6 USBs on the I/O ports on the back, too. I'm sick of buying add-on cards and wasting an expansion slot, or using a hub, just for 1-2 more USBs that my board should have. Four rear doesn't cut it for long with a decent consumer these days.
- Linux support if possible doesn't hurt; I use Ubuntu on occasions, and it's really nice when everything is supported out-of-the-box, but just a small perk.
- Lastly, please do not neglect to include the aging PS/2 plugs for the mouse and keyboard. Sometimes it's just what we need, when we're in a hurry or working remotely, and there's nothing worse than taking a standard keyboard to the back of a board and realizing, "GASP", no PS/2 connection.
If there were a board that met half of these requirements, I'd buy it tomorrow. And I really appreciate the fact that a manufacturer out there is even considering reading reviews/comments/preferences of their consumers. I've waited years for this, and ASRock has just earned a heap of brownie points with me.
I'll be watching to see what comes out of ASRock's oven next, this is exciting!