The new P55 boards offer a few new surprises, along with some technological evolutions that push forward the notions of what motherboards could, or should, be. ASUS is one company at the forefront of that push, known for producing some premium boards including their popular Republic of Gamers series of products for the diehard gamers and enthusiasts. From examining their most recent lineup, it appears that many of the features and quality control is now appearing in their "mainstream" products, though the capabilities of some of the boards are definitely above mainstream.

The P7P55D Deluxe is a premium LGA1156 motherboard for those looking to push their Core i5/i7 and appreciate the finer points of design and quality. It certains looks enticing, but we know that what separates the contenders from pretenders are the features, ease of use, stability, overclockability, and value you get for the price you pay.

There's quite a bit of ground to cover in determining if the P7P55D Deluxe can live up to its pedigree, so let's get started.

Thanks go to our friends at ASUS for supplying the review sample.

"ASUS, a technology-oriented company blessed with one of the world's top R&D teams, is well known for high-quality and innovative technology. As a leading company in the new digital era, ASUS offers a complete product portfolio to compete in the new millennium. The philosophy of ASUS product development is to do the fundamentals well first before moving forward. Started with computer components such as motherboards, graphic cards, and optical storage devices, ASUS now has now over 16 product lines, including desktop barebone systems, servers, notebooks, handhelds, network devices, broadband communications, LCD monitors, TVs, wireless applications, and CPT (chassis, power supply and thermal) products."