X58A-OC being shipped to world markets today.

[sin0822]

Yeah, and they dedicated an entire microsite to prove how much general audience they want to target: http://www.gigabyte.com/MicroSite/265/x58a-oc.html. I mean, it's literally there: "The GIGABYTE X58A-OC is the world’s first motherboard designed specifically for overclocking."

Don't start playing a ton of BS cards now that turns out it's more expensive than we all anticipated. It just is. Why? Dino said this: "It was planned to be released even cheaper but some delays and changes have increased the cost of production unfortunately." Perhaps it's like you say and the sales people were too afraid. All I read on (different) hardware forums is that non-overclocking people simply digg the colors and would consider buying the board at a lower price point. And for fcks sake, no the general audience will not buy this board for stereo audio, a sata 6g port and a few usb holes.

Does this change everything that has been written about this board, as a concept or as a product? No. Each and everyone of us knew that a project like this comes at a (metaphorical) cost. After all, this type of board is something sales people do not see everyday. Compromises have to be made. It's upto each and every individual to decide whether the compromise is still worth the purchase. Are you horrified, but still want to 'support' this particular type of product, chances are great it'll be a painful-akward moment when you take out your credit card.

We can discuss this at length over and over again, but it won't change the facts. A solid, stable board with high-end pwm, feature-poor and at an interesting price point ... that's what not only overclockers, but plenty of enthusiasts want (yes, perhaps even need). Just like with many of my childhood paintworks, the theory was very good but the excecution could have been a bit better. Doesn't mean you have to throw away the theory, just means you have to learn now and improve next time. Lesson in this case being: don't create delays, don't make it a tad too expensive.

You don't get marketing do you? its all about selling the product, giving a board like this made for overclockers really will sell it to non overclockers... SATA6G and USB 3.0 are MUST haves when selling an X58 board for this price.

I am not defending anything and I haven't changed my story at all, I always knew this board would end up costing more, and i haven't refereed to it as otherwise. $380 isn't that much compared to $450 rumors on HWbot, maybe $100 more than planned, but compared to other boards like the UD9 and R3EBE and Bigbung its well priced. IMO they priced it to compete at the retail level. I don't like it but that is how it goes and that is what I am trying to say. $280 was a great rpice for this board, but that is my take on why they priced it the same as other boards of its class.

And yea SATA6G will sell this board to a few ppl, you have no idea how many want RAID 0 for SATA6G SSDs, and FYI marvell SE9182 can do it and pretty damn good, rather than Marvell SE9128. I am on many forums everyday, this being one of the more extreme, and I saw many buy the G1 series for the SATA6G IC. You can never predict why someone will buy a board.

not everyone has to agree with you either.