Foxconn H67MP-V review

Foxconn’s H67MP-V (an alternate model number, H67MP-S, is used by some UK retailers) is a surprisingly cheap LGA1155 microATX board, proving once again that Intel’s new standard could be more cost effective than it at first appears. The motherboard has two PCI-E x1 slots and two PCI-E x16 slots, although one of the latter runs at just x4. Unfortunately, the true x16 slot is positioned in such a way as to ensure that any reasonably powerful graphics card will block the PCI-E x1 slot below when installed.

There are six SATA ports, but only two of those are SATA3. Four memory slots can handle up to 16GB of RAM running at overclocked speeds of up to 2,200MHz. Three USB headers can supply up to six extra ports if you connect them to extra ports on your case or on a dedicated back plate. The default back plate ports make for a decent range of connection options, although both Firewire and eSATA are conspicuous by their absence. Neither are likely to be missed, and eSATA can be added with a simple blanking plate that connects to an internal SATA port.

We were pleased to find a generous allocation of eight USB ports, two of which are USB3. There’s also a PS/2 connector, as well as the usual collection of six analogue stereo outputs for audio and VGA, DVI and HDMI outputs for the processor’s on-board graphics, which can play Full HD Blu-ray video and audio.

All in all the H67MP-V (or H67MP-S if you prefer) provides a decent range of ports and features and achieved a passable, if somewhat low, Overall score of 168 in our tests. It’s also one of the cheapest LGA1155 motherboards we’ve seen. However, if you can afford an extra £20, we prefer the speed, features and extra bells and whistles of the Asrock H67M-GE/HT. We reviewed the early release version of this motherboard, which is due to be withdrawn and replaced with a near-identical version that replaces a faulty SATA2 controller.