Yea, but the problem with that assumption is then, why do each of the changelogs say "bug fix" or "microcode update"? I think that many of the problems are actually fixable by BIOS coding. 
The EVGA X79 boards all seem functional for the most part too, and they are definitely not cheap $100 plastic boards (though they are definitely not ready to face the extra $200 RIVE and RIVF which has apparantly no problems with their bios). Not using a baseclock strap is also ok, but the network card goes because of the software the hardware is running. Similarly, b7/b9 errors happen almost always of the software (since it is incapable of properly estimating RAM timings on a heavy overclock). And many more like this...

Bios 047 is incomplete, I moved back to 045.
The C1E and EIST function is bugt.
 

Me too 
 
I believe in EVGA and their products. I believe the X79 boards by evga were rushed out into the market and they made physical board mistakes and are now stuck in a bind because they cannot be fixed by Code. It's the boards circuitry it self.
It would be nice to know the full truth and hear it from EVGA but as we all know that will never happen.
 
I have a feeling that the DARK x79 board is they're attempt to redeeming them self's for their mistakes with the first gen X79 they made.
 
I think all of us should who purchased their first x79 boards are entitled to some kinda of setup up program or discount on the X79 Dark for dealing with so many issues.
 
I bought my EVGA X79 SLI in May of last year and it was DOA with bios 25. Never have I had piece of hardware not work out of the box.
the RMA was quick,easy and super fast since I live in the same county as their corp office. Still though, to have a high dollar piece of hardware not work out of the box is unacceptable. 

johnksss

So how did you guys get Gen 3 to work wiith out the constant usb drop outs??

wait... gen3 works?

kumaran_s

My system freeze once in a while with all default bios settings. I tried to upgrade 44,45. Still same problem. Want to try with 47.

After updating to bios 47, my Windows Vista (yet to upgrade to Win 8) do not boot. Keeps rebooting with blue screen when crcdisk.sys module is loaded during boot.  I have to disconnect all sata disks,  in order to boot with USB (DOS) and re-flash 45 again. Now vista boots fine (still freeze problem is there).

 
When your computer freezes, does keyboard and mouse go black?

Finally downgraded to 45 and the problem with the overactive core went away. This is definitely a bios problem.

bio 41 is the only bio that i can overclock to 4.5 without random sound crashes or lost of network cards. this mobo blows. if i had money i would just get an asus mobo. i give up on it. im staying at 41 tell i get money and then i will smash it up. first pc part that gives me anger issues.

I am seeing 8% CPU usage on idle too (update 047).
 
imgur dot com forward slash a forward slash 7UOS7

I just did a benchmark comparing 041 and 047 with Sandra Lite. There is a considerable difference (test were done at idle and stock speeds on my Core i7 3820).
 
I would upload these images but for whatever reason they are failing. I can't post links due to restrictions.

Had an issue with 47, so I downgraded back to 45.
 
My issue was my system would not post video signal at startup.
I had to reboot multiple times, and randomly it would work.
I got a beer error that sounded like Beeeeeeep, beep, beep, beep.
I could not see what the code was, because he LED read out is blocked by a GPU.
Rather than investigate what it was, I cleared the BIOS, and flashed to 45.
 
Have not had that issue again since.

And yet another update. 045 also causes problems, so I went back to 044.
For me, this has solved all the obvious problems when running with default speeds.
But I have yet to be able to overclock this even a tiny bit.
 

Stay away from Bios 047, 044 is still the best one!!

I say that too some of most beautiful boards.
Really can't say exactly one model from EVGA is best looking because all are great and every enthusiasts wish them...
But Why so many incompatibility and not working hardware...
X79 would be most famous series from EVGA same like SR-2 and X58 Classified only with less problems, and performance like boards before that. 
That's worse thing, how to offer refund when some guys keep on 4.5 and 4.8GHz 18 months and one thing not work, for other work that something other not work. It's not 90% people can't turn board or can't enter in windows or BIOS and than start refund and they proclaimed not working series. 
Many of them keep build under water and still buy boards and still wish boards and still updates show up...

Try version 045, but then see if one of your CPU's is constantly idling at 50% use. If it is, go to version 044 and check again. If you now can idle at 0% across the list, you should be good.
 
Though I have yet to find a BIOS that doesn't give that intermittent "Power surge on USB hub blah blah" error. This, with nothing connected to the hub IN question.

kumaran_s

My system freeze once in a while with all default bios settings. I tried to upgrade 44,45. Still same problem. Want to try with 47.

After updating to bios 47, my Windows Vista (yet to upgrade to Win 8) do not boot. Keeps rebooting with blue screen when crcdisk.sys module is loaded during boot.  I have to disconnect all sata disks,  in order to boot with USB (DOS) and re-flash 45 again. Now vista boots fine (still freeze problem is there).

 
How come your not on Win7?????  and on Vista???? doesn't make any sense. Also I'd hold off on win8 if your a serious gamer. 
 
Drivers and SP need to mature.

Flashed the Rev 47 BIOS now the onboard audio pops and hisses during shut down. I have Logitech 5.1 speakers connected to the analog ports.
I’m also getting 3% CPU usage at idle