Features -
In the current market motherboard (and indeed almost all component) performance is very close. The days of a large performance advantage between boards using the same chipset are long gone. That is unless someone makes a HUGE mistake (like runs traces completely wrong). Now, the thing that differentiates different products is the features. These are things like power management, extra slots, better audio CODECs etc. It is these items that R&D teams work so hard to drop into what are really identical pieces of hardware at their most basic level.

Intel’s boards are usually light on what most people would consider “features” this does not mean they are not good products; it just means that these are the reference boards. Intel is giving you the baseline for what you should get in terms of performance and stability. They are not going to load it up with a ton of extras like you get with many other companies.

Excellent -
Bluetooth and Wireless N module
Quad Channel RAM Support
Overclocking Assistant

These items are design choices that help the board perform well. The wireless built into the board is a nice touch but one that has been done and is becoming more and more common. Still it is nice to see it here.

In the middle (sort of good) -
Solid Caps
BIOS flashback
Multiple 4-pin Fan headers
Three-Way SLI (using the CPU)
CrossfireX

These are nice extras but are not items that are going to push things over the edge for a buying decision. With the possible exception of the three-way SLI feature.

Floor Mats -
Diagnostic LEDs
Multiple USB 2.0 headers
USB 3.0

These are the types of things that are filler; again they are nice, but they do not make the board what it is. Like we said you are not getting loaded up with features here, but you are getting a solid and stable board most of the time.