Though the processors aren't launching until January, motherboard manufacturers are ready to go with retail boxes and a range of products to suit a range of budgets.
ASRock's lower end offering is the P67 Pro.
ASRock is using a (currently) uncertified USB 3 chip from Etron on its Sandy Bridge motherboards.
The expansion port offerings aren't too exciting, but cover most bases, including legacy PS/2 ports.
The P67 Extreme is the high end ASRock model (there will also be a Fatal1ty branded high end board).
The P67 Extreme from ASRock differs from the P67 Pro in its support for more enthusiast features such as SLI and Crossfire.
There is only a moderate increase in I/O ports over the lower end model.
Again, the Etron USB 3 chip appears, this time driving a motherboard header.
ASUS' premium P67 Sandy Bridge board is the Maximus IV Extreme, and comes under ASUS' Republic of Gamers brand.
This is by far the biggest motherboard in our collection - a few centimetres wider than the others.
ASUS is going with a combination of the common NEC 2-port USB controller chip and the new VIA four-port hub chip.
Expansion possibilities abound on the Maximus IV, which is designed for high end enthusiasts.
Mere mortals will be more interested in the P8 P67 Pro.
This mainstream offering still has support for SLI and Crossfire.
It even has a built-in Bluetooth antenna.
ASUS offers a robust selection of I/O ports, although not as comprehensive as those on the Maximus IV.
MSI's mainstream offering is the P67A-GD65.
This motherboard supports SLI and Crossfire, and has extra SATA 6GBps ports.
One of MSI's big selling points is its power circuitry. These Super-Ferrite Chokes get a lot of coverage on the packaging.
Expansion offerings are pretty standard.
Gigabyte's Mainstream P67-UD4 uses the company's new black PCB design.
This board supports crossfire and SLI, with Gigabyte's heavy focus on USB 3 dominating I/O.
The power design is inherited from last generation's overclocking boards.
USB really does dominate the expansion options on the UD4.
Gigabyte's flagship UD7 motherboard competes in the premium space with ASUS' Maximus IV Extreme.
A lot of the design of the board comes from the ridiculously high end X58A-UD9 motherboard released last year.
This board is dripping with USB ports, including several headers for front panel USB 3.
In total there are 18 USB ports on the UD7, and most on the rear I/O are USB 3 capable.
There is a good chance that anyone going for a Sandy Bridge CPU early next year will end up with one of these motherboards.
Though the processors aren't launching until January, motherboard manufacturers are ready to go with retail boxes and a range of products to suit a range of budgets.