ASUS Maximus V GENE Motherboard review

Posted by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 04/25/2012 01:00 PM [ 0 comment(s) ]

Introduction

ASUS Maximus V Gene

Ivy Bridge processors are here, and that means we can now fully test the potential of Intel Z77 PCH based motherboards. Today we handle the the ASUS Maximus V GENE Z77 motherboard. The GENE series equals small mATX motherboards, small however does not mean less powerful..

Today we test the ASUS Maximus V Gene, a smaller motherboard (mATX) yet a product that just oozes with dandy features and overclock potential. Get this, we took a Core i7 3770K processor towards 5.0 GHz.

Next to the tweaking possibilities this is a ROG (Republic of Gamers) motherboard, and means extra enthusiast features alright. New FAN Xpert 2 FAN regulation has now been embedded, we spot Smart DIGI+ Technology (Smart DIGI+ Key & Smart CPU Power Level), USB 3.0 Boost and the lovely USB BIOS Flashback (simply insert a USB stick with firmware, press a button and boom your mobo firmware was flashed).

All that and much more has been put onto an mATX form factor motherboard based on Intel's Z77. Z77 is of course the Intel chipset predominantly released for Ivy Bridge based processors. These motherboards will have a slightly altered feature set and thus support them new Ivy Bridge apples from Intel. Good to know however is that Z77 also supports Sandy Bridge Socket 1155 based processors, that's right your favorite Core i5 2500K and Core i7 2600K will be perfect for these motherboards as well.

The changes for Z77 primarily can be found in native USB 3.0 support as well as an upgrade towards PCie gen 3 PCIe x16 slots.

So today a closer look at the technology and of course we'll review the ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z. Armed with the latest gadgets, some ROG lovin' and that Z77 chipset will most definitely surprise you. Have a peek at the mATX (24x24cm) sized motherboard first.

ASUS Maximus V Gene

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ASUS Maximus V Extreme review
We review the ASUS Maximus V Extreme. There is a kind of people that feel enough is not enough, they want moar' and for exactly that kind of enthusiast end user ASUS creates ROG EXTREME products. This is a ROG (Republic of Gamers) motherboard, and that means extra enthusiast features alright, as for overclockers, here's where things start to get serious, the board is designed with a 12-phase Digi+ VRM, Subzero Sense, has voltage-measurement points and the ROG Connect technology (overclock the board via Bluetooth from their phone). And yes there's still more, ASUS throws in the OC Key as well, which creates an overlay on the active DVI monitor to adjust overclock settings in real-time without using additional software or hardware (it connects to the graphics card DVI port). The ASUS Maximus V Extreme just breathes overclock potential.

ASUS Maximus V Formula review
We review the ASUS Maximus V Formula.The Formula series equals style, features and highly tweakable motherboards -- all made with the ROG (Replublic of Gamers) backing it up. What defines the Formula the best however is that the heat sinks are in fact waterblocks, the Maximus V Formula can be used on both air and water as the Maximus V Formula eliminates heat with a unique aluminum-finned heatsink that combines an all-copper water channel and heatpipe in one.

ASUS Maximus V GENE Motherboard review
We review the ASUS Maximus V GENE Z77 Motherboard. a smaller motherboard (mATX) yet a product that just oozes with dandy features and overclock potential. Get this -- we took a Core i7 3770K processor towards 5.0 GHz. Next to the tweaking possibilities this is a ROG (Republic of Gamers) motherboard, and means extra enthusiast features alright.

ASUS Maximus IV Extreme Z review
ASUS completed its range of Z68 products as well, and the one that rules them all is probably the board as tested today. The Republic of Gamers team applied their typical bunch of lovin' and sweetness to the motherboard, driving the feature count up and the tweaking performance to new heights. Yes, the Maximus IV Extreme-Z Intel Z68 motherboard has arrived at the Guru3D test grounds all the way up the highlands of Holland.