| CPU |
LGA2011 socket for Intel 2nd Generation Core i7 Processor Extreme Edition |
| Supports 32nm CPU |
| Supports Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 |
| * The Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 support depends on the CPU types. |
| ** Refer to www.asus.com for Intel CPU support list |
| Chipset |
Intel X79 Express Chipset |
| Memory |
8 x DIMM, max. 64GB*, DDR3 1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered memory |
| Quad channel memory architecture |
| Supports Intel Extreme Memory Profile 2.1 (XMP) |
| * Due to CPU behavior, DDR3 2200/2000/1800 MHz memory module will run at DDR 2133/1866/1600 MHz frequency as default |
| ** Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs. Some hyper DIMMs only support one DIMM per channel. Please refer to Memory QVL for details. |
| *** Refer to www.asus.com or this user manual for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists). |
| Expansion Slots |
2x PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots (dual at x16/x16 mode) |
| 1x PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot (PCIe x16_3 at x8 mode) |
| 2x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots |
| 1x PCI Slot |
| * This motherboard is ready to support the PCIe 3.0 specification. Functions will be available when using PCIe 3.0-compliant devices. Please refer to www.asus.com for updated details. |
| Multi-GPU support |
Supports NVIDIA Quad-GPU SLI Technology |
| Supports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX Technology |
| Storage |
Intel X79 Express Chipset |
| - 2x SATA 6Gb/s ports with RAID 0/1/5/10 support (SATA6G_1-2) |
| - 4x SATA 3Gb/s ports (SATA3G_3-6) |
| Marvell PCIe 9128 controller: |
| - 2x SATA 6Gb/s ports (SATA6G_E1-E2) |
| ASMedia 1061 SATA controller |
| - 1x Power eSATA 6Gb/s port (green) |
| - 1x eSATA 6Gb/s port (red) |
| LAN |
Intel 82579V Gigabit LAN controller |
| IEEE 1394 |
VIA VT6315N controller supports 1x IEEE 1394a port at back panel |
| Audio |
Realtek ALC898 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC |
| - Absolute Pitch 192khz/24bit True BD Lossless Sound |
| - BD Audio Layer Content Protection |
| - DTS UltraPC Surround Sensation |
| - Supports Jack-Detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-Retasking |
| - Optical S/PDIF out ports at back I/O |
| USB |
3x ASMedia USB 3.0 controllers |
| - 2x USB 3.0/2.0 ports at mid-board for front panel support |
| - 4x USB 3.0/2.0 ports at back panel (blue) |
| Intel X79 Express Chipset |
| - 14x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (8 ports at mid-board, 6 ports at back panel) |
| ASUS Unique Features |
"Ultimate COOL!" Thermal Solutions |
| - TUF Thermal Armor |
| - TUF Thermal Radar |
| "TUF ENGINE!" Power Design |
| - 8+2+2+2 Digital Power Phase Design |
| - TUF Components (Choke, Capacitor, MOSFET - certified by military standard) |
| - ASUS DIGI+ Power Control Utility |
| "Safe & Stable!" Guardian Angel |
| - ESD Guards |
| - MemOK! |
| - Anti Surge |
| ASUS Exclusive Features |
| - ASUS EFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring friendly graphics user interface |
| - ASUS SSD Caching |
| - USB 3.0 Boost |
| - Front Panel USB 3.0 Support |
| - AI Suite II |
| - USB BIOS Flashback |
| - ASUS OC Profile |
| - ASUS MyLogo 2 |
| - Precision Tweaker 2 |
| - ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 |
| - ASUS EZ Flash 2 |
| - Multi-language BIOS |
| ASUS Q-Design |
| - ASUS Q-Code |
| - ASUS Q-Shield |
| - ASUS Q-Slot |
| - ASUS Q-DIMM |
| - ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED) |
| - ASUS Q-Connector |
| Back Panel I/O Ports |
1x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse combo port |
| 1x Optical S/PDIF Output |
| 1x USB BIOS Flashback button |
| 1x Power eSATA 6Gb/s port (green) |
| 1x eSATA 6Gb/s port (red) |
| 1x IEEE 1394a port |
| 1x LAN (RJ-45) port |
| 4x USB 3.0/2.0 ports (blue) |
| 6x USB 2.0/1.1 ports |
| 8-channel Audio I/O |
| Internal I/O Connectors |
1x USB 3.0/2.0 connectors support additional 2 USB ports (19-pin) |
| 4x USB 2.0/1/1 connectors support additional 8 USB ports |
| 4x SATA 6Gb/s connectors |
| 4x SATA 3Gb/s connectors |
| 1x CPU Fan connector (4-pin) |
| 1x CPU OPT fan connector (4-pin) |
| 4x Chassis Fan connectors (4-pin) |
| 1x Assistant Fan connector (4-pin) |
| 1x PCH Fan connector (4-pin) |
| 1x Front panel audio connector (AAFP) |
| 1x COM connector |
| 1x S/PDIF Out Header |
| 24-pin EATX Power connector |
| 8-pin EATX 12V Power connector |
| System Panel (Q-Connector) |
| 1x MemOK! Button |
| 1x Clear CMOS button |
| BIOS |
64 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI 2.0, WfM 2.0, SM BIOS 2.6, ACPI 2.0a, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 2, ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 |
| Manageability |
WfM 2.0, DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME, PXE |
| Accessories |
4x Serial ATA 6.0Gb/s cables |
| 4x Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s cables |
| 1x ASUS 2-in-1 Q-connector |
| 1x ASUS 3-Way SLI connector |
| 1x ASUS SLI bridge connector |
| 1x Bluetooth v3.0 + HS Module |
| 1x Wi-Fi Ring Moving Antenna |
| I/O Shield |
| User's manual |
| Support DVD |
Drivers |
| ASUS Utilities |
| ASUS Update |
| Anti-virus software (OEM version) |
| Form Factor |
ATX Form Factor, 12"x 9.6" (30.5cm x 24.4cm) |
Comments
Thorough, detailed, and on the cutting edge as usual.
Not to mention that it coincides with their timely reviews of the new CPU chips and the Intel "Extreme"(cough) motherboard - its put them all together in perspective so we know where to focus Mom's xMas gaming and upgrade cash!
I have a previous X58 Sabertooth motherboard that has the Intel Raid chip supporting 6x3gb sata drives plus the Marvel chip that adds another 2x6gb ports. I have my C: Drive SSD and another SSD for virtual machines on the Marvell and two raid 5 arrays on the six sata ports.
One question is: with the new configuration that has 2x6gb asus ports plus 2x6gb chipset ports plus 4x3gb ports, will I be able to support both of my raid 5 arrays?
i.e. are all six of the chipset ports on the same controller, or are they logically split so raid arrays must stay within each set of ports?
Thanks BMR!
But in the comparo-graph on this web page:
#benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=833&Itemid=69&limit=1&limitstart=2
for SATA this for this motherboard it says:
4xSATA 3G, 4xSATA 6G
Please clarify, am I reading one of these pages wrong?
Also, not really an issue, but on this page it says:
"there are 14 USB 2.0 ports and 6 SATA ports"
and
"touted as a reason for not supporting SuperSpeed USB 3.0"
which doesn't explicitly say that there are no USB 3.0 ports, but it sort of reads that way to the casual reader. On the other page listed above it says for USB for this motherboard:
"6xUSB 3.0, 14xUSB 2.0"
Thanks for the wonderful reviews of this cutting edge stuff! Its great to get all of this info so quickly after they are released.
ASUS adds extra SATA 6G ports and USB 3.0 via third party controller chips, which is part of the "added value" they bring to this board.
Love the review... nice and thorough.
Question (as I have been looking for a suitable upgrade & replacement for my P67 Sabertooth board...
Will this board allow me to run my two GTX580's in SLI @ 16x, and allow the Revodrive3 x2 to run in the bottom PCI-E okay?
In my present rig, I have to drop a GPU.
Thanks