ASUS RAMPAGE IV EXTREME

This is one of the most awesome motherboard that I have stumble upon in the last couple of months. I want this motherboard more than anything. It offers so much and it’s not too expensive (about $444.09 ). The Rampage IV Extreme supports 3nd generation of Intel Core I7 processor family processors. Has an Intel X79 Express Chipset and has X-Socket which means that you can use your LGA1366 CPU coolers. OC Key is the feature which will enable you the real time monitoring and overclocking.

This motherboard supports the latest Sandy Bridge-E processors in the LGA2011 package, with memory and PCI Express controllers integrated to support 4-channel (8 DIMM) DDR3 memory and 16 PCI Express 3.0 lanes. This provides great graphics performance. Intel® Sandy Bridge-E processors are among the most powerful and energy efficient CPUs in the world. The Intel® X79 Express Chipset is the latest single-chipset design that supports the new socket 2011 Intel® Core™ i7 Extreme Edition processors. It improves performance by utilizing serial point-to-point links, allowing for increased bandwidth and stability. 

Additionally, the X79 comes with 2 SATA 6Gb/s and 4 SATA 3Gb/s ports for faster data retrieval, doubling the bandwidth of current bus systems. The latest PCI Express bus standard delivers imporved encoding for twice the performance of current PCIe 2.0. Total bandwidth for a x16 link reaches a maximum of 32GB/s, double the 16GB/s of PCIe 2.0 (in x16 mode). PCIe 3.0 provides users unprecedented data speeds combined with the convenience and seamless transition offered by complete backward compatibility with PCIe1.0 and PCIe 2.0 devices. It is a must-have feature PC users aiming to improve and optimize graphics performance, as well as have the latest, most future-proof technology. SLI or CrossFireX? Fret no longer because with the ROG Rampage IV Extreme you’ll be able to run both multi-GPU setups. The board features SLI/CrossFire on Demand technology, supporting up to four graphics cards in a 4-Way SLI or CrossFireX configuration. Whichever path you take, you can be assured of jaw-dropping graphics at a level previously unseen. The motherboard supports DDR3 memory that features data transfer rates of 2400/2133/1866/1600/1333 MHz to meet the higher bandwidth requirements of the latest operation system, 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications. The quad-channel DDR3 architecture double the bandwidth of your system memory to boost system performance. Knowing information is key in any situation. Monitor the status of your system in real-time with a convenient graphical overlay displayed right on screen with OSD Monitor. It allows you to view POST codes in real-time, complete hardware status and even the readout from VGA Hotwire and Subzero Sense, all at a pure hardware level. Tweak the parameters of your system in real-time with a convenient graphical overlay displayed right on the screen with OSD TweakIt. It provides you with a set of critical and hardware-driven functions so you can tweak your system on-the-fly.

Here is the specification of this motherboard.

·         CPU

Intel® Socket 2011 for 2^nd Generation Core™ i7 Processors
Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2
* Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support list

·         Chipset

Intel® X79

·         Memory

8 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR3 2400(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
Quad Channel Memory Architecture
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
* Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs.
* Refer to www.asus.com or user manual for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists).

·         Multi-GPU Support

Supports NVIDIA® 4-Way SLI™ Technology
Supports AMD 4-Way CrossFireX Technology

·         Expansion Slots

4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x16 or x16/x8/x16 or x16/x8/x8/x8, red) *¹
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x8 mode, gray) *¹
1 x PCIe 2.0 x1

·         Storage

Intel® X79 chipset : 
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red
4 x SATA 3Gb/s port(s), black
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
ASMedia® PCIe SATA controller : 
2 x eSATA 6Gb/s port(s), red
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red

·         LAN

Intel®, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)

·         Bluetooth

Bluetooth V2.1+EDR

·         Audio

Realtek® ALC898 7.1-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
Audio Feature :
- Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel

·         USB Ports

ASMedia® USB 3.0 controller :
8 x USB 3.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, blue, 4 at mid-board)
Intel® X79 chipset :
12 x USB 2.0 port(s) (8 at back panel, black+red, 4 at mid-board)

·         Overclocking Features

ROG OC Key
- OSD TweakIt
- OSD Monitor
ROG Connect :
- RC Diagram
- RC Remote
- RC Poster
- GPU TweakIt
ROG iDirect
Extreme Engine Digi+ II :
- 8 -phase CPU power design
- 3 -phase VCCSA power design
- 2 + 2 phase DRAM power design
ROG Extreme OC kit :
- Subzero Sense
- VGA Hotwire
- Slow Mode
- LN2 Mode
- PCIe x16 Lane Switch
- Q Reset
- EZ Plug
ProbeIt
UEFI BIOS features :
- GPU.DIMM Post
iROG
Extreme Tweaker
Loadline Calibration
BIOS Flashback
USB BIOS Flashback
Overclocking Protection :
- COP EX (Component Overheat Protection - EX)
- Voltiminder LED II
- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)

·         Special Features

ASUS EPU :
- EPU
CPU Level Up
ASUS Exclusive Features :
- MemOK!
- Onboard Button : Power/Reset/Clr CMOS (at back IO)
ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution :
- ASUS Q-Fan Plus
- ASUS Fan Xpert
ASUS EZ DIY :
- ASUS O.C. Profile
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 2
- ASUS MyLogo 2
ASUS Q-Design :
- ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)
- ASUS Q-Slot
- ASUS Q-DIMM
- ASUS Q-Connector

·         Back I/O Ports

1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s)
1 x Bluetooth module(s)
2 x eSATA 6Gb/s
1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
4 x USB 3.0
8 x USB 2.0 (one port can be switched to ROG Connect)
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
5 x Audio jack(s)
1 x Clear CMOS button(s)
1 x ROG Connect On/ Off switch(es)

·         Internal I/O Ports

2 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 3.0 port(s)
2 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 2.0 port(s)
4 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
4 x SATA 3Gb/s connector(s)
2 x CPU Fan connector(s)
3 x Chassis Fan connector(s)
3 x Optional Fan connector(s)
1 x S/PDIF out header(s)
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP)
1 x System panel(s)
1 x OC Key header(s)
1 x OT header(s)
2 x Subzero Sense connector(s)
1 x Slow Mode switch(es)
7 x ProbeIt Measurement Points
3 x Thermal sensor connector(s)
1 x LN2 Mode header(s)
1 x Q Reset switch(es)
2 x EZ Plug connector(s) (4-pin in white for memory DIMMs; 6-pin in black for PCIe slots)
1 x Power-on button(s)
1 x Reset button(s)
1 x Go Button(s)
1 x BIOS Switch button(s)

·         Accessories

I/O Shield
4 x SATA 3Gb/s cable(s)
4 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)
1 x 3-Way SLI bridge(s)
1 x 4-Way SLI bridge(s)
1 x SLI bridge(s)
1 x CrossFire cable(s)
1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1)
1 x ROG Connect cable(s)
1 x ProbeIt cable set(s)
1 x 12 in 1 ROG Cable Label(s)
1 x OC Key(s)
1 x OC Key cable(s)
1 x X-Socket pad(s)

·         BIOS

2 x 64Mb Flash ROMs, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.5, ACPI2.0a Multi-Language BIOS

·         Manageability

WfM2.0, DMI2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME, PXE

·         Support Disc

Support DVD:
- Drivers and Applications
Kaspersky Anti-Virus
ASUS TurboV EVO Utility
ASUS PC Probe II
ASUS Update
ASUS AI Suite II
ASUS AI Charger+
Daemon Tool Pro Standard
ASUS WebStorage

·         Form Factor

Extended ATX Form Factor
12 inch x 10.7 inch ( 30.5 cm x 27.2 cm )

·         Note

*1-1 This motherboard is ready to support PCIe 3.0 SPEC. Functions will be available when using PCIe 3.0-compliant devices. Please refer to www.asus.com for updated details.
*1-2 For PCIe 3.0 x16 (X8 mode), PCIEx8_2B(Grey) shares bandwidth with PCIEx8_2A(Red).