Asus Maximus VII Impact (Z97) mITX Motherboard Review

1. Introduction2. Asus Maximus VII Impact: Packaging and Bundle3. Asus Maximus VII Impact: Board Layout and Features4. Asus Z97 ROG UEFI5. Asus Z97 ROG Software6. Testing Methodology7. Tests: System-related8. Tests: Processor-related9. Tests: Gaming-related10. Tests: Motherboard-related11. Overclocking: Frequencies12. Overclocking: Performance13. Technical: Power Consumption14. Closing Thoughts15. View All Pages

If you are looking for a mini-ITX motherboard that allows you to downsize your enthusiast-grade gaming machine, without compromising its performance, Asus' Maximus VII Impact is the board to look for. The mITX ROG board offers an array of features that rivals many full-ATX motherboards and maintains the performance and overclocking capabilities of its bigger siblings.

Benchmark performance was, overall, positive. There were a few instances where the Maximus VII Impact struggled to maintain pace with the ATX pack, but those occurrences were counteracted by some of the highest performance levels in other tests.

Overclocking capacity was as good as we would expect from any Z97 motherboard. With the eight high-quality CPU power phases mounted on the Impact Power II daughter board, the Maximus VII Impact has no problem taking our 4790K to its frequency limit. Combined with the excellent UEFI, overclocking with the M7I was actually easier than our typical procedure.

And on the topic of UEFI, Asus' tried-and-tested interface is installed with the ROG theme. We have said it time and time again, but Asus still deserves credit for creating an easy-to-use interface that is well laid out and devoid of major bugs. The same feedback applies to Asus' OS-based software package.

As far as hardware goes, we can't see anything more than multi-GPU support missing (obviously) from the Maximus VII Impact that we would expect to find on a similarly-priced ATX part. There are a sufficient number of SATA and USB 3.0 ports for gamers. Two-stream, dual-band 802.11ac wireless connectivity will be a big positive for many. And one of the most critical features is support for upcoming, higher-speed M.2 devices through the PCIe 3.0 x4-fed 32Gbps connection.

Focusing on the overclocker side of the board, there is a fair amount to like. The Impact Control II board is a smart inclusion that keeps important buttons away from interference zones. The same can be said for the Cool Hub fan board. I like Asus' continued inclusion of Probelt voltage read points, although their positioning could be made far more convenient. The biggest downside is the inherent space limitation around the CPU socket, although this may be offset by the potential for greater memory overclocking capabilities.

Priced at £172.99 from OverclockersUK, the Maximus VII Impact is one of the highest-priced Z97 motherboards on the market, not to mention the most expensive mITX part. I do, however, feel that the sheer quantity of features make the part worth its elevated asking price. Of course, that's only true if your future upgrade plans include the use of high-speed WiFi and a faster-than-10Gbps M.2 SSD.

There's also the point to be made about conflicting target audiences. The debate has been going on for some time, but Asus' ROG series of products tend for gamers at the lower end and extreme overclockers or general enthusiasts at the higher end. The Maximus VII Impact finds itself catering to both markets, meaning that waste is likely to be created. Overclockers are unlikely to be interested in gaming features, and vice versa for gamers. That's something to bear in mind when considering the value of this £172.99 motherboard.

If you're looking to downsize your gaming or general enthusiast system to the mini-ITX form factor, Asus' Maximus VII Impact is the motherboard that can help you make the switch without sacrificing worthwhile features.

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Pros:

• Particularly strong power delivery system with solid overclocking results.
• Good set of gaming features – enhanced audio, networking software, Sonic Radar II.
• Two-stream, dual-band 802.11ac wireless (and Bluetooth 4.0).
• PCIe 3.0 x4 32Gbps M.2 connector.
• Excellent UEFI.
• Sensible design with limited interference issues.

Cons:

• Costly, especially for mini-ITX.
• Some of the overclocking features may be wasted by gamers, and vice versa.

KitGuru says: If you want the best that the mini-ITX motherboard market has to offer, Asus' Maximus VII Impact is the part you should be looking at.

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