Asus Maximus VII Ranger & Hero Motherboard Review

1. Introduction2. Asus Maximus VII Ranger3. Asus Maximus VII Hero4. Z97 ROG BIOS5. 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

Firstly, we are pleased to report that our NZXT Avatar S mouse worked to its usual standard in the Z97 ROG UEFI BIOS.

The ROG BIOS used on Asus' Maximus VII motherboards is almost identical to that used on its standard Z97 parts. Differences include additional ROG-only features, more power settings, and a red colour scheme.

Extreme Tweaker follows the standard layout that we have come to expect from recent Asus motherboards, and that’s a good thing. Easy access is provided to ratio, frequency, and voltage settings, allowing users to adjust their system parameters with minimal effort.

A large number of voltage settings can be adjusted to a user's preference. Asus displays voltage levels in a clear manner, which is particularly convenient for users who are still perfecting their overclocking skills.

Memory timings can be adjusted in their relevant section. Unlike many of its competitors, Asus does not deploy the Z97 ROG UEFI with pre-set memory frequency profiles built by its in-house overclocker. We would assume that the custom profiles are reserved for the overclocking-geared ROG motherboards.

Additional power and voltage control settings can be utilised to maximise overclocking gains or tweak frequency operations.

The Tweakers' Paradise section is unique to Asus' ROG boards.

ROG light effects can be switched off if preferred. The bright red LEDs may disturb those who leave their PC running overnight.

Asus provides plenty of monitoring readouts for board voltages and fan speeds. Temperature readings are scarce though, with only the CPU and motherboard being displayed consistently.

Asus gives the Z97 ROG UEFI its usual level of flexibility regarding fan speed tweaking. The Q-Fan Tuning utility gives users a graphical display from which they can adjust speed against temperature settings.

Asus' usual set of tools is supplied in the ROG UEFI, as well as the convenient Secure Erase. Users can route through a drive to look for a BIOS update file and update to eight settings profiles can be saved.

Regularly accessed parameters can be added to the My Favorites page. The page can then be accessed with ease from all areas of the UEFI.

An automated speed boost can be applied to the CPU and memory after selecting a handful of settings through Asus' EZ Tuning Wizard.

The Z97 ROG UEFI follows Asus' tried-and-tested interface layout and styling, and that's a good thing. The interface is easy to navigate, plenty of options are provided, and the appearance is good to look at.

We have no complaints whatsoever regarding the Z97 iterations of the ROG boards' interface. Not even the comparatively low 1024×768 resolution can be registered as a negative because Asus manages to display a relevant amount of information on each frame without making the screen full of confusion.

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