KitGuru KitGuru.net – Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards
If you enjoyed our review of the new Sapphire Mini ITX H67 motherboard, then today's review product will be just as appealing. We are looking at the latest Micro ATX Asus Maximum IV Gene-Z motherboard which brings the Z68 chipset to the HTPC audience.
The Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z motherboard is no ‘cut down' half assed product. As it is a ‘Republic Of Gamers' product, it brings a wealth of enthusiast grade overclocking and tweaking options to the table. It supports the latest Sandybridge ‘K' range of processors and officially can support 32gb of DDR3 memory up to a frequency of 2400mhz. It has onboard SupremeFX X-Fi 2 for ultimate sound quality and also supports both CrossfireX and Sli configurations. The Z68 platform is set to give Intel a ‘fresh’ start for Sandybridge.
Specifications
| CPU | Intel® Socket 1155 for 2nd Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3 Processors Supports Intel® 32 nm 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 CPU support list |
| Chipset | Intel® Z68 |
| Memory | 4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1600/1333 Hz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory Dual 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). * Due to CPU behavior, DDR3 2200/2000/1800 MHz memory module will run at DDR3 2133/1866/1600 MHz frequency as default. |
| Graphic | Integrated Graphics Processor VGA output support : HDMI port – Supports HDMI with max. resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz |
| Multi-GPU Support | Supports NVIDIA® SLI™ Technology Supports AMD CrossFireX™ Technology Supports LucidLogix® Virtu™ Technology |
| Expansion Slots | 2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (dual x8) 1 x PCIe 2.0 x4 |
| Storage | Intel® Z68 chipset : 2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red 4 x SATA 3Gb/s port(s), gray Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 Support Intel® Smart Response Technology on 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processor family JMicron® JMB362 controller : *1 2 x eSATA 3Gb/s port(s), red |
| LAN | Intel®, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s) |
| Audio | SupremeFX X-Fi 2 built-in 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC – Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking Audio Feature : – X-Fi® Xtreme Fidelity™ – EAX® Advanced™ HD 5.0 – THX® TruStudio PRO™ – Creative ALchemy – Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection – Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel |
| USB Ports | ASMedia® USB 3.0 controller : 4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board) Intel® Z68 chipset : 12 x USB 2.0 port(s) (8 at back panel, black, 4 at mid-board) |
| Overclocking Features | ROG Connect Extreme Engine Digi+ : – 8 -phase CPU power design + 4 -phase iGPU power design – 2 -phase Memory power design Mem TweakIt ROG Extreme OC kit : – Debug LED ProbeIt UEFI BIOS features : – ROG BIOS Print – GPU.DIMM Post GameFirst iROG Extreme Tweaker Loadline Calibration Overclocking Protection : – COP EX (Component Overheat Protection – EX) – ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall) |
| Special Features | ASUS TurboV EVO : – CPU Level Up ASUS Exclusive Features : – MemOK! – Onboard Button : Power/Reset/Clr CMOS (at back IO) ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution : – ASUS Fan Xpert ASUS EZ DIY : – ASUS Q-Shield – 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 HDMI 2 x eSATA 3Gb/s 1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s) 2 x USB 3.0 8 x USB 2.0 (white port can be switched to ROG Connect) 1 x Optical S/PDIF out 6 x Audio jack(s) 1 x Clear CMOS button(s) |
| Internal I/O Ports | 1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s) 2 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 2.0 port(s) 2 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) 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 Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP) 1 x System panel(s) 6 x ProbeIt Measurement Points 1 x Power-on button(s) 1 x Reset button(s) 1 x ROG Connect switch(es) 1 x Go Button(s) 1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s) |
| Accessories | User's manual I/O Shield 2 x SATA 3Gb/s cable(s) 1 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s) 1 x SLI bridge(s) 1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1) 1 x ROG Connect cable(s) 1 x Cable ties pack(s) 1 x ROG theme label(s) 1 x 12 in 1 ROG Cable Label(s) |
| BIOS | 64Mb Flash ROM, EFI AMI BIOS, 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 * ASUS AI Suite II * ROG CPU-Z * ROG GameFirst Utility * Sound Blaster X-Fi MB2 Utility * ROG Mem TweakIt Utility * ASUS AI Charger+ * DAEMON Tools Pro Standard * Kaspersky® Anti-Virus 1-year license |
| Form Factor | uATX Form Factor 9.6 inch x 9.6 inch ( 24.4 cm x 24.4 cm ) |
awesome, makes the sapphire Mini ITX H67 look rather feeble IMO.
Price is very impressive for the spec. quite surprised a ROG product isnt £200+
Very nice board, as always from the ROG team……. cheaper than the last one which is always a bonus.
@ francis. they arent the same style of board, one is mini and one is micro. big difference for chassis
gene series has been class leading for a long time now, glad to see it continuing
Can you tell me if this board works well with patriot memory? I had a terrible time with the last model and my memory not working right. took me ages to find out what the problem was as a second board was not posting also…..
How carefully have you actually checked that “onboard” supreme X-Fi audio chip?
Can you point out the chip on the board, and that its from Creative Laps?
Cause the Wiki says “Supreme X-Fi” on mainboards is just software, paired with a generic audio chip from outfits like Realtec and others. If this really was just software, it would be kind of lame and obviously have no influence on signal to noise ratio or THD, since that depends on the chip used, not some sound beautifier software that eats your CPU cycles for mostly questionable improvements…
I have no found a single review on this board that checks on this, they all just seem to copy the menu point from the box into their review.