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Critical to the operation of a high-end system is its motherboard. The ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe in a high-end part using Intel’s new LGA 2066 socket. Features worthy of note include 802.11ad (WiGig) WiFi, an onboard OLED display, and a smart method for cooling M.2 SSDs.
ASUS has changed its styling slightly with the X299 Prime series motherboards. The white is still present, albeit in more of a sharp design for the rear IO cover, while the grey heatsinks of the VRM and chipset are evidently low-profile. RGB lighting is present and one of the most unique features is the onboard – LiveDash – OLED display.
Power delivery comes in the form of an 8-phase system and 8+4-pin connectors to feed hungry Skylake-X CPUs. There’s support for up to 128GB RAM, triple-card SLI and CrossFire, and dual onboard M.2 SSDs. Significant networking capability is built around the inclusion of dual Intel GbE NICs, 2T2R 802.11ac WiFi, and the new 60GHz 802.11ad (WiGig) high-speed WiFi.
Can the ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe prove itself as a premium option for Intel’s HEDT consumers?
Specs (taken from the ASUS product page):
- 5-Way Optimization: One-click, system-wide tuning, delivering optimized overclocks and intelligent cooling for CPU or GPU-intensive tasks.
- Industry-leading cooling options: Comprehensive controls for fans and water pumps, via Fan Xpert 4 software or the acclaimed ASUS UEFI.
- Next-gen connectivity: Supreme flexibility with 2×2 802.11ad Wi-Fi, Thunderbolt 3, U.2, M.2 and front USB 3.1 Gen 2 connector.
- M.2 heatsink: Ultra-efficient heatsink reduces M.2 SSD temperatures by up to 20°C for unthrottled transfer speeds and enhanced reliability.
- LiveDash: A customizable onboard display that shows system temperature, CPU frequency, fan speeds or even your own logo.
- Aura Sync and addressable-LED header: Controllable onboard RGB lighting and addressable-LED-strip header, easily synced with an ever-growing portfolio of Aura-capable hardware.
Awesome review…..but my heart leapt when I saw the Air 540, I still mourn the day I sold it, I can still see it leaving my street in the back of the guys car. Goodbye little ‘Sugercube’ I still miss you.
PCIE slot placement has always been a thing for ASUS or at least on every board I’ve ever owned, I remember not being able to SLI because a gpu fouled all of the headers on the bottom of the mobo a few years back. Did you try the 5 way optimisation ; ) I’m just curious knowing how generous it can be with voltages, you will get some customers who click it and just trust it knows what its doing.
“Positioned close to the 24-pin is one of the board’s two M.2 connectors. This PCIe 3.0 x4-only slot is mounted to allow for vertical orientation of an installed M.2 device. A support bracket and screws are included. Vertical mounting is good for putting the device in a direct airflow path, while also minimising the footprint taken up on the board PCB”. – Yup and is all the worst way to put one and will get snapped by any wandering hands of if some one mounts a DVD rom’s that are to log for the slot (yes ppl still use DVD roms).