ASUS Debuts its Z87 Republic of Gamers Motherboard Series

[btarunr]

Along with the Z87 mainline (classic) series, ASUS unveiled its premium gamer-overclocker targeted Republic of Gamers (ROG) Maximus VI series, consisting of three models, the Maximus VI Hero, the Maximus VI Gene, and the Maximus VI Extreme. The Maximus VI Hero is the more affordable ATX model among the three; the Maximus VI Gene is the only micro-ATX offering, while the Maximus VI Extreme is the flagship motherboard from ASUS for socket LGA1150.

The Maximus VI Hero offers a 12-phase CPU power supply, most ROG-exclusive features, expansion slots that include three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 (x16/NC/NC or x8/x8/NC or x8/x4/x4), eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports, SupremeFX onboard audio with ground-layer isolation, and essential connectivity options that include four USB 3.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, and HDMI display output. We won't be surprised if Maximus VI Hero ends up being a sub-$200 option, to compete against similarly priced alternatives from ASRock and MSI.



Next up is the darling of micro-ATX builders, the Maximus VI Gene. This board offers an identical CPU power supply to the Maxiums VI Hero, two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (x16/NC or x8/x8), an open-ended PCI-Express 2.0 x4 (wired to the PCH), connectivity that's largely identical to the Hero, but with the addition of the mPCIe combo card, which gives it 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth, and six USB 3.0 ports.

Leading ASUS' LGA1150 lineup is the Maximus VI Extreme. This monstrosity offers the same VRM and overclocking features as the other Maximus VI boards. It gives you the ability to do 3-way and 4-way multi-GPU setups, thanks to its onboard PCI-Express 3.0 x48 bridge chip, which gives you four PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, two of which are electrically x16 capable, while all four run at least x8. Other expansion slots include a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x4) wired to the PCH, and an open-ended PCI-Express 2.0 x4. Strangely, this board doesn't feature onboard SupremeFX audio, but a simpler Realtek-based solution. It likely includes an add-on sound-card. Other connectivity options include two gigabit Ethernet interfaces, ten SATA 6 Gb/s ports, eight USB 3.0, and a few exclusive overclocker-friendly features that the other two lack.

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[micropage7]

love it, nice layout nice scheme too
and dont forget nice performance

 

[ZetZet]

I like how they didn't bother having expansion slot under 1st pci-e hopefully it saved 2$

 

[W1zzard]

New Haswell-based VGA bench rig will use the ASUS ROG Hero board

 

[HammerON]

I take it you like that board. I was thinking of the Extreme

 

[H82LUZ73]

New Haswell-based VGA bench rig will use the ASUS ROG Hero board

I guess after Dave does a review?

Hero ... I think of Dayz when i read it wonder if there will be a bundle with it for the Dayz standalone would be cool.

 

[W1zzard]

I take it you like that board. I was thinking of the Extreme

Extreme is too big for me. I'm currently using the Z77 Gene and loving it. Would be nice to have a little bit more space between CPU cooler and first VGA slot, so that clumsy me doesn't break graphics cards when installing/uninstalling (3-4x per review, ~100 reviews = high chance of that happening).

I'm gonna miss the buttons at bottom though. But top right isn't too bad either.

 

[dj-electric]

I chose the MVIE for my testbed (Lian li T60). Gotta love these boards

 

[KashunatoR]

I'll surely take the Hero. Looks to be just what I need...

 

[Kaynar]

Argh cmmon! enough teasing! Get this stuff on the stores already!

 

[CameronBanna]

what happen to the VGA-hotwire on the Extreme series? That was one of the very few reasons i bought these boards.

 

[radrok]

Dat Extreme board is gorgeous, brilliant expansion slot layout too.

Bios switch bloody handy for switching between an all-in overclock and a moderate one.

I was hoping for a black RIVE though

 

[NeoXF]

Damn, all these Z87 boards, or S1150 models in general, look so sweet... if only Haswell didn't seem to (at least) suck so much... I guess overclocking might save it, but then again...

 

[Animalpak]

Hope to get soon the new Gene

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

We won't be surprised if Maximus VI Hero ends up being a sub-$200 option, to compete against similarly priced alternatives from ASRock and MSI.

Unless you got a tip from someone I can't imagine, no wait even if you got a tip I can't imagine why you wouldn't be surprised if Asus started charging under $200 for a $300 board. I mean this is a company that charges $195 for their mid-range Z77 board (and we're not even talking the "PRO" model) and $200 for their micro ROG board. You'd be lucky to see $250 for the Hero.

 

[15th Warlock]

Unless you got a tip from someone I can't imagine, no wait even if you got a tip I can't imagine why you wouldn't be surprised if Asus started charging under $200 for a $300 board. I mean this is a company that charges $195 for their mid-range Z77 board (and we're not even talking the "PRO" model) and $200 for their micro ROG board. You'd be lucky to see $250 for the Hero.

I agree, I can see the Gene selling for $199, but no the Hero, this board replaces the Formula right? I don't remember ever seeing an ROG Formula retail for $199.

The Extreme looks tempting, depending on how good Haswell OCs, that board may be the foundation for my next main rig upgrade, otherwise I'll stick with SB-E until Haswell-E is released sometime next year

 

[dumo]

what happen to the VGA-hotwire on the Extreme series? That was one of the very few reasons i bought these boards.

I'm pretty sure its there and probly more features too...

 

[qwerty_lesh]

WOW that Extreme board in the picture has a lot of grid array damage

 

[newtekie1]

Is that random line in the picture of the Hero board bothering the crap out of anyone else?