Introduction

The ASUS Maximus III Gene, today's subject, is one of the many ROG-branded motherboards supporting the 1156 socket. However, the Micro-ATX form-factor and the huge number of features packed into such a small footprint is what makes this board stand out from among others. The ASUS Maximus III Gene is geared towards either high-end home theatre, or semi-portable gaming configurations. To start off, let's take a look at those features:

Specifications

Packaging

The ASUS MAXIMUS III GENE motherboard comes in a little square box, thanks to its relatively small size. The box itself is a bit taller than a standard Micro-ATX box from ASUS, which serves well to keep the board protected. Taking a look at the outer shell, there's not alot to see, other than a bunch of logos for the technologies the board supports, and a brief explanation of each. Lifting up the panel on the top of the box reveals more of the features, with a description as well. I'll take a more in-depth look at the features listed here in a minute, as I just wanted to highlight how much thought has gone into the packaging, and the first impression it gives when it first is laid in your hands. It's quite clear that this is no budget board.


Looking inside the box, we can see the board in all its glory, covered by a protective plastic anti-static shield. Removing the plastic reveals the full board, contained within its own cardboard tray, which provides ample protection from damage caused by the board sliding around during shipping. Removing the tray reveals the included goodies, and given the amount of them, it's great to see them secure in thier own container.