ASUS X99-Deluxe II Review

As part of a refresh for the upcoming next-generation Intel Core i7 Processors, the X99-DELUXE II motherboard brings USB 3.1 and other features to the X99 chipset!

Product on Review: X99-DELUXE II
Manufacturer & Sponsor: ASUS
Street Price: £359.99 GBP / $420 USD

The Intel X99 has been pushed into the shadows with the release of the Intel Z170 chipset, but with news of an upcoming processor release from Intel certain brands have decided to revive the once cutting-edge LGA2011 platform by releasing new motherboards which are able to tap into new features.

One such board to receive a revival is the X99-Deluxe II. Based on the original X99-Deluxe, the Deluxe II carries with it a subtle aesthetics facelift but has had an overhaul to the fundamental features. Not only is Deluxe II capable of hosting the next-generation of processors, but there is also support for USB 3.1, and a large dose of storage – which includes SATA, SATA Express, M.2 and U.2. ASUS has also fine-tuned key areas so that gamers can take advantage of x16/x16 modes for multi-GPU configurations.

So, on paper this board is mightily impressive – let’s waste no further time and jump into our review!

About ASUS

This visionary approach is the reason ASUS is able to bring high-quality innovation and design to all, and the reason for its widespread acclaim. ASUS products won 4,256 international awards and accolades in 2013 – that’s over 11 a day, every day. ASUS has consistently achieved significant year-on-year growth in terms of consumer notebook units shipped too, and closed 2011 on a high with revenues hitting US$11.9 billion.

Technical Specifications

Below are the technical details surrounding the DLX-II motherboard obtained directly from ASUS:

CPU
Intel® Socket 2011-v3 Core™ i7 Processors
Supports Intel® 14 nm CPU
Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 3.0
Chipset
Intel® X99
Memory
8 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR4 3333(O.C.)/3300(O.C.)/3200(O.C.)/3000(O.C.)/2800(O.C.)/2666(O.C.)/2400(O.C.)/2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
Quad Channel Memory Architecture
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
Multi-GPU Support
Supports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI™ Technology
Supports NVIDIA® 3-Way SLI™ Technology
Supports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology
Supports AMD 3-Way CrossFireX™ Technology
Expansion Slots
40-Lane CPU-
4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (single at x16, dual at x16/x16, triple at x16/x16/x8, quintuple at x8/x8/x8/x8/x8 mode) *1
28-Lane CPU-
3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16, x16/x8, x8/x8/x8) *2
28-Lane CPU-
1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x1 mode)
1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode) *3
1 x PCIe 2.0 x1
Storage
New Intel® Core™ i7 Processors :
2 x U.2 port, support PCIe 3.0 x4 NVM Express storage
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with vertical M Key design, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (Support PCIE SSD only)
Intel® X99 chipset :
1 x SATA Express port, Compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports
8 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s)*4,
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology*5
LAN
Intel® I218V, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)
Intel® I211-AT, 1 x Gigabit LAN
Dual Gigabit LAN controllers- 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) appliance
Support Teaming Technology
ASUS Turbo LAN Utility
ASUS LAN Guard
Wireless Data Network
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Supports dual band frequency 2.4/5 GHz
Support ASUS Wi-Fi Go! Utility
Up to 1300Mbps transfer speed
Bluetooth
Bluetooth V4.0
Audio
Realtek® ALC1150 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC featuring Crystal Sound 3
– Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
– High quality 112 dB SNR stereo playback output (Line-out at rear) and 104 dB SNR recording input (Line-in)
Audio Feature :
– Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound
– DTS Connect
– DTS Studio Sound
– Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
– BD Audio Layer Content Protection
– Dedicated audio PCB layers: Separate layers for left and right channels to guard the quality of the sensitive audio signals
– Audio amplifier: Provides the highest-quality sound for headphone and speakers
– Premium Japanese-made audio capacitors: Provide warm, natural and immersive sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity
– Unique de-pop circuit: Reduces start-up popping noise to audio outputs
– Top notch audio sensation delivers according to the audio configuration
– Power pre-regulator: Reduces power input noise to ensure consistent performance
Separate layer for left and right track, ensuring both sound deliver equal quality
USB Ports
Intel® X99 chipset :
4 x USB 3.0/2.0 port(s) ()
Intel® X99 chipset :
6 x USB 2.0/1.1 port(s) (4 at back panel, )
ASMedia® USB 3.1 controller :
3 x USB 3.1 port(s) (3 at back panel, teal blue, Type-A)
ASMedia® USB 3.1 controller :
1 x USB 3.1 port(s) (1 at back panel, , Type-C, Reversible)
ASMedia® USB 3.0 Hub :
4 x USB 3.0/2.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, blue)
Special Features
5-Way Optimization by Dual Intelligent Processors 5
– 5-Way Optimization tuning key perfectly consolidates TPU, EPU, DIGI+ VRM, Fan Xpert 4, and Turbo Core App
ASUS 5X Protection II :
– ASUS LANGuard – 2.5X higher surge tolerance
– ASUS Overvoltage Protection – World-class circuit-protecting power design
– ASUS DIGI+ VRM – 8 Phase digital power design
– ASUS DRAM Overcurrent Protection – Prevents damage from short circuits
– ASUS Stainless-Steel Back I/O – 3X corrosion-resistance for greater durability
ASUS EPU :

ASUS Wi-Fi GO!
– Wi-Fi GO! Function: Cloud GO!, Remote Desktop, Remote Keyboard & Mouse, File Transfer
ASUS Exclusive Features :
– USB BIOS Flashback
– MemOK!
– AI Suite 3
– Ai Charger+
– M.2 & SATA Express
– Anti-Surge
– USB 3.1 Boost
– Disk Unlocker
– Turbo LAN
– Crystal Sound 3
– EZ XMP ASUS Exclusive Features
– Mobo Connect
– PC Cleaner
Remote Entertainment
– Media Streamer
– HyStream
ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution :
– Stylish Design Heat-pipe solution
– ASUS Fan Xpert 4
ASUS EZ DIY :
– DirectKey
– Precision Tweaker 2
– ASUS CrashFree BIOS
– ASUS EZ Flash 3
– ASUS USB BIOS Flashback
– ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode
– Multi-language BIOS
– Push Notice
ASUS Q-Design :
– ASUS Q-Shield
– ASUS Q-Code
– ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)
– ASUS Q-Slot
– ASUS Q-DIMM
– ASUS Q-Connector
Special Memory O.C. Design
Key Express
Operating System Support
Windows® 10 , 64bit
Windows® 8.1 , 32bit/64bit
Windows® 7 , 32bit/64bit
Back I/O Ports
2 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
3 x USB 3.1 Type-A
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C
4 x USB 3.0 (blue)
4 x USB 2.0 (one port can be switched to USB BIOS Flashback)
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
5 x Audio jack(s)
1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button(s)
1 x ASUS Wi-Fi GO! module (Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth v4.0/3.0+HS)
Internal I/O Ports
1 x AAFP connector
1 x Aura RGB Strip Header
2 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 3.0 port(s)
2 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 2.0 port(s)
1 x SATA Express connector: ,
1 x M.2 Socket 3 with vertical M Key design, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (Support PCIE SSD only)
1 x TPM connector(s)
8 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin)
1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin)
2 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (2 x 4 -pin)
1 x S/PDIF out header(s)
1 x Thunderbolt header(s)
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x EZ XMP switch
1 x SLI/CFX switch (2/3-WAY adjustments)
1 x System panel(s) (Q-Connector)
1 x DRCT header(s)
1 x MemOK! button(s)
1 x Thermal sensor connector(s)
1 x CPU/DRAM overvoltage jumper(s)
1 x Power-on button(s)
1 x Reset button(s)
1 x Clear CMOS button(s)
1 x 5-pin EXT_FAN(Extension Fan) connector
1 x Water Pump header (4-pin)
1 x High AMP Fan header (4-pin)
Accessories
User’s manual
ASUS Q-Shield
8 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)
1 x ASUS 2-Way/3-Way SLI bridge
1 x M.2 X4 bracket
1 x M.2 Screw Package
1 x CPU installation tool
1 x Supporting DVD
1 x ASUS 3T3R dual band Wi-Fi moving antennas (Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compliant)
1 x HYPERM.2 X4 with M Key design, type 2230/2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (Support PCIE SSD only)
1 x Fan Extension Card (3 x 4-pin fan out)
1 x Thermistor cable(s)
BIOS
128 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 3.0, ACPI 5.0, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 3, CrashFree BIOS 3, F11 EZ Tuning Wizard, F6 Qfan Control, F3 My Favorites, Quick Note, Last Modified log, F12 PrintScreen, and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory information.
Manageability
WfM 2.0, WOL by PME, PXE
Support Disc
Drivers
ASUS Utilities
EZ Update
Anti-virus software (OEM version)
Form Factor
ATX Form Factor
12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )

Intel X99 Features

First and foremost, Intel’s latest chipset is aimed at the home ‘power’ user, be this performance enthusiast (read overclocker), extreme gamer or indeed for those who require the ultimate media encoding platform. So whatever your vice, Intel have all the bases covered with their latest chipset. This isn’t, of course, to say the Z97 based chipset is poor by comparison (it’s not), but if you want the ultimate – the very best of the best supporting Intel’s 8 core processor (5960X) – then X99 is the only option.

So what’s new with X99?

DDR4 Quad Channel Memory
The above block diagram shows us that DDR4 is natively supported. Note that DDR3 is NOT supported (more on this later). While the block diagram shows a rated speed of up to 2133MHz, our test bench happily ran 16GB (4x4GB) Quad channel Corsair Vengeance LPX at 2666MHz. More recently niche 3000MHz and even 3333MHz DDR4 DIMMs are entering the market requiring high voltages and far deeper pocket, but it’s anticipated that eventually 4GHz DIMMs will be the high watermark at retail.

40 x PCI Express (PCIe) Lanes
Depending on CPU choice, the X99 chipset can support up to 40 lanes of PCIe in combinations of 2×16, 1×8 or 5×8. We also expect this figure to increase on some motherboards with the addition of PLX chips given sufficient demand. All of the PCIe lanes are now PCIe 3.0 compliant; while current generation GPU’s rarely saturate PCIe 2.0 it is nice to have that future proofing available, especially for SLI/Crossfire configurations.

USB 3.0
One of the heaviest criticisms of X79 was the lack of natively support USB 3.0 ports, especially when compared to its Z87/97 brethren. We are now happy to report that X99 will support 6 USB 3.0 ports along with 8 USB 2.0 ports. Of course, most motherboard manufacturers will also add the usual ‘aftermarket’ USB 3.0 support from components such as ASMedia and Marvel so transfer speeds of up to 5GB/s and port numbers in the double-digits can theoretically be achieved.

SATA 3.0 And Next Generation Storage
Despite having huge computational benefits, X79 was oft criticised by the lack of high speed SATA 6Gbps ports. This has been rectified with the X99 chipset supporting 10 x SATA 3.0 ports attaining a theoretical speed of 6Gb/s which can be enhanced using the latest Intel Rapid Storage driver to speeds of 10 Gb/s!

SATA of course has its limitations, which is where newer next generation storage technologies come in. First seen in limited quantities on Z87 and more widely on Z97, M.2 and SATA Express technologies unlock transfer speeds far in excess of SATA III. Support for PCIE storage remains sporadic – M.2 is starting to pick up but SATA Express is exceptionally rare – but it’s slowly proving to be a valid alternative to SATA 3 and mSATA. Many X99 motherboards support M.2 X4, which makes use of four PCIE lanes for up to a stunning 32Gbps bandwidth; however, few M.2 drives come close to saturating even Gen 1’s ~8Gbps.

We must say that Intel have pulled out all the stops here. Clearly they have taken on board user feedback regarding the deficiencies of X79 by incorporating more modern storage and expansion options. No longer is the Enthusiast flagship the poor I/O brother to Z87/97. Perhaps the biggest draw though is the introduction of DDR4. This will see huge speed gains in almost every aspect of personal computing. With 8x8GB DIMMS supported a mammoth 64GB of DDR4 will make the X99 chipset massively future proofed.

We will cover the overclocking capabilities of the new chipset and each motherboard specifically in the overclocking section but this area failed to disappoint too.

Overall, there is little to criticise here. While we would have liked 40 PCIe lanes regardless of CPU, we understand there has to be some compromise to keep costs down for the budget conscious so how many PCIe lanes you have available will be dictated by CPU choice and not the motherboard. The entry level 6 core i7-5820 will have 28 PCIe lanes at a cost of £299 (At the time of release), while the flagship 8 core i7-5960X and 6 core i7-5930K will both have the full blown 40 lanes available. Aside from lanes, cores cache and clockspeed, all of the X99 features will be available regardless of CPU choice and to this end we are grateful. We suspect that future additions to the CPU range will hit the middle ground while the 5960X will receive a speed bump although this is pure speculation at this point.

Which chip would we go for? Obviously if money was no object then the i7-5960X is the way to go, not only does it have the full 40 lanes available but it is a true 8 core (16 threads) CPU. The 5930K would be the obvious choice for the consumer and the CPU that we think will prove most popular due to the balance of speed vs. cost.

Whichever CPU you opt for though; you can be assured that the X99 chipset offers the very best available. It is powerful, feature packed and as you will see, the unrivalled component of choice for enthusiast users.

ASUS OC Socket

The ASUS OC Socket, present throughout the ASUS X99 mainstream and Republic Of Gamer motherboards, is a patent pending design modification of the standard LGA 2011-3 socket.

Haswell-E inherited the Fully Integrated Voltage Regulator (FIVR) design from the Haswell desktop platform, a component which splits one single input voltage into the voltage rails we’re been familiar with over previous CPU generations. In typical X99 platform implementations these individual rails, including VCore, VCCSA Voltage and CPU Cache Voltage, are effectively invisible to the BIOS and cannot be controlled independently. Overclocking and tweaking options have therefore been curtailed significantly with the introduction of an FIVR on Intel chips, preventing vendors from exposing additional control to enthusiasts and professionals.

This is where it gets interesting. Haswell-E CPUs have more contact pads exposed on the base than the previous generation of High End Desktop CPUs (IvyBridge-E and SandyBridge-E), but the pin layout of Intel’s LGA2011-3 socket specification is identical to that of LGA2011. In fact the major physical difference is the keying points, preventing non-compatible CPUs from being placed in the socket. What is the purpose of these pads, and what happens when you tap into them? ASUS wanted to find out.

When developing their versions of the X99 motherboard ASUS took the step of altering the basic socket to include 60 more pins, providing contact with every pad on the Haswell-E’s base, a design which is now known as the ASUS OC Socket. During the development process it was discovered that by exposing these contact points they were able to monitor voltages locked off in previous HED CPUs, past the iron curtain of the FIVR. In tern, this also allowed ASUS to improve stability for these crucial voltages and reducing the main voltage pumped through the CPU.

Interfacing with these points also allows improved stability when using the 166 strap (sometimes called ‘gear ratio’) on OC Socket motherboards. By utilising the 166 strap – essentially a series of configuration options to have the best possible system stability with a 166MHz BCLK – an overclocker can push the CPU frequency higher with a lower multiplier. In testing ASUS ballparked 4.2GHz as the highest CPU frequency on the i7-5960X when utilising the 166 strap on a basic LGA2011-3 socket whilst 4.8GHz was possible using the OC Socket, a 14% improvement. Enthusiasts will welcome this additional tweaking option.

Also unique to the ASUS OC Socket is a higher cache bus frequency tuning range than standard and higher voltage level control over cache bus voltages. In theory this has the potential to improve subsystem performance for improving specific benchmark results when small percentages are the target, but will likely have significant stability ramifications.

It’s also claimed that OC Socket greatly improves DDR4 memory overclocking. ASUS have been able to hit 3GHz at 1.35V, rather than the more typical 1.6V, and boast better high-performance RAM support. Furthermore DDR4 RAM tends to have a spike in voltage required at POST which trails over time, and ASUS have implemented a BIOS option called ‘DRAM Eventual Voltage’ to set a target for this trailing off and hence save power.

Last but not least is the raising of the Maximum VCore limit imposed by Intel. Not recommended, and certainly not for daily use, it’s the removal of a barrier at the extreme end of the overclocking spectrum where watercooling is old hat and even LN2 is pushed.

As you can see, the espoused benefits of OC Socket are very significant for the enthusiast overclocker, perhaps even more so for the professional. Headline figures, such as being able to push 5GHz on air and 6GHz under LN2 with minimal effort are certainly impressive, and the platform as a whole will still undergo a number of UEFI revisions during its life-time. The reality is however that your absolute overclock will very much depend on the ‘silicon lottery’, but ASUS want to assure you that their motherboards have the best chance of letting you push your CPU to its true limits.

Packaging & First Look

Following in the footsteps of the original X99-Deluxe, the Deluxe II arrives in a large, stylish box which has a depiction of the motherboard on the front, with a listing of the main standards/technologies which are involved. Around the back there are more details surrounding the fundamental features with a breakdown of the technical specifications.

As with other premium offerings from ASUS, the box is designed in such a way to provide a sneak preview of the board and reveals a diagram of Deluxe-II, pinpointing important areas for those wanting to understand more about the features which are on offer.

Delving inside the box, we are met by a huge array of included accessories. As far as motherboards go, this is probably the most generous bundle we’ve come across. The included items are as follows:

• User’s manual
• ASUS Q-Shield
• 8 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)
• 1 x ASUS 2-Way/3-Way SLI bridge
• 1 x M.2 X4 bracket
• 1 x M.2 Screw Package
• 1 x CPU installation tool
• 1 x Supporting DVD
• 1 x ASUS 3T3R dual band Wi-Fi moving antennas (Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compliant)
• 1 x HYPERM.2 X4
• 1 x Fan Extension Card (3 x 4-pin fan out)
• 1 x Thermistor cable(s)

Fan Extension card
Bundled with the Deluxe II is the fan extension card, which allows users to plug in an extra three cooling fans- taking the maximum available fan headers to nine. All of these fans can be modified and managed with AI Suite 3 or via fan control within the UEFI BIOS.

M.2 X4 Mini
One of the prominent attractions to Z170 is the native M.2 slot, but X99 users aren’t going to miss out as ASUS has supplied an M.2 X4 Hyper kit – enabling users to take advantage of up to 32GB/s, an M.2 drive simply needs to be attached to the adapter with screws.

WiFi Support – 802.11ac
Along with wired gigabit networking, ASUS has included the option to go wireless too. The module used with Deluxe II uses 3×3 – 3T3R, delivering dual-band 2.4/5GHz which can offer up to 1300Mbps.

ThunderboltEX 3 Card
ASUS include a ThunderboltEX3 card with Deluxe II to enhance connectivity. This is what they have to say about this card:

ASUS ThunderboltEX 3 is an Intel-certified Thunderbolt™ 3 add-on card included with the X99-Deluxe II to enable breathtaking bi-directional speeds up to 40Gbps – four-times faster than other PC data-transfer cables with twice the video bandwidth for the latest 60 Hz 4K/UHD displays. Beyond sheer bandwidth, Thunderbolt 3 supports daisy-chaining up to six devices, utilizes a Type C reversible connector for compatibility with the latest USB 3.1 Type-C devices and supports the USB Power Delivery specification for fast, high-power charging of up to 36W.

Unpacking Deluxe-II from the box we have a rather distinct looking motherboard. In keeping with ASUS’ mainstream segment, the styling adopts a white/blue theme matching up perfectly with the GTX-950-2G we recently reviewed. This theme should coordinate well with black, white or blue designs – the overall layout and design is great, a quick glance alludes to a feature-packed motherboard, which we’ll be exploring over the subsequent pages.

Deluxe II conforms to the ATX form factor measuring: 12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm ).

Closer Look

Deluxe II is designed to work with Intel’s Core-i7 processors aka Haswell-E, as well as the upcoming next-generation Core-i7 family. We therefore have the 2011-v3 Socket which supports 14nm CPUs and the next-generation of Turbo Boost technology – 3.0.

As with other ASUS X99 motherboards, the Deluxe II takes advantage of OC Socket – adding extra pins to the socket area which tie in to a proprietary circuit to enhance the overall system performance.

The edge of the mounting plate utilises four screw holes for use with LGA2011 ready CPU coolers – this motherboard also benefits from having twin-CPU fan headers and H_AMP (high speed fan support) and W_PUMP headers for an LCS.

Around the CPU socket there is a dual-heatsink design which sits over the MOSFETs, the hetsinks are both connected with a thick copper heatpipe. Deluxe II uses an all-digital design via DIGI+ Power control to bring about better power efficiency and stability, with an 8+2 phase configuration.

On either side of the socket there are four slots for DDR4 memory. These eight slots support up to 128GB and speeds of up to 3333MHz (OC). Quad-channel support and XMP is available as expected.

Around the memory region there are some additional features which include MemOK! – ASUS’ exclusive memory compatibility tool, after pressing this button problematic bootups with unsupported memory are resolved. Beside the 24-pin ATX power, there is also an M.2 X4 slot and a U.2 slot; supplying up to 32GB/s for your storage needs. Those with concerns about the orientation of the M.2 slot are assured that supports will sit either side of the drive (using the screw holes) to provide a secure fitment. Although the drive will stand up, this positioning is actually ideal for such a drive as airflow will effectively reach the M.2 drive and help to bring down temperatures – often a downfall for such storage.

Moving along, we have more storage options available. In this area we have the following:

• Eight SATA 3 (6GB/s) ports – Four if SATA Express are used
• Two SATA Express ports
• One U.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4) port

Having such flexible storage options means that we aren’t stuck with one particular standard. The inclusion of U.2 future-proofs the motherboard considerably.

Located just behind the SATA ports is a large heatsink which sits over the X99 chip. This heatsink connects to an additional heatsink via a copper heatpipe – the idea being, that is transferred away and the use of two solutions will help to alleviate heat buildup.

Around the X99 heatsink there are two additional SATA 3 (6GB/s) ports which are upwards facing and there are also two switches:

SLI-CFX Switch
This switch allows the user to specify which slots are used for multi-GPU configuration – 2-way or 3-way. There is also a handy LED indicator built into the PCIe latches which highlights which slots are enabled (Lighting demonstration can be seen below).

EZ XMP Switch
This switch allows the user to enable XMP on-the-fly for the installed DDR4 kit.

Closer Look (Cont.)

Next we arrive at the PCI Express slot region. Four of the five X16 slots are reinforced with steel protectors and as mentioned, feature LED indicators integrated into the actual latches. Available in this area we have:

• 5x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16
• 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1

For those interested in the modes for each of the x16 slots – users can take advantage of:

• Slots 1 & 3 – x16/x16
• Slots 2, 4 & 5 – x8, x8, x8

So, unlike many motherboards, Deluxe II can accommodate a dual-graphics card configuration while having both cards operate at x16/x16.

Along with these slots there is SLI and CrossFireX support.

Running through the bottom-edge of Deluxe-II we have a series of onboard buttons which include:

• Power/reset buttons – fast power management
• Q-CODE panel – displays codes throughout POST for diagnostics
• Clear CMOS – resets to factory defaults
• RGB header – enables RGB strips to be installed

After detaching the plastic shroud, we can inspect the audio components in closer detail. The basis for the audio is the Realtek ALC 1150. This codec is renowned for its solid performance, and is a popular choice for motherboard manufacturers. Along with the ALC1150, we also have an isolated area for all the audio components to prevent interference, an audio amplifier, de-pop circuit and premium Japanese-made audio CAPs.

All of the above forms Crystal Sound 3 and after sampling the audio quality, we can confirm a warm, clear and crisp audio solution.

Casting an eye over the rear IO section of Deluxe II we have:

• USB Flashback Button
• Dual Gigabit LAN ports (Intel I218 and I211)
• Four USB 3.0 ports
• Four USB 2.0 ports (Second from bottom is USB flashback)
• Three USB 3.1 Type-A ports (Green)
• One USB 3.1 Type-C port
• 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0 antennas
• Gold plated audio jacks with optical S/PDIF out

Compared to the Deluxe, the Deluxe II remains quite similar in this area, the main difference being the inclusion of USB 3.1 – with the Type-A and Type-C ports. The addition of such ports brings the Deluxe II right up-to-date with current standards found with the current wave of Z170 motherboards.

With the motherboard powered up, above we can view the lighting effects which are employed and which we’ve mentioned further up in the article. This lighting can be modified via AURA within the AiSuite – individual areas can feature their own colour and effects can be applied.

Our only criticsm with the lighting is that there are red and green lights from the power/reset and Q-CODE panel which ruin the overall theme. To bring about some consistency (which enthusiasts will be seeking on such a board), if ASUS are going to use lighting, it should be cohesive.

Test Setup, Methodology & Overclocking

Test Setup

CPU Intel Core i7-5960X Extreme Edition
Cooling Corsair H100i GTX
Motherboard ASUS X99-Deluxe II
Memory 16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 @ 2666MHz
Graphics NVIDIA GTX 760
Storage Samsung 840 EVO 750GB
PSU Corsair HX1050 80 Plus Gold Certified PSU

Benchmarks

Cinebench R15 – CPU/OpenGL Score
x264 HD 4.0 – 1st and 2nd pass encoding
SiSoftware SANDRA 2014 – CPU & Memory benchmarks
HandBrake – Encoding Performance
Pov-Ray – 3D Image processing Performance
AIDA64 – CPU benchmarks
PCMark 8 – Creative Suite
3DMark FireStrike – DX11 3D Benchmark
Games – BF4, THIEF Company of Heroes 2

Other Software

Stress Testing Software: AIDA64 Stability Test
CPU Specification Monitoring: CPU-Z

Overclocking

Overclocking with the X99-Deluxe II is very easy thanks to the rock-solid advanced features and feature packed UEFI BIOS. In the past, our Intel Core i7-5960X has been capable of up to 4.9/5GHz, so we instantly began testing for the maximum possible overclock.

The Deluxe-II was able to achieve our milestone with ease, requiring 1.43v to reach the heights of 4.9GHz. Granted, the chip gets rather toasty at such a mark – this still verifies how proficient Deluxe-II really is and that it has all the ingredients to take any chip to the highest possible frequency.

Benchmarks: Power Consumption

It’s interesting to note the power consumption across all motherboards. Although they are using the X99 chipset, energy results can fluctuate between manufacturers due to the features and specifications that are integrated. First of all, for the idle tests the system is cold booted into Windows and no additional applications are executed – the watts are noted on the external energy monitor we use and then the system is loaded with 3DMark FireStrike – watts are again monitored for the duration of the test and the highest rated wattage result is then noted down. Below are the results of this energy test.

Benchmarks: AIDA64

AIDA64 Product Page

This simple integer benchmark focuses on the branch prediction capabilities and the misprediction penalties of the CPU. It finds the solutions for the classic “Queens problem” on a 10 by 10 sized chessboard. At the same clock speed theoretically the processor with the shorter pipeline and smaller misprediction penalties will attain higher benchmark scores. For example — with HyperThreading disabled — the Intel Northwood core processors get higher scores than the Intel Prescott core based ones due to the 20-step vs 31-step long pipeline. CPU Queen test uses integer MMX, SSE2 and SSSE3 optimizations.

Benchmarks: Cinebench R15

CINEBENCH is a real-world cross platform test suite that evaluates your computer’s performance capabilities. CINEBENCH is based on MAXON’s award-winning animation software CINEMA 4D, which is used extensively by studios and production houses worldwide for 3D content creation. MAXON software has been used in blockbuster movies such as Iron Man 3, Oblivion, Life of Pi or Prometheus and many more.

Benchmarks: SiSoftware SANDRA

SANDRA isn’t always a benchmark that is included in hardware reviews but I believe it shouldn’t be ignored. SANDRA provides a vigorous package that tests your system in a rather large array of benchmarks. There are many aspects of benchmark that can be executed. We will be considering – CPU and memory tests.

Benchmarks: 3DMark FireStrike

3DMark FireStrike Product Page

Fire Strike is our new showcase DirectX 11 benchmark designed for high-performance gaming PCs. It is our most ambitious and technical benchmark ever, featuring real-time graphics rendered with detail and complexity far beyond what is found in other benchmarks and games today. Fire Strike will only be available in the Windows editions of 3DMark initially.

Benchmarks: PCMark 8

PCMark 8 combines performance benchmarking with battery life measurement and includes tests based on popular Adobe and Microsoft applications. Whether you are looking for long battery life, or maximum power, PCMark 8 will help you find the devices that offer the perfect combination of efficiency and performance for your needs. It’s the complete PC performance benchmark for home and business.

Benchmarks: POV-Ray 3.7

The Persistence of Vision Raytracer, or POV-Ray, is a ray tracing program which generates images from a text-based scene description, and is available for a variety of computer platforms. It was originally based on DKBTrace, written by David Kirk Buck and Aaron A. Collins for the Amiga computers.

Benchmarks: Handbrake 0.9.9.1

HandBrake is an open source transcoding tool for converting video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs. Strong multi-threading support tends to favour high core counts and hyperthreading support.

Gaming Benchmarks: BF4, COH2, GRID 2, THIEF

It’s important for us to perform a number of game benchmarks as well as the synthetic tests because gamers will want to know if there are any significant benefits. So here we have two popular and recent gaming titles which feature a dedicated benchmark tool within them to display results.

Conclusion

With Intel’s next-generation CPUs on the horizon (check here for our upcoming reviews – using Deluxe II), it’s to be expected that a fresh wave of X99 motherboards would hit the shelves. Surprisingly, not all of the brands are involved in such a refresh but ASUS are monopolising on the event by presenting the ‘High End Desktop’ segment with some exciting new releases.

The X99-Deluxe II is just one of the motherboards which ASUS has released. Building on the success of the popular X99-Deluxe, this version two brings the motherboard right up-to-date by furnishing the PCB with USB 3.1 functionality, U.2 ports, RGB lighting and Intel Turbo Boost 3.0 to name just a few elements.

Across the board we also have some subtle alterations to the styling with a much more refined aesthetic which will pair up perfectly with white, black or blue devices.

Storage is a particular highlight on Deluxe II because there are a multitude of options to choose from. SATA, SATA Express, M.2 and U.2 are all fully supported. Even though we do only get a single M.2 slot on the motherboard, ASUS has included the Hyper Kit to allow users to take advantage of a RAID configuration. By its nature, M.2 takes up valuable space on a motherboard and therefore ASUS has made the wise decision of integrating an M.2 slot which causes the drive to stand upright – something which may seem odd at first but something which actually makes quite a lot of sense, since M.2 drives are notorious for generating heat. With this orientation, airflow can effectively reach the drive and bring down temperatures.

As far as performance goes, Deluxe II is a strong candidate in the X99 arena, demonstrating consistent results throughout a range of benchmarks. Further to this, we managed to overclock our Intel Core i7-5960X to 4.9GHz with very few steps thanks to the intuitive ASUS UEFI BIOS. This verifies for users that the Deluxe-II will carry any CPU to the furthest possible frequency.

Being derived from ASUS’ premium series doesn’t just mean you’ll get a wealth of features on the motherboard, the accessories bundle is pack with item after item – in fact we’ve never seen such a generous bundle before. Every conceivable part is provided – including handy and innovative items such as a fan extension card, M.2 X4 Hyper Kit, 802.11ac module, and a ThunderboltEX 3 card.

Priced at £359.99 GBP / $420 USD, the Deluxe II is no small investment. However, this motherboard isn’t designed for casual enthusiasts – its packaging bundle and included features clearly indicate extreme usage and will be the ideal candidate for passionate enthusiasts and overclockers who want to squeeze the very best performance out of their LGA2011 chip and make use of numerous storage standards as well as multi-GPU configurations (which we note, will allow x16/x16).

ASUS has revived the Intel X99 chipset with the release of Deluxe II. This motherboard carries with it a huge array of features; with a selection of USB 3.1 ports, a multitude of storage options and is ready to take on the new Intel® Core i7 processor family for socket LGA 2011-v3.

VIDEO REVIEW – VORTEZ TV

Pros
+ Appealing design
+ Extensive accessories bundle
+ x16/x16 multi-GPU support
+ Numerous storage options inc. U.2
+ Great for overclocking
+ Includes a selection of USB 3.1 ports
+ Great audio solution

Cons
– Steep price

Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.