The coming range of motherboards from ASUS are showcased at CeBIT 2012, amongst them is the mighty ROG Maximus V and Maximus V Gene.
P8H77-M PRO
This H77 mATX motherboard still touts the quality we have come to expect from ASUS, even the P8H77-M PRO features DIGI+ VRM power management. Keeping with previous generation motherboards we see the blue on dark brown/ almost black PCB with blue heatsinks, we can also see the new ‘Digital Wave’ design theme that runs throughout the new P8Z77 series.
P8Z77-M PRO
The second mATX motherboard from ASUS is the P8Z77-M PRO, which is a fully featured mATX board. We see a relatively beefier DIGI+ VRM power delivery as well as three physical PCIe x16 slots, 4 DIMMs and a socket for your sprocket, err CPU if you will.
P8Z77-V
The ASUS P8Z77-V is the entry level ATX motherboard, yet one cannot help thinking that there is nothing entry about it. ASUS appear to be standardising various features such as MEM-OK!, Dual Intelligent Processors III as well as featuring new additions such as Fan Xpert 2 and Wi-Fi GO! USB 3.0 Boost and USB BIOS Flashback. Again we see the ‘Digital Wave’ theme.
P8Z77-V PRO
On first glance there appears to be little difference between the P8Z77-V and the P8Z77-V PRO, however, on closer inspection we see an extra USB 3.0 header and a new chip followed by a few additional capacitors in the bottom left corner just above the HD audio chip, we also see a more reinforced video out VGA and DVI hub.
P8Z77-V DELUXE
Doing away with legacy PCI slots the P8Z77-V DELUXE certainly is a touch above the previously seen boards. We see a more pronounced set of heatsinks which gives it that little extra awesome. Featuring onboard power,reset and clear CMOS buttons, LED BIOS debug, a PLX PCIe Bridge chip, 4x PCIe x1 and 3x PCIe x16, extra SATA 6Gb/s controller giving 4x SATA 6Gb/s and 4x SATA 3Gb/s, 6x 4pin PWM fan headers which includes a pair for CPU heatsink in push/pull configuration. The CPU is supplied by a whopping 20 phase VRM setup, compared to the P8Z77-V PRO’s 16 and the P8Z77-V’s 12.
To finalise this series, there is also a mini ITX motherboard the ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe, which has some fancy features allowing it to potentially be a beast in a small form factor.
Next up… Sabertooth Z77 and ROG Maximus V
ASUS Sabertooth Z77 and ROG Maximus V Formula
At the high end of the Z77 line-up from ASUS we see a return of the TUF series with Sabertooth Z77 which has a familiar jacket and of course we see the Republic of Gamers Maximus V Formula and Maximus V Gene mATX.
Sabertooth Z77
The Sabertooth Z77 returns with the unique thermal armour, intended to direct airflow over the board independently from the thermal environment in the immediate surroundings, this time however, when compared with the P67 version, we see placements for two 50mm fans for intake and exhaust. The motherboards slots and headers are covered by ‘dust defenders’ while exposed parts keep in theme with previous colour aesthetics.
ROG Maximus V Gene
The worlds most powerful mATX gaming board, only an ASUS GENE could claim that title, featuring the SupremeFX III audio system that is shielded from EMI and has a fancy red lighting to prove it so. The expected overclocking features are present and we see an innovative mPCIe combo riser card allowing the installation of a mSATA or mPCIe device such as an SSD or Wi-Fi/Bluetooth modules.
ROG Maximus V Formula
The Republic of Gamers Maximus V Formula features a neat ‘Fusion Thermo system’, which can be used passively with built in heatpipe or can use the integrated water channel for water cooling. Also features the new SupremeFX audio system, however the whole audio circuitry is cut off and isolated from the rest of the motherboard. We again see the mPCIe combo riser, four DDR3 DIMMS supporting upto a max of 32GB at 2600MHz (OC), dual x16 PCIe 3.0 slots (in dual x8 when both in use) an open ended PCIe 2.0 x4, three PCIe 2.0 x1 slots, and a physical PCIe 2.0 x16 (electrical x4) slot. The rear I/O is similar to the Gene with the addition of a display port.
It is clear, that since GIGABYTE released their G1 Sniper series which focused heavily on delivering an outstanding integrated audio package, ASUS have called game and focused heavily on their
SupremeFXIII audio system on the Maximus V series.
Also the mPCIe addition, not only innovative, but offers a new dimension to how consumers use their motherboards. Like with all flagship products, if this feature proves popular it is likely that we will see such a thing filter down onto more mainstream products.
ROG Xonar Phoebus
Finally we take a look at the coming discrete sound solution from ASUS, the ROG Xonar Phoebus. Featuring ROG command technology which allows the reduction of environmental noise by 50% as well as featuring a headphone amplifier, clear and ‘dominant’ sound are on the menu.
Release of ASUS 7 Series motherboards are expected late April 2012.
