Motherboard ASUS ROG Maximus IX Formula Overview

ASUS ROG Maximus IX Formula occupies the top lines in the based on the newest chipsets motherboards’ family. The main specialties of this model are: a special supply chain radiator with integrated water-block, ROG Armor cover, the preset wireless network adapter. The engineers also paid more attention to the setting up and monitoring of the LSS.

Features:

• • Chipset: Intel Z270
• • Processor socket: Socket 1151
• • Processors: Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Pentium, Celeron (Skylake-S, Kaby Lake-S)
• • RAM: 4 DIMM DDR4 SDRAM 2133/2400/2666 * / 2800 * / 3000 * / 3200 * / 3300 * / 3333 * / 3400 * / 3466 * / 3600 * / 3733 * / 3866 * / 4000 * / 4133 * (OC) a maximum of 64 GB
• • PCI-E Slots: 2 x PCI Express 3.0x16 (x16 + x0, x8 + x8)
1xPCI Express 3.0 x16 (x4)3xPCI Express 3.0 x1
• • M.2: 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x4 (Key M, 2242/2260/2280/22110)
1 x PCI Express 3.0 x4 (Key M, 2242/2260/2280)

• Integrated graphics core (processor): Intel HD 510/530/610/630
• Video input: DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4b
• Connected fans: 8x 4pin, 1x 5pin (extension fan connector)
• PS/2 ports: –
• USB ports: 4x3.1 Gen2 (2 slots on the rear panel (A and C), 2x ASM2142)
6x3.1 Gen1 (4 slots on the rear panel, Z270)
6x2.0 (4 slots on the rear panel, Z270)
• Serial ATA: 6xSATA 6Gb/s (Z270)
• RAID: 0, 1, 5, 10 (SATA, Z270)
• Integrated audio: SupremeFX (7.1, HDA)
Codec — S1220 (Realtek ALC1220)
DAC — ESS Sabre ES9023P
OpAmp — Texas Instruments RC4580
• S/PDIF: optical (out)
• Network capabilities: Intel I219V (Gigabit Ethernet)
Qualcomm Atheros QCNFA364A (Qualcomm Atheros QCA6174 (Wi-Fi 2.4 / 5GHz (802.11a / b / g / n / ac), Bluetooth 4.1))
• COM: –
• TPM: +
• UEFI: AMI UEFI
• Form factor: ATX
• Dimensions, mm: 305x244


The motherboard’s additional features are as follows:

• • Water block CrossChill II by EK
• • ROG Armor (protecting even the rear panel)
• • ROG Water Cooling Zone (flow sensor support and a pair of temperature ones)
• • 3D Print ready (places for fastening 3D-printers products are on hand)
• • Case sockets USB 3.1 provided with 15 W capacity and a symmetric slot on the motherboard
• • AMD 3-Way CrossFireX and NVIDIA 2-Way SLI, Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED) support
• • POST-indicator
• • Buttons: Start, Reset, MemOK!, ClrCMOS, and others
• • Technologies: Keybot II, Lighting Control Center (illumination system ROG Aura, including a pair of Aura RGB Strip Header), USB BIOS Flashback, and others.

Equipment

The kit supplied is considerably more interesting than the usual ones and includes the following:

• • User's guide which illustrates and describes all the UEFI items (in English);
• • CD with drivers and proprietary software;
• • Label with the ROG logo;
• • Set of stickers with different images of ROG series;
• • One more set of ROG stickers – for cables;
• • Cup stand with the ROG logo;
• • Discount coupon for the procedure of wires’ rounding;
• • Adapter for easy connection of hull connector ASUS Q-Connector;
• • Branded plastic tab for the processor;
• • Mounting screw and a rack for M.2 format devices;
• • Arm-rack, a couple of screws and a plastic clip for M.2 format devices;
• • Dual hard SLI bridge;
• • Extension cord to connect the LED tape;
• • Six cables SATA 6Gb/s, three of which have an L-shaped connector on one end;
• • Remote Wi-Fi-antenna with two fixing positions, equipped with a magnet stand.

Outlook

Traditionally, strict dark motives are used in the board’s design. Its dimensions comply with the ATX format; there are nine points for attachment to the case.

Due to the reduced air circulation under the hood, the developers have provided a massive cooler for the needs of the Intel Z270 chip. Six SATA sockets are placed lengthwise.

A pair of M.2-type slots is ready for drives: one is hiding behind the cover plate and there is a rack-mounting bracket included for the second one.

There are a couple pads of the third USB generation for case cables, as well as the one for the second revision.

For the latest version, modern symmetrical type is one of the options, while the second port is the one of a conventional, classical style. The ATX power slot has visible recesses for the light of the four diagnostic Q-LEDs.

There are buttons to start/restart the system when needed. The red POST code indicator is quite a useful thing as well. Two gray reinforced slots will be able to work with sixteen PCI-E lines on the CPU; others will interact with the hub.

The audio processing circuit in addition to fresh ALC1220 codec includes a DAC with a separate oscillator and an OpAmp. There is a shield gap, although it is just formally represented in this model.

The hybrid cooling system will not cause any problem while the additional cooling systems are installed, its height is low.

PWM-controller Model is ASP1400BT. It is supported by six drivers placed nearby. Every one works with a pair of chokes and Texas Instruments CSD87350Q5D power assemblies. The four channels are allocated to stabilize the CPU voltage, another two – for the GP. That is, there occurs a doubling of the components.

The radiators are fastened securely by screws. An extensive thermal pad works everywhere as the heat-conducting substance.

The updated version of the EK CrossChill II cooler involves the reduction of the flow resistance thanks to an increased number of edges while reducing the cross-sectional area of each. IO ports species on the rear panel have become larger due to the pre-installed wireless controller.

Proprietary Software

The software kit includes the following:

• • Proprietary: AI Suite 3 (Ai Charger, Dual Intelligent Processors 5, EZ Update, File Transfer, PC Cleaner, System Information, USB BIOS Flashback), Boot Setting, Lighting Control (AURA), KeyBot II, Mem TweakIt, Product Registration Program, RAMCache II, RAMDisk, ROG Connect Plus
• • Sonic: Sonic Radar III, Sonic Studio III
• • Network: GameFirst IV, Overwolf, WebStorage
• • Additional: Clone Drive, DAEMON Tools Pro, Intel XTU, ROG CPU-Z, WinZip

The main complex is the AI Suite.

Conclusion

ROG Maximus IX Formula is a technically improved version of a simpler model – Hero. An excellent motherboard is additionally equipped with a protective shield, its illumination efficiency as been increased. The controls configuration has not changed; just some of the buttons have changed their location. The radiator in the supply chain is a hybrid cooling system and can be included in the LSS circuit. The outputs of the wireless network adapter has been placed on the rear panel, and the remote antenna is present in the package.

The software support is the same, as it comes to UEFI content, as well as to the tools set. The system performance and its power consumption are also of no difference.

The overclocking ability has not at all deteriorated, and RAM overclocking allows rising on for a few more MHz. A welcome is the fact of the branded acceleration mechanisms improvement, and they are many, so users with varying degrees of training and luck in the processor purchase will be able to get a quick boost in performance.