ASUS First AMD FM2+ ROG Motherboard – ASUS RoG Crossblade Ranger

ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces the Crossblade Ranger

ROGs first AMD FM2+ motherboard is equipped with core game-boosting features including Intel Gigabit Ethernet, GameFirst III, LANGuard, SupremeFX 2014, Sonic SenseAmp and KeyBot

Fremont, California (6th August 2014) ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the Crossblade Ranger, the first AMD FM2+ motherboard to carry the revered ROG brand name – packed with game-boosting features for an AMD-based gaming powerhouse that is beyond compare.

The Crossblade Rangers core benefits include the best gaming networking with Intel Gigabit Ethernet, the best gaming audio from SupremeFX 2014, the best gaming interface with KeyBot and the best gaming performance.

Best gaming networking
The Crossblade Ranger is fitted with state-of-the-art Intel Gigabit Ethernet that delivers better throughput and lower power consumption than competing solutions from other vendors.
The new motherboards networking capabilities additionally benefit from ROG-exclusive GameFirst III technology for optimal online gameplay. This advanced network-optimization software assigns top priority to game-data packets, allocating them more bandwidth to ensure the best online-gaming experience and clear, stutter-free online team-chat all controlled with ROGs usual intuitive flair.

These features are coupled with LANGuard Ethernet socket technology. LANGuard works by employing advanced filtering components with low impedance capacitors to reduce noise and improve throughput and also includes ESD and surge-protection to prevent damage from lightning strikes and static-electricity discharges.

Best gaming audio
Immersive audio is essential for gaming, so the Crossblade Ranger is engineered with SupremeFX 2014. At its core, the SupremeFX 2014 solution uses PCB isolation techniques to minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI) and premium ELNA audio capacitors to provide precise 7.1 channel audio thats on par with the best soundcards.

SupremeFX 2014 features dedicated hardware for features such as Sonic SenseAmp and Sonic SoundStage.
Sonic SenseAmp automatically detects analog-audio front-panel (AAFP) headphone impedance and adjusts the amp gain to provide the best volume control range – taking the guesswork and hassle out of setting gain manually.

Sonic Soundstage is a hardware based solution that features preset audio profiles for a variety of gaming genres. First-person shooter (FPS), racing, combat and sports games presets are available via an onboard hardware switch or via the included (Windows) driver package. The benefit of including an onboard hardware switch is that the Sonic Soundstage presets can be applied without needing a driver so works with any operating system. For Windows users, the presets are fully customizable via software, allowing one to tailor sound to personal preference.

SupremeFX 2014 also includes additional software features to provide a competitive gaming edge and improve immersion.
Designed for first-person shooters (FPS), Sonic Radar II displays a stealthy overlay that shows what opponents and teammates are up to. Players see the precise direction and origin of in-game sounds such as gunshots, footsteps and call-outs, enabling them to hone enemy-pinpointing skills.

Sonic Studio can be used to create virtual surround modes for stereo headsets, provides EQ controls to tune various parts of the audio spectrum and includes noise reduction algorithms for microphones this all adds up to make SupremeFX 2014 the complete gaming audio solution.

Best gaming interface
The Crossblade Ranger includes KeyBot, a clever tool that lets users instantly upgrade an existing keyboard simply by attaching it to the dedicated USB socket.

Once connected, the KeyBot microprocessor is activated and the user is able to use their current keyboard to control multimedia playback, launch favorite applications or assign macros to specific keys perfect for automating complicated in-game key sequences without the need for an expensive gaming keyboard.

Best gaming performance and experience
Being an ROG motherboard, the Crossblade Ranger is infused with core ROG DNA:

Overclocking Features
ROGs Auto-Tuning technology enables the Crossblade Ranger to unleash the true power of AMD APUs with just few mouse clicks. Thanks to the TPU microprocessor (Turbo Processing Unit), the Auto-Tuning routine applies a CPU overclock without need to enter UEFI – perfect for users that are new to the platform.
For users that prefer manual control, the TPU microprocessor and bundled Turbo-V application allows real-time voltage adjustments within the Windows operating system to simplify the process of overclocking a system. Naturally, the ROG UEFI is also chock-full of overclocking functions that help squeeze every ounce of performance from the AMD FM2+ platform.

Fan Controls
To keep things cool and quiet, weve included five onboard fan headers each with PWM (4-pin) or DC (3-pin) control. Extensive fan control options are available within UEFI or the automated Fan Xpert 3 calibration utility. Using either method, anyone can customize fan profiles in order to maximize cooling efficiency and eliminate unnecessary fan noise. The level of control on offer here sets a new standard for the FM2+ platform and completely negates the need for using a dedicated and expensive fan controller.

ROG Accessories
The Crossblade Ranger is also compatible with the ROG Front Base dual-bay gaming panel. The ROG Front Base enables one-click performance boosting, fan-controls, shielded front audio input/outputs, audio profile selection, volume control and real-time system monitoring to provide everything a gamer needs within a single unit.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING
The ASUS ROG Crossblade Ranger lands with an MSRP of $159.99 and will be available at all major online retailors in August. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.

SPECIFICATIONS
Processor/CPU socket AMD FM2+ Socket for AMD A-series / Athlon Series processors
Chipset AMD A88X FCH (Bolton-D4)
Memory 4 x DIMMs, up to a maximum of 64GB, DDR3 2666 (O.C.)
Supports AMD Memory Profile (AMP) memory
Expansion slots 2 x PCI Express 3.0*/2.0 x16 slots (red, single x16 or dual x8/x8 mode)
1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (black, maximum x4 mode)
2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots
2 x PCI slots
*Only FM2+ processors support PCIe 3.0
Graphics (VGA) Integrated AMD Radeon R/HD8000/HD7000 Series Graphics in the A-Series APU
Multi-VGA output support: HDMI/DVI/RGB port
-Supports HDMI with maximum of resolution 4096 x 2160 at 24Hz and 1920 x 1200 at 60Hz
-Supports DVI-D (DVI) with maximum resolution of 2560 x 1600 at 60Hz
-Supports RGB (VGA) with maximum resolution 1920 x 1600 at 60Hz
-Maximum shared memory of 2GB
-Supports AMD Dual Graphics technology
Multi-GPU AMD 3-way CrossFireX technology
Storage 8 x SATA 6Gbit/s connectors with RAID 0, RAID 1,RAID 5,RAID 10 and JBOD support
Networking/LAN Intel Gigabit Ethernet with GameFirst III and ASUS LANGuard
USB 6 x USB 3.0 ports (4 on back panel, 2 mid-board)
8 x USB 2.0 ports (2 on back panel, 6 mid-board)
Audio ROG SupremeFX Formula 2014 8-channel high-definition audio
– SupremeFX shielding technology
– ELNA premium audio capacitors
– Content protection for full-rate lossless playback of DVD Audio, Blu-ray DVD, and HD-DVD audio content
– Jack-detection, multi-streaming, front-panel jack-retasking
– Optical S/PDIF-out port on back panel
Dimensions / form factor ATX, 12-inch x 9.6-inch (30.5cm x 24.4cm)
About ASUS
ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the worlds best-selling, most award-winning, motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of todays digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,256 awards in 2013 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC. ASUS has more than 13,600 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of 4,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2013 was approximately US$14 billion.