ASUS Maximus VIII Extreme Motherboard Review

By Steven Kean November 30, 2015

ASUS Maximus VIII Extreme Motherboard Review

ASUS is one of the top motherboard manufactures with product lines ranging from the very basic consumer to the high end enthusiast gamer. Their Republic of Gamer’s line builds in the best features that ASUS has to offer. Today, we will be taking a look at their flagship motherboard the Maximus VIII Extreme. It is designed to support the latest Intel Skylake processors, based on the Intel Z170 chipset. Currently the ASUS Maximus VIII Extreme can be found online for $493.37 with free shipping. Let’s take a quick look at what ASUS’s flagship motherboard has to offer before seeing how it performs.

The ASUS Maximus VIII Extreme is one of the most feature packed motherboards I have seen. Networking, you have the option of the latest Intel Gigabit ethernet connection, or a wireless 3×3 AC with Bluetooth 4 connection. For storage, there are up to eight SATA 6Gb/s (for of which are shared with SATA Express), two SATA Express, a 32Gb/s M.2 and the latest U.2 connector. Video options range from 2-way SLI or 4-way CrossFireX. Then we get to USB support, there is a total of six USB 2.0 (all internal headers), eight USB 3.0 ports (four are from internal headers), and four USB 3.1 (which includes one Type-C) connectors.

That’s before we even talk about the other features of the Maximus VIII Extreme! ASUS has also included the OC Panel II with the Maximus VIII Extreme. The OC Panel II, is exactly what it sounds like, designed to help overclockers by making things easier to access. With the panel, you have access to making real-time adjustments to the motherboard, or you can use it as a system monitor keeping an eye on CPU Temperature, CPU Ratio, Clock Speed and Fan RPM..

Features and Specifications

OC Panel II
Supreme FX Audio
ROG RGB Logo with effects
Built in U.2 Connector

ASUS Maximus VIII Extreme Specifications
CPU	Intel Socket 1151 for 6th Generation Core i7/Core i5/Core i3/Pentium/Celeron Processors Supports Intel 14 nm CPU Supports Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
Chipset	Intel Z170
Memory	4 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR4 3866(O.C.)/3800(O.C.)/3733(O.C.)/3600(O.C.)/3500(O.C.)/3466(O.C.)/3400(O.C.)/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 Dual Channel Memory Architecture Supports Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
Graphic	Integrated Graphics Processor- Intel HD Graphics support Multi-VGA output support : HDMI/DisplayPort 1.2 ports – Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz – Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096 x 2304 @ 60 Hz Maximum shared memory of 512 MB Supports Intel InTru 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, Insider
Multi-GPU Support	Supports NVIDIA Quad-GPU SLI Technology Supports AMD 4-Way CrossFireX Technology
Expansion Slots	3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8 or x8/x4/x4, gray) 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x4 mode, gray) 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1 (black)
Storage	Intel Z170 chipset: 1 x M.2 x4 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (both SATA & PCIE mode) 6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray, , 4 ports from 2 x SATA Express 2 x SATA Express port 1 x U.2 port Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 Intel Rapid Storage Technology supports Supports Intel Smart Response Technology ASMedia ASM1061 controller: 2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), black
LAN	Intel I219V, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s), GameFirst technology Intel LAN- Dual interconnect between the Integrated LAN controller and Physical Layer (PHY) Anti-surge LANGuard
Wireless	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Supports dual band frequency 2.4/5 GHz Up to 1300Mbps transfer speed
Bluetooth	Bluetooth V4.0
Audio	ROG SupremeFX 2015 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC – Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking – SupremeFX Shielding Technology – ESS ES9023P DAC: dB SNR, dB THD+N (Max. kHz/ -bit) – TI RC4580 2VRMS audio OP AMP(s) Audio Feature : – Gold-plated jacks – DTS Connect – Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel – Sonic SenseAmp – Sonic Studio II – Sonic Radar II
USB Ports	Intel Z170 chipset: 8 x USB 3.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, blue, 4 at mid-board) Intel Z170 chipset: 6 x USB 2.0 port(s) (6 at mid-board) ASMedia USB 3.1 controller: 2 x USB 3.1 port(s) (2 at back panel, red, Type-A) Intel USB 3.1 controller: 2 x USB 3.1 port(s) (2 at back panel, , Type-A + Type-C)
Back I/O Ports	1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s) 1 x DisplayPort 1 x HDMI 1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s) 1 x USB 3.1 (black)Type-C 3 x USB 3.1 (red)Type-A 4 x USB 3.0 (blue) 1 x Optical S/PDIF out 5 x Audio jack(s) 1 x Clear CMOS button(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 U.2 port 1 x AAFP connector 2 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 3.0 port(s) 3 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 6 USB 2.0 port(s) 2 x SATA Express connector: gray, Compatible with 4 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports 1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key design, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (Supports both SATA & PCIE SSD) 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s) 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (4 -pin) 1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) (4 -pin) 4 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (4 -pin) 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 4-pin EZ_PLUG Power connector(s) 1 x System panel(s) (Q-Connector) 1 x 5-pin EXT_FAN(Extension Fan) connector 1 x MemOK! button(s) 1 x Slow Mode switch(es) 9 x ProbeIt Measurement Points 3 x Thermal sensor connector(s) 1 x DRAM channel jumper 1 x Power-on button(s) 1 x Reset button(s) 1 x BIOS Switch button(s) 1 x SLI/CFX button (2/3/4-way adjustments) 1 x Water Pump header (4-pin) 1 x LN2 Mode jumper(s) 1 x ROG extension (ROG_EXT) header(s) 1 x Safe Boot button 1 x ReTry button
ROG Exclusive	Start Button Reset Button LN2 Mode Extreme Engine Digi+ : – MicroFine Alloy Chokes – 10K Black Metallic Capacitors – OptiMOS MOSFET Mem TweakIt ROG Extreme OC kit : – ReTry button – Safe Boot button – Start button – Reset button – Slow Mode – LN2 Mode – PCIe x16 Lane Switch – Debug LED – EZ Plug – DRAM channel jumper ProbeIt KeyBot II – One-click Overclocking – X.M.P. – DirectKey – ClrCMOS – Power On UEFI BIOS features : – O.C. Profile – GPU.DIMM Post – Tweakers’ Paradise – ROG SSD Secure Erase – Graphic Card Information Preview ROG RAMDisk iROG Extreme Tweaker USB BIOS Flashback Overclocking Protection : – COP EX (Component Overheat Protection – EX)
Warranty	3 Years

After a brief look at the ASUS Maximus VIII Extreme packaging, we’ll take a closer look at the motherboard and get to installing it.