Asus maximus viii hero review

Technical characteristics

ASUS MAXIMUS VIII HERO FEATURES
CPU	6th Generation Intel® Socket 1151 Core ™ i7 / i5 i3 Core ™ / Core ™ / Pentium® / Celeron® processors Supports Intel® 14nm CPU Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
Chipset	Intel® Z170 Express Chipset
Memory	4 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR4 MHz Non-ECC, buffer memory Un Dual Channel memory architecture Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) * Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of each CPU.
Multi-GPU Compatible	Support Integrated Graphics on Intel® HD Processors Multi-VGA output support: HDMI / DisplayPort 1.2 ports HDMI compatible with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz Compatible with 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 NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI ™ Compatible Supports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX ™ Technology Expansion slots 2 x PCIe 3.0 / 2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8, + gray) 1 x PCIe x16 (x4 mode, + black) 3.0 / 2.0 3 x PCIe 3.0 / 2.0 x1
Storage	Intel® Z170 chipset: 1 x x4 M.2 Socket 3With M Key, Form 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage supporting devices (both SATA and PCIE mode) * 1 6 x SATA 6Gb / s port (s), gray,, 2 x 2 SATA express ports 2 x SATA express port RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 support Intel® Rapid Storage Technology supports * 2 Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology * 2 ASMedia® ASM1061 Controller: 2 x SATA 6Gb / s port (s), black, * 3
USB and ports.	Intel® Z170 chipset: 6 x USB 3.0 port (s) (2 at back panel, blue, 4 half board) Intel® Z170 chipset: * 4 8 x USB 2.0 port (s) (4 at back panel, black, 4 half board)) ASMedia® USB 3.1 driver: 1 x 3.1 USB port (s) (1 at back panel, black, Type-C) ASMedia® USB 3.1 controller: 1 x 3.1 USB port (s) (1 at the back Panel, red, type A)
LAN	Intel® I219V, 1 x Gigabit LAN controller (s), GameFirst technology Intel® LAN-Dual Interconnect between Integrated LAN Controller and Physical Layer (PHY) anti-surge LANguard
Rear connections	2 x LAN (RJ45) port (s) 2 x USB 3.1 (teal blue) 4 x USB 3.0 (blue) 4 x USB 2.0 1 x Optical S / PDIF out 5 x Audio jack (s) 1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button (s)
Audio	ROG SupremeFX 2015 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC Supports Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-remapping tasks SupremeFX Shielding Technology ESS® ES9023P DAC:. dB SNR, dB THD + N (Max kHz / -bit) RC4580 TI 2Vrms AMP OP Audio (s) Audio Function: - Gold plated connectors - DTS Connect - Optical S / PDIF (s) on back panel of Sonic SenseAmp, Sonic Studio II, Sonic Radar II
Additional features	Start button Reset button LN2 Mode Extreme Engine Digi +: MicroFine alloy shocks NexFET ™ Power Block MOSFET 10K Black Metallic Mem TweakIT KeyBot II Capacitors - One-click Overclocking - XMP - DirectKey - ClrCMOS - On UEFI BIOS features: - OC Profile - GPU.DIMM Post Paradise Tweakers ´- - ROG SSD Secure Erase - Graphics Card Information Vista ROG RAMDisk Operating system support Windows® 10, 64 bit Windows 8.1 64-bit on Windows 7, 32-bit / 64-bit
Format.	ATX format; 30.5 cm x 24.4cm
BIOS	1 x 128Mb Flash ROM, UEFI BIOS AMI, PnP, DMI3.0, 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, F9 Quick Note, Last Record Modified, F12 PrintScreen, F3 shortcut functions and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory information. Manageability WfM2.0, DMI3.0, WOL by PME, PXE

Asus Maximus VIII Hero

The Asus Maximus VIII Hero is presented with a robust packaging that ensures maximum protection for all the components it houses inside. As in all Republic Of Gamer "ROG" products, we find the product model, red background and all accepted certificates on the cover in large letters. While in the back we have all the most important characteristics and technical specifications.

As usual in the high ranges of motherboards, the box has two dependencies, the first one is the one that keeps the motherboard. While the second where it has all its accessories. The bundle is made up of:

Asus Maximus VIII Hero motherboard, back plate, instruction manual and quick guide, CD with drivers, SATA cables, processor installation kit, SLI bridges, accessories, merchandising (sticker and do not disturb on door).

Its format is the expected classic ATX with dimensions of 30.5cm x 24.4 cm, so we do not have to worry about the box, since it is compatible with almost any current box. Its design reminds us a lot of the Asus Rampage V Extreme that has been so successful on the X99 platform. Much of the blame lies with your deck in the rear ports area and next to the sound card's circuitry.

The predominant color scheme is red and a matte black PCB. As many of you know, I am a lover of this range… that combines well with any box on the market.

Regarding the internal components, it has 10 power phases (same range as the Asus Z170 Deluxe), a custom Digi + PWM from Asus and DRAM Overcurrent Protection technologies, ESD Guards and high-quality 5K-Hour Solid trainers with a faster speed. at 250%. This allows us to perform a strong overclock and have a first class stability.

On the cooling it has two large heatsinks both in the area of the power supply phases and the south bridge of the motherboard, thus leaving the chipset cold at all times. As it happened with the other model analyzed, the south chip has a custom led (via software) that allows us to choose with a large color scale.

As in other series, the pins of the socket are gold plated, while we have a total of 4 sockets of DDR4 RAM memory that allows us to install up to 64GB with frequencies of 3200 Mhz through the XMP 1.3 profile and the possibility of overclocking.

The distribution of the PCI Express ports is very good and allows us to install up to 3 graphics cards with Nvidia SLI or AMD CrossfireX technology at x16 with PCI Express 3.0. It also has 4 PCI Express slots at x1.

A single graph: x16 / x0 / x0. Two graphs: x8 / x8 / x0. Three graphs: x8 / x8 / x4.

It also incorporates the M.2 connection with a bandwidth of 32Gb / s instead of the classic 10Gb / s improved by the Asus team. Already on the supply we have a 24-pin ATX connection and the 8-pin EPS. In the lower area of the motherboard we have two internal USB 3.0 heads, control panel, USB 2.0 and fan heads. Unsurprisingly it includes a control panel for quick on-air testing, this is ideal for overclockers.

I'd also like to point out that the SupremeFX 2015 sound card incorporates an ESS ES9023P analog convertor (DAC) with HyperStream technology, Nichicon capacitors, 2Vrms headphone amplifier, and Sonic SenseAmp that automatically detects and optimizes any headphone in the range 32 to 600 ohms to offer us a purer sound quality.

On the storage connections it incorporates 8 SATA connections at 6Gb / s shared, two of them with the SATA Express connection, which is costing so much to standardize.

Finally, indicate on its rear panel is composed of:

1 x PS / 2 keyboard / mouse combo port (s) 1 x DisplayPort 1 x HDMI 1 x LAN port (RJ45) (s) 1 x USB 3.1 (black) Type-C1 x USB 3.1 (red) Type-A2 x USB 3.0 (blue) 4 x USB 2.01 x S optical / PDIF5 x audio jack (s) 1 x USB Flashback button BIOS (s)

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Test bench and tests

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Intel i5-6600k.
Base plate:	Asus Maximus VIII Hero
Memory:	4 × 4 16GB DDR4 @ 3200 MHZ G.Skill Ripjaws V
Heatsink	Corsair H100i GTX.
HDD	Samsung 840 EVO 250GB.
Graphic card	Nvidia GTX 780.
Power supply	EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G2

To check the stability of the processor and motherboard, we've overclocked up to 4500mhz with Prime 95 Custom and air cooling. The graphics that we have used is an Nvidia GTX780, without further distractions let's see the results obtained in our tests with a 1920 × 1080 monitor.

BIOS

Asus sets itself apart from the rest with its stable BIOS and continuous updates. I personally love them and I find it a true wonder. As always, it allows us to save settings, 3-pin fan controller, create profiles for the fans, overclock with the smallest detail and a very friendly interface.

In addition we must take into account an important fact, it is that the plates are already optimized to control the pumps of the customized liquid refrigerations, therefore it is an extra point, since we are not obliged to have a rehobus or an external controller.

software

Among its software we find Asus Boot Setting that allows us to go to the BIOS directly after a restart, configure a quick boot or customize the boot after a blackout in the computer.

The 5-Way application is at the forefront of all motherboard applications where it allows us to overclock, monitor temperatures, adjust fans, customize the LEDs and activate TurboLAN.

Final words and conclusion

The Asus Maximus VIII Hero is a high-end ATX format motherboard with 10 power phases ideal for installing the new i7-6700k and i5-6600k processors. We have 4 memory sockets to install up to 64GB of DDR4 memory, also a wide range of possibilities regarding graphic connections with compatibility with SLI or CrossFireX technology. If we add to all this its possibility of making a stable overclock to the memory and processor it is one of the great current motherboards.

The cooling system is very good and keeps both the power supply phases and the chipset very cool. I also highlight its SATA, SATA Express and M.2 connections. I also want to praise your 2015 SupremeFX sound card with headphone compatibility of up to 600 ohms. Got it for Asus!

Regarding the overclocking potential, we have put the i5-6600k with ease in the 4, 600 mhz with a voltage of 1.25v 100% stable, although in our internal tests we have reached up to 4700 mhz by air. So we are not surprised that the ROG overclock team has managed to break world records on hwbot.

In short, if you are looking for a nice motherboard, with a large overclocking capacity, stable bios, excellent sound and from the ROG series. The best placed is the Asus Maximus VIII Hero with a starting price of 230 euros in online stores (already available).

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ DESIGN	- WE BELIEVE THAT THE PRICE SHOULD BE ABOUT 180 EUROS. AND THE 230 EUROS IN ONLINE STORE AT ITS LAUNCH IS PRETTY INFLATED.
+ 10 FEEDING PHASES.	- DOES NOT BRING WIFI OR BLUETOOTH.
+ EXCELLENT OVERCLOCK CAPACITY.
+ SUPREMEFX SOUND CARD 2015.
+ BIOS.
+ USB 3.1.