Review: asus maximus iv gene

This time we bring you the analysis of the best Micro ATX motherboard on the market. The Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z incorporates the new Intel Z68 chip, ROG components, and high-end board details in a small form factor.

You can not lose this!

ASUS MAXIMUS IV GENE-Z FEATURES
SUPPORTED CPU	Intel Socket 1555 2nd Generation i7 / i5 / i3 Supports 32nm CPU Supports Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
Chipset	Intel Z68
Memory	4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 2200 (OC) / 2133 (OC) / 1866 (OC) / 1600/1333 Hz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory Dual Channel Memory Architecture Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
Graph	- HDMI compatible with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
Multi-GPU compatibility	NVIDIA® SLI ™ Technology Compatible Compatible with AMD CrossFireX ™ Technology LucidLogix® Virtu ™ Technology Compatible
Expansion Slots	2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (dual x8) 1 x PCIe 2.0 x4
Storage	Intel® Z68 chipset: 2 x SATA 6Gb / s port (s), red 4 x SATA 3Gb / s port (s), gray Compatible with Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 Compatible with Intel® Smart Response Technology JMicron® JMB362 Controller: * 1 2 x eSATA 3Gb / s port (s), red
Red Card	Intel®, 1 x Gigabit Network Controller
AUDIO	SupremeFX X-Fi 2 built-in 8 channel HD audio CODEC - Compatible with: Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking Audio Features: - X-Fi® Xtreme Fidelity ™ - EAX® Advanced ™ HD 5.0 - THX® TruStudio PRO ™ - Creative ALchemy - Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection - Optical S / PDIF output on rear panel
Rear Panel	1 x PS / 2 keyboard / mouse combo port 1 x HDMI 2 x eSATA 3Gb / s 1 x Network (RJ45) 2 x USB 3.0 8 x USB 2.0 (White port can be used for ROG Connect) 1 x Optical S / PDIF Out 6 x Audio Jack (s) 1 x Clear CMOS button
BIOS	64Mb Flash ROM, EFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.5, ACPI2.0a Multilingual BIOS
Warranty	3 years

What is new in the Z68 chipset?

The Z68 chipset is the combination of the P67 B3 and H67 chipsets. From the healthy P67 B3 it brings the possibilities of further overclocking to the K processors and integration with MultiGPU SLI and Crossfire. Of the H67 chipset, the compatibility of the improved Intel HD3000 graphics chipset, which, as occurs on this motherboard, has HDMI output.

This new chip offers us the new Intel Smart Response Technology and LucidLogix Virtu. This system helps us to offer a higher speed when using our SSD.

The Asus Maximus Gene-Z incorporates ROG (Republic of Gamer) functions that will offer the best stability to the most enthusiastic gamers. Let's start with some of its particular characteristics:

Extreme Engine Digi +

It integrates a high-performance digital VRM design that, through dynamic CPU PWM frequency management, improves system performance. Accelerates temperature dissipation and offers superior conductivity.

ROG Connect

Monitor the status of your desktop PC and adjust the parameters in real time. ROG Connect allows you to connect other equipment (such as a laptop) to your desktop PC using a USB cable, allowing you to check the POST code and hardware status in real time and make the necessary hardware changes on the fly.

GPU.DIMM Post

Check the status of components in BIOS

This functionality allows you to quickly check and control the state of the components in the BIOS itself.

SupremeFX X-Fi 2

SupremeFX X-Fi 2 offers incredible gaming sound. It includes technologies like EAX Advanced HD 5.0, OpenAL and THX TruStudio Pro Branding to enhance your experience with games, movies and music. The connectors are gold plated and the capacitors are of high quality, ensuring maximum fidelity.

ASUS remains faithful to the design of its ROG red boxes.

Once we open the box, we find a plastic protection.

The Gene-Z's design follows the pattern of the ROG range, with its dominant colors red and black.

The box includes:

• Asus Maximus IV Xtreme Motherboard3 SAT cable setsBackplateSLI BridgeUSB ConnectorsManualsCD with Drivers and SoftwareROG Stickers

Close-up of the Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z. It is one of the most beautiful motherboards that we have had in our hands.

As expected, it has the best PCI-E layout for Micro ATX boards. To mount an SLI we recommend graphics cards with reference dissipation.

The phases are equipped with excellent heatsinks.

The black connectors are SATA 2.0. and the red SATA 3.0.

Rear connectors on the motherboard.

ASUS incorporates the useful START and RESET buttons. In addition to two LEDs that will help us identify the existence of any anomaly in our system.

The south bridge heatsink is screen printed with the Republic Of Gamers logo.

The UEFI ROG BIOS has extra functions, which the other ASUS series do not bring.

TEST BENCH:
Box:	Bench Table Dimastech Easy v 2.5
Source feed:	Antec HCG-620w
Base plate	Asus Maximus Gene-Z
Processor:	Intel i7 2600k @ 4.6ghz ~ 1.34v
Graphic card:	Gigabyte GTX 560 Ti SOC
RAM:	G.Skil Ripjaws CL9 2 x 4gb
HDD:	Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ

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We have tested the processor at 4800 mhz with Linx and Prime 95. Although the performance has been very good: 73142 points with 3d Mark Vantage . The plate offers great stability and its cooling is very good. We have tried some games and we have obtained the following results:

RESULTS
3dMark06			25323 PTS
3dMark11 P (FULL VERSION)	P5403
Heaven Benchmark v2.1		1314 PTS
THE PLANET DX11 1920X1080 X8	63.0 FPS
Metro 2033 D10 1920 x 1080 HIGH	53.8 FPS

The ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z has a spectacular design. Its black PCB and its components in strong red, offer exclusivity to our PC.

The motherboard has a 240mm x 240mm Micro ATX format. You don't have to underestimate its small size because it is capable of competing with ATX HIGH-END motherboards. It has the best distribution of PCI Express ports on boards with reduced formats.

This design allows us to install monoGPU and multiGPU systems (SLI or CrossFireX). From Professional Review we do not see the need to install a dedicated sound card by integrating a fantastic Creative Supreme FX X-Fi 2 sound card, which will be the perfect ally in our online games.

In our test bench we have Overclocked our i7 2600k and we have stabilized it at 4800 mhz. We consider this speed to be the best power / performance, but we wanted to go a step further by reaching 5 GHZ, but with quite a high voltage demand (1.51v). (NOT RECOMMENDED: go from 1.45V for air and 1.5 for liquid cooling).

If you are looking for a Micro ATX format motherboard and you do not want to lose the stability that ATX motherboards offer. In addition to having the plus of the ROG system, a UEFI BIOS and a great overclocking power. The ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z is a motherboard delight and should be your motherboard. Because you will not find anything better for € 150 / € 160.

To finish the analysis we leave you our table of advantages and disadvantages.

ADVANTAGE		DISADVANTAGES
+ UEFI BIOS	- NO PCI 3.0 SUPPORT. (FOR NOW)
+ QUALITY COMPONENTS
+ VERY COMPLETE BUNDLE
+ INCLUDES USB 3.0. AND SATA 6.0
+ WE CAN PRACTICE AN EXCELLENT OVERCLOCKING.
+ GOOD LAYOUT
+ CREATIVE FX X-FI 2 SOUND CARD
+ START BUTTON, RESET AND LED INDICATOR.
+ ROG APPLICATIONS.
+ GOOD PRICE

The Professional Review team awards you the gold medal and recommended product: