Review: asus maximus v extreme

The Asus Maximus V Extreme based on the Z77 chipset is specially designed for more competitive overclocking and benchmarking. It incorporates ROG OC Key ™ technology, OSD TweakIt and OSD Monitor for modification and monitoring of hardware parameters and Subzero Sense ™ allows very precise monitoring of sub-zero temperatures.

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These new boards are characterized by having the new Intel Z77 chipset. They are compatible with all "Sandy Bridge" Core I3, Core i5 and Core i7 and all "Ivy Bridge". The new chipset offers few features that differ from the Z68 Chipset, such as;

• Ivy Bridge LGA1155 processors. Native USB 3.0 ports (4). OC capacity. Maximum 4 DIMM modules DDR3. PCI Express 3.0. Digital phases. Intel RST technology. Intel Smart Response Technology (Z77 & H77). Dual UEFI BIOS. (Depends on model and manufacturer) Wi-Fi + Bluetooth (Depends on model and manufacturer).

Here is a table to see the differences between the current chipsets of socket 1155:

In fact we must remind our readers that 90% of P67 and Z68 boards are "Ivy Bridge" compatible with a BIOS update.

We also don't want to bore you with a lot of information, but we find it necessary to highlight the new advantages of the Ivy Bridge processor:

• New manufacturing system at 22 nm. Increasing the Overclock capacity and decreasing the temperature. New random number generator that was left outside of "Sandy Bridge". Increases the maximum multiplier from 57 to 63. Increases the memory bandwidth from 2133 to 2800mhz (In step of 200 mhz).Your GPU includes DX11 instructions increasing ~ 55% performance.

Now we include a table with the new models of Ivy Bridge 22nm processors:

Model	Cores / Threads	Speed ​​/ Turbo Boost	L3 Cache	Graphics Processor	TDP
I7-3770	4/8	3.3 / 3.9	8MB	HD4000	77W
I7-3770	4/8	3.3 / 3.9	8MB	HD4000	77W
I7-3770S	4/8	3.1 / 3.9	8MB	HD4000	65W
I7-3770T	4/8	2.5 / 3.7	8MB	HD4000	45W
I5-3570	4/4	3.3 / 3.7	6MB	HD4000	77W
I5-3570K	4/4	3.3 / 3.7	6MB	HD4000	77W
I5-3570S	4/4	3.1 / 3.8	6MB	HD2500	65W
I5-3570T	4/4	2.3 / 3.3	6MB	HD2500	45W
I5-3550S	4/4	3.0 / 3.7	6MB	HD2500	65W
I5-3475S	4/4	2.9 / 3.6	6MB	HD4000	65W
I5-3470S	4/4	2.9 / 3.6	3MB	HD2500	65W
I5-3470T	2/4	2.9 / 3.6	3MB	HD2500	35W
I5-3450	4/4	2.9 / 3.6	3MB	HD2500	77W
I5-3450S	4/4	2.8 / 3.5	6MB	HD2500	65W
I5-3300	4/4	3 / 3.2º	6MB	HD2500	77W
I5-3300S	4/4	2.7 / 3.2	6MB	HD2500	65W

ASUS MAXIMUS V EXTREME FEATURES
Processor	Intel® Socket 1155 for 3rd / 2nd Generation Core ™ i7 / Core ™ i5 / Core ™ i3 / Pentium® / Celeron® Processors Supports Intel® 22nm CPU Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Supports Intel® 32nm CPU
Chipset	Intel® Z77
Memory	4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 2800 (OC) / 2666 (OC) / 2600 (OC) / 2400 (OC) / 2200 (OC) / 2133 (OC) / 2000 (OC) / 1866 (OC) / 1600/1333/1066 MHz Non -ECC, Un-buffered Memory Dual Channel Memory Architecture Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
Thunderbolt Graphic card	VGA output compatible Data transfer rate up to 10 Gbps Chain up to 6 Thunderbolt devices Integrated graphics processor Compatible with Multi VGA output: HDMI / DisplayPort / Thunderbolt ports - HDMI compatible with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz - DisplayPort compatible with a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz - Compatible with Thunderbolt with a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz Supports Intel® HD Graphics, InTru ™ 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, Insider ™ Multi-GPU Compatible: NVIDIA® 4-Way SLI ™ Technology Compatible Compatible with AMD CrossFireX ™ Technology LucidLogix® Virtu ™ MVP Technology Compatible
Expansion slots	5 x PCIe 3.0 / 2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8 or x8 / x16 / x8 or x8 / x16 / x8 / x8) 1 x PCIe 2.0 x4 1 x mini-PCIe 2.0 x1
Storage	Intel® Z77 chipset: 2 x SATA 6Gb / s port (s), red 3 x SATA 3Gb / s port (s), black 1 x mini-SATA 3Gb / s port (s), black Compatible with Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 Compatible with Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology * 5 ASMedia® PCIe SATA controller: 4 x SATA 6Gb / s port (s), red
Net	Intel®, 1 x Gigabit Network Controller
Wireless data network	Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n Compatible with 2.4 / 5 GHz dual band frequency
Audio	Realtek® ALC898 7.1ch High Definition Audio CODEC - Compatible with: Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking Audio Features: - Optical S / PDIF output on rear panel - Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection - Optical S / PDIF on rear panel port (s)
USB ports	Intel® Z77 chipset: 4 x USB 3.0 port (s) (2 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board) Intel® Z77 chipset: 8 x USB 2.0 port (s) (4 at back panel, black + white, 4 at mid-board) ASMedia® USB 3.0 Controller: 4 x USB 3.0 port (s) (2 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board)
Rear panel I / O	1 x PS / 2 keyboard / mouse combo port 1 x Thunderbolt port 1 x DisplayPort 1 x HDMI 1 x Network (RJ45) 4 x USB 3.0 4 x USB 2.0 (White port can be used for ROG Connect) 1 x Optical S / PDIF Out 5 x Audio Jack (s) 1 x Clear CMOS button 1 x ROG Connect Switch 1 x Optical S / PDIF in
BIOS	64Mb UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.5, ACPI2.0a multilingual BIOS
Format	ATX, 305 cm x 27.2 cm

Maximus V Extreme has the latest overclocking technologies

OC Key includes powerful overclocking functions that are ideal for competitive benchmarking. OSD TweakIt and OSD Monitor allow real-time hardware level adjustments to be performed and provide the user with highly detailed system information without consuming CPU resources or installing any software. For aggressive cooling systems, Subzero Sense ™ offers highly accurate monitoring of sub-zero temperatures (down to -200 ° C), allowing users to know the true efficiency of their thermal settings without the need to purchase a digital thermometer. VGA Hotwire ™ allows you to solder cables from the board to ASUS compatible graphics cards, creating superior synergy between the board and the graphics, and improving the performance of overclocking settings. All the information that overclockers need can be found in the OC Key ™, BIOS and TurboV interfaces.

Superior connectivity

The Intel® Thunderbolt ™ 10Gbps chip enables bi-directional transfer of HD graphics and data via a single cable. Thanks to its transfer speed, users will be able to move a Full HD movie in just ten seconds, in addition to serially connecting up to six devices to a single Thunderbolt ™ port. The Maximus V Extreme features an mPCIe combo card that adds dual-band Wi-Fi a / b / g / n support and Bluetooth V4.0. It also incorporates mSATA, which together with Intel® Smart Response technology accelerates data access for hybrid storage configurations.

Graphics, power and flexibility

Thanks to the smart board design, four of the five PCI Express 3.0 slots have enough space to install the most powerful graphics cards in 4-way NVIDIA® SLI ™ or AMD CrossFireX ™ configuration. Such graphical potential makes the Maximus V Extreme as suitable for GPU gaming benchmarking as it is for CPU testing and general system testing. To enhance multi-GPU configurations, ASUS has also included LucidLogix Virtu ™ MVP, which increases framerates and offers more consistent vertical sync between games and applications.

OSD Monitor

Real-time system monitoring

Monitor the status of your system in real time with a graphical interface located on the right side of the screen that includes real-time POST codes, the complete status of the hardware and even allows you to consult the information of VGA Hotwire and Subzero Sense. All this at hardware level.

OSD TweakIt

Real-time overclocking

Adjust your system parameters in real time with a graphical interface located on the right side of the screen that offers a set of basic functions at the hardware level.

LucidLogix Virtu MVP

60% superior hybrid graphics performance and 3x video conversion

LucidLogix® Virtu MVP with HyperFormance ™ technology improves the 3DMark Vantage result of your dedicated graphics by up to 60%. Compatible with Intel® Integrated Graphics and Windows® 7 PCs, it combines the power of dedicated graphics with the iGPU. The new Virtual Sync design removes the flag effect from the screen and offers a higher quality environment for games. LucidLogix Virtu MVP is able to assign tasks to the graph that is in the most suitable conditions, based on the power, resources and the load of each one of them, which allows enjoying video conversions 3 times faster with Intel® Quick Sync without 3D rendering or gaming performance being adversely affected. This technology also reduces the consumption of dedicated graphics to almost zero when its use is not necessary. In summary, LucidLogix Virtu MVP offers a graphical environment with flexibility and efficiency ideal for users in search of perfection.

The ROG range has been from the 1366 generation with the same box format (red and logo) on two floors. In it, all the characteristics of this great motherboard are detailed. Highlight the functionality of the PCI 3.0 port, 4 Way SLI and Thunderbolt.

The plate maintains the red / black design of all Republic Of Gamers ranges. At first glance we see several new features such as the 4 Way SLI and passive dissipation in the power phases.

The back without any news.

4 way SLI PCI Express 3.0 system (4x 4x 4x 4x) for the most enthusiastic. These new motherboards allow us to save a few euros and not acquire the expensive platform 2011.

Large amount of USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 port. The red button in the lower right corner is a “Clear CMOS”.

What about the Liquid Cooling block like the Asus Maximus V Formula?:(.

But that has not removed the fear to remove the heatsink:

And on the way see the feeding phases and the chocks.

South bridge heatsink (chip z77).

The equipment supports up to 32GB DDR3 at 2800 mhz with OC. Although we think it is capable of holding up to 3000mhz !!!

Buttons to turn on / off, reset the equipment, control the voltage of the components and a led display to see any problem.

24-pin ATX connector and another USB 3.0 connection.

So that the graphics have an extra stability. Asus includes a 6-pin connection built into the board. A very common practice in his last plates and that has always given a great plus.

Components chosen by hand and very useful.

6 SATA 6.0 connections and two SATA 3.0. In addition to the Subzero sensor designed for overclockers that use liquid nitrogen or dry ice.

ROG and Clear CMOS switches.

The board includes a wide variety of SATA cables.

Back plate, USB Gaming cable, voltage test cables and USB connectors.

Two unique features so far: ASUS OC Key and Socket X. That the first allows us a greater OC / Monitoring in our system and the second allows us to install any heatsink on the market with LGA 1366 compatibility.

OC KEY tool.

Wide variety of multigpu cables: SLI and Crossfire cables, 3/4-WAY.

I leave you the BIOS screens. This time I have left everything by default, the OC does everything via software.

The ROG application unites all the most important software for the Asus Maximus V Extreme. As standard it allows us to do a light OC (4.2GHZ) at a medium level (4.4GHZ) or an extreme level (4.6GHZ). We have activated the 4600mhz without problems or BSOD (Blue Screenshots).

It also allows us to hot overclock from windows. It allows us to play BCLK, CPU, Multiplier…. As if we were from the BIOS!

We can also modify the phases and choose the energy saving option.

Another of the great and more functional novelties is the monitoring and adjustment of the fans on site. To me personally these options are the ones I like the most on all motherboards.

In this last window we can see the characteristics of our motherboard (bios), cpu (frequency), spd (memory model).

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Intel 3570k
Base plate:	Asus Maximus V Extreme
Memory:	Kingston Hyperx Predator
Heatsink	Corsair H60
HDD	Kingston Hyperx 120gb
Graphic card	NVIDIA GTX680
Power supply	Thermaltake TouchPower 1350W

We have started with our particular battery of synthetic tests and games. We wanted to use this equipment with the best material we have in the laboratory. Without further delay I leave you the tests with a high Overclock, not extreme, of 4600mhz :

TESTS
3dMark Vantage:	40661 TOTAL.
3dMark11	P9085 PTS.
Heaven Unigine v2.1	120.3 FPS and 3038 PTS.
Battlefield 3	66 FPS
Lost Planet 2	121.5 FPS
Evil Resident 5	251.9 FPS

We also wanted to see how far this board can go with the i5 3570K. And we have been able to overclock to 5100mhz at 1.54v, which is an excellent overclock for personal taste. In itself, these Ivy Bridge at 4200-4300mhz perform much more than a Sandy Bridge.

The Asus Maximus V Extreme is an ATX format motherboard (305 cm x 27.2 cm), Z77 chipset, 4way SLI / CrossfireX multiGPU system, 8 SATA connections, USB 3.0, Subzero Sensor, Asus OC Key and a wide variety of accessories.

In our test bench we have used an i5 3570k at 4600 mhz and a GTX680 graphics card at stock values. The performance has been fantastic and thanks to this we have lowered the VCore of the processor a little. Our experience with 3DMARK11 has been from P9085 PTS and Playing Lost Planet 2 at 121.5 FPS. Excellent performance without instability in the system. We have also wanted to go a little further with stable 5000mhz and liquid cooling by parts. Very good motherboard for overclocking!

This new series of Asus plates include two important innovations:

• Leader in USB 3.0 certification on your boards (we include the Asus Maximus V Extreme and the entire 7 series). This certification is acquired by successfully passing more than 180 tests. Ensuring a better user experience and product compatibility. TCO = Total Cost of Ownership. What does this mean? That your products reduce the operating costs of the equipment, saving energy, increasing the useful life of the equipment, enhancing the performance of the components and also reduces maintenance costs, thanks to protection against overvoltages, ESD, CrashFree BIOS, USB BIOS Flashback

Its software allows us to hot overclock, monitor and visualize the temperatures of its components, activate the energy mode and adjust the fans to the desired temperature and speed. A great application that we have used to get the processor to 5000mhz.

Although we would have liked the plate to have a lower price, currently about € 350 approx. in online stores. If it were around € 300 it would have many more buyers, although it is true that for a lower range we have the Asus Maximus V Formula available. That does not mean that this plate is worth every euro, but not everything is perfect. Another improvement is not to include an X-FI sound card like the Asus Maximus V Gene and the Formula that always gives a plus to a high-end board. Although this board is more designed for overclocking.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ DESIGN.	- PRICE.
+ COMPONENTS AND PHASES OF QUALITY QUALITY.
+ MULTIGPU SUPPORT (UP TO 4 GRAPHICS)
+ OVERCLOCKING.
+ ACCESSORIES AND COMPLEMENTS: BLUETOOTH, OC KEY, WIFI, DUAL BIOS.
+ SOFTWARE.

The Professional Review team awards you the Platinum medal: