Review: asus maximus vi hero

When we think of the Asus brand, the adjectives quality and maximum performance come to mind. Intel Haswell processors need a motherboard that lives up to your expectations. Asus has sent us one of the most interesting possible plates on the market: Asus Maximus VI Hero from the Republic Of Gamer (ROG) range. Product loaned by:

Features Intel Haswell and Chipset Z87

The fourth generation of processors or Intel Haswell will be mounted on the LGA 1150 platform. In which we can find the different ranges of processors manufactured in 22 nm and with Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 technology : Intel i7 with 4 cores and 8 threads of execution (Hyper Threading) for professional teams, Intel i5 for 4-core gamers and low / mid-range processors Intel Core i3, Pentium and Celeron. Although these last three will be listed in the coming months.

This time Intel classifies its range of desktop processors into four categories:

Without letter / Normal Version: The processor offers us its base frequency plus a frequency with Turbo and all the Intel features enabled. Example: i7-4770. K: Processor with multiplier unlocked. Aimed at professional users or enthusiastic Gamers. This series allows us to perform strong 4600 to 5000 mhz overclocks by touching 5 or 6 parameters in the BIOS. Note: VT-D virtualization option disabled. Example: i7-4770k. T and S: The most important feature is its power reduction. Converting them into low-power processors, without losing the qualities of the normal version. Example: i7-4770T / i7-4770S. A: This is the new version of Intel in BGA format. BGA? Yes, it is the version in which the soldered processors come on the motherboard. Like PRO, it has a more powerful integrated graphics card than the rest of the series. Example: i7-4770R.

The processor we have used in our review has been the Intel i7-4770k . We leave you a table that we have made with the most important models that have come onto the market.

And a summary of the most important features in this new range of processors.

8 Threading Hyper Threading Technology, this allows us to run two processes at the same time. I7 4770 series only + letter.> 8MB Intel Smart Cache. This is the shared cache memory of the processor (makes for faster read access) Turbo Boost 2.0. The processor base frequency is 3500 mhz, with the turbo we automatically go up to 3900 mhz. Native compatibility with DDR3 1600 RAM and XMP profiles. Absolute compatibility with the new range of Intel 8 series motherboards: Z87, H87, Q87 and B87.

We are realizing that each generation of chipset is lighter. This time, external video connections have been extracted. Further relegating the current NorthBridge.

What improvements did we find with Z87? Flexible I / O ports, 14 USB 2.0 ports controlled by XHCI, we switched to six USB 3.0, six SATA 6 Gbp / s connections and SFDP and Quad Read technologies.

* Frequently asked questions:

- My heatsink is compatible with socket 1155 and 1556. Is it compatible with socket 1150?

Yes, we have tested different motherboards and they all have the same holes as in socket 1155 and 1156.

- Is my power supply compatible with Intel Haswell?

There are no Haswell certified power supplies. Most of the manufacturers have already released the list of compatible sources: Antec, Corsair, Enermax, Nox, Aerocool / Tacens and Thermaltake. Giving 98% absolute compatibility.

Features Asus Maximus VI Hero

ASUS MAXIMUS VI HERO FEATURES
Processor	Intel® Socket 1150 for 4th Generation Core ™ i7 / Core ™ i5 / Core ™ i3 / Pentium® / Celeron® Processors Supports Intel® 22nm CPU Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
Chipset	Intel Z87
Memory.	4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 2800 (OC) / 2666 (OC) / 2600 (OC) / 2500 (OC) / 2400 (OC) / 2200 (OC) / 2133 (OC) / 2000 (OC) / 1866 (OC) / 1800 (OC) / 1600/1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory Dual Channel Memory Architecture Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
Integrated Graphics Multi-GPU Compatible	Integrated graphics processor - Supports HDMI with a maximum resolution of 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz Compatible with Intel® InTru ™ 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, Insider ™ Compatible with NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI ™ Technology Compatible with AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX ™ Technology
Audio	ROG SupremeFX 8ch High Definition Audio CODEC - Compatible with: Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Jack-retasking on front panel Audio Features: - SupremeFX Shielding ™ Technology - ELNA Premium Audio Capacitors - Optical S / PDIF output on rear panel - Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection - Sonic Radar - DTS Connect
LAN network card	Intel® I217V, 1 x Gigabit Network Controller
USB ports	Intel® Z87 chipset: * 5 6 x USB 3.0 port (s) (4 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board) Intel® Z87 chipset: * 6 8 x USB 2.0 port (s) (4 at back panel, black, 4 at mid-board)
SATAS connections	Intel® Z87 chipset: 6 x SATA 6Gb / s port (s), red Compatible with Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 Compatible with Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology ASMedia® Controller ASM1061: * 4 2 x SATA 6Gb / s port (s), red
Rear panel I / O	1 x PS / 2 keyboard / mouse combo port 1 x HDMI 1 x Network (RJ45) 4 x USB 3.0 4 x USB 2.0 1 x Optical S / PDIF Out 6 x Audio Jack (s) 1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button
BIOS	64Mb UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.5, ACPI2.0a multilingual BIOS
Factory format	ATX Factory Format 12 inches x 9.6 inches (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm)
Warranty	2 years.

Asus Maximus VI Hero

The Republic of Gamers (ROG) range of motherboards is full of many followers and these have countless followers even though it is one of the most expensive Asus ranges. With the Asus Maximus VI Hero you want to reach every pocket with its ATX format. It has been almost a year since we analyzed the Micro ATX Asus Maximus V Gene version for socket 1155 that with a starting price of € 150 and was a TOP sales. Even if we had the same overclocking features and an amazing quality integrated sound card. Many users complained that mounting an SLI, even a reference one, was very hot and forced them to pull by a liquid cooling system. Now with the Asus Maximus VI Hero it will not be a problem.

Asus presents the motherboard in a cardboard box in ROG corporate colors. It incorporates a window that allows us to see the motherboard without opening the bundle. As always, it has two compartments: the first one protects the motherboard and the second one includes all the accessories, manuals and wiring necessary for its set-up.

Your bundle is made up of:

Asus Maximus VI Hero4 Motherboard SATA 6.0 cable pack. Back plate. Sticker for SATA cable. Adapter for control panel and USB port. Instruction manual and quick guide.

The design is excellent, with a black PCB and heatsink PCI Express ports in red and black. give an aesthetic of a Republic Of Gamer plate. Although it is true that at first it seems somewhat "poor" it keeps many very interesting details.

Rear view for the most curious. Just highlight the dissipation in the phases from the back and as we see the LED scheme that screens the sound card.

The Asus Maximus VI hero supports multiGPU CrossFireX (ATI) and SLI (NVidia) technology. It includes a third fourth PCI-E 16x connection that works automatically at x4 but is PCI-E 2.0. The following model the Asus Maximus VI Formula allows all three PCI x16 ports to be Express 3.0 and the Asus Maximus VI Extreme all 4 with the PLX chipset. Also, it includes PCI Expressx1 slots to connect any sound card, television or grabber.

The dissipation is made up of efficient black / red heatsinks sufficient for good cooling with a moderate or high overclock. These good temperatures are due in part to the Extreme Engine Digi + III digital technology that offers us a fluid supply of the CPU and greater stability in the memory modules, thanks to the power of the new NexFET MOSFET. They also include BlackWing choke coils that are capable of not emitting unpleasant sound at more than 60 amps of intensity. 10K Black Metallic capacitors have a lifespan of up to five times longer than other motherboards. Silence and security… Do we need anything else?

Now it's time to talk about the piece of Creative SupremeFX Audio sound card for 8 audio channels. Its design is made up of special capacitors for sound and a perfect insulation design to avoid distortion of sound. What do you offer that the rest do not have? SupremeFX insulation with red LEDs, EMI protection cover and ELNA capacitors.

We have a total of eight SATA 6Gbps ports. The first 6 are those that come through the Z87 chipset and the other two come from the ASMedia ASM1061 controller. With them we have enough for a gamer and intensive use team.

As we can see in the rear connections, it only has four USB 3.0 ports, while other higher versions consist of six. The rest of the connections are USB 2.0, digital video outputs and an Intel gigabit network card. We would have liked it to include the mini PCI-E Combo II port.

View of the 4-pin connections for fans and the 8-pin auxiliary connection for the power supply.

All Z87 chipsets are compatible with DDR3 memory with a maximum of 32 GB. As it is a high-end board, it allows us to overclock up to 2800 mhz. Reaching the limit !!

UEFI BIOS

The new UEFI BIOS is more improved and allows us full control of our PC. The new BIOS includes great improvements: greater fluidity, note observations, add new profiles, add "my favorites" and many shortcuts. Also, it allows us to change the load logo to a smaller one, to label our SATA hard drives and save time by entering load sequences and more parameters.

Its design is still red and the interface has changed a lot. We also have the SSD secure erase application, which is the first BIOS to offer it, which keeps the disk at its original speed and without wasting time. Here we leave you some screenshots:

Test bench and tests

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Intel i7-4770k.
Base plate:	Asus Maximus VI Hero.
Memory:	G.Skills Trident X 2400mhz.
Heatsink	Prolimatech Megahalems + Nidec 1850 RPM.
HDD	Samsumg 840 250GB.
Graphic card	Asus GTX770.
Power supply	Antec HCP 850.

To check the stability of the processor we have used a very efficient motherboard in consumption / cooling. We have practiced a strong overclock of 4600 mhz with Prime 95 Custom, reaching the limit of air cooling. The graphic that we have used is TOP RANGE: the Asus GTX 770.

TESTS
3dMark Vantage:	Clock Stock: P34561 / Clock OC: 38800.
3dMark11	Clock Stock: P10321 PTS / Clock OC: P10588.
Heaven Unigine and Valley	1710 pts and 3566 pts.
CineBench 11.5	Clock Stock: 7.97 pts / Clock OC: 9.20 pts.
Games: Resident Evil 6 Lost planet tomb Raider Crysis 3 Meter	12614 PTS. 131.5 FPS. 138.2 FPS 46.6 FPS 75.2 FPS

conclusion

The Asus Maximus VI Hero is a novelty this year in Asus' Republic of Gamer (ROG) series. It is a motherboard with the classic ATX format but with the new Intel Z87 chipset compatible with the 4th generation Intel Haswell and the incorporation of the new Extreme Engine Digi + III technology. It is made up of the NexFET MOSFET power phases with a shorter life and format, the BlackWing choke that work at less than 60 amps and the 10K Black Metallic capacitors that increase the service life 5 times more.

It really is a somewhat lower board in performance than its older sisters Asus Maximus VI Formula and Asus Maximus VI Extreme, but also cheaper.

Among its most important features we find the possibility of installing a maximum of 2 cards in SLI, since it is compatible with the Nvidia QUAD SLI and ATI CrossFireX, six SATA 6.0 connections, internal USB 3.0 connection and a wide variety of available rear connections.

Regarding its cooling, at first glance, its heatsinks offers us an efficient dissipation and great solidity, although it could really be somewhat better (with better presence) with previous Asus motherboards. During our tests we have been able to leave the equipment with absolute stability, all this with a strong overclock of up to 4600 mhz with liquid cooling: 360mm triple radiator.

Asus has integrated Creative's SupremeFX sound card. Not all motherboards include a chip of this caliber and ELNA capacitors, an effective and colorful insulation with LED strips and an EMI protection cover with 8 HD channels of power, making it the ideal companion for all scenarios: games, music, movies and series.

The UEFI BIOS allows us full control of our equipment. It includes several fairly major modifications: brainstorming notes, observations on what changes we've made, a bookmark system (F4 key), and renaming SATA ports to identify each hard drive. Like all ROG series, they have a red and black color design. Also, it includes the first application from BIOS that allows us to safely erase the SSD. This method allows us to carry out a correct erase and thus recover the factory speed.

Regarding its software, we must highlight its "Sonic Radar" utility, which offers us a visualization of the sound sources on the screen, and a more optimal optimization of network traffic with the GameFirst II application.

In our tests we have used an i7 4770k processor in stock and overclock values, the Asus Maximus VI Hero motherboard, 16GB DDR3 at 2400 Mhz, a 250GB SSD and an Asus GTX770 DCII graphics card. The result has been outstanding with P34561 points in 3dMARK and playing next-generation games in more than 85 FPS on average.

It is already available in online stores from 190 to 200 €. A price that seems very attractive to us, as it is a ROG motherboard and all its features.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ YOUR ROG DESIGN.	- NONE.
+ EXTREME ENGINE DIGI + III TECHNOLOGY
+8 SATA CONNECTIONS.
+ FIRST QUALITY SOUND CARD.
+ BUTTONS FOR OC.
+ YOUR BIOS IS THE BEST ON THE MARKET.