Review: asus rampage iv extreme

The Asus Rampage IV Extreme is the flagship of the Asus company. It has a Digi + II power system ideal for Overclocking, eight slots for DDR3-2400 RAM in Quad-channel, 5 PCI-Express 16x slots compatible with QUAD-SLI and CrossFireX technologies, SATA II and III ports, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet connection, Bluetooth 2.1 system and two e-SATA connections.

Are you going to miss this very interesting review ?

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ASUS RAMPAGE IV EXTREME FEATURES
CPU	Intel® Socket 2011 2nd Generation Core ™ i7 Processors Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2
Chipset	Intel® X79
Memory	8 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR3 2400 (OC) / 2133 (OC) / 1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory Quad Channel Memory Architecture Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
Multi-GPU Compatible	NVIDIA® 4-Way SLI ™ Technology Compatible Compatible with AMD 4-Way CrossFireX Technology
Expansion slots	4 x PCIe 3.0 / 2.0 x16 (x16; x16 / x16; x16 / x8 / x16 and x16 / x8 / x8 / x8, red) * 1 1 x PCIe 3.0 / 2.0 x16 (x8 mode, gray) * 1 1 x PCIe 2.0 x1
Storage	Intel® X79 chipset: 2 x SATA 6Gb / s port (s), red 4 x SATA 3Gb / s port (s), black Compatible with Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 ASMedia® PCIe SATA controller: 2 x eSATA 6Gb / s port (s), red 2 x SATA 6Gb / s port (s), red
Net	Intel®, 1 x Gigabit Network Controller
Bluetooth	Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR
Audio	Realtek® ALC898 7.1 Channel High Definition Audio CODEC- Compatible with: Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking Audio Features: - Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection- Optical S / PDIF output on rear panel
USB ports	ASMedia® USB 3.0 Controller: 8 x USB 3.0 port (s) (4 at back panel, blue, 4 at mid- board) Intel® X79 chipset: 12 x USB 2.0 port (s) (8 at back panel, black + red, 4 at mid-board)
Rear panel I / O	1 x PS / 21 Keyboard / Mouse Combo Port x Bluetooth Module (s) 2 x eSATA 6Gb / s1 x Network (RJ45) 4 x USB 3.08 x USB 2.0 (White port can be used for ROG Connect) 1 x S / PDIF Out Optical 5 x Audio Jack (s) 1 x Clear CMOS button 1 x ROG Connect Switch 1 x Bluetooth RC Switch
accessories	I / O Protection 4 x SATA 3Gb / s4 Cable x SATA 6Gb / s1 Cable (s) x 3-Way SLI bridge (s) 1 x CrossFire Cable (s) 1 x 4-Way SLI bridge (s) 1 x SLI bridge (s) 1 x Q-connector (s) (2 in 1) 1 x ROG Connect Cable (s) 1 x ProbeIt Cable Set 1 x 12 in 1 ROG Cable Label (s) 1 x OC Key (s) 1 x OC Key cable (s) 1 x X-Socket pad (s)
BIOS	2 x 64Mb Flash ROMs, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.5, ACPI2.0a multilingual BIOS
Format	Extended ATX Factory Format 12 inch x 10.7 inch (30.5 cm x 27.2 cm)
Warranty	3 years.

The Republic of Gamers (ROG) brings together only the best of the best. We offer the best hardware engineering, the fastest performance, and the most innovative ideas. We welcome all gamers who wish to be part of the republic.

In the Republic of Gamers, mercy is for the weak, and strutting is rightful. We think it is welcome to say that we excel in competitions, so if your character resembles ours, join the elite club and make your presence known in the Republic of Gamers. Let's see its most important characteristics:

The Intel® X79 chipset is the new design compatible with the second generation Intel® Core ™ i7 processors for Socket 2011. Thanks to the point-to-point serial link design, it improves performance, bandwidth and stability. In addition, it includes 2 SATA 6Gb / s ports and 4 SATA 3Gb / s for faster data recovery and twice the bandwidth of current bus systems.

PCI Express® 3.0 (PCIe 3.0) is the new PCI Express bus standard with encryption schemes that provide twice the bandwidth of the previous PCIe 2.0 standard: (32GB / s in link x16 mode, for 16GB / s @ x16 PCIe 2.0). Therefore, PCIe 3.0 offers unprecedented transfer speed, full compatibility with previous versions of the standard, and is bound to be a must-have feature for users who want maximum graphics performance.

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, full hardware status, and even consult the information of VGA Hotwire and Subzero Sense, all at the hardware level.

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.

Discover the temperature of your motherboard

Do you like to speed up your system in LN2 mode but are having trouble monitoring the board temperature? With Subzero Sense you can check the system temperature even in extreme sub-zero temperatures.

Allows you to continue using your LGA1366 CPU cooler

With X-Socket you can continue to use your CPU 1366 cooler.

Enjoy the fastest network

Intel's LAN solution offers higher speed, stability, and lower CPU resource consumption.

This time we have received the Asus Rampage IV Extreme Limited Edition Battelfield 3. Game included in the pack.

The back we have the new features and specialties of the RIVE.

We have a window to contemplate the beauty of motherboard.

As in all "ROG" ranges, we have a double box. The first keeps the motherboard and the second includes all accessories and connectors: SLI cables, sata cables, back plate and features.

Overview of the Asus Rampage IV Extreme.

Rear.

The heatsinks cools the phases and the x79 chipset.

The board includes 8 memory sockets with a maximum support of 64 GB of RAM at 2400mhz !!!!

The board includes a fan in the south chipset. This will avoid any heating problems in multigpu configurations. We recommend reading our tutorial: "How to disable Asus Rampage IV Extreme fan".

The board includes 5 PCI Express 3.0. at 16x and a small 4x PCI Express.

Storage problems we will not have. Includes 8 SATA II / III ports (RED). What is that little black box? This is the "Subzero Sense". With it we will consult the system temperature with nitrogen settings (extreme sub-zero temperatures).

As expected, it includes the "Start" / "Reset" buttons and an LED indicator to verify any problem. Also, we can control the actual voltage at all times.

Rear I / O connections.

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.

Also includes a strap for a suitcase and the Battlefield III set.

Manuals, installation disc and labels for SATA cables.

And here installed the i7 3930K Pata negra?

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Intel 3930K Rev B
Base plate:	Asus Rampage IV Extreme
Memory:	4x4GB Corsair Vengeance 1600mhz (16GB Total)
Heatsink:	Prolimatech Megahalems REV C.
Hard drives:	Kingston Hyperx 120gb
Graphics Cards:	SLI GTX580
Source feed:	Antec TPQ 1200w OC
Box:	Benchtable Dimastech Easy V2.5

To check the stability of the processor and motherboard. We have made an OC at 4600 mhz with Prime 95 Custom and a SLI GTX580 at 780mhz.

The performance has been very good: "29000" points with 3d Mark Vantage. As we expected the RIVE allows us to get EXTRA performance from our processor. Let's see the results obtained in the other tests:

TESTS
3dMark Vantage:	28992 PTS TOTAL.
3dMark11	6652 PTS.
Heaven Unigine v2.1	63.2 FPS and 1592 PTS.
CineBench	OPENGPL: 65.06 AND CPU: 13.18.
Battelfield 3 at 1920 × 1200 high level.	103 FPS.

The Asus Rampage IV Extreme, also known as RIVE, is the best high-end motherboard. Obviously, it's in the ASUS Republic of Gamer (ROG) series.

It is a series designed for the most enthusiastic players on the market. Offering the best technology: eight slots for DDR3-2400 RAM in Quad-channel, 5 PCI-Express 16x slots compatible with QUAD-SLI and CrossFireX technologies, SATA II and III ports, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet connection and last generation system Bluetooth 2.1.

It has E-ATX dimensions: 30.5 x 27.2 cm. But do not worry because it fits in the best boxes on the market: Silverstone FT02, Antec P280, Corsair Obsidian 850D (I have checked)… These dimensions are largely due to the excellent distribution of its PCI ports. These are very well studied and allow us to install two separate graphics cards in SLI or 4 graphics cards if we want "pure power". As in the entire Rampage Extreme series they are very attractive and aggressive. Its PCB is black and its characteristic red connectors.

The RIVE integrates a UEFI BIOS that is a delight, with an infinity of adjustments (we can touch GPU voltages, CPU…) and 4 OC profiles preset by the ASUS team (It also allows us to create custom profiles). All tests have been performed with BIOS 1005 behaving very solid.

In our test bench we have overclocked 4600mhz (1.32v) to the stable Intel i7 3930k processor with Prime 95 Custom. With an excellent result: 28992 PTS with 3DMark Vangate. Although we wanted to go one step further and we have reached 5GHZ with 1.46v-1.48v over the air. If we had used classical liquid cooling we would lower the electro migration and the voltage.

Playing at 4600mhz and a SLI GTX580 we have tested the star game of the moment "Battelfield 3" at 1920 x 1200 with unbeatable fluidity, being looser than with the i7 2600k and better FPS minima.

Among its novelties we find two unique features so far: OC Key and the ASUS Socket X adapter. The first allows us a greater OC / Monitoring (connected to an auxiliary monitor) in our system and the second allows us to install any heatsink on the market with LGA 1366 compatibility.

In short, the Asus Rampage IV Extreme is the strongest motherboard, with the best layout and the most overclocking power on the market. Although not everyone can afford such an expensive plate: its price ranges from € 380.

We recommend reading our tutorial: "How to disable Asus Rampage IV Extreme fan".

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ THE BEST UEFI BIOS OF THE TIME.	- VERY FACE.
+ AESTHETICS.
+ LAYOUT PCIE, USB 3.0 AND SATA III
+ UNIQUE ACCESSORIES: HOT BUTTONS, OC KEY AND X SOCKET.
+ GAME BF3.
+ 3 YEARS WARRANTY

Professional Review awards him a well deserved gold medal: