With the Maximus VI Gene, ASUS shows their next generation mATX gaming and overclocking motherboard, which is based on Intels latest Z87 chipset. Like it's predecessor this board wants to convince with a balance feature mix that pleases overclockers as well as gamers. At this point we're very curious what ASUS has come up with regarding layout, design and obviously features.
Article in English |
Artikel in Deutsch |
Article en français |
Articolo in italiano |
The Maximus VI Gene is ASUS' mATX overclocking and gaming motherboard regarding Intels latest Z87 chipset. Once more we're really curious what they've come up with from the layout and design as well as feature perspective.
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Layout |
| Page 2 - Specs and Delivery | Page 5 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 3 - Features | Page 6 - Conclusion |
Discuss this article in the forums
[pagebreak]
Specs and Delivery
| Chipset | Intel Z87 |
| Memory | Dual Channel DDR3, 4 x DIMM, Max. 32 GB DDR3, 3000(O.C.) / 2933(O.C.) / 2800(O.C.) / 2666(O.C.) / 2600(O.C.) / 2500(O.C.) / 2400(O.C.) / 2200(O.C.) / 2133(O.C.) / 2000(O.C.) / 1866(O.C.) / 1800(O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory |
| Multi-GPU |
|
| Slots |
|
| Sound | ROG SupremeFX Audio 8-Channel High
Definition Audio
|
| Storage | Intel Z87 chipset
|
| Network |
|
| Internal Connectors |
|
| Extrenal Connectors |
|
| Forfactor | ATX (30.5cm x 24.4cm) |
| BIOS | Bios (64 Mb flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS) |
- User's manual
- Support DVD
- I/O Shield
- 6 x SATA 6Gb/s cables
- 1 x SLI bridge
- 1 x Q-connector (2 in 1)
- 1 x ROG Connect cable
- 1 x ROG Door Hanger
- 1 x mPCIe Combo II card with dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth v4.0/3.0+HS module
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Layout |
| Page 2 - Specs and Delivery | Page 5 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 3 - Features | Page 6 - Conclusion |
Discuss this article in the forums[pagebreak]
Features
Extreme Engine Digi+ III |
Since quite some time ASUS has been equipping its boards with digital power designs. Using the right software it is not only possible to adjust voltages while being in Windows on can now also control impedances. Furthermore this board features high quality 10K black metallic capacitor which guarantee a long lifespan. |
|
ASUS Fan Xpert 2 |
ASUS Fan Xpert 2 provides customizable settings for fans that have been attached directly to the onboard fan headers. With the Fan Auto Tuning feature, ASUS Fan Xpert 2 automatically detects and tweaks all fan speeds and in the end reduces unwanted noise. |
 |
EPU |
EPU automatically detects the current system load and moderates power usage. It offers a system-wide energy optimization and is able to reduce fan noise. |
 |
mPCIE Combo II |
The mPCIe Combo II Slot can be equipped with several different expansion cards. In this case it doens't matter if you use a WiFi/Bluetooth module or even a new M.2(NGFF) SSD. |
 |
ROG RAM Disk |
RAMDisk reserves part of system memory and turns it into actual storage space, so you can place favorite app and game cache files in it to enjoy high-speed RAM performance while accessing them. | |
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Layout |
| Page 2 - Specs and Delivery | Page 5 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 3 - Features | Page 6 - Conclusion |
Discuss this article in the forums
[pagebreak]
Layout
At a first glance the ASUS Maximus VI Gene looks very good with its harmonic design. Once again the ROG-colors - red, black and white - suite nicely and together with the black PCB it becomes a beautiful product. The layout itself is well thought and there is for example plenty of space around the CPU socket to install even todays largest CPU coolers. The fact that there are SATA connectors which have been angled by 90 degrees allows an easy installation of oversized graphics cards.
The ASUS Maximus VI Gene comes with a digital 8+2 phase power design. The CPU gets eight phases and the memory gets a stable current supply from two individual phases. Furthermore ASUS equips this board with their so called "BlackWing Chokes". Furthermore those chokes can cope with up to 60A per phase. Furthermore there are 10K Black Metallic Capacitors, which have an average life expectancy of 10'000 hours.
Totally you'll find four DIMM-slots on the Maximus VI Gene. Officially supported are DDR3 3000 / 2933 / 2800 / 2666 / 2600 / 2500 / 2400 / 2200 / 2133 / 2000 / 1866 / 1800 / 1600 / 1333 MHz. There is engough space between the DIMM-slots and the CPU socket which means that you wont encounter compatibility problems with big coolers even when you choose to install RAM with big heatspreaders. Also supported are Xtreme Memory Profiles (XMP) in version 1.3.
On the Maximus VI Gene the southbridge is being cooled by a passiv cooling block. A closer look at the area where the VRM is, shows that there are two additional heatsinks, which have been connected with a heatpipe. Like they do with every new Maximus motherboards series, ASUS changed the looks of the heatsinks slightly.
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Layout |
| Page 2 - Specs and Delivery | Page 5 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 3 - Features | Page 6 - Conclusion |
Discuss this article in the forums
[pagebreak]
Connectors and I/O
Totally ASUS equipped the Maximus VI Gene with eight angled SATA ports. All ports offer 6Gbps bandwidth and six out of eight SATA III ports are natively wired to the Z87 PCH. The two additional SATA 6Gbps ports are wired to an ASMedia ASM1061 chip. You'll also find practical onboard power- and reset-buttons on this board and there is also a debug display. Additionally you will also find voltage read-out points on this board. ASUS equipped this board with their SupremeFX audio solution. In this case the manufacturer electrically isolates the audio chip from the rest of the board and they put ELNA capacitors aside of the audio chip.
Totally you'll find five header on the Maximus VI Gene which is more than enough, to provide a well equipped mATX system with fresh air. The fan headers are located around the CPU socket as spread over the motherboard. ASUS decided to use 4-pin PWM headers in all five cases. Therefore it is possible to adjust rotation speed in the BIOS or in Windows.
Looking at the external connectors directly at the back-panel ASUS equipped the Maximus VI Gene with six USB 3.0/2.0 ports, four USB 2.0/1.1 ports, one gigabit ethernet port, an HDMI connector as well as an optical out and an analogue audio panel. Furtheremore you'll find also a clear CMOS button and a ROG Connect switch.
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Layout |
| Page 2 - Specs and Delivery | Page 5 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 3 - Features | Page 6 - Conclusion |
Discuss this article in the forums [pagebreak]
Conclusion
| Allgemein | + | - | |
| At a first glance the Maximus VI Gene definitely leaves a very good impression. The mix of overclocking features and a high quality audio hardware makes this a state-of-the-art motherboard for mATX-gaming. And next to a very nice looking design you find useful features like for example GameFirst. This software allows you to configure your network device the way gaming traffic gets prioritized (keyword traffic shaping). And then there is the "Do Not Disturb" door hanger. we really like this addition. It really is these small thing that make manufacturers win gamers hearts! | -
Design - Layout - mATX |
||
| Layout | + | - | |
|
Basically the ASUS Maximus VI Gene's Layout has been very well thought. Once more practical are the angled SATA connectors as well as the power- and reset-buttons. There is also a debug display which is very useful in case you should have issues with a component in your system or the board itself. Especially overclockers will enjoy the voltage read-out points. Regarding the PCI-Express x16 slots there we have nothing to complain about. A closer look at the area around the CPU socket shows, that there is plenty of space to install big aircoolers without running into any issues. What we also liked is where the power and reset buttons are. Especially when you overclock memory using liquid nitrogen, then it makes sense to not have them next to the DIMM slots, since they will free quite quickly. Another great addition is the mPCIe-Slot, which in this case is compatible with M.2 (NGFF) SSDs. Unfortunately this slot has only been wired to one PCI Express 2.0 x1 lane, which means, that maximum transfer speeds won't surpass 500 Megabyte per second. |
- Angled SATA connectors
- mPCIe Slot - M.2 (NGFF) Support - Power/Reset-Button onboard - Debug display - Space around the CPU socket |
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Layout |
| Page 2 - Specs and Delivery | Page 5 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 3 - Features | Page 6 - Conclusion |
Discuss this article in the forums
Author: m.buechel@ocaholic.ch Luca Rocchi l.rocchi@ocaholic.ch