With their ROG-series ASUS traditionally aims at gamers and overclockers. Finally the manufacturer managed to target gamers with the Formula motherboards and overclockers with the Extreme. Therefore we can expect a lot of interesting features for gamers from this motherboard. On the following pages we're going to check wether this board is able to convince from a layout and design perspective. 
The Rampage IV Formula is be ASUS' high end gaming motherboard regarding Intels X79 chipset. Therefore we're really curious what they've done from the layout and design perspective.
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
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Spezifikationen / Lieferumfang
| CPU | Intel Socket 2011 2nd Generation i7 Processors |
| Chipset | Intel X79 |
| Memory | 4 x DIMM max 32 GB, DDR3 2400 (O.C.) /
2200 (O.C.) / 2133 (O.C.) / 2000 (O.C.) / 1800 (O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 /
1066 MHz Quad Channel |
| Multi-GPU | NVIDIA 4-Way SLI AMD 4-Way CorssFireX |
| Slots | 4 x PCI-Express 3.0/2.0 x16 (quad at x16/x8/x8/x8,
triple at
x16/x8/x16, dual at x16/x16) 2 x PCI-Express 3.0 x16 (single at x8, grey) |
| Sound | SupremeFX III 8-Channel Audio |
| Storage | 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s (Intel, RAID 0, 1, 5, 0+1) 4 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s (Intel, RAID 0, 1, 5, 0+1, JBOD) 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s (ASMedia 1061) 2 x eSATA Gb/s (ASMedia) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR |
| LAN | 1 x Gigabit LAN |
| I/O internal | |
| I/O Back Panel | |
| Forfactor | ATX (30.5cm x 24.4cm) |
| BIOS | Bios (2 x 64 Mb flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS) |
Uboxing the Rampage IV Formula shows an awful lot of accessories and ASUS has been very consequent in making a motherboard for gamers. Next to a Battlefield 3 licence key you also find a "do not disturb" door hanger. We very much like this little idea. With stuff like this a manufacturer can definitely win a gamers heart. What you also find is a Triple-SLI, an SLI and a CrossFire Bridge and there even is an entire set of SATA cables.
Features
| EPU | If you activate the EPU this chip monitors all possible voltages and clock speeds and automatically sets them to guarantee an energy efficient operation of you system. |
| SupremeFX III | The SupremeFX III Audio-Chip is an Audio processor that comes from Creative. It is paired with a carefully selected 1500 uF capacitor which delivers a ripple free audio signal. Furhtermore the chip got an EMI shield cover that makes it immune to electromagnetic interferences. |
| Extreme Engine Digi+ II | Since quite some time ASUS has been equipping its boards with digital power designs. Using the the right software it is not only possible to adjust voltages whilst being in Windows on can now also control impedances. Furthermore this board features high quality 10K black metallic capacitor which guarantee a long lifespan. |
| ROG Connect | ROG Connect enables real-time overclocking via a notebook. For this purpose you connect your notebook via a USB cable to the rig you'd want to overclock. Afterwards you can overclock your computer remotely. |
| Game First | Game First is a feature that enables you to do traffic shaping. Traffic shaping itselfe describes a process which analyzes network traffic and gives priorities to the individually sized data packets. At the end of the day the network interface can prioritize small data packets. The result is low latency in when gaming even when you should be downloading big files from the internet. |
| X-Socket | This is one of the very best features you can find these days. It is simple but very useful. Becaus Socket LGA 2011 is compatible to LGA 1366 ASUS has been looking for a way to ensure compatibility. Therefore included in delivery you find an adapter plate which you can install and afterwards your "old" LGA 1366 cooler can be installed. |
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
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Layout
Already at a first glance the ASUS Rampage IV Formula looks very good with its harmonic design. Once again the ROG-colors - red, grey and black - suite nicely and together with the black PCB it becomes a very 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, allow an easy installation of oversized graphics cards like for example a Radeon HD 6990.
ASUS equipped the Rampage IV Formula with an 8+3 phase power design. In this case the CPU can rely on eight phases and the memory gets its own three phases. Furthermore each of the eleven pahses comes with new high quality "Black Metallic Chokes". These can resist much higher current (50A instead of 30A). In other words this means that one phase can cope with far more load than the predecessor.
Totally you'll find four DIMM-slots on the Rampage IV Formula. Officially supported are the following clock speeds: 2400 (O.C.) / 2200 (O.C.) / 2133 (O.C.) / 2000 (O.C.) / 1800 (O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 / 1066 MHz. There is also 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.
Northbridge, southbridge as well as the current converters are being held at adequate temperatures via a passive heatpipe cooling solution. The cooling blocks haven been positioned wisely, which means that they don't collide with memory or CPU cooler. Fortunately ASUS decided to not install an active southbridge cooler.
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
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Anschlüsse und I/O
Totally ASUS equipped the Rampage IV Formula with eight angled SATA ports. There are two SATA-III ports which come from the X79 chipset. Furthermore there are two more SATA-III connectors realized via an ASMedia 1061 controller as well as four additional SATA-II ports also coming from the X79 chipset. There are even practical onboard power- and reset-buttons as well as a debug display which is very useful if you should once have issues with one of the components in your system. Also in this area of the board there are measurement points to read out the different voltages. Almost standard for the ROG motherboards meanwhile is the possiblity to enable/disable the different PCI-Express x16 Slots one by one.
Totally you'll find eight fan header on the Rampage IV Formula which is more than enough, to provide a well equipped high-end or overclocking-system with fresh air. The fan headers are located around the CPU socket as spread over the motherboard
Looking at the external connectors directly at the back-panel ASUS equipped the Rampage IV Formula with one PS2 mouse/keyboard connector, four USB 3.0/2.0 ports, six USB 2.0/1.1 ports, two Power eSATA ports, one gigabit ethernet port, an optical out as well as an analogue audio panel. Furhtermore you'll also find a BIOS reset button and the ROG connect button.
| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
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Fazit
| Allgemein | + | - | |
| At a first glance the Rampage IV Formula 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 gaming. And next to a very nice looking design you find useful features like for example the "X-Socket". This thing allows you to furhter use your "old" Socket LGA 1366 cooler. And then there is the "Do Not Disturb" door hanger. When we found this one we really had to smile. It really is these small thing that make manufacturers win gamers hearts! | - Design - 4 x PCI-Express 3.0 Slot - Compatibility to socket LGA 1366 coolers |
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| Layout | + | - | |
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Generally the ASUS Rampage IV Formula'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. Even the placement of the PCI-Express x16 slots is very well chosen. There is a total of four of these slots which allow quad SLI or quad CrossFireX. We also liked the voltage readouts as well as the possibility that one can deactivate the different PCI-Express x16 via dip switches. The Rampage IV Formula really seems to be a very good gaming motherboard. |
- Angled SATA connectors - Power/Reset-Button onboard - Debug display - Spac around the CPU socket - Voltage readouts |
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| Page 1 - Introduction | Page 4 - Connectors and I/O |
| Page 2 - Specifications / Delivery | Page 5 - Conclusion |
| Page 3 - Layout |
Discuss this article in the forums
Author: m.buechel@ocaholic.ch