YugaTech | PC Labs » republic of gamers

Asus Maximus III Gene

yuga — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:29:36 +0000

Asus claims a new motherboard in the RoG line that’s Windows 7 ready — the Maximus III Gene.

The Asus Maximus III Gene is another P55 motherboard which is compatible with most of the newer Intel Core i series processors (Core i5 750, Core i7 860 and Core i7 870).

The mobo supports up to 14 USB 2.0 ports, 6 SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports and an Gigabit LAN. There are 4 DIMM slots that support DDR3 memory.

There are several unique features of the motherboard that would attract gaming enthusiasts.

Speeding HDD. Utilising a dual channel design, Speeding HDD doubles data transfer rates, slashing game loading and data access times. To enjoy this technology, users simply have to connect two HDDs to the specially-marked SATA connectors on the Maximus III Series motherboard. The drives are set-up automatically — no manual configuration is required.

SupremeFX X-Fi. With its premium components and support for Creative Labs’ acclaimed Crystaliser, CMSS3D and EAX technologies, SupremeFX X-Fi delivers the most realistic and accurate audio in games. This iteration of SupremeFX X-Fi also supports Blu-ray output.

You’ll remember the Maximus III Formula which has an add-on card for the SupremeFX X-Fi, this model also has the same but it is already embedded on the board.

Asus tries to separate this form factor with the other — while the ATX Maximus III Formula is designed for hardcore gamers and performance seekers who demand the very best specifications and superior extensibility, the mATX Maximus III GENE is designed for case modders and budget-conscious gamers who prefer smaller machines, yet desire the power and features of RoG.

Of course, since this is a micro ATX form factor, it’s way smaller than Formula III and you only have less room to wiggle additional peripherals around.

Expect the Maximus III Gene to retail for about Php10,000 when it comes out in stores (about as half cheaper than the Formula III).

Asus Maximus III Formula

yuga — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:26:37 +0000

A new motherboard from Asus, aptly named Maximus III Formula, is another model under the Republic of Gamers label. As such, one will obviously notice the striking red and black design of the board.

The Maximus 3 Formula is built for Intel’s Core i5 and i7 — sporting an LGA1156 socket that can run the 45nm Lynnfield and 32nm Clarksdale processors.

Specs and features:
4 x DIMM with 16GB maximum DDR3 RAM
2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 support single at x16 or dual at x8 mode
1 x PCIe x16 supports at x4 mode
2 x PCIe x1
2 x PCI 2.2
NVIDIA® SLI Technology / ATI® CrossFireX Technology Support
6 x SATA 3.0 GB/s ports
Gigabit LAN
2 x 1394a ports

There’s also a separate card — a SupremeFX X-Fi audio card as shown below (powered by Creative).

SupremeFX X-Fi discrete Audio Card
8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
EAX® Advanced HD 4.0
X-Fi CMSS®-3D
X-Fi Crystalizer
Creative ALchemy
Supports 1 x S/PDIF out header
Supports Coaxial/Optical S/PDIF out ports on rear
Blu-ray support

This one’s got the most number of ports we’ve seen yet — 14 USB 2.0 ports.

Similar to other RoG motherboards, the Maximus III Formula gets big scores for overclockers:
Extreme Engine Power Design (16-phase CPU power, 3-phase VTT power, 3-phase Memory power)
ROG Connect
CPU Level Up
Memory Level Up
Speeding HDD
iROG
Extreme Tweaker
Loadline Calibration
Intelligent overclocking tools (ASUS AI Booster Utility, O.C. Profile)
Overclocking Protection (COP EX (Component Overheat Protection – EX, Voltiminder LED, ASUS C.P.R. or CPU Parameter Recall)

We don’t have a suggested retail price but this item is listed on TipidPC for Php18,999.

Asus OC Station: ROG OC Controller

yuga — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:26:43 +0000

The usual way to overclock a computer is do some tweaking in the motherboard itself, tinker the BIOS or install an overclocking software. The Asus OC Station moves up to the next step and offers you a dedicated console.

This hardware device fits right into the 5.25″ slot in the front of the PC case and has a small 3″ LCD panel that shows BIOS settings of the CPU and a lot more. The panel also tilts up by about 30 degrees to give you a better view of the information on the screen.

With a compatible motherboard, one can easily manipulate the performance of the system for extreme overclocking or switch to various gaming modes. It also features real-time access to system voltages, frequencies and fan speeds.

The Asus OC Station is compatible with ROG Rampage II Extreme, Crosshair III Formula, and ROG GENE series motherboards.

Installation is pretty easy — just plug it in to the 4-pin power source, the data cord, install the driver and you’re off to set your CPU performance at dial.

We’re not yet sure when this OC station will be available locally of how much it would cost but expect this little baby to be worth the bling.