*** Part 2 has been posted, feel free to check it out here ***
Introduction
Today we’re facing the launch of a brand new architecture from Intel dubbed “Sandy Bridge”. If you haven’t seen the leaks around the net over the past few months, you haven’t been paying attention. Everyone is excited about the potential of this new architecture, and it’s no wonder. The rumors of nearly 5GHz with air cooling coupled with a healthy dose of architectural efficiency improvements will create a lot of happy enthusiasts. The manufacturers in this game have not been sitting idle either, with each one cleverly seeding tons of samples to add to the pre-launch hype.
My subject today is the new Asus Maximus IV Extreme, a Republic of Gamers (“ROG”) branded model which represents the top-end of the P67 offerings from Asus. As always, they’ve managed to pack an overwhelming number of technologies and features into this product and it’s my goal to give you honest feedback based on my experience.
Asus Maximus IV Extreme
The Maximus IV Extreme motherboard represents the top-end of the Asus lineup for the P67 launch. As such, it is a full-featured product, and unfortunately, does not conform to the standard ATX form factor as it is slightly wider at 10.6″ as opposed to the standard 9.6″ of the ATX specification. This is fairly common among top-range boards these days and is unlikely to be an issue with any large modern case.
The new socket, LGA1155, is the same size as the LGA1156 socket for the H55/H57/P55 platform, so all of your LGA1156 coolers should work fine for the new socket as well.
The board layout is fairly conventional, but the socket area is a little tight (more details on that in a bit).
The underside of the board reveals more about the quality design, with additional heat spreaders on the rear of the VRM section (with proper screws no less!).











32 Comments
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This only real “limitation” is that you are required to use a graphics card. Since it sounds link you have one (or more), then you have nothing to worry about
Hey,I’m looking to build a new pc,and I want to use the i7 2600k with the asus maximus Iv extreme,and I’ve been looking through a few reviews in pc format magazines,and I’ve been worried about this whole no intergrated graphics thing? What does that mean?, I won’t have problems if I use that cpu combo with the mobo? Right? It will still function perfectly if I plug in directly to my graphics card? There won’t be any lock outs or bottle necks?
[...] = ''; } ASUS Maximus IV Extreme Review ? The Very best P67 Motherboard[Review] ASUS Maximus IV Extreme & Core i7 2600K – Overclocking On P67 (Part 1/2) .recentcomments a{display:inline !important;padding:0 !important;margin:0 [...]
Hey, thanks for the fast reaction
Well, they are in safe zone. I testet it with prime95 and (in combination) with RealTemp360.
I think to remember that the hightes temps were around 47°C. Just the mainboard and the RAM (I plugged on of the optional temp-sensors with tesa at one) are around 60°C. Do you think thats ok??
There are many reasons why you’re seeing this…and no it doesn’t make me worried. More important, you should check your load temps and ensure their in a safe zone
One question here: I always have a higher temp at CPU socket (Idle: 41°C) and Motherboard (Idle: 40°C), as CPU (Idle: 26-30°C) in AI Suite 2. Can this be normal? I use Thors Hammer (Xigmatek) with two 120mm pwm-fan of Akasa. Also one 120mm case-fan from Akasa and one 92mm case-fan of Noiseblocker.
Na… My quad 5Ghz/ddr3 2200Mhz cas7 will eat your 4Ghz SixCore 1333Mhz slowness for dinner.
[...] [...]
I had SB for lunch lol…
[IMG]http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/rickss69/Forshow-WPrime.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/rickss69/Forshow-Fritz.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/rickss69/Forshow-Cinebench.jpg[/IMG]
[...] the megahalems with one fan on with the maximus IV extreme, maybe best to avoid the noctua dh14: http://www.techreaction.net/2011/01/…p67-part-12/2/ You could use the corsair H70 if you're worried. [...]
this is the best maximus iv extreme review i have read
thank you very much for answering my questions
Nice review as usual..
You concluding remarks appear right on with your anlysis of the products
Love the board, I don’t know why they don’t use tri-channel memory
The Sandy will be a boon to the PC & laptop mfgrs and to most of the overclocking & gaming community
[...] Here is a nice red asus for the sandy bridge chips. __________________ My rig "Black Water" build log **-~ i7 950 Overclockers Club ~-**_.=4 GHz Overclock Club=._ [...]
So far this is the only motherboard I have tested. I’ll be comparing it to a pair of Gigabyte boards later this month, maybe I’ll have a better idea at that time.
hi mia, which mobo do you think is actually the best? I ask this to you because I’m planning to go with a 2600k and I want a mb with a layout similar to the rampage 3
thanks for you help
@ grant c….yes, three 6970s will fit….but I’m not sure about the NH-D14.
Thanks mia for choosing.
For Grant C.
Please take a look at
ram compatibility with DH14
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=compatibility_ram_gen&products_id=34&lng=en
Dominator with DH14 solved
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=faqs&step=2&lng=de&products_id=34#14
will 3 6970s fit on this thing… the pci slots look to close together.
i would like to go with the NH-D14 and corsair dominator, with standard dimms
is it possible?
Thermalright Mux – 120 (clearance=47mm) + Team Extreem LV PC3-16000 2000 MHz 11-9-27 1.65V (2×4GB) 4 sticks=16gb (height= 45mm)
If you have more questions/comments….feel free to join our discussion in the forum
http://www.techreaction.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4695
Thanks mia anyway. What do you suggest the better combination among these for Sandy [my budget ]?
Tuniq tower 120 Extreme (clearance=43mm)/ Megahalem 44cm + GG.SKILL Ripjaws F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL PC3-12800 1600Mhz CL 9-9-9-24 Voltage 1.5v 4 sticks=16gb (height=40mm)
or
Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme (clearance=43mm)// Megahalem 44cm + Corsair XMS3 PC3-12800 CMX4GX3M1A1600C7 7-8-7-20 1.65v 4 sticks=16gb (tinggi = 33mm)
or
Thermalright Mux – 120 (clearance=47mm) + Team Extreem LV PC3-16000 2000 MHz 11-9-27 1.65V (2x4GB) 4 sticks=16gb (height= 45mm)
or
Tuniq tower 120 Extreme (clearance=43mm) / Megahalem 44cm+ Patriot PC3-12800 (1600MHz) 8-9-8-24 1.65V PX538G1600LLK (height = 41mm)
Regards.
[...] motherboard bios voltage was set manually to 1.45v to me this seems very nice. temp around 67C http://www.techreaction.net/2011/01/…p67-part-12/5/ [...]
[...] Intel Core i7-2600K and Core i5-2500K @ T-Break Intel Core i7-2600K and Core i5-2500K @ TechGage Intel Core i7-2600K and ASUS Maximus IV Extreme @ TechReaction Intel Core i7-2600K and Core i5-2500K @ TechSpot Intel Core i7-2600K and Core i5-2500K @ Tweaktown [...]
Wow, this is really encouraging. I speced almost this very same configuraiton for a friend of mine. He can’t wait to buy!!! thanks for all the hard work. Hope we can get close on the chip.
Thanks bro
Nice work, Miahallen! This seems like a great alternative to benchers who can’t afford Gulftown and want an improvement over Bloomfield.
@ realbabilu, I do not have a Tuniq Tower to test fit, so I’m not sure. Concerning XMP, I didn’t use it, I always set memory manually (there’s no performance advantage for using XMP).
I need to know whether i can use the tuniq tower 120 extreme with team dark xtreme low heatsink ?
does it obstruct?
and how good asus set the xmp memory?
[...] :: Introduction and Technical Specifications Intel i7 2600K (Sandy Bridge) Review | Overclockers [Review] ASUS Maximus IV Extreme & Core i7 2600K – Overclocking On P67 (Part 1/2) | TechRE… Intel’s Second-Gen Core CPUs: The Sandy Bridge Review : Core i7-2600K, Core i5-2500K, Core [...]
[...] Reviews [Review] ASUS Maximus IV Extreme & Core i7 2600K – Overclocking On P67 (Part 1/2) | TechRE… The Sandy Bridge Review: Intel Core i5 2600K, i5 2500K and Core i3 2100 Tested – AnandTech :: Your [...]
[...] On P67 (Part 1/2) This just went live at TechReaction. First Maximus IV review? Link: http://www.techreaction.net/2011/01/…n-p67-part-12/ [...]