ASUS launches Maximus GENE-Z/GEN3 mainboard

by Navin Maini on 7 October 2011, 14:03

Tags: ASUSTeK (TPE:2357)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qa7kq

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ASUS has launched its ROG Maximus IV GENE-Z/GEN3 and P8Z68/GEN3 series mainboards, which as their names suggest, bring PCIe 3.0 support to the table.

 

 

Both powered by Intel's Z68 chipset, specifications for the line-up can be seen below, and the company tells us that the new models ship with upgraded hardware and native UEFI support, for next-gen Intel 22nm CPUs.

 

 

P8Z68 DELUXE/GEN3

P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3

P8Z68-V/GEN3

MAXIMUS IV GENE-Z/GEN3

CPU

LGA1155 socket for Intel® 2nd Generation CoreTM i7/ CoreTM i5/ CoreTM i3/ Pentium® / Celeron® Processors

Supports 22/32nm CPU

Chipset

Intel® Z68 Express Chipset

Memory

4 x DIMM, dual channel, max. 32GB, DDR3 2200(O.C.)*/2133(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1600/1333 MHz

Power Design

DIGI+ VRM 16-phase Power (12-phase for CPU, 4-phase for iGPU)

Extreme Engine Digi+

VGA Output

N/A

HDMI/DVI/D-SUB

HDMI/DVI/D-SUB

HDMI

LucidLogix® Virtu Support

Yes(d-Mode)

Yes(Both i-Mode and d-Mode)

Yes(Both i-Mode and d-Mode)

Yes(Both i-Mode and d-Mode)

Expansion Slots

2 x PCI Express 3.0/2.0 x16 slots* (x16x0 or x8/x8)

2 x PCI Express 3.0/2.0 x16 slots* (x16x0 or x8/x8)

2 x PCI Express 3.0/2.0 x16 slots* (x16x0 or x8/x8)

2 x PCI Express 3.0/2.0 x16 slots* (x16x0 or x8/x8)

1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (max at x4 mode)

1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (max at x4 mode)

1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (max at x4 mode)

1 x PCI Express 2.0 x4 slot

* Actual PCIe speed depends on installed CPU type.

* Actual PCIe speed depends on installed CPU type.

* Actual PCIe speed depends on installed CPU type.

* Actual PCIe speed depends on installed CPU type.

Multi-GPU Support

Supports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLITM and AMD® Quad-GPU CrossFireX Technology

Bluetooth

Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR

Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR

Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR

N/A

ASUS BT GO! Utility

ASUS BT GO! Utility

ASUS BT GO! Utility

N/A

Storage

4 * SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports

4 * SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports

2 * SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports

2 * SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports

4 * SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports

4 * SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports

4 * SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports

4 * SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports

2 * eSATA 3.0 Gb/s ports
(1 x PWR eSATA)

1 * eSATA 3.0 Gb/s port

1 * eSATA 3.0 Gb/s port

2 * eSATA 3.0 Gb/s port

LAN

Dual LAN (Intel®/Realtek)

Intel® GB LAN

Intel® GB LAN

Intel® GB LAN

Audio

8-Channel Audio

8-Channel Audio

8-Channel Audio

SupremeFX X-Fi 2 built-in

DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC

DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC

N/A

N/A

IEEE 1394

2 ports

2 ports

N/A

N/A

USB

4* USB 3.0 ports
(2 ports at back panel; 2 ports at mid-board)

4* USB 3.0 ports
(2 ports at back panel; 2 ports at mid-board)

4* USB 3.0 ports
(2 ports at back panel; 2 ports at mid-board)

4* USB 3.0 ports
(2 ports at back panel; 2 ports at mid-board)

12 * USB 2.0 ports

12 * USB 2.0 ports

12 * USB 2.0 ports

12 * USB 2.0 ports

Dual Intelligent Processors 2 with DIGI+ VRM

v

v

v

Extreme Engine Digi+
Mem TweakIt
ROG Connect/ GPU TweakIt
GameFirst
SupremeFX X-Fi 2 built-in
ROG Web Storage
DAEMON Tools Pro Standard
Ai Charger+
Disk Unlocker
USB 3.0 Boost
UEFI BIOS
MemOK!
AI Suite II

TPU
(with onboard switch)

v

v

v

EPU
(with onboard switch)

v

v

v

GPU Boost

N/A

v

v

ASUS BT GO! (Bluetooth)

v

v

v

UEFI BIOS

v

v

v

AI Suite II

v

v

v

USB 3.0 Boost

N/A

v

v

MemOK!

v

v

v

AI Charger

v

v

v

Anti Surge

v

v

v

Disk Unlocker

v

v

v

 

There is no word on pricing, but on the topic of PCIe 3.0 support, the company is keen to stress that it has committed itself to an assured QA process - to measure performance quality and link reliability, prior to shipping. This is perhaps in response to some of the recent claims that have floating around, on the PCIe 3.0 front.

HEXUS Forums :: 3 Comments

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Posted by shaithis - Fri 07 Oct 2011 14:28
I thought the Maximus boards were pricey? If so…..I think they need to add some pci/pci-e slots..
Posted by scaryjim - Fri 07 Oct 2011 14:37
shaithis
I think they need to add some pci/pci-e slots..

I see your point, but where? You only get 4 slots on a mATX board anyway, and they are clearly assuming that anyone going for one of these boards will be putting at least one dual-slot graphics card in it, so there's no point having a card slot next to the primary PCIe. After that you've only got space for the second PCIe x16, and a peripheral (PCIe x4 in this case) slot … and anyone going for a mega-SLI mATX gaming beast won't even get to use that ;)
Posted by cjs150 - Fri 07 Oct 2011 17:47
Pricing is key. Always liked ASUS motherboards, after years of full ATX board I have given up and am moving everything to Micro or mini ITX boards