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ASUS UL50Vt Preview: Factory Overclocked CULV Delivers 7 Hours of Battery Life

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:36:45 +0000

Wow, what’s with all the CULV hate? I’ve never seen a quietly introduced, low volume, mobile Intel CPU get so much negative press before. CULV stands for Consumer Ultra Low Voltage. It’s a badge affixed to certain mobile Core 2 Duos that run at lower clocks and lower voltages than standard mobile Core 2 Duos. Just as some CPUs can overclock higher than others, some CPUs can run at lower voltages than others. It all has to do with the bell curve for CPU yield; while the majority will run at a normal frequency/voltage range, some will turn out to be exceptional parts.

The CULV parts also use the smaller packaging Intel first debuted in the MacBook Air. The bottom line is that these chips will enable smaller, thinner laptops but without dropping down to Atom-level performance. Intel has traditionally always done an ultra low voltage mobile CPU, this time it's just getting marketed a bit stronger - partially because of the smaller packaging, and additionally because of the stronger market for ultra portable notebooks now.

Processor	Clock Speed	L2 Cache	TDP
Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300	1.30GHz	3MB	10W

The max TDP for the CULV line tops out at 10W, with the lowest end single core chips dissipating a maximum of 5.5W. That’s not much more than an Atom processor. In contrast, standard voltage mobile Core 2s have TDPs ranging from 17 - 35W. It’s not all about dropping the voltage though, clock speed unfortunately suffers. Most CULV chips run in the 1.2 - 1.4GHz range. While that’ll still be much faster than an Atom, it’s roughly half the frequency of a standard mobile Core 2. You can argue that clock speed doesn’t matter, but you’ll notice the difference between a 1.2GHz Core 2 and one running at 2.4GHz. And that’s ultimately why OEMs view CULV as a failure in North America: performance. Or at least that’s what they’ve been going around telling everyone. To a certain extent even Apple has recognized the poor performance of ultra low voltage chips. When it introduced the MacBook Air, instead of going with a 1.2GHz ultra low voltage Core 2 Apple used a low voltage 1.6/1.8GHz Core 2 Duo. The difference in clock speed is one of the things I pointed out as a reason why the MacBook Air didn’t suck. ASUS must’ve come to the same conclusion, because although its new UL line use a 1.3GHz CULV Core 2 Duo the chip ships overclocked. Yep.

The ASUS UL50Vt: Overclocked CULV

I’m going to preface this next section with an apology. I spent most of last week meeting with AMD about its next-gen GPU (part of the time on an aircraft carrier rented out by AMD to demonstrate the, uh, awesomeness of its new GPU). I ended up only having around two days with the ASUS notebook before this preview had to go live. We’ll have more detailed ...

Asus Geforce GTX 295 MARS Review

admin — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:48:36 +0000

Introduction

Today a review on that product you all know and heard about yet can not buy. Either for budget reasons .. or sheer lack of availability in the market. If you have been living under a rock and don't know what the ASUS Mars is .. let me give you an easy breakdown. You take two GeForce GTX 285 graphics cards, stick 4 GB of memory on there (2GB per GPU), sandwich them, SLI them up, market it as MARS, slap a limited edition label on there and make only a 1000 units. That in a nutshell is the product we'll be testing today. Of course the dynamics are way more advanced then that horrendous simple explanation as this card is quite something alright. Just think about the simple stuff like it is a downright bitching job to cool down two GTX 285 GPUs on air. ASUS definitely succeeded, With much success as the MARS has to be one of the better marketed product out there as it's receiving a lot of media coverage, which really is all this product is about. ASUS is surprised though, this product is intended as a very limited series/batch of only a thousand cards, yet at a recent summit they there already where rumors of creating a second batch. So without making a long and boring introduction, let's pop one of these little frackers into our finest test system and see where it ends up performance wise .. will this really be the fastest graphics card in the world anno September 2009 ? Let's find out, next page please but not before you have had a chance to look at the product hard at work in our test system.

Going to MARS

So first we are going to defines what the ASUS MARS really is. First off, what is it ? Is the designated name for this card a GeForce GTX 295 or a dual-GPU GTX 285 ? We like to call it a Dual GTX 285 as GTX 295 with it's 448-bit memory bus and lesser memory doesn't seem like right fit naming wise. Dual-GPU based graphics cards... the past few years we've seen them a couple of times. Previous ones released from team green (NVIDIA) was the GeForce 9800 GX2 and more recent the GTX 295. By itself a pretty interesting cards. Though every now and then also haunted by driver issues. This is the reality of any multi-GPU solution really. Rendering a game with multiple graphics processors is increasingly more difficult opposed to using just one GPU. And I know I have said this many times already, this is why typically I prefer a single GPU based high-end graphics card over a dual-GPU based solution, that doesn't mean though that things have improved over the years, contrary .. as of lately I am really content how driver shaped up. So here's what ASUS did. ...

ASUS Crosshair III Formula AM3 Motherboard Review

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:02:41 +0000

Introduction

The motherboard marketplace is littered with contenders and for many system builders, settling on a motherboard can be a difficult task, given the often dozens of iterations of the same chipset. For the enthusiast, that task is even more daunting. The choice is more crucial than just a simple system backbone, the motherboard is the conductor that orchestrates the computer in perfect rhythm and it must lead the components to perform to their full potential. Asus has produced the Republic of Gamers line for this very purpose. The Republic of Gamers (RoG) title has been used by Asus to denote its premier product offerings. It is only awarded to the most prestigious of hardware that is specifically focused on gaming and overclocking. The components are fitted with ROG exclusive bells and whistles that are at the forefront of current technology and are intended to maximize your computer's potential. These boards are also incredibly user friendly, allowing those who are just starting the pursuit of ultimate performance to slowly build their confidence with the board taking control and offering a mix of manual and automatic settings. It is fitting then, that the 3rd generation of the Asus Crosshair AMD motherboard lineup be built under the ROG banner with all its accompanying features and BIOS intricacies. For the first time since the Crosshair took form, Asus has opted to go with an AMD based chipset, rather than an NVIDIA as found on the previous two generations. The company is looking to harness the power of the 790FX chipset to achieve world records and make it the most desired board amongst the elite of the computer world. The Crosshair III Formula is a full sized AM3 board set to utilized the power of DDR3 and the potential for stunning graphics with CrossfireX support. It is as fully loaded as them come, with the ROG extra's making for one of these most feature packed products on the market. It's advanced cooling makes it comfortable inside a stuffy case, or easily run on an open air bench with all controls easily accesble on the PCB. This motherboard is shaping up to be at the top of the heap for AMD based systems so let's hope it can live up to its potential.

Specifications

790FX is not a new chipset to the marketplace as it originally debuted in late 2007 along with the first of the Phenom series. Since then, AMD-based boards have undergone a variety of changes, most notably the addition of the SB750 southbridge controller, which replaced the aging SB700. The SB750 holds much of the secret behind the Phenom’s overclocking success, with its unique ACC (Advanced Clock Calibration) feature and other improved technologies. This 790FX chipset can be found on both AM2 and AM3 series boards, as AMD includes the memory controller on the CPU itself and as such, does not require a new northbridge to handle the ...

ASUS EeeTop PC ET20/22 Series, Multimedia Enjoyment with a Contemporary Touch

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:30:13 +0000

Experience a World of High Definition Entertainment at Your Fingertips

The new ASUS EeeTop PC ET20/22 Series is a range of touch*-enabled, all-in-one PCs that provides users with the fundamentals of everyday computing and multimedia entertainment in an elegant space-saving design. Its forte lies in its ability to provide users with the ultimate home entertainment experience. The EeeTop PC ET22 and EeeTop PC ET20 feature a flushed 22-inch and 20-inch touch*-enabled display respectively that provides high definition images through the use of state-of-the-art graphics processors. The resulting visual spectacle is complemented by a surround sound experience delivered by the Dual Hi-Fi speakers with SRS Premium Sound™. The ASUS EeeTop ET20/22 Series also lets users communicate via the easy-to-use Eee Cam, while the Eee Bar gives them access to their commonly-used applications. Users can also organize their photographs with FotoFun, and leave notes for their family and friends with Eee Memo. Simply put, the new ASUS EeeTop PC ET20/22 Series is the ideal all-in-one communications and entertainment PC for the family.

The Absolute Pinnacle of High Definition Home Entertainment

The ASUS EeeTop ET20/22 Series delivers high definition multimedia entertainment at a touch*. Users can choose between a 20-inch or 22-inch flushed high definition display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The ASUS EeeTop ET20/22 Series features a dedicated ATI Radeon™ HD4570 or NVIDIA® ION™ graphics processor to deliver clear and vibrant true-to-life images, while a pair of embedded Hi-Fi speakers with SRS Premium Sound™ delivers an immersive virtual surround sound experience. Users can watch high definition movies on Blu-ray via a Blu-ray disc drive** (Available only on selected models). The ASUS EeeTop ET20/22 Series can connect to external monitors, game consoles and other home entertainment devices via HDMI-in and SPDIF outputs (only for ET22 Series). The ASUS EeeTop ET20/22 Series also features the touch*-enabled Total Media Center (only for ET22 Series)—a one-stop, intuitive interface which allows users to browse, view and organize multimedia files. These cutting-edge technologies come together to provide users with the best in home multimedia entertainment.

Discover the Power to Connect at Your Fingertips

As intuitive computing becomes ever more prevalent, the need for an instinctive user interface is more apparent. The high definition 20-inch or 22-inch touch*screen of the ASUS EeeTop PC ET20/22 Series gives users fingertip access to a suite of touch*-enabled programs. Users can leave virtual 'sticky notes' for their family with Eee Memo, or video messages via the embedded Eee Cam which features Real-time Image Capture technology. This exclusive technology delivers superior image quality at 30 frames-per-second*, as well as enhanced light sensitivity for low-light environments. Users can doodle or add special effects to snapshots of themselves and even create customized emoticons for use in web messaging applications such as Skype®, MSN Messenger™, Yahoo® Messenger and AIM®. FotoFun lets users organize their customized emoticons, photographs and pictures like they would in a photo album, or upload them onto their blogs. Finally, the Eee Bar provides ...

ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Review

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:22:24 +0000

Introduction

The rate of change within the computer industry is frequently startling. [Maybe someone could plot the derivative….] Case in point, netbooks have now been in the market for nearly two years, and pretty much every major player within the computer industry has a competing offering. In just two short years, features, battery life, and even performance have increased significantly. We recently looked at the MSI Wind U123 and ASUS 1000HE, two of the first netbooks to ship with Intel's latest Atom N280 processor. Compared to previous netbooks using the N270, not much changed -- we are after all looking at a meager 4% clock speed increase. Compared to older netbooks, however, we've seen a decent performance jump relative to the initial Eee PC 2G/4G's Celeron M900. Today we have the latest iteration of the ASUS Eee PC, the 1005HA. Very little has changed relative to the 1000HE/1000HA -- and the primary difference between those two is the use of a larger battery in the 1000HE along with an option to get either an N280 or N270. ASUS is still using a 10.1" LCD, but they have switched to a different battery again and have increased the specified battery life to 10.5 hours (from 9.5 hours). The casing has also changed a bit, as it's now a lot more difficult to access the hard drive. We've also revamped our netbook testing since last article, adding some additional tests and providing more details than before. Unfortunately, we were unable to run all of the new tests on previously reviewed netbooks, but we do have several netbook reviews in the pipeline and we will provide results from those models where possible. Outside of battery life, something that varies based on installed components and features, most netbooks will have similar performance. That being the case, any extra features as well as usability, design and pricing are largely going to determine what users will want to purchase.

ASUS Eee PC 1005HA -- Specifications and Overview

As stated, little has changed in terms of specifications since the ASUS 1000HE. All we can say for sure is that battery life has improved and the casing is slightly different. In addition, the 1005HA costs about $20 more than the 1000HE. Here's a rundown of the features of the ASUS 1005HA.

ASUS Eee PC 1005HA Specifications

Processor

Intel Atom N270 or N280 (Tested) N280: 1.66GHz, 512KB L2, 45nm, 667FSB

Chipset

Intel 945GSE + ICH7MU

Memory

1x1024MB DDR2-533 @ 4-4-4-12 Timings

Graphics

Integrated Intel GMA 950

Display

10.1" Glossy LED-Backlit ~16:9 WSVGA (1024x600)

Hard Drive

2.5" 160GB 5400RPM 7MB (Hitachi HTS543216L9SA00)

Networking

Atheros AR8132 Fast Ethernet Atheros AR9285 802.11n WiFi

Audio

Realtek AL269 2-Channel HD Audio (2.0 Speakers with headphone/microphone jacks)

Battery

6-Cell 11.25V, 5600 mAhr, 63.0 Whr

Front Side

None

Left Side

Heat Exhaust Kensington Lock 1 x USB 2.0 VGA AC Power Connection

Right Side

SD/MMC ...

ASUS P7P55D Deluxe Preview

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:07:23 +0000

Another day, another P55 motherboard preview although technically it is just a pictorial preview due to NDA requirements. I know, this is fast becoming a been there, done that event as it seems only ASUS and Gigabyte are currently previewing boards. However, this should change as MSI, ASRock, EVGA, Biostar, and even ECS have some interesting products that we hope to provide early coverage on shortly. Like me, you are probably wondering when all of this will end and we can get straight to the numbers, technology, and features of the P55 motherboards. Honestly, even that date is under NDA, but just bear with us for a few more weeks. ASUS will have one of (if not) the widest range of product offerings based on the P55 chipset at launch. They will cover the gamut from entry level motherboards featuring the PRO series, to the mid-range with the EVO branding, then stepping up to the high end with the Deluxe products, and finally addressing the enthusiast sector with the ROG series. Final pricing is not yet available but based on chipset pricing and market conditions, expect to see P55 boards starting at $120 and topping out around $239 at launch. ASUS was kind enough to visit with us last week and we had the opportunity to play with the P7P55D Deluxe motherboard. All we can say right now is that this motherboard deserves to be on the top of your wish list at product launch. This particular motherboard features ASUS' Xtreme Design initiative. This technology consists of their Turbo V, Turbo Key, Xtreme Phase, Anti-EMI, and StackCool 3+ features that we will outline in detail at product launch. Overall, the most impressive part of the package for the enthusiast will be the updated Turbo V application and improved PWM design. It certainly shows on this board with Bclks easily hitting the 245+ range along with memory clocking above 2500MHz. Board Layout Taking a quick look around this board, we find the overall layout is excellent and designed with CrossFire X or SLI users in mind or those who value expansion capabilities over multi-GPU performance. ASUS utilizes the VIA VT6308P chipset for IEEE 1394a support, VIA VT2020 (BD192/24 ENVY HD) 10-channel HD audio codec (8+2 Streaming) with support for DTS Surround Sensation, and the Realtek 8112L/8110SC Gigabit LAN controllers for LAN operation including support for AI NET2. Why manufacturers will not utilize the native Intel Gigabit LAN support in the P55 is beyond us. The VIA VT2020 actually provides nice onboard audio support with better output quality (subjective) than the standard Realtek ALC888/889 series. If the drivers come up to speed, we will have another competitive choice in on-board audio after ADI pulled out of the market last year. The board also features 14 USB 2.0 ports (six headers/ eight ports on the I/O panel) and support for up to 16GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory with standard BIOS support up to DDR3-2133. ASUS also ...

ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO – 785G Preview

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:15:30 +0000

We recently previewed the 785G chipset and had to stop testing as the early beta drivers were not mature enough to provide a full performance analysis. We have since received two updated sets of drivers and are glad to report that significant progress has been made in enabling a variety of features missing in the first set. However, a full NDA is in effect on the chipset now so that is about as far as we can take it today. In the meantime, AMD is allowing limited press coverage (pictures with just a few words of text) on the 785G motherboards. We still have boards from MSI, Biostar, ECS, and ASRock coming along with additional models from Gigabyte and ASUS that we hope to provide a quick glimpse at before the NDA lifts next month. The star of today's show is ASUS' M4A785TD-V EVO that features AMD's 785G/SB710 chipset combination along with 128MB of DDR3 SidePort memory. The AMD 785G features the updated HD 4200 graphics engine that adds DirectX 10.1 and UVD 2.0 features along with multi-channel LPCM audio output to the mix compared to the previous generation HD 3200 on the 780G chipset. This particular board is part of ASUS' new EVO lineup that features improved cooling (StackCool 3), components, software, and specific BIOS options to provide additional performance over their entry level products. The SB710 Southbridge provides IDE support, five 3Gb/s SATA ports with RAID 0, 1, 0+1 options, and a 3Gb/s eSATA connection on this board. This particular board features DDR3 support which means an AM3 based processor is required. The four DIMM slots support up to 16GB of memory. The CPU area is open and we were able to squeeze a Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme in and still utilize the first DIMM slot with low rise memory modules. ASUS implemented a 8+2 phase power design on this board along with upgraded capacitors. The 785G and MOSFET heatsinks work surprisingly well, especially with radial cooling devices. The slot arrangement offers a variety of options and spacing is decent. We are not sold on the need for three PCI slots, but otherwise this layout works well. There are two PCIe 2.0 x16 slots (x16, x4), one PCIe x1 slot, and three PCI slots. ATI Hybrid CrossFireX support is featured on this board. The I/O panel contains a PS/2 combo mouse port, optical S/PDIF out port, HDMI/DVI-D/D-Sub ports, eSATA port, IEEE 1394a port, Gigabit Ethernet LAN port, six USB 2.0 ports (total of 12 on the board with the headers) , and the audio panel. LAN support is via the Realtek RTL8112L controller, IEEE 1394a support comes by ...

Asus M2N68-AM PLUS | AMD AM3 Motherboard

admin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:40:39 +0000

Product Name : Asus M2N68-AM PLUS Motherboard Price : RM 180.00

Phenom™ II/Athlon™ II/Sempron™ 100 Series Processors (AM3 CPU) This motherboard supports AMD® AM3 multi-core processors with unique L3 cache and delivers better overclocking capabilities with less power consumption. It features dual-channel DDR2 1066 memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 2600MT/s via HyperTransport™ 1.0 based system bus. This motherboard also supports AMD® CPUs in the new 45nm manufacturing process.

AMD® Phenom™ X4/ Phenom™ X3/ Athlon™ X2/ Athlon™/ Sempron™ processors (socket AM2+/AM2) This motherboard supports AMD® Socket AM2+ multi-core processors. It features dual-channel DDR2 1066 memory support, data transfer rate up to 2600MT/s via HyperTransport™ 1.0 based system bus, and AMD® Cool ´n´ QuietTM Technology.

AM2+ Capable (HT1.0/2.0) The motherboard supports AMD socket AM2 Athlon 64/ Sempron/Athlon 64 X2/ Athlon 64 FX/ AM2+ processors with 2MB / 1MB / 512KB L2 cache, which is based on 64-bit architecture. It features 2000 / 1600 MT/s HyperTransport Bus, dual-channel un-buffered DDR2 1066* memory support and AMD Cool ´n´ Quiet! Technology. *DDR2 1066 is supported by AM2+ only.

Dual channel DDR2 1066 DDR2 1066 memory provides great performance for 3D graphics and other memory demanding applications on next generation memory technology.

ASUS C.P.R. When the system hangs due to overclocking failure, there is no need to open the case to clear CMOS data. Just simply restart the system, the BIOS would show the previous setting and then users can amend the CPU setting again.

AMD Cool ´n´ Quiet! Technology M2N68-AM PLUS supports AMD Cool ´n´ Quiet! Technology, which monitors system operation and automatically adjusts CPU voltage and frequency for a cool and quiet environment.

Serial ATA 3Gb/s This motherboard supports next-generation SATA hard drives based on the new SATA 3Gb/s storage specification.

Gigbit LAN The on-board LAN controller is a highly integrated GbLAN controller. It is enhanced with an ACPI management function to provide efficient power management for advanced operating systems.

ASUS EZ Flash 2 Simply ...

ASUS P5KPL-AM SE | Intel LGA775 Motherboard

admin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:20:45 +0000

Item Name : Asus P5KPL-AM Motherboard Price : RM185.00 Asus has released the new ASUS P5KPL-AM/PS motherboard. To combat with the power fluctuation problem in India, the new motherboard is backed by the helpful Anti-Surge Protection technology. P5KPL-AM with Intel G31 chipset inside supports Intel Quad-core CPU and features 1600(OC)/1333/1066/800MHz FSB, PCI Express x 16, Serial ATA interface, high performance integrated graphics engine, dual-channel DDR2 1066(O.C.)/800/667 memory, and 8 Channel HD Audio CODEC. Users can experience faster graphics performance and higher video quality today. P5KPL-AM is the most affordable all-in-one solution platform for Intel® Core™2 Processor with Intel G31 chipset inside.

Features:

Intel® Quad Core Processor Ready This motherboard supports the latest Intel® Quad-core processors in LGA775 package. It also can support Intel® next generation 45nm Multi-Core CPU. It´s excellent for multi-tasking, multi-media and enthusiastic gamers with 1600(O.C.)/1333/1066/800 MHz FSB. Intel® Quad-core is one of the most powerful CPU in the world. LGA775 Intel® Core™2 Processor This motherboard supports the latest Intel® Core™2 processors in LGA775 package. With new Intel® Core™ microarchitecture technology and 1600(O.C.)/1333/1066/800 MHz Intel® Core™2 processor is one of the most powerful and energy efficient CPU in the world. Intel® G31 Chipset The Intel® G31 Express Chipset boosts your gaming and multimedia experience with the integrated graphics engine Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3100. It supports 1333MHz FSB (front-side-bus), and delivers breakthrough advances in 3D and 2D graphics; and video capabilities. This integrated chipset is able to meet the changing display requirements of visually rich applications and features the Intel® Clear Video Technology - which trailblazes new standards in high-definition video, crisp imaging, and accurate color control. FSB 1600 support (O.C.) ASUS´s exclusive overclocking design now unleashes the ultimate potential of the Intel® Core™2 processor. With the new Intel 45nm micro-architecture technology and FSB 1600 (O.C.) / 1333 / 1066 / 800 MHz, this motherboard allows you to enjoy the latest technology supported by one of the most powerful and energy efficient CPUs in the world. Dual-Channel DDR2 1066(O.C.) Dual-channel DDR2 technology doubles the bandwidth of your system memory and hence boost the system performance to out perform any memory existing solutions in the market. PCI Express Architecture PCI Express is the latest I/O interconnect technology that will replace the existing PCI. With a bus bandwidth 4 times higher than that of AGP 8X interface, PCI Express x16 bus performs much better than AGP 8X in applications such as 3D gaming. PCI Express x1 and x4 also outperforms PCI interface with its exceptional high bandwidth. The high speed PCI Express interface creates new usages on desktop PCs. 8 Channel High Definition Audio Enjoy high-end sound system on your PC! The onboard HD audio (High Definition Audio, previously codenamed Azalia) CODEC enables high-quality 192KHz/24-bit audio output, jack-sensing feature, functions and multi-streaming technology that simultaneously sends different audio streams to different destinations. You can now talk to your partners ...

Asus Maximus II Formula Review

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:38:48 +0000

Asus-Maximus-II-Formula-flat

Product Name : Asus Maximus II Formula Price : RM780.00 We’ve been waiting a long time to get our hands on the Asus Maximus II Formula since we first saw it at an Asus briefing in mid-May. That’s an eon in the world of motherboards and it feels as though an ice age or two has passed but finally the time has come. At the Asus briefing we were smitten by the looks of the Maximus II which earns its name as the successor to the original Maximus Formula. There are three Maximuses (Maximii?) in the original series and last year we reviewed the top-of-the-line Maximus Formula Extreme, which takes a basic Maximus and adds a chipset cooler that is ready to be plumbed into your water cooling system. Meanwhile, in the middle of the range we have the Maximus SE with a Fusion cooling system that is air cooled but which gives you the option of using water cooling and bringing up the rear is the plain old Maximus that just uses a passive cooling system. The new Maximus II, then, uses a similar cooling system to the latter, at least on the Northbridge. On the Southbridge is the huge cooler from the Maximus Extreme. There’s more to the passive Northbridge cooler than meets the eye, though, as a section can be unscrewed to reveal a copper block which can be used with a suitable water cooling adapter just as soon as one is available. Other cosmetic changes from old Maximus to new are few and far between and pretty much boil down to new Power and Reset micro buttons. That might sound trivial but they are the most gorgeous buttons we have ever seen and they set a new standard in motherboard hardware. The major difference between Maximus and Maximus II is a change in the chipset but this is where things get a bit strange. The original Maximus Formula allied an Intel X38 chipset with DDR3 memory at a time when X38 was the top notch Intel chipset. By contrast the Maximus II employs an Intel P45 chipset which is a step down the pecking order from X48 as it has inferior support for PCI Express. P45 feeds 16 lanes to the primary slot or dual x8 if you’re using CrossFire while the X48 can manage 16 lanes to both slots. There’s another surprise as Maximus II uses DDR2 memory instead of the faster DDR3 even though DDR3 has come down in price to the point where it is no longer extortionate.

Asus-Maximus-II-Formula-angle

In fact Maximus II has no aspirations to be King of the Republic of Gamers range as the Rampage Formula uses X48, which in turn is trumped by the Striker II Extreme which is described as a super high-end model as it combines Core 2 with SLI rather than CrossFire. In fact, when you compare ...