ASUS Maximus IV Extreme B3 Revision Review

ASUS Maximus IV Extreme B3 Revision Review

Introduction

Modern technology is like the sea. There are high waves when the latest upgrades and chips are released, followed by a brief lull as we wallow in the calm before bracing for the next.

The LGA1155 release and accompanying P67 chipset was a definite wave. It was such a phenomenal performer that it would be easy to call it a tidal wave, but with the current problems in Japan we shall respect them and refrain from such metaphors.

If you’ve just come back from a six month sabbatical in a cave let’s bring you up to speed.

In January Intel released the successor to the LGA1156 socket processors, the (confusingly) named LGA1155. It was met with a clamour of deserved praise before it emerged that the number 5 and 6 SATA sockets had problems with data integrity. This was disappointing for such a long-awaited product and a smudge on Intel’s testing procedures, but they issued a swift recall and, now fixed, the P67 is reborn with the B3 suffix.

Technical Specifications

The only change besides the B3 chipset revision is the upgraded BIOS from when we last tested the Maximus IV Extreme. As the overclock was rather tame last time we’re hoping a much maturer version should lead to performance gains.

CPU Intel® Socket 1155 for Intel® 2nd Generation Core™ i7 Processor/Core™ i5 Processor/Core™ i3 Processor/
Support Intel® 32nm CPU
Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
Chipset Intel® P67(B3) Express Chipset
Memory 4 x DIMM, Max. 32 GB, DDR 2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1600/1333 Non-ECC,Un-buffered Memory
Dual Channel memory architecture
Expansion Slots 4 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (single @x16, dual @x8, triple @x8, x16, x16 )
1 x PCIe 2.0 x4
1 x PCIe 2.0 x1
Multi-GPU Support Support NVIDIA® 3-Way SLI™ / ATI CrossFireX™ Technology
Bluetooth Bluetooth Module Accessory Card
– Bluetooth V2.0/V2.1+EDR
– RC Bluetooth On/Off Switch
Storage Intel® P67(B3) Express Chipset
2 xSATA 6.0 Gb/s ports (Red)
4 xSATA 3Gb/s ports (Gray)
Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Support RAID 0,1,5,10
Marvell® 9182 PCIe SATA6Gb/s controller
2 xSATA 6Gb/s ports (Red)
JMicron® 362 controller
2 xExternal SATA 3Gb/s ports at rear (SATA On-the-Go)
* Due to the Windows XP/ Vista limitation, the RAID array with the total capacity over 2TB cannot be set as a boot disk. A RAID array over 2TB can only be set as a data disk only.
LAN 2 x Intel® Gigabit LAN
Audio Realtek ALC889 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
– Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection
– Supports Jack-Detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-Retasking
– Supports 1 x Optical S/PDIF out port at back I/O
USB Intel® P67(B3) Express Chipset
– 9 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (8 ports at mid-board, 1 port at rear is also for ROG connect)
1 x NEC USB3.0 Controller
– 2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports at rear
1 x NEC USB3.0 Controller with 2 x VIA SuperSpeed USB hub controllers:
– 6 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports at rear
– 2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports at mid-board for front panel support
Overclocking Features ROG Connect
RC Bluetooth
ROG iDirect
USB BIOS Flashback
ROG Extreme Engine Digi+
– 8-phase CPU power
– 3-phase Memory power
– ML Cap on CPU only
BIOS Flashback with onboard switch button
ProbeIt
Extreme Tweaker
iROG
Loadline Calibration
ROG OC Kit
– LN2 Mode
– PCIe x16 Lane Switch
– Debug LED
– Q_Reset
EFI BIOS features
– ROG BIOS Print
– GPU.DIMM Post
– CPU Socket Monitor
Intelligent overclocking tools:
– ASUS TurboV Evo
– O.C Profile
Overclocking Protection:
– COP EX (Component Overheat Protection – EX)
– Voltiminder LED
– ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
* For using ROG Connect, RC Bluetooth, and ROG iDirect, please refer to Software Compatible List.
Back Panel I/O Ports 1 x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Combo port
2 x External SATA
2 x LAN(RJ45) port(s)
8 x USB 3.0/2.0
1 x USB 2.0/1.1 (also for ROG Connect)
1 x S/PDIF Out (Optical)
8 -Channel Audio I/O
1 x Clr CMOS switch
1 x ROG Connect On/Off switch
1 x RC Bluetooth switch
Internal I/O Connectors 1 x USB 3.0/2.0 connector(s) (Red) supports additional 2 USB 3.0 ports
4 x USB 2.0/1.1 connector(s) support additional 8 USB 2.0 ports
4 x SATA 6.0Gb/s connectors (Red)
4 x SATA 3.0Gb/s connectors (Gray)
1 x CPU Fan connector(s)
3 x Chassis Fan connector(s)
1 x Power Fan connector(s)
3 x Optional Fan connector
1 x Power-on switch
1 x Reset switch
1 x S/PDIF Out connector
1 x 24-pin ATX Power connector
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector
1 x Front panel audio connector
1 x System Panel connector
7 x ProbeIt measurement points
3 x Thermal sensor connectors
1 x En/Dis-able Clr CMOS header
2 x EZ Plug connectors (4-pin Molex Power connectors)
1 x RC Bluetooth header
1 x LN2 Mode switch
1 x Q_Reset switch
1 x Go Button
1 x BIOS switch button
1 x ROG light connector
Form Factor Extended ATX Form Factor
12 inch x 10.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 26.9 cm )

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