ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z Review
Introduction and Technical Specifications
Published: 29th June 2011 | Source: ASUS | Price: |
Introduction
Aristotle wrote that "Change in all things is sweet" and change is something that the Maximus IV knows very well.
Normally the ASUS range consists of an Extreme, a Formula and a Gene variant of the same basic design. The Maximus IV definitely changes this as the Extreme is two versions of the P67, the original and then the B3 revision which fixed the SATA issue and otherwise enhanced the basic model.
So we'd expect the Gene to be a P67 B3 based motherboard but in micro-ATX format?
Not so. The Gene is a Z68 based motherboard. So we've got a m-ATX Z68 board with onboard graphics, quite a departure from its bigger brother. However there is a Maximus IV Extreme-Z on the horizon which will be the actual bigger brother to this Maximus IV Gene-Z, rather than the current Maximus IV Extreme. It's confusing stuff indeed.
Anyway, let's see what is contained within this pocket powerhouse.
Technical Specifications
Despite its petite proportions the Gene-Z is stuffed to the gills with all the latest technology as befits a Z68-based board. We've got a couple of SATA-III ports that can handle Intel Rapid Storage Technology which uses a SSD to greatly enhance the performance of a standard mechanical drive. There are two USB 3.0 ports on the back with expansion capabilities for two more internally.
The big thing the Gene-Z has is integrated graphics. However unlike many boards that provide a plethora of outputs for IGP, the Maximus IV Gene-Z only has a HDMI output.
| CPU | Intel® Socket 1155 for 2nd Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3 Processors Supports Intel® 32 nm CPU Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 |
| Chipset | Intel® Z68 |
| Memory | 4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1600/1333 Hz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory Dual Channel Memory Architecture Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) * Due to CPU behavior, DDR3 2200/2000/1800 MHz memory module will run at DDR3 2133/1866/1600 MHz frequency as default. |
| Graphic | Integrated Graphics Processor VGA output support : HDMI port - Supports HDMI with max. resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz |
| Multi-GPU Support | Supports NVIDIA® SLI™ Technology Supports AMD CrossFireX™ Technology Supports LucidLogix® Virtu™ Technology |
| Expansion Slots | 2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (dual x8) 1 x PCIe 2.0 x4 |
| Storage | Intel® Z68 chipset : 2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red 4 x SATA 3Gb/s port(s), gray Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 Support Intel® Smart Response Technology on 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processor family JMicron® JMB362 controller : *1 2 x eSATA 3Gb/s port(s), red |
| LAN | Intel®, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s) |
| Audio | SupremeFX X-Fi 2 built-in 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC - Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking Audio Feature : - X-Fi® Xtreme Fidelity™ - EAX® Advanced™ HD 5.0 - THX® TruStudio PRO™ - Creative ALchemy - Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection - Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel |
| USB Ports | ASMedia® USB 3.0 controller : 4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board) Intel® Z68 chipset : 12 x USB 2.0 port(s) (8 at back panel, black, 4 at mid-board) |
| Overclocking Features | ROG Connect Extreme Engine Digi+ : - 8 -phase CPU power design + 4 -phase iGPU power design - 2 -phase Memory power design Mem TweakIt ROG Extreme OC kit : - Debug LED ProbeIt UEFI BIOS features : - ROG BIOS Print - GPU.DIMM Post GameFirst iROG Extreme Tweaker Loadline Calibration Overclocking Protection : - COP EX (Component Overheat Protection - EX) - ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall) |
| Special Features | ASUS TurboV EVO : - CPU Level Up ASUS Exclusive Features : - MemOK! - Onboard Button : Power/Reset/Clr CMOS (at back IO) ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution : - ASUS Fan Xpert ASUS EZ DIY : - ASUS Q-Shield - ASUS O.C. Profile - ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 - ASUS EZ Flash 2 - ASUS MyLogo 2 ASUS Q-Design : - ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED) - ASUS Q-Slot - ASUS Q-DIMM - ASUS Q-Connector |
| Back I/O Ports | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s) 1 x HDMI 2 x eSATA 3Gb/s 1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s) 2 x USB 3.0 8 x USB 2.0 (white port can be switched to ROG Connect) 1 x Optical S/PDIF out 6 x Audio jack(s) 1 x Clear CMOS button(s) |
| Internal I/O Ports | 1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s) 2 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 2.0 port(s) 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s) 4 x SATA 3Gb/s connector(s) 2 x CPU Fan connector(s) 3 x Chassis Fan connector(s) 1 x S/PDIF out header(s) 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s) 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s) 1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP) 1 x System panel(s) 6 x ProbeIt Measurement Points 1 x Power-on button(s) 1 x Reset button(s) 1 x ROG Connect switch(es) 1 x Go Button(s) 1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s) |
| Accessories | User's manual I/O Shield 2 x SATA 3Gb/s cable(s) 1 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s) 1 x SLI bridge(s) 1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1) 1 x ROG Connect cable(s) 1 x Cable ties pack(s) 1 x ROG theme label(s) 1 x 12 in 1 ROG Cable Label(s) |
| BIOS | 64Mb Flash ROM, EFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.5, ACPI2.0a Multi-Language BIOS |
| Manageability | WfM2.0, DMI2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME, PXE |
| Support Disc | Support DVD: - Drivers and applications * ASUS AI Suite II * ROG CPU-Z * ROG GameFirst Utility * Sound Blaster X-Fi MB2 Utility * ROG Mem TweakIt Utility * ASUS AI Charger+ * DAEMON Tools Pro Standard * Kaspersky® Anti-Virus 1-year license |
| Form Factor | uATX Form Factor 9.6 inch x 9.6 inch ( 24.4 cm x 24.4 cm ) |
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