ASUS Z87 Maximus VI Formula Review

Introduction and Technical Specifications

| Source: ASUS Price: £227 Author: Tom Logan

Introduction

The Formula range has usually been the affordable variant of the Extreme. Retaining the performance whilst stripping away the frippery to keep the price low has been a successful venture. However, given our feelings about the Extreme we're hoping that the Formula is anything but formulaic, but rather is a complete overhaul.

Those of you who pay attention to our reviews know that we usually are aware of what we think before we start writing, having already tested. So if you've got your ASUS fanboy fingers ready to flood our forum with vitriol, thankfully the Formula is a vast improvement and everything that the Extreme should have been when it arrived. So we've spoilt the ending somewhat, but the journey is still a fun one.

Technical Specifications

As you would expect from a ROG motherboard, the Formula is absolutely bursting with features. Indeed it speaks volumes about ASUS' desire to rectify earlier mistakes that they have crammed quite so much into the lower end ROG model.

CPU

Intel® Socket 1150 for 4 th Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors

Supports Intel® 22 nm CPU

Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0



Chipset

Intel® Z87

Intel® Socket 1150 for 4 Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors Supports Intel® 22 nm CPU Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Intel® Z87

Memory

4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 3100(O.C.)/3000(O.C.)/2933(O.C.)/2800(O.C.)/2666(O.C.)/2600(O.C.)/2500(O.C.)/2400(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600/1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory

Dual Channel Memory Architecture

Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)



Graphics

Integrated Graphics Processor

Multi-VGA output support : HDMI/DisplayPort ports

- Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz

- Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz

Supports Intel® InTru™ 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, Insider™

4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 3100(O.C.)/3000(O.C.)/2933(O.C.)/2800(O.C.)/2666(O.C.)/2600(O.C.)/2500(O.C.)/2400(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600/1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory Dual Channel Memory Architecture Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) Integrated Graphics Processor Multi-VGA output support : HDMI/DisplayPort ports - Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz - Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz Supports Intel® InTru™ 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, Insider™ Multi-GPU Support Supports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI™ Technology

Supports AMD 3-Way CrossFireX™ Technology

Supports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI™ Technology Supports AMD 3-Way CrossFireX™ Technology

Expansion Slots

3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8 or x8/x4/x4)

1 x mini-PCIe 2.0 x1

3 x PCIe 2.0 x1





3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8 or x8/x4/x4) 1 x mini-PCIe 2.0 x1 3 x PCIe 2.0 x1

Storage

Intel® Z87 chipset :

6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red

Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10

Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology

Intel® Z87 chipset :

1 x M.2 (NGFF) Socket 2 on mPCIe Combo II expansion card(s), black

Support M.2 (NGFF) Type 2242 SSD card (22mm x 42mm), Support PCI express 2.0 x1 and SATA 6Gb/s standards

ASMedia® ASM1061 controller :

4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red

Intel® Z87 chipset : 6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology Intel® Z87 chipset : 1 x M.2 (NGFF) Socket 2 on mPCIe Combo II expansion card(s), black Support M.2 (NGFF) Type 2242 SSD card (22mm x 42mm), Support PCI express 2.0 x1 and SATA 6Gb/s standards ASMedia® ASM1061 controller : 4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red



LAN

Intel® I217V, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)

Intel® I217V, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s) Wireless Data Network

Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac

Supports dual band frequency 2.4/5 GHz

Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Supports dual band frequency 2.4/5 GHz Bluetooth Bluetooth V4.0

Bluetooth V3.0+HS

Bluetooth V4.0 Bluetooth V3.0+HS



Audio

ROG SupremeFX Formula 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC

- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming

- SupremeFX Shielding Technology

- Cirrus Logic® CS4398 DAC: 120 dB SNR, -107 dB THD+N (Max. 192 kHz/ 24 -bit)

- TI 6120A2 high fidelity headphone amplifier

- WIMA® film capacitors

- ELNA® premium audio capacitors

- High-fidelity audio OP AMP(s)

- Differential circuit design

Audio Feature :

- Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection

- Sonic Radar

- DTS Connect

- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel

ROG SupremeFX Formula 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC - Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming - SupremeFX Shielding Technology - Cirrus Logic® CS4398 DAC: 120 dB SNR, -107 dB THD+N (Max. 192 kHz/ 24 -bit) - TI 6120A2 high fidelity headphone amplifier - WIMA® film capacitors - ELNA® premium audio capacitors - High-fidelity audio OP AMP(s) - Differential circuit design Audio Feature : - Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection - Sonic Radar - DTS Connect - Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel



USB Ports

Intel® Z87 chipset :

4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board)

Intel® Z87 chipset :

8 x USB 2.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, black, 4 at mid-board)

ASMedia® USB 3.0 controller :

4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, blue)

Intel® Z87 chipset : 4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board) Intel® Z87 chipset : 8 x USB 2.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, black, 4 at mid-board) ASMedia® USB 3.0 controller : 4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, blue)



ROG Exclusive Features

CrossChill (Hybrid air and liquid cooling)

ROG Armor (including top cover and SECC steel backplate)

mPCIe Combo II (mPCIe/M.2 combo card)

Extreme Engine Digi+ III :

- 8 + 2 phase power design

- NexFET™ Power Block MOSFET

- 60A BlackWing Chokes

- 10K Black Metallic Capacitors

ProbeIt

UEFI BIOS features :

- ROG BIOS Print

- GPU.DIMM Post

- Tweakers' Paradise

- ROG SSD Secure Erase

ROG RAMDisk

GameFirst II

Extreme Tweaker

CrossChill (Hybrid air and liquid cooling) ROG Armor (including top cover and SECC steel backplate) mPCIe Combo II (mPCIe/M.2 combo card) Extreme Engine Digi+ III : - 8 + 2 phase power design - NexFET™ Power Block MOSFET - 60A BlackWing Chokes - 10K Black Metallic Capacitors ProbeIt UEFI BIOS features : - ROG BIOS Print - GPU.DIMM Post - Tweakers' Paradise - ROG SSD Secure Erase ROG RAMDisk GameFirst II Extreme Tweaker



Special Features

ASUS Dual Intelligent Processors 4 with 4-Way Optimization :

- The tuning key perfectly consolidates ASUS-exclusive DIGI+ Power Control, TPU, EPU, and Fan Xpert 2 optimize the digital power setting, system performance, power saving and whole system cooling configuration

CPU Level Up

ASUS Wi-Fi GO!

- Wi-Fi GO! Function: Cloud GO!, Media Streaming Hub, Smart Sensor Control, Remote Desktop, Remote Keyboard & Mouse, File Transfer, Capture & Send

- Wi-Fi Engine for network sharing and connection: Client Mode, AP Mode

- Wi-Fi GO! & NFC Remote for portable Smartphone/Tablet, supporting iOS & Android systems

ASUS Exclusive Features :

- GPU Boost

- USB BIOS Flashback

- AI Suite 3

- Ai Charger+

- USB Charger+

- USB 3.0 Boost

- Disk Unlocker

ASUS EZ DIY :

- ASUS O.C. Profile

- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3

- ASUS EZ Flash 2

ASUS Q-Design :

- ASUS Q-Shield

- ASUS Q-Code

- ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)

- ASUS Q-Slot

- ASUS Q-DIMM

- ASUS Q-Connector

Overclocking Protection :

- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)

ASUS Dual Intelligent Processors 4 with 4-Way Optimization : - The tuning key perfectly consolidates ASUS-exclusive DIGI+ Power Control, TPU, EPU, and Fan Xpert 2 optimize the digital power setting, system performance, power saving and whole system cooling configuration CPU Level Up ASUS Wi-Fi GO! - Wi-Fi GO! Function: Cloud GO!, Media Streaming Hub, Smart Sensor Control, Remote Desktop, Remote Keyboard & Mouse, File Transfer, Capture & Send - Wi-Fi Engine for network sharing and connection: Client Mode, AP Mode - Wi-Fi GO! & NFC Remote for portable Smartphone/Tablet, supporting iOS & Android systems ASUS Exclusive Features : - GPU Boost - USB BIOS Flashback - AI Suite 3 - Ai Charger+ - USB Charger+ - USB 3.0 Boost - Disk Unlocker ASUS EZ DIY : - ASUS O.C. Profile - ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 - ASUS EZ Flash 2 ASUS Q-Design : - ASUS Q-Shield - ASUS Q-Code - ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED) - ASUS Q-Slot - ASUS Q-DIMM - ASUS Q-Connector Overclocking Protection : - ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)



Back I/O Ports

1 x DisplayPort

1 x HDMI

1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)

6 x USB 3.0 (blue)

4 x USB 2.0

1 x Optical S/PDIF out

6 x Audio jack(s)

1 x Clear CMOS button(s)

1 x ROG Connect On/ Off switch(es)

1 x DisplayPort 1 x HDMI 1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s) 6 x USB 3.0 (blue) 4 x USB 2.0 1 x Optical S/PDIF out 6 x Audio jack(s) 1 x Clear CMOS button(s) 1 x ROG Connect On/ Off switch(es)



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)

1 x TPM connector(s)

10 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)

1 x CPU Fan connector(s)

1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s)

3 x Chassis Fan connector(s)

3 x Optional 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 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)

1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP)

1 x System panel(s)

1 x DirectKey Button(s)

1 x DRCT header(s)

1 x MemOK! button(s)

10 x ProbeIt Measurement Points

3 x Thermal sensor connector(s)

1 x Power-on button(s)

1 x Reset button(s)

1 x FastBoot switch(es)

1 x ROG extension (ROG_EXT) header(s)

1 x mPCIe Combo II connector(s)

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) 1 x TPM connector(s) 10 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s) 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) 1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) 3 x Chassis Fan connector(s) 3 x Optional 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 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s) 1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP) 1 x System panel(s) 1 x DirectKey Button(s) 1 x DRCT header(s) 1 x MemOK! button(s) 10 x ProbeIt Measurement Points 3 x Thermal sensor connector(s) 1 x Power-on button(s) 1 x Reset button(s) 1 x FastBoot switch(es) 1 x ROG extension (ROG_EXT) header(s) 1 x mPCIe Combo II connector(s)



Accessories

User's manual

I/O Shield

8 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)

1 x ASUS 2T2R dual band Wi-Fi moving antennas (Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compliant)

1 x SLI bridge(s)

1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1)

1 x 12 in 1 ROG Cable Label(s)

1 x mPCIe Combo II card(s) with dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth v4.0/3.0+HS module

1 x ROG Door Hanger(s)

User's manual I/O Shield 8 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s) 1 x ASUS 2T2R dual band Wi-Fi moving antennas (Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compliant) 1 x SLI bridge(s) 1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1) 1 x 12 in 1 ROG Cable Label(s) 1 x mPCIe Combo II card(s) with dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth v4.0/3.0+HS module 1 x ROG Door Hanger(s) BIOS

64Mb UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.7, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI5.0a Multi-Language BIOS

64Mb UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.7, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI5.0a Multi-Language BIOS



Form Factor

ATX Form Factor

12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )

1 - Introduction and Technical Specifications 2 - Up Close 3 - Test Setup, Overclocking and Power Draw 4 - AIDA64 5 - Cinebench and x264 6 - PC Mark 7 - CatZilla and Unigine Valley 8 - Unigine Heaven 9 - 3D Mark Vantage 10 - 3D Mark 11 11 - 3D Mark 12 - Conclusion «Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next»

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