Price / Where to Buy:
US – Approx. US$230 – MAXIMUS VIII GENE
PH – Approx. PHP13990
Intel’s new generation platform has been with us for a while now and with a peculiar launch strategy, the Skylake platform has for the most part filled many market segments with the various SKUs now available. Going back to launch day, there weren’t a lot of motherboards present with name brands betting on their most noteworthy product lines to set the stage for next-generation desktops.
We have a ton of motherboards for review and for this one we’ll take a look at the all-new ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) entry; the MAXIMUS VIII GENE. The entire ROG lineup has been shown already and it is clear that ROG is disassociating itself with the pure red on black colorway and is now brandishing a metallic grey, black and red theme.
Features
- LGA1151 socket for 6th-gen Intel® Core™ desktop processors.
- Dual DDR4 3733 (OC) support.
- Best gaming performance – 5-Way Optimization with Auto-Tuning, 2nd-generation T-Topology and OC design
- Best gaming audio – reinvented SupremeFX 2015 with intuitive Sonic Studio II.
- Best gaming networking – best-in-class Intel® Gigabit Ethernet, LANGuard and GameFirst technology.
- Best gaming protection – carefully-selected premium components to ensure maximum durability.
- ROG gives you more – more gaming-oriented utilities, all free!
Intel Skylake CPU
Intel has opted to stagger the launch of the Skylake CPUs with the flagship Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K unlocked processors debuting at launch together with the Z170 chipset. Further SKUs were released after launch for the lower end of the product stack.
Intel Skylake CPUs presents a new microarchitecture using the 14nm process seen in Broadwell processors. Intel Skylake CPUs will feature improved efficiency numbers and IPC performance together with a new IGP. As with all launch CPUs, these top-end unlocked processors are aimed at enthusiasts and support multiplier overclocking.
Also in the platform is support for DDR4. The new processors fully supports dual-channel DDR4 memory with the new DDR4 modules supporting higher default memory of 2133MHz at only 1.2v. Some motherboard makers may also opt to use DDR3 still as the processor still retain support for that.
The Intel Z170 Chipset
Accompanying the Intel Skylake 6th-gen processors is the new 100-series chipset, codenamed Sunrise Point. As the primary consumer chipset for the 6th-generation Intel Core processors, the 100-series chipset is available in various chipset series from the mainstream H110, H170 and Z170 and the business-class B150, Q150 and Q170. Intel has decided to stagger the release of their Skylake processors which made the release of the other chipset only happen recently. While it’d take an entire post to describe the finer details on the difference of each chipset, to sum it up really quick the chipsets differ in features: with the Z170 offering the most in terms of expansion and support as well as PCI-e lanes with lower model chipsets reducing on what’s offering the business-class ones expanding to include Small Business Basics and Small Business Advantage.
For the most part of what we’re reviewing we’ll take a look at the Z170 chipset, the top-end chipset for desktop and offers the most features and support for multiplier overclocking.
One of the primary changes from Z97 to Z170 is support for a newsocket, the LGA 1151. LGA 1151 supports Intel Skylake CPUs and is not compatible with LGA 1150 processors and vice versa. Mounting holes for the 115x range have remained the same though so your old LGA 1156/1155/1150 will still be compatible with the new LGA 1151 motherboards.
Support for DDR4 memory is also one of the changes that comes with the new chipset. Connectivity between CPU and chipset also utilizes DMI 3.0 allowing a full 20 PCI-e 3.0 lanes which is up to the motherboard maker on how they utilize it.
Closer Look
ASUS ROG’s packaging has remained the same for a few generations now and its easy to spot one with the signature red packaging and ROG logo. The MAXIMUS VIII GENE doesn’t get the exposed window flap in the packaging but has a heavy feature list underneath the top flap and a spec sheet in the back of the box.
Keeping in line with the premium nature of the ROG series, ASUS has refreshed the inclusion in its ROG bundle which now includes a sticker sheet for cable labels and a sheet for the ROG logo. Also included is the CPU installation tool for those that feel a bit nervous popping in their new CPU. The rest is rounded out by the standard fare of inclusions like manuals, installation disc, SATA cables and the I/O shield. ASUS also includes a door sign in the set.
Taking the board out of the box, as we’ve said, no more “just” black and red. The color scheme has been changed to a primarily black scheme with metallic grey heatsinks highlighted with red trims adorning the board. Quite similar to what we’ve seen from all the previous GENE releases and as you’ll see in our future reviews, the higher ROG models are really where the design takes off.
SATA Express remains with the Z170 and ASUS implementation isn’t anything special. We get a pair of SATA Express port or a total of six(6) SATA III ports.
Rear I/O we have a lot of USB options from USB3.1 Type A and USB3.1 Type C connectors. A total of six USB3.0 ports with DisplayPort and HDMI present for video output. A legacy PS/2 port is also present should you have legacy peripherals for whatever purpose. A single LAN port for network duties and 5 audio jacks plus an optical SPDIF for audio.
Here’s a shot of those new heatsink design for the MAXIMUS VIII GENE. The new design features mecha-inspired grooves complemented by red pinstripes. The purplish hue on the heatsink gives it a distinct glint under certain lighting conditions which is a nice touch, separating itself from the older plain black and red motiff. The MAXIMUS VIII GENE features a 10-phase VRM.
The MAXIMUS VIII GENE features two PCI-e X16 Gen3 slots, the topmost one runs at full x16 speed and when used in multi-card config, at x8/x8 speeds. A single PCI-E x4 slot is also present for other daughter cards. A single M.2 slot (M Key) is also present which takes in 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices, both SATA & PCIE mode. Onboard buttons are also found on the lower edge of the board.
ASUS managed to make some space to integrate the SupremeFX audio back into the board unlike the previous M7GENE which had a daughter card for it.
Performance Testing
Test Setup
Processor: Intel Core i7 6700K
Motherboard: ASUS ROG MAXIMUS VIII GENE
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3000
Storage: Kingston HyperX FURY 240GB
PSU: Corsair AX860i
Cooling: Custom loop (XSPC Raystorm block, EK DCP 4.0, BlackIce Stealth GT 360 rad)
Monitor: LG 42UB820T UltraHD TV
VGA: GIGABYTE GTX 980 Ti GAMING G1
Performance Testing – Synthetic
Cinebench R15, Cinebench R11.5
wPrime, SuperPI 32M
3DMark 06, 3DMark Vantage
Performance Testing – Real World
Video Conversion, Audio Encoding
Compression, Image Resizing
Performance Testing – 3D Benchmarks
3DMark 11, 3DMark Fire Strike
Overclocking
Overclocking at a glance: We’re still exploring the overclocking potential of Skylake processors and while its customary for us to reduce voltages as generations pass as we have since Sandy Bridge, 14nm Intel processors change that as we’ve seen in our Broadwell tests with the i7-5775C. The new architecture now demands higher voltages than compared to its predecessors but while that’s the case, due to the better efficiency numbers put up by the new 14nm chips. We’ll have a dedicated article for that in the future.
Also just recently making waves is the return of BCLK overclocking on non-K processors. We don’t have one right now but just to show how far BCLK overclocking can go in the Skylake procs, here’s one we achieved to duplicate our multiplier OC via BCLK. A 4.6Ghz overclock on the same voltage, achievable via BCLK or multiplier on the i7-6700K. The MAXIMUS VIII GENE doesn’t skimp on the OC tools you need in the UEFI BIOS to achieve these figures.
Power & Temperatures
We check to see how motherboard makers tune their default BIOS settings and see how it impacts temperatures and power consumption. The system is left to idle for 30 minutes before readings are taken and load data is taken 30 minutes while AIDA64 stress test is running. Power readings are taken for the entire system from the socket. Power draw for the entire system is captured for this test via an outlet wattmeter and temperatures are recorded via Intel Extreme Tuning app.
At a glance: Intel’s 14nm architecture is showing its strength here and ASUS certainly goes further to drive it further. As you can see in the charts above, the MAXIMUS VIII GENE shows very good numbers. We were curious on the results and examined further to see that the MAX8 GENE has lower load voltages than the other Z170 boards in our charts (you’ll see more of that on their respective reviews.) Due to this, ASUS ROG mATX entry charges ahead of the pack with low power draw and low load temps. We do note that this varies depending on your system specs and processor of choice.
Conclusion
Skylake has been a very weird launch but despite of that, it is still a new platform and will be the one we will have going forward to 2016. As we’ve seen throughout the last generations, motherboard technology has reached the point where all brands can compete evenly in terms of performance and they all bring-out the best of their respective processors. What has been and always be the contention point for components is their feature set, quality and aesthetic. Let’s break it down for the ASUS MAXIMUS VIII GENE:
Performance. Overall performance is within the same ranks as the other Z170 boards in the charts and on some instances, the MAXIMUS VIII GENE do edge the ATX variants in our tests. Overclocking, while we are still exploring it further, is a good way of getting more from the processor and this motherboard has all the right tools to push it further.
Build Quality. We’ve noted it many times before, if ASUS has something to be proud of about their products its always their build quality. While common folks will appreciate straight away the build quality via the board’s weight and feel, diving in further we can see the abundance of details that went into the components and features of the board. Overall, the MAXIMUS VIII GENE is a well-built motherboard and doesn’t cut back on features, remaining loyal to the GENE feature set that has made it powerful ATX replacement for mATX users who don’t want to compromise features for size.
Functionality. Support for the latest technology is where its at and with both USB3.1 Type A and Type C on this board, you get immediate support for the latest expansion options available. M.2 supports both SATA and PCIe mode so you don’t need to worry about compatibility. Extensive DDR4 frequency support also guarantees very good compatibility with many of the new modules out right now. Much of the special features extends to ASUS’ software bundle as well with Sonic Radar, Keybot and other additions to enhance the usage experience beyond the hardware.
Bundle. As mentioned, there’s a rich software bundle included with the MAXIMUS VIII GENE together with the ROG door sign and stickers. ASUS bundles a full-year license of Kaspersky AV, Daemon Tools and PC Cleaner with this motherboard.
Value. At $230, this board sits on top of many of the mATX motherboards for the Z170 market right now. While there aren’t much of them aimed at the high-end space, the MAXIMUS VIII GENE sits on a very special spot as it easily rivals even the most decked-out ATX motherboards right now in terms of features and quality.
If you’re building a new setup for the Skylake platform and you want it to fit the mATX platform specifically, there is no going around the fact that the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS VIII GENE is one of the best out right now. Chassis like the BitFenix AEGIS and Pandora which are both mATX only chassis are capable of high-end watercooling support and if you’re building on those, the MAXIMUS VIII GENE is definitely a no-brainer if you’re going all-out.
Price / Where to Buy:
US – Approx. US$230- MAXIMUS VIII GENE
PH – Approx. PHP13990
ASUS has decided to veer away from the black and red motiff that MSI has grown fond off recently and with the new ROG series launched, there’s definitely a clear distinction now in terms of looks between the two brands. ASUS ROG still pulls out all the stop and crams the most it can in the MAXIMUS VIII GENE while keeping the form factor in tact. As the case will always be, a lot of folks will complain about the price but for for this instance its more of a situational choice rather than an offer, as this board is intended to satisfy builders who NEED an mATX motherboard with all the features of what is expected from the FORMULA equivalent.
There’s really not much we can complain about the MAXIMUS VIII GENE. It fills its role perfectly and offers the most for your money. Again, if you’re looking at an mATX motherboard abundant in features for your latest Skylake build which supports all the latest technology like USB3.1 and M.2 expansion options, with top-of-the-line build quality, the ASUS MAXIMUS VIII GENE is easily the best choice out now.
ASUS backs the MAXIMUS VIII GENE with a solid 3-year warranty. We give it our B2G Gold Award!
1 Comment
Let’s test it in Games?)