Test: Asus Maximus Formula V

Introduction

It's been almost four months Intel has launched its new platform "mid-range" which replaced the socket LGA 1155 platform based chipsets P67/Z68. In that time, an impressive number of motherboards based on the new chipset Z77 was born, the war between the various manufacturers are well underway. A few months after testing the Maximus Gene V, which proved to be one of the Z77 motherboards fastest, we received the model ATX Asus ROG range, the Maximus Formula V. Tour of ...

ROG, and more ...

Like all motherboards ROG range, the box (barely larger than the motherboard) the "M5F" is composed of two compartments: one containing the  Dell XPS M1530  motherboard itself, and one for all bundle. At the rear of the latter, one can find the innovative features put forward by the manufacturer, such as Thermo Fusion, SupremeFX IV mPCIe Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Combo Dual-band 4.0 and finally GameFirst II. Autand features more or less useful that we will be able to enjoy the benefits.

The Maximus Formula V adopts a black PCB and components red or black, with a sports car look. It incorporates a socket LGA-1155 and operates the Intel Z77 (that you'll understand). This XPS M1330 motherboard standards eATX (extended ATX) and therefore measures 30.5 x 25.7 cm.

Map all angles

We can distinguish the LGA 1155. The older generation processors Sandy Bridge (i5 2400, 2500, 2500K, i7 2600K, 2700K ...) are, as explained above, 100% compatible with this chipset that is the basis for the Ivy Bridge processors. Cooling systems are of course identical to those found for P67 motherboards (LGA 1155) or even P55 (1156). Food processor, integrated graphics processor and memory is completely controlled by the new functionality Extreme Engine Digi + II. Just like its sister the Maximus Gene V, it includes 12 power phases for the CPU and graphics.

The card has four ports DIMM supporting DDR3 dual-channel 2800MHz up (or 3000 MHz speed only works on some processors). These ports are powered by two phases. Asus uses its mounting strips with clips without pin mechanism on one side, as on all its latest motherboards. This Dell Latitude E5500 mounting system facilitates retrieval of memory modules when you have big fingers and it does not use excessive force on the graphics card!

On the Z77 there are also LED display system diagnostics. And like all models ROG. Was entitled to Start and Reset buttons. Practice when the card is installed on a test bench. In addition to the 24-pin power connector, there is a connector that allows us to activate or deactivate the LN2 (liquid nitrogen) using a jumper. This enables better control of the extreme overclocking motherboard and enables additional functions hidden in the Bios. As Ivy Bridge processors like the cold ... this feature is extremely useful when overclocking pushed under liquid nitrogen.

Like other motherboards from Asus, the M5F is also provided with the small button GO ensures better compatibility with different types of DDR3 can be found on the market. Close DIMM slots, you can easily get Latitude E6400 different voltages of the card using a multimeter without having to search the different measurement points of tension around the map. We have the right to these different measuring point 2 land VPLL, vCCSA, vCCIO, vDRAM, in vIGPU finally vCore.

Intel Z77 chipset is cooled by a small black radiator not too high so as not to interfere with different graphics cards. Intel Z77 chipset does not much heating, a larger radiator would not be necessary. Compared to the Extreme version the card has a single removable Bios function but has however USB bios flashback which I invite you to read the tutorial here on the forum Asus ROG France. It allows to update the BIOS of the motherboard without a processor, without memory, etc.. Simply plug the ATX power cable and have a USB drive containing the BIOS on your motherboard. Practice!

Thermo Fusion to "watercooler" its power stage ...

In the picture above we can distinguish one of tips watercooling system used by Asus to cool the power stage of the processor. This watercooling system is called "Thermo Fusion" and according to Asus much more effective than single radiator cooled only by the flow of air in our boxes. For those who do not have watercooling circuit, the cooling system can also be used as a simple radiator, obviously.

Level of expansion slots, Asus has opted for three PCI Express 3.0 16X (16X a map, two maps 8X-8X, three cards 8X-4X-4X), a PCIe 4X, three PCIe 2.0 1X and a PCIe mini port 2.0 1X on the module mPCIe Combo. The card has no PCI slots. Note that the card is compatible with AMD CrossfireX technology, Nvidia SLI and Virtu LucidLogix MVP.

On the rear panel of the card, there is an extensive connection. It therefore has the right to a Clear CMOS button, a button ROG Connect on / off, four USB 2.0 ports (one port can be used ROG Connect port), four USB 3.0 ports, an eSATA port and a gigabit LAN RJ45. We also find the audio outputs 8 channels IV and Supreme FX audio ports S / PDIF In / Out Optical. Outputs on the card is equipped with an HDMI port and a DisplayPort.

On this map, Asus offers us ten SATA ports, two SATA 3.0 Gb / s (black) and six SATA 6.0 Gb / s (red). The last two ports are present on the rear panel of the card, it is an eSATA 3.0 Gb / s and mSATA port 3GB / s on the module mPCIe Combo. Asmedia ASM1042 controller and the Intel Z77 are responsible for managing the six USB 3.0 ports. The Latitude E6500 four ports located on the rear panel and two additional ports can be used by the USB 3.0 connector on the front panel of the case.

The card has a power connector IDE named EZ-PLUG to bring more power to the graphics card in a multi-card configuration. Close controller Supreme FX IV, one can distinguish the system by LED backlight is already on the Maximus IV Formula. When the card is turned on, the left side will illuminate red for a guaranteed effect tuning ...

Tags:  Dell Studio 1555, Dell Studio 1558, Inspiron 1300 Battery

Test: Asus Maximus Formula V

Introduction

It's been almost four months Intel has launched its new platform "mid-range" which replaced the socket LGA 1155 platform based chipsets P67/Z68. In that time, an impressive number of motherboards based on the new chipset Z77 was born, the war between the various manufacturers are well underway. A few months after testing the Maximus Gene V, which proved to be one of the Z77 motherboards fastest, we received the model ATX Asus ROG range, the Maximus Formula V. Tour of ...

ROG, and more ...

Like all motherboards ROG range, the box (barely larger than the motherboard) the "M5F" is composed of two compartments: one containing the  Dell XPS M1530  motherboard itself, and one for all bundle. At the rear of the latter, one can find the innovative features put forward by the manufacturer, such as Thermo Fusion, SupremeFX IV mPCIe Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Combo Dual-band 4.0 and finally GameFirst II. Autand features more or less useful that we will be able to enjoy the benefits.

The Maximus Formula V adopts a black PCB and components red or black, with a sports car look. It incorporates a socket LGA-1155 and operates the Intel Z77 (that you'll understand). This XPS M1330 motherboard standards eATX (extended ATX) and therefore measures 30.5 x 25.7 cm.

Map all angles

We can distinguish the LGA 1155. The older generation processors Sandy Bridge (i5 2400, 2500, 2500K, i7 2600K, 2700K ...) are, as explained above, 100% compatible with this chipset that is the basis for the Ivy Bridge processors. Cooling systems are of course identical to those found for P67 motherboards (LGA 1155) or even P55 (1156). Food processor, integrated graphics processor and memory is completely controlled by the new functionality Extreme Engine Digi + II. Just like its sister the Maximus Gene V, it includes 12 power phases for the CPU and graphics.

The card has four ports DIMM supporting DDR3 dual-channel 2800MHz up (or 3000 MHz speed only works on some processors). These ports are powered by two phases. Asus uses its mounting strips with clips without pin mechanism on one side, as on all its latest motherboards. This Dell Latitude E5500 mounting system facilitates retrieval of memory modules when you have big fingers and it does not use excessive force on the graphics card!

On the Z77 there are also LED display system diagnostics. And like all models ROG. Was entitled to Start and Reset buttons. Practice when the card is installed on a test bench. In addition to the 24-pin power connector, there is a connector that allows us to activate or deactivate the LN2 (liquid nitrogen) using a jumper. This enables better control of the extreme overclocking motherboard and enables additional functions hidden in the Bios. As Ivy Bridge processors like the cold ... this feature is extremely useful when overclocking pushed under liquid nitrogen.

Like other motherboards from Asus, the M5F is also provided with the small button GO ensures better compatibility with different types of DDR3 can be found on the market. Close DIMM slots, you can easily get Latitude E6400 different voltages of the card using a multimeter without having to search the different measurement points of tension around the map. We have the right to these different measuring point 2 land VPLL, vCCSA, vCCIO, vDRAM, in vIGPU finally vCore.

Intel Z77 chipset is cooled by a small black radiator not too high so as not to interfere with different graphics cards. Intel Z77 chipset does not much heating, a larger radiator would not be necessary. Compared to the Extreme version the card has a single removable Bios function but has however USB bios flashback which I invite you to read the tutorial here on the forum Asus ROG France. It allows to update the BIOS of the motherboard without a processor, without memory, etc.. Simply plug the ATX power cable and have a USB drive containing the BIOS on your motherboard. Practice!

Thermo Fusion to "watercooler" its power stage ...

In the picture above we can distinguish one of tips watercooling system used by Asus to cool the power stage of the processor. This watercooling system is called "Thermo Fusion" and according to Asus much more effective than single radiator cooled only by the flow of air in our boxes. For those who do not have watercooling circuit, the cooling system can also be used as a simple radiator, obviously.

Level of expansion slots, Asus has opted for three PCI Express 3.0 16X (16X a map, two maps 8X-8X, three cards 8X-4X-4X), a PCIe 4X, three PCIe 2.0 1X and a PCIe mini port 2.0 1X on the module mPCIe Combo. The card has no PCI slots. Note that the card is compatible with AMD CrossfireX technology, Nvidia SLI and Virtu LucidLogix MVP.

On the rear panel of the card, there is an extensive connection. It therefore has the right to a Clear CMOS button, a button ROG Connect on / off, four USB 2.0 ports (one port can be used ROG Connect port), four USB 3.0 ports, an eSATA port and a gigabit LAN RJ45. We also find the audio outputs 8 channels IV and Supreme FX audio ports S / PDIF In / Out Optical. Outputs on the card is equipped with an HDMI port and a DisplayPort.

On this map, Asus offers us ten SATA ports, two SATA 3.0 Gb / s (black) and six SATA 6.0 Gb / s (red). The last two ports are present on the rear panel of the card, it is an eSATA 3.0 Gb / s and mSATA port 3GB / s on the module mPCIe Combo. Asmedia ASM1042 controller and the Intel Z77 are responsible for managing the six USB 3.0 ports. The Latitude E6500 four ports located on the rear panel and two additional ports can be used by the USB 3.0 connector on the front panel of the case.

The card has a power connector IDE named EZ-PLUG to bring more power to the graphics card in a multi-card configuration. Close controller Supreme FX IV, one can distinguish the system by LED backlight is already on the Maximus IV Formula. When the card is turned on, the left side will illuminate red for a guaranteed effect tuning ...

Tags:  Dell Studio 1555, Dell Studio 1558, Inspiron 1300 Battery