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First Looks: ASUS ROG Rampage IV Extreme (Intel X79) – Hardcore is back!

By on October 26, 2011 12:01 am
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In the first of a three part Asus X79 Motherboard series, we introduce to our readers the flagship ASUS Republic of Gamers Rampage IV Extreme. Built and tuned by a world-class team of perfectionist engineers and megahertz thirsty overclockers from the ROG team, this new Rampage could turn out to be one of the all-time greats in the history of enthusiast tech.

Meet the Rampage IV Extreme, the flagship offering of the ASUS X79 lineup

Back view with Socket 2011 backplate

I/O Panel (Intel Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth V2.1+EDR, 4 USB 3.0 ports, 2 ESATA 6gbps ports and 2 buttons to activate ROG Connect and reset CMOS)

 

2 SATA 6Gbps ports (red) and 4 SATA 3Gbps ports (grey) from the Intel X79 chipset, and 2 more SATA 6Gbps ports (red) provided by an ASMedia controller. You can also plug a K-type thermocouple to the "Subzero Sense" (black block on the right) to get the readings from the motherboard's temperature diodes during extreme LN2 sessions

 

Audio is handled by a Realtek ALC898 CODEC and NCT6776F for LPC I/O. The board is also filled with high quality Japanese-made 10K Black metallic capacitors and mature customized digital VRMs.

 

Four Asmedia ASM1042 controllers takes care of USB 3.0

 

PCI-e 3.0 compliant Asmedia ASW1480 switches

 

Socket 2011 Area

 

Some of the power circuitry – chokes rated up to 50A

 

Socket 2011 in the flesh

Diagnostic LEDs carried over from the previous ROG boards – these are very useful for troubleshooting

 

"GO" Button to trigger MEMOK! before POST or O/C Profiles after POST,

a DIP switch to enable/disable PCIe slots,

Power/Reset Buttons, a PORT 80 display, 

LN2 "slow boot" switch

and LEDs next to each voltage measurement point for easy troubleshooting of OC failures due to incorrect adjustment of key voltages.

 

 

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