Bundled Applications continued
Lighting Control
The Lighting Control applet controls the active state of the RGB LED embedded in to the board's heat sink. The LED can be configured for any desired color using the color picker control and to operate in a variety of modes including pulsing, strobing, and a breathing effect. Further, the applet has an embedded preview panel, so that you can determine the look and effect that best suites your system build.
USB 3.1 Boost
The USB 3.1 Boost applet enables USB 3.1 devices attached to the USB 3.1 ports to perform in enhanced speed modes – Turbo mode for non-UASP capable devices and UASP mode for UASP-capable devices. Both modes offer increased performance over stock operating mode by enabling burst-mode style data transfer over the USB 3.1 data channels.
ROG RAMCache
The ROG RAMCache application can be used to setup an external high-speed cache partition for any attached hard drives or SSDs using an allocated portion of system memory. The upper limit of the cache is determined by the amount of memory in the system.
ROG RAMDisk
The ROG RAMDisk application is used to setup a write-able partition using a portion of your system memory. Setting up a Junction point configures the program to auto-administer the selected folders and files to take advantage of the high-speed RAM disk partition.
Junction page
ROG KeyBot II
KeyBot II is an ASUS-developed application that uses a chipset-centric approach to improving in-game keyboard macro speed and execution. The KeyBot II hardware process is slaved to the upper USB 2.0 slot on the board's rear panel with the Windows software used to configure macros, function keys, and shortcuts for customized game use. Furthermore, the Smart Input screen allows for storage of up to 50 characters into the KeyBot II chipset for use of the entered key sequence after invoking the user defined run button.
Smart Input page
Function Keys page
Shortcuts page
GameFirst III
GameFirst III is the latest revision of ASUS' application for optimizing network traffic through the on-board network controllers for gaming use. It offers the same functionality as offered with the Killer NIC series of network adapters. The application offers EZ mode with pre-configured profiles as well as Advanced mode for more granular network traffic configuration.
Network Monitor page
Bandwidth Test page
Network Information page
Setup, ISP Speed Test page
Setup, Priority profile mode page
Mem TweakIt
Mem TweakIt is used to configure memory timing settings with all settings from the BIOS available for configuration through Windows.
Timings #2 tab
Timings #3 tab
Timings #4 tab
Sonic Studio II
The ROG Sonic Studio II applet is an ASUS developed application allowing for advanced configuration of the audio subsystem, and its attached input and output devices. The application is a direct replacement for the audio chipset provided control panel applet. Further, Sonic Studio II offers advanced tools for optimized in-game recording and streaming of those in-game sessions.
Perfect Voice tab
Casting Enhancer tab
“Holding the “Flagship”
“Holding the “Flagship” moniker for the ASUS ROG Z170 board line, the board is shock full of features and accessories including the latest edition of their OC Panel device.”
Try chock-full instead of shock full.
I’m shocked by this comment.
I'm shocked by this comment.
Thanks, fixed…
Thanks, fixed…
Test System Setup shows GTX
Test System Setup shows GTX 780. Pic shows a Palit GTX 570 label? I don’t really care, just thought that was inconsistent.
Also, can we not get great CMOS battery placement with a $500 motherboard? This doesn’t seem like too much to ask.
I agree, the CMOS battery
I agree, the CMOS battery tech hasn’t changed since the conception of integrated circuits…what gives..?
I would call that a clever
I would call that a clever play on words Mr. Dictionary. If not a little callous don’t you think?
Doesn’t make much sense to
Doesn’t make much sense to have such an expensive board on a socket that can only use midrange CPUs
Fastest possible single
Fastest possible single threaded performance out there. It matters for some people and some apps.
How much more performance are
How much more performance are we talking for spending two or three times the amount for this board instead of something else?
Fair enough, although I
Fair enough, although I wonder if LGA2011 can clock higher than mainstream chips when good cooling is used (custom water or better), as the lack of soldered heat spreader on mainstream chips should cause a heat bottleneck that reduces scaling with improved coolers
I get that there’s always a
I get that there’s always a market for the best of the best (even if small.)
What’s confused me though about this and previous similar offerings from ASUS is the timing. The Z170 chipset is nearly a year old. Are there really people who want the best of the best, cost no concern, but were twiddling their thumbs for a year? I would have imagined that set of buyers upgraded their rigs long ago.
Or are there really people that rebuild their already top-end rig at this point in the cycle? Even disregarding cost, seems like a lot of hassle for little performance returns left on the table?
Man….this thing has ALL the
Man….this thing has ALL the bells and whistles…as well it should. At $500 it better gimme a chubby every time it posts…lol
One thing that doesn’t make sense…an ASMedia 1061 (from 2012) for the 2 additional sata 6gbs/usb 3 ports…pretty much a turd on an otherwise nice lawn. I guess if u can afford a $500 non-X99 mobo, you’ll prolly be pimpin a $300 raid card too…lol
Why is a board almost a year
Why is a board almost a year old just now being reviewed?