Introduction and Technical Specifications

The Maximus VIII Formula is one of the newest members of the ROG line for the Intel Skylake processor with some new features sure to please…

Introduction

Courtesy of ASUS

The Maximus VIII Formula is the latest board in the ROG (Republic of Gamer) board line, featuring the Armor overlay common to the Formula and Sabertooth boards, integrated RGB LEDs throughout the board's surface, and support for the Intel Z170 chipset. The base board aesthetics feature the ROG standard black and red in an ATX form factor. The board's integrated Intel Z170 chipset gives the board support for the latest Intel LGA1151 Skylake processor line as well as Dual Channel DDR4 memory. The Maximus VIII Formula can be found in the wild for an MSRP of $399, making it more expensive than most offerings but justified in light of the integrated features and design quality of the board.

Courtesy of ASUS

Courtesy of ASUS

ASUS integrated the following features into the Maximus VIII Formula board: four SATA 3 ports; two SATA-Express ports; one U.2 32Gbps port; one M.2 PCIe x4 capable port; an Intel I219-V Gigabit NIC; 2×2 802.11ac WiFI adapter; three PCI-Express x16 slots; three PCI-Express x1 slots; on-board power, reset, MemOK!, Clear CMOS, and USB BIOS Flashback buttons; LN2 Mode jumper; Aura LED 12V power header; 2-digit Q-Code LED diagnostic display; Q-LED support; ROG SupremeFX 2015 8-Channel audio subsystem; integrated DisplayPort and HDMI video ports; and USB 3.0 and 3.1 Type-A and Type-C port support.

Courtesy of ASUS

The Maximus VIII Formula features an impressive 10 phase digital power system in an 8+2 configuration, providing more than enough power to the CPU/GPU for whatever you choose to throw at it. The power delivery system itself consists of Texas Instruments NexFET MOSFETs, MicroFine alloy chokes, and 10k-rated Japanese-sourced black-metallic capacitors.

Courtesy of ASUS

The Maximus VIII Formula integrates the latest version of ASUS' ROG Armor overlay into its design. The ROG Armor consists of an ABS plastic overlay on top of the board with a steel plate covering its bottom. The overlay on top of the board is plastic, offering protection to the top mounted components as well as an optimized cooling path. The ROG Armor bottom plate is constructed of steel with thermal padding in key areas to give the board more rigidity, to protect the sensitive underbelly of the board, and to further aid with board heat dissipation.

Courtesy of ASUS

For CPU VRM cooling, ASUS integrated a hybrid copper-based cooling solution, capable of air or water cooling for those critical power components. The liquid-capable blocks were custom-developed by EK for ASUS' use with the Maximus VIII Formula. Internally, the blocks feature copper fins and channels to increase the heat transfer area when using a liquid cooling medium.

Courtesy of ASUS

For board aesthetic configurability, ASUS integrated RGB LEDs throughout the upper surface of the board, including into the chipset heat sink, teh PCIe slots and armor overlay area, and into the rear panel cover. These LEDs can be configured to display any color desired as well as operating in one of six modes: Static, Breathing, Strobing, Color Cycle, Music Effect, and CPU temperature. LED operation can be easily configured using the AURA RGB LED applet included on the driver disc.

Courtesy of ASUS

Technical Specifications (taken from the ASUS website)

CPU Intel® Socket 1151 for 6th Generation Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 / Core™ i3 / Pentium® / Celeron® Processors
Supports Intel® 14 nm CPU
Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0

* The Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 support depends on the CPU types.
* Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support list
Chipset Intel® Z170
Memory 4 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR4 3733(O.C.) / 3600(O.C.) / 3500(O.C.) / 3466(O.C.) / 3400(O.C.) / 3300(O.C.) / 3200(O.C.) / 3000(O.C.) / 2800(O.C.) / 2666(O.C.) / 2400(O.C.) / 2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
Dual Channel Memory Architecture
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)

** Refer to www.asus.com for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists).
* Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs.
Graphics Integrated Graphics Processor
Multi-VGA output support: HDMI/DisplayPort ports
– Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz
– Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096 x 2304 @ 60 Hz
Maximum shared memory of 512 MB
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
Expansion Slots 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8, gray)
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x4 mode, black)
3 x PCIe 2.0 x1 (black)
Storage Intel® Z170 chipset:
1 x U.2 port, support PCIe 3.0 x4 NVM Express storage *1
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2242 / 2260 / 2280 / 22110 storage devices support (both SATA & PCIE mode) *1
6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s)
2 x SATA Express port,
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Intel® Rapid Storage Technology supports *2
Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology *2

*1 The The M.2 slot shares bandwidth with U.2 slot and SATA Express 1 slot.
*2 This function will work depending on the CPU installed.

ASMedia® ASM1061 controller: *3
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), black,

*3 These SATA ports are for data hard drives only. ATAPI devices are not supported.
LAN Intel® I219V, Dual interconnect between the Integrated Media Access Controller (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)
GameFirst technology
Anti-surge LANGuard
Wireless Data Network Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac
Supports dual band frequency 2.4 / 5 GHz
Supports MU-MIMO
Bluetooth Bluetooth V4.1
Audio ROG SupremeFX 2015 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
– Supports: Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel MIC Jack-retasking
– SupremeFX Shielding Technology
– ESS® ES9023P
– 2VRMS Headphone Amp into (32-600Ohms)

Audio Feature:
– DTS Connect
– Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
– Sonic SenseAmp
– Sonic Studio II
– Sonic Radar II
USB Ports Intel® Z170 chipset:
8 x USB 3.0 port(s) (4 at mid-board)

Intel® Z170 chipset: *4
4 x USB 2.0 port(s)

*4 2 x USB2.0 ports at mid-board shares with ROG extension (ROG_EXT) port.
Intel® USB 3.1 controller:
2 x USB 3.1 port(s) (2 at back panel, Type-A + Type-C)

ASMedia® USB 3.0 controller:
2 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue)
ROG Exclusive Features CrossChill EK (Hybrid air and liquid cooling)
ROG Armor (including top cover and SECC steel backplate)
ROG RAMCache
Start Button
Reset Button
ROG Aura
– Aura Lighting Control
– Aura RGB Strip Headers
Extreme Engine Digi+:
– MicroFine Alloy Chokes
– NexFET™ Power Block MOSFET
– 10K Black Metallic Capacitors
Mem TweakIt
KeyBot II
– One-click Overclocking
– X.M.P.
– DirectKey
– ClrCMOS
– Power On
UEFI BIOS features:
– O.C. Profile
– GPU.DIMM Post
– Tweakers' Paradise
– ROG SSD Secure Erase
– Graphic Card Information Preview
ROG RAMDisk
Special Features OC Design – ASUS PRO Clock Technology
– Full BCLK range for extreme overclocking performance
5-Way Optimization by Dual Intelligent Processors 5
– 5-Way Optimization tuning key perfectly consolidates TPU, EPU, DIGI+ VRM, Fan Xpert 3, and Turbo App
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 GO! & NFC Remote app for portable smartphone/tablet, supporting iOS 7 & Android 4.0 systems
ASUS Exclusive Features:
– MemOK!
– AI Suite 3
– Ai Charger+
– Anti-Surge
– USB 3.1 Boost
– Disk Unlocker
– Mobo Connect
– PC Cleaner
Remote Entertainment
– Media Streamer
– HyStream
ASUS Quiet Thermal Solution:
– ASUS Fan Xpert 3
ASUS EZ DIY:
– ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
– ASUS EZ Flash 3
– ASUS USB BIOS Flashback
– ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode
– Multi-language BIOS
– Push Notice
– Media Streamer
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
RAMCache
Operating System Support Windows® 10, 64bit
Windows® 8.1, 64bit
Windows® 7, 32bit / 64bit
Back I/O Ports 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s)
1 x DisplayPort
1 x HDMI
1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
1 x USB 3.1 (red)Type-A
1 x USB 3.1 (black)Type-C
8 x USB 3.0 (blue)
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
5 x Audio jack(s)
1 x Clear CMOS button(s)
2 x Wi-Fi antenna port(s)
1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button(s)
Internal I/O Ports 1 x U.2 port
1 x Aura RGB Strip Headers
2 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 3.0 port(s)
2 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 2.0 port(s)
2 x SATA Express connector: , Compatible with 4 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports
1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key design, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (Supports both SATA & PCIE SSD)
4 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (4 -pin)
1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) (4 -pin)
4 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (4 -pin)
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x Front panel connector(s)
1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP)
1 x MemOK! button(s)
3 x Thermal sensor connector(s)
1 x Power-on button(s)
1 x Reset button(s)
1 x Water Pump header (4-pin)
1 x LN2 Mode jumper(s)
1 x ROG extension (ROG_EXT) header(s)
1 x System panel connector
Accessories User's manual
I/O Shield
8 x SATA power cable
1 x ASUS 2-Way/3-Way SLI bridge
1 x M.2 Screw Package
1 x CPU installation tool
1 x Supporting DVD
1 x ASUS 2T2R dual band Wi-Fi moving antennas (Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n compliant)
1 x Q-connector(s) (1 in 1)
1 x 12 in 1 ROG Cable Label(s)
ROG Fan Label
1 x ROG Door Hanger(s)
1 x Extension Cable for RGB strips (80 cm)
BIOS 1 x 128 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI3.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 3.0, ACPI 5.0, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 3, CrashFree BIOS 3, F11 EZ Tuning Wizard, F6 Qfan Control, F3 My Favorites, F9 Quick Note, Last Modified log, F12 PrintScreen, F3 Shortcut functions and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory information.
Manageability WfM2.0, DMI3.0, WOL by PME, PXE
Support Disc Drivers
ROG GameFirst technology
ROG RAMDisk
ROG RAMCache
ROG CPU-Z
ROG Mem TweakIt
Overwolf
ROG Keybot II
ROG Aura (Lighting Control)
Kaspersky® Anti-Virus
DAEMON Tools Pro Standard
ASUS WebStorage
ASUS Utilities
Form Factor ATX Form Factor
12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )
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