ASUS Reveals Trio of New X299 Motherboards
Just In Time For The Upcoming Intel Core X Series
ASUS have released updated versions of three X299 motherboards, the ROG Rampage VI Extreme Encore and ROG Strix X299-E Gaming II as well as the Prime X299-A II. These new models feature improved power circuitry with additional power stages, support for up to 256GB of RAM with higher frequencies than before, Intel Virtual RAID on CPU support, and better networking and USB connectivity.
The ROG Rampage VI Extreme Encore is an EATX motherboard with stylish aluminium ROG Armor and 1.77″ LiveDash OLED to display POST codes, frequencies or fancy pictures depending on your preference. Thanks to the fact that Intel’s new processors will offer up to 44 lanes of PCIe ASUS was able to fit a lot more features onto these boards. There are four PCIe 4x M.2 slots available, three PCIe 16x slots which can be run at x16/x16/x8, all of which remain Gen 3, there is no Gen 4 PCIe on these.
You also get USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, 10Gbps Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6 and a DIMM.2 slot for an expansion card to hold even more NVMe SSDs if you so desire. Audio is provided by the SupremeFX S1220 and there is RGB, so much RGB.
Next is the ATX-sized ROG Strix X299-E Gaming II has a slightly smaller 1.3″ LiveDash OLED but don’t you worry as ASUS did not skimp on the RGBs. This board matches the Rampage’s PCIe slots and USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, but you are down to three M.2 slots and no DIMM.2 riser and your networking is handled by a Realtek 2.5Gbps and Intel gigabit Ethernet, with WiFi 6 for those who prefer to perform without a wire.
The Gaming II features 12 power stages, not as impressive as the Rampage’s 16 stages but still enough to keep your CPU fed and cared for even if you make use of ASUS’ AI Overclocking intelligence feature.
Last, but by no means least popular is the Prime X299-A II which is the only member of these Three Amigos which comes with a Thunderbolt 3 header and the optional ASUS ThunderboltEX3 card. You retain the three PCIe x16 slots eight quad-channel RAM and three PCIe x.4 M.2 slots.
This board is free of RGB infections but does have headers and reflective surfaces if you are a carrier of that particular gene which needs to light up your machine. Specs are below.
