ASUS ROG STRIX X99 Gaming Motherboard - Review 2022

'Exactly 2 years agone, Intel introduced the Intel X99 'Wellsburg' chipset for the forever unsatiated PC enthutiast masses. Featuring an updated LGA 2022 v3 configuration and the native DDR4 support, which can be seen every bit the commencement for mainstream systems, this new entry had high-end PC owners everywhere embracing it enthusiastically. Undoubtedly, they all want the very all-time for themselves.

Two years on, the Intel X99 is still king and non looking to go anywhere anytime before long. In those two years, a plethora of overpowered motherboards for the Intel Extreme Edition CPU have been introduced. Some large and pocket-size, others striking or low-primal, though all of them feature the same things.

Indeed, it's hard to detect an Intel X99 that cartel to claim it's 'dissimilar'. Well ASUS decided to play upwardly this aspect with it's ASUS ROG STRIX X99 Gaming Motherboard.

"How different can it exist?" many would probable ask. Well, permit'southward find out.

Design: All Bling Expect

The Intel X99 is in the limelight in one case again with the introduction of the newly released update to the Intel enthutiast processor line, the Intel fifth Generation Extreme Edition Cadre CPU AKA Intel Broadwell-E. In anticipating the book of buyers looking to go a new Intel X99 motherboard, ASUS—through its Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand—has moved to innovate a unique motherboard concept that combines the ROG line with its now realigned ASUS STRIX range, a name that nigh would recognise as being more than synonymous with the as as outstandingly loftier performing yet extremely placidity GPU entries.

Since the Intel X99 is a premium chipset, it makes sense for ASUS to release an entry inside its premium motherboard range. From a single glance, information technology is easy to tell that the ASUS ROG STRIX X99 Gaming Motherboard does look and feel premium. This is very credible when ASUS decided to add in the ASUS ROG Aura RGB lighting array on this bad boy.

Equally per usual with the Intel X99 chipset, the ASUS version comes with Quad Channel DDR4 support at 3333Mhz on its top-end totalling 128GB all-in-all when the viii banks are maxed out; five USB three.0 ports; eight USB two.0 ports, a SATA Express port, and eight SATA three.0 6GB/s inputs. Of form, depending on the processor beingness plugged in, a iii-way SLI or Crossfire setup can be considered too.

Boxed: Everything Thrown In

Premium entries similar the ASUS ROG STRIX X99 Gaming Motherboard volition definitely pack in loads of extras. In this case, enough has been bundled together with this high-powered system.

This includes the magnetised Wi-Fi antenna, SLI ribbon, ASUS STRIX and ROG stickers, branded-linked cable ties, and the usual plethora of paperwork, generic SATA cables, and protective metallic brackets.

Setup: Piece of cake Procedure

Equally for putting it all together, I'm ever-so-grateful that ASUS Malaysia included the Intel Broadwell-Eastward processor to fully examination the ASUS ROG STRIX X99 Gaming Motherboard.

If not for that loan offer, I'd have to dig out the older Intel 4th Generation Extreme Edition Core from storage, a pretty powerful CPU in its ain right though it could maybe create unnecessary bottle-necks when doing benchmarks or processing high-on-demand graphics with the new motherboard.

Putting them together piece-by-piece has e'er been a joyous session. With every part existence jacked into its respective slot and then locking them down with a solid click...priceless! Interestingly, I discovered during the grade of assembling the CPU, RAM, and GPU onto the motherboard that the first PCIe x16 slot comes with a metal enclosure. This, past the looks of information technology, is purely for reinforcement purposes and, thusly, permit the apply of larger GPUs that come with huge libation units.

In using the metal clip mechanism, information technology will ensure the GPU won't sag under its ain weight or dislodge itself and fall over to the side.

Setup II: LEDs and Ports All Around

As for the other PCIe slots, their ear tabs, which are used to lock in a hardware component into place, are done up in transparent plastic to let illuminated hues from the embedded RGB LED array within. This is not the master design for all slots equally the ane next to the reinforced unit does not have a lighting arrangement within to signify that it isn't SLI or Crossfire ready.

Certainly, it is a not bad fashion that ASUS came upwards with to help users identify the proper specific PCIe that are designated for multi-GPU configurations.

There are also additional RGB LED enabled headers near the Power and Reset buttons, all of which can be used to jack in external RGB lighting strips and command them directly from the motherboard. Now, that is trippy however cool!

Other than the PCIe, ASUS also loaded the aforementioned LEDs onto the central elements of the ASUS ROG STRIX X99 Gaming Motherboard, such as the insides of the ASUS ROG logo and effectually the vicinity of the I/O backplate where the ASUS STRIX name is carved on.

Interestingly, the rear I/O array packs in loads and loads of connection options. The ones anyone would immediatly notice are the two USB 3.1 10Gbps connectors, one of which is Type A (in red) while the other is a Type-C. Other ports consist of the Intel Gigabit LAN, two antenna connectors for the built in wireless features, and the BIOS reset button.

Right where the CPU socket resides, information technology is immediately credible that there are eight rows of RAM slots available, four on each side of the processor bay. As with all Intel LGA2011 motherboards, the ASUS ROG STRIX X99 Gaming Motherboard can be configured to manage and engage the DDR4 RAM in Quad Channel way.

Also, just because it tin, ASUS fabricated certain the to properly signal the correct memory slots to use offset for amend usage optimisation.

In terms of SATA port offerings, the ASUS ROG STRIX X99 Gaming Motherboard rocks ten SATA iii 6gb/s. If those are non fast enough for you, 4 of these SATA connectors also double up as SATA Limited connections.

Parked right next to them, just below to be exact, is a 32Gb/s U.ii connector too as an onboard M.2 slot. Oddly, i can only be engaged at any one time and not be used simultaneously.

As with all of ASUS ROG motherboards, the ASUS ROG STRIX X99 Gaming entry comes with the ASUS SupremeFX audio solution. Protected under a plastic shroud, this newly optimised sound processor is electronically shielded to ensure gamers would feel the very best in sound quality. The Gilded Nichicon audio capacitors also contributes to this.

Colour Control: Taste the Rainbow

The RGB LEDs on the motherboard are all fully configureable with the ASUS AURA software utility. With it, users can set what colour the LED lights would be or how they will light up. Information technology also tin too command an ASUS GPU that sports the ASUS Aura RGB LED array.

When trying it out, all the bells and whistles on this app worked similar a amuse except for one attribute—the Music Outcome. When engaged, it somehow does non really follow the music or sound furnishings that are emitting from test rig the ASUS ROG STRIX X99 Gaming mainboard is powering. Since it worked fine with previous ASUS STRIX GPUs that came through the PCMag Bounding main Review Lab, I imagined that in that location wouldn't exist an issue any.

Information technology's besides bad really as I wanted to meet how a colourful orchestra looks like when the new ASUS motherboard pairs with one of the newer ASUS GPUs to create a mesmerising splash of LED effects.

Here's a iv-minute video on how the furnishings look like when they are engaged:

Performance: Insanely Impressive

Instead of boring anybody with my thoughts on how crawly the graphics are and what the scores that take been achieved when the Intel Broadwell-Eastward has been overclocked, here are all the benchmark results for all to see:

For reference sake, I used the following hardware as the exam-bed to maximise the operation potential for this review:

Decision: The All-time At that place Is

If anything, the ASUS ROG STRIX X99 Gaming Motherboard is ane of the best Intel LGA2011 entries to be created, especially in terms of the features it has to offer. Everything anyone would ever need is included and this is fifty-fifty more so for gamers and overclockers who want the very best.

Gigabit LAN? Checked.

Embedded Wi-Fi? Checked.

Immersive sound processor? Most definitely.

Support for the newest CPU and RAM? For certain.

Maximum button for multi-GPU mode? It's on.

Robust overclocking? Without a doubt.

While all Intel X99 motherboards tend to exist the same in terms of functions, this ASUS entry—LED, blings, and all—is trying to change that. It volition certainly create colour envy among friends at LAN parties when it fires upward all the LEDs inside. Just what one needs to really thumb down the competition.

Specs