9.8 out of 10

Asus Maximus Extreme

Information found in: from 66 sources in 22 countries.

Best Price: $317

  • User Score (3)
    10 10 from 3 reviewers
  • Expert Score (5)
    8.9 8.9 from 5 reviewers
  • Value for money (1)
    7.9 7.9 from 1 reviewer

Freak Rank

  • Buzz Index: 5/5
  • Activity: 1/5

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Asus Maximus Extreme

The Asus Maximus Extreme is an LGA 775 socket motherboard using Intel’s X38 northbridge chipset. Billed as the Ultimate Gaming and Overclocking Platform, the Maximus Extreme offers many performance enhancing features. These include CrossFire and Crosslinx technologies for graphics; Extreme Tweaker and COP EX for overclocking; and the Fusion Block System and Stack Cool 2 thermal solutions.

Graphics

The Maximus Extreme features ATI’s CrossFire technology to give the user improved image quality and faster rendering speed. This is complemented by the Catalyst Control Center, which gives the user 3D rendered previews when changing settings. The Crosslinx technology uses a dedicated controller which optimizes PCIe bandwidth allocation when using dual GPUs.

Overclocking

The Extreme Tweaker system gives the user one-stop access to overvolting, frequency adjustments, memory timing settings and many more options for maximizing performance. COP EX, meanwhile, will monitor chipset voltages and watch out for overheating. Also helping to keep the system stable are the Loadline Calibration and Voltiminder LED features. The former ensures that the CPU is fed stable and optimal power while the latter gives the user an easy way to monitor the CPU, chipsets and memory voltage status,

Cooling

The Asus Maximus Extreme features the advanced Fusion Block System as well as the Stack Cool 2 fanless solution. The Fusion Block System is a hybrid thermal design mixes the Republic of Gamers’ heatpipe system with the ability to hook up to a water cooling system. The fanless Stack Cool 2 design offers efficient heat dissipation as well as zero noise output.

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Manufacturer's Specs

  • CPU
    LGA775 socket for Intel® Core™2 Extreme / Core™2 Quad / Core™2 Duo / Pentium® Extreme / Pentium® D / Pentium® 4 Processors Support Intel® next generation 45nm Multi-Core CPU Compatible with Intel® 06/05B/05A processors
  • Chipset
    Intel® X38/ICH9R with Intel® Fast Memory Access Technology
  • Front Side Bus
    1600 / 1333 / 1066 / 800 MHz
  • Memory
    4 x DIMM, Max. 8 GB, DDR3 1800*/1600*/1333/1066 ECC,Non-ECC,Un-buffered Memory Dual Channel memory architecture Support Intel® XMP Technology *Overclock speed
  • Expansion Slots
    3 x PCIe x16 slot, support dual PCIe2.0 x16 or 1x PCIe2.0 x16, dual x8 speed 2 x PCIe x1, PCIex1_1 (black) is compatible with audio slot 2 x PCI 2.2
  • VGA
    Support ATI CrossFire™ graphics cards
  • Storage
    Southbridge - 6 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports - Intel Matrix Storage Technology supports RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 JMicron® JMB363 PATA and SATA controller - 1 x UltraDMA 133/100/66 for up to 2 PATA devices - 2 x External SATA 3.0 Gb/s port (SATA On-the-Go)
  • LAN
    Dual Gigabit LAN controllers, both featuring AI NET2 Support Teaming Technology
  • Audio
    SupremeFX II Audio Card - ADI 1988B 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC - Noise Filter Coaxial, Optical S/PDIF out at back I/O
  • IEEE 1394
    2 x 1394a ports(1 port at back I/O, 1 port onboard)

Review Summary

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  • ASUS ROG Motherboard - The Battle
  • LGA775 Intel® 45nm Processor Ready
  • LGA775 Intel® Core™2 Processor Ready
  • Intel® X38 Chipset
  • ATI CrossFire™ Technology
  • Crosslinx Technology
  • Dual channe…

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  1. Asus Maximus Extreme and P5E3 Premium

    Reviewer: HotHardware
    29 January 2008

    Great Overclocker Top Notch Performance Excellent Stability Feature Rich Tight Around The CPU Socket Expensive Requires Expensive DDR3 Asus Maximus Extreme: The Asus Maximus Extreme is sure to pique the interest of even the more discriminating PC enthusiast. Ask an enthusiast what he looks for in a motherboard and he's likely to say that it should have a high-performing cooling solution, it should be feature-rich, overclockable, highly tweakable, and performance shoul... Read more

  2. ASUS Maximus Extreme

    Reviewer: HardOCP
    15 January 2008

    Dan's Thoughts: Overclocking results not included, my experience with the Maximus Extreme was outstanding. The board was easy to setup, stable and performed exactly as it should. I have minor complaints about the layout, but then again I always do and the complaints are not over things that are insurmountable. The Maximus Extreme really shows us what the X38 is capable of coupled with DDR 3 memory. With that said DDR3 is the future but it is hardly compelling right no... Read more

  3. Asus Maximus Extreme

    Reviewer: Bjorn3d.com
    31 December 2007

    The Asus Maximus Extreme is one board which rewards you for your time and effort. If you like to endlessly tweak and fiddle with settings then you will have a field day with this board. Remember though that if you are new to overclocking than you will want to proceed with caution as the BIOS offers enough voltage to fry the board immediately. But Asus has a solution for those of you that are new as well and it comes in the form of the "CPU Level UP" setting. With the ... Read more

  4. Reviewer: CHW
    17 December 2007

    Hoy nos encontramos con una placa madre para la gama alta del mercado basada en el chipset Intel X38 Express. Alto rendimiento, alto precio y altas expectativas para un producto de la aclamada firma taiwanesa ASUS. El mundo de los PCs ha avanzado muy rápido últimamente. Por ahora, es Intel quien esta empujando los limites del rendimiento en el segmento de escritorios con su exitosa arquitectura Core y su modelo de innovación de "Tick" "Tock", y esto asegura que las pl... Read more

  5. ASUS Maximus Extreme - the Extreme Benchmarker's Choice?

    Reviewer: AnandTech
    10 December 2007

    For DDR2 users who employ extreme cooling for benchmarking, the Maximus Formula is a little slower at the same processor speed, but provides a little more overhead for CPU MHz scaling. In the end, we think ASUS almost nailed the upper-end performance market with this board. We do not hesitate recommending this board if it suits your needs and cannot wait to see what the next ROG series brings us in the way of performance and features. Read more

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  1. Win the BEAST! HotHardware's Skulltrail Sweepstakes!

    ...ized for two Intel CPUs. In addition to Nvidia, it is very interesting to know that Intel is collaborating with AMD for graphics unit. Skulltrail supports both. Ausus should give a hard look to their present Enthusial MoBo( like ASUS Striker II Formula / ASUS MAXIMUS EXTREME ) designs. I think Intel will come up some scale down version of Skulltrail to embrace individual enthusiast/Gamers. Skulltrail baby looks good and I will acquire one day

    forum.hothardware.com: Read more

  2. Suggestions for new gaming PC

    Build it yourself? But honestly.. how much is that thing setting you back. Most of those parts are really only worth the cost if you are going to overclock. Like the ASUS maximus extreme, the extreme edition qx9650, and no need to SLI 8800ultras. They are definitely not a good value when it comes to price/performance. You could spend 1/4 of them money, it would be a bit slower, but it also gives you a lot more funds to use elsewhere.. even...

    forum.devhardware.com: 03 April 2008 Read more

  3. There's never been a worse time to upgrade!

    As someone who just completed a major upgrade, I can see where you are coming from. THe good news is the only investment I made that won't last 2-3yrs is the RAM. I went with the Asus Maximus Extreme with the DDR3 knowing full well that whatever RAM i bought now would need to be upgraded in a year as faster RAM came out. I think the mobo is about as future-proof as any motherboard an be, so I should get a good 3-4 years out of it. It supports the 45nm c...

    forums.pcapex.com: 08 December 2007 Read more

  4. [New System Build] DDR3 build or DDR2 build, you decide.

    ...nd DDR2.  Out of these two builds which one do you think will perform better and offer highest return on my investment? By the way, I'm planning on overclocking the Q6600 to around 3.0Ghz.  Do you think it will work with the following builds? DDR3 Build: ASUS MAXIMUS EXTREME LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $349.99 http://www.newegg.com/product/prod [...] 6813131235 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model HH80562PH0568M - OEM $199 (just purchased from Microcenter!) http://www....

    forum.tomshardware.com: Read more

  5. New System Build Need Advice All Comments Appreciated

    ...are fine tuned for GTX video cards and the X48 boards are fine tuned to ATI boards? Asus Striker II Extreme nForce 790i Ultra SLi (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard or Asus P5E3 Premium/Wifi@N Intel X48 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard or Asus Maximus Extreme Intel X38 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard I am still researching on a applicable graphics card any recommendations? Thanks to all who respond

    forums.legitreviews.com: 08 April 2008 Read more

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