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3DNews Vendor Reference English Resource - All you need to know about your products! |
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Recently, we tested ASUS P5E3, a lower-end model in the P5E series based on the X38 chipset. And today we are reviewing a top-end product by ASUS based on the same chipset. The motherboard is dubbed Maximus Formula and supports solely DDR2 memory, which makes it stand out among the other models with support for DDR3. We note it straight off that it is not a regular motherboard but one belonging to a limited Special Edition series which stands out for the water block installed on the north bridge. This allows computer enthusiasts to plug in a water-powered cooling system without changing the PCB design and thus preserving the guarantee. Running ahead, we note that the fluid cooling of the north bridge on X38 is more justified than even on the P35. The thing is, the typical heat emission level on X38 is twice as high than on P35 (~36 W versus 16 W). At the remaining specifications, Maximus Formula is nothing out of the ordinary (by the standards of boards based on X38) - it supports the Crossfire technology (two PCI Express x16 v2.0 slots), has two onboard Gigabit LAN controllers and a Firewire controller. ASUS Maximus Formula Specifications
PackageThe box with the ASUS Maximus board is pretty massive and has a handle to carry it around:
One page tips up, and the user can get a brief idea of all ASUS' proprietary technologies. Through the transparent windows you can see the water block and an additional audio board.
Inside the box, there is the motherboard itself in a transparent plastic box
and box with additional items:
Package bundle:
Despite the high retail price and status of the motherboard, the number of standard components is not enough to implement all the features. In particular, missing are two power adapters for SerialATA devices (needed are adapters with four connectors), although there are enough SerialATA cables (six).
Also missing is a pair of brackets for four USB 2.0 ports; the bundle includes only one bracket for two USB and one Firewire ports. On the other hand, there is a special additional connector (Quick Connection Kit) to which all the cables from the housing can be plugged in (the "Power", "Reset" buttons, a cable from the "HDD" indicator, etc.), and then plug them in to the board with a single motion.
The user's manual has nothing to complain about. The bundled DVD contains a complete kit of all the required drivers and ASUS' proprietary utilities (including the drivers for 32- and 64-bit Windows versions, drivers for Linux and MS Vista). Besides, the disk contains Norton Internet Security 2006 (including a version for Vista - 2007.1), InterVideo WinDVD 8 Trial, DVDCopy5, MediaOne Gallery, Ulead PhotoImpact, CyberLink PowerBackup 2, Corel Snapfire Plus. There is a separate DVD with the game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Note that the package bundle contains an additional turbine fan which is installed on the power supply module.
On the same photo, you can see a kit of varied clamps, adapters, and connection pipes to link the water block to the water-powered cooling system. The audio subsystem is located on a separate board which is called SupremeFX II, with AD1988B used as the codec:
Finally, the user gets an additional device named LCD Poster.
It is pluggable to the motherboard and upon the system start-up it indicates the current status. Unfortunately, the package bundle lacks additional thermal sensors with which the user could measure the temperature of any of the system's components. This is a definite shortcoming since such sensors are rarely available in the retail.
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