ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the Maximus VII Formula and Maximus VII Formula/Watch Dogs Edition motherboards that are engineered with new and exclusive ROG game-boosting features. With ROG exclusives such as Hybrid-cooling with CrossChill Copper, SupremeFX Formula 2014 gaming audio, Intel Gigabit Ethernet with GameFirst III and LANGuard, Extreme Engine DIGI+ III, TrueVolt 5V USB power and ROG Armor to improve rigidity and provide board protection the Maximus VII Formula has the features every enthusiast and gamer needs.

Best Hybrid cooling

The best gaming and overclocking performance means keeping the components cool, so ROG has equipped Maximus VII Formula with the all-new and exclusive CrossChill Copper hybrid-cooling solution. CrossChill Copper is engineered around a highly-conductive, corrosion-resistant copper cooling channel that’s incredibly effective at removing heat.

Whether using air or liquid, CrossChill Copper’s broad array of internal fins maximize the cooling channel’s surface area to keep operating temperatures in check. With liquid cooling, MOSFET temperatures are lowered up to 23˚C and the G1/4-inch threaded fittings mean that Maximus VII Formula offers maximum compatibility for existing cooling setups — just fit the barbs, attach the pipes and it’s good to go.

Best gaming audio

SupremeFX Formula 2014 utilizes cutting-edge isolation technologies minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI) and premium components deliver best-in-class audio, with an outstanding 120dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and Cirrus Logic® CS4398 digital-to-analog converter (DAC) available via the rear output.

From the stylish black nickel EMI cover and ELNA® and WIMA® film capacitors to the high-fidelity Texas Instruments LM4562 amplifier that drives up to 600ohm-impedance headphones via the rear output, every part of SupremeFX Formula 2014 is engineered for audio clarity.

Rounding out the audio features, Sonic SenseAmp technology automatically detects analog-audio front-panel (AAFP) headphone impedance and adjusts built-in amp gain. Sonic SoundStage provides preset profiles for popular game genres while Sonic Studio enables 7.1-channel virtual surround sound with just one click.

Best gaming networking

The Maximus VII Formula is also fitted with the latest Intel Gigabit Ethernet design that delivers better throughput with lower processing power for superior speed and increased efficiency over competing solutions. Intel based networking capabilities additionally benefit from ROG-exclusive GameFirst III technology for no-delay gameplay. This advanced network-optimization software assigns top priority to game-data packets, allocating them more bandwidth to ensure the best online gaming experience and clear, stutter-free online team-chat — all controlled with ROG’s usual intuitive flair.

ROG has even reinvented the RJ45 socket, with LANGuard. Featuring premium surface-mounted capacitors and special filtering components, the anti-ESD design helps to protect the board against lightning strikes and static-electricity discharges.

Best power solution

The Maximus VII Formula’s Extreme Engine DIGI+ III voltage-regulator module (VRM) is engineered with premium components to ensure ultra-stable power delivery, no matter how demanding the action.

NexFET MOSFETs deliver up to 90% efficiency in normal operation; they’re also more durable and half the size of standard MOSFETs. 60A BlackWing chokes deliver power with minimal loss and at very low temperatures, while higher quality 10K black metallic capacitors last five-times (5X) longer and deliver 20%-greater endurance at extreme temperatures than generic capacitors — ensuring that Maximus VII Formula is able to withstand any form of hardcore gaming.

TrueVolt 5V technology delivers a rock-steady 5V supply to both the front and back USB sockets — with no drop-outs. All connected equipment benefits from a clean 5V supply, assuring greater compatibility and added protection for USB devices.

Best gaming protection

The exclusive ROG Armor is a dual design that compromises a strong and stylish ABS-plastic cover and an SECC (steel, electro-galvanized, cold-rolled coil) back-plate. The ABS cover blocks heat from graphics cards to help lower system temperatures for better performance, while the SECC backplate supports the motherboard to prevent bending and also employs thermal pads to conduct heat away from crucial components. Similarly, Q-DIMM’s one-sided clips means handling memory modules is a cinch, and resettable fuses provide DRAM over-current protection that minimizes the chance of short-circuit damage to memory and connection ports.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

The Maximus VII Formula Watch Dog bundle is set to go on sale in North America next week at Newegg and TigerDirect with an MSRP of $369. The Maximus VII Formula Standard Edition, will go on sale shortly afterwards at leading resellers with an MSRP of $319.

ASUS ROG Maximus VII Formula
SPECIFICATIONS 1
Processor/CPU socket LGA 1150 for the 4th-, new 4th- and 5th-generation Intel® Core™ i3, i5, i7, Pentium®, and Celeron® processors
Chipset Intel® Z97 Express
Memory Dual-channel memory architecture; 4 x DIMMs, up to a maximum of 32GB, DDR3 3300+ (O.C.)
Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
Expansion slots 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (Single at x16, dual at x8/x8 mode)
1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot (Maximum at x4 mode)
3 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots
1 x mini-PCIe 2.0 x1 slot on mPCIe Combo III card
Graphics (VGA) Integrated Intel® HD Graphics processor
DisplayPort 1.2 with maximum resolution of 4096 x 2160 (4K x 2K) at 24Hz and 3840 x 2160 at 60Hz
HDMI with maximum resolution of 4096 x 2160 (4K x 2K) at 24Hz / 2560 x 1600 at 60Hz
Intel® InTru™ 3D / Quick Sync Video / Clear Video HD Technology / Insider™
Multi-GPU Quad-GPU NVIDIA® SLI™ and AMD 3-way / Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology
Storage 10 x SATA 6.0 Gbit/s (4 shared with SATA Express)
2 x SATA Express
1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2260 storage devices supported (on mPCIe Combo III card)
Networking/LAN Intel® I218-V Gigabit LAN with GameFirst III and ASUS LANGuard
USB 8 x USB 3.0 ports (6 on back panel, 2 mid-board)
6 x USB 2.0 ports (2 on back panel, 4 mid-board)
Audio ROG SupremeFX Formula 2014 8-channel high-definition audio
– SupremeFX shielding technology
– Cirrus Logic® CS4398 DAC (SNR: 120dB)
– WIMA® film capacitors
– Texas Instruments® LM4562 high-fidelity audio operational amplifier
– ELNA® premium audio capacitors
Sonic SoundStage / Sonic SenseAmp / Sonic Studio / Sonic Radar II
DTS Connect, optical S/PDIF-out port on back panel
Dimensions / form factor ATX, 12-inch x 9.6-inch (30.5cm x 24.4cm)