Our site is one of the few online resources in the Russian-speaking segment that still pays due attention to motherboards and tests modern devices from all manufacturers present on our market. However, by going to the» 3DNews, we'll see that the last review of an mATX motherboard that can be used to build a truly powerful gaming PC came out in early 2017. Such a board, so that everything is in order with overclocking, both with reliability and functionality. Basically, when it comes to reviews, ATX and mini-ITX solutions are staying in the test lab - these are the current trends. Meanwhile, there are Micro-ATX cases on sale, which are quite suitable for solving the tasks indicated - they have well-organized cooling and they are able to accommodate powerful components. The point, it turns out, is small: you need a board - and one of the few options will be ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE. Read about all the pros and cons of the device in this review.
Specifications and packaging
The boards of the MAXIMUS GENE series have long been nicknamed "Zhenok" by the people. The main characteristics of the 11th version of Zhenya, which supports Coffee Lake (Refresh) processors, are shown in the table below.
| ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE | |
| Supported processors | 9th and 8th generation Intel processors (Core, Pentium Gold and Celeron) for LGA1151-v2 platform |
| Chipset | Intel Z390 Express |
| Memory subsystem | 2 × DIMM, up to 64 GB DDR4-2133-4700 (OC) |
| Expansion slots | 1 x PCI Express x16 1 x PCI Express x4 |
| Drive interfaces | 2 × M.2 (Socket 3, 2242/2260/2280) with PCI Express x4 support 1 × DIMM.2 with PCI Express x8 support 4 x SATA 6Gb/s |
| RAID 0, 1, 10 | |
| The local network | Intel I219V, 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| Wireless network | Intel Wireless AC 9560 |
| Audio subsystem | ROG SupremeFX (S1220A) 7.1 HD |
| Interfaces on the rear panel | 1 x PS/2 1 x HDMI 1 x RJ-45 1 × optical S/PDIF 3 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type A 1 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type C 6 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type A 2 x USB 2.0 Type A 5 × audio 3,5mm |
| Form Factor | mATX |
| Price | 23 000 rubles |
The device is packaged in a small but colorful cardboard box. In addition to the board, there were many accessories in it - both useful and not very useful:
- user manual, all kinds of stickers, cardboard cup holder, as well as optical media with software and drivers;
- remote antenna for wireless communication module;
- two SATA cables;
- one extension cable for connecting RGB strips;
- additional screws for installing an SSD;
- Q-connector for easier connection of case buttons;
- ROG DIMM.2 module supporting dual SSD installation.
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Design and features
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE is based on the full mATX form factor, which has a 244mm PCB on each side. We pay attention to this because there are often devices in the budget segment that have even more stripped-down printed circuit boards, approaching in size rather the mini-ITX format.
Theoretically, any motherboard of the mATX form factor allows you to solder four expansion slots at once (against seven connectors for the ATX standard). However, ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE includes only two ports, one of which is PEG, aka PCI Express x16 3.0. This connector is additionally reinforced. A makeshift metal frame called SafeSlot, according to ASUS, increases the strength of the port by 1,8 times under a fracture load and 1,6 times under a pull-out load. Taking into account the fact that Zhenya can very well become the basis for some kind of bench stand, such a strengthening of the PEG port will obviously not be superfluous, because sometimes you have to switch video cards 10 times or more in a day.
Closest to the processor socket is a PCI Express x4 slot - these are four lines from the chipset that comply with the 3.0 standard. The connector does not have a latch, so anything can be installed in it - even a video card. However, this board does not support such technologies as AMD CrossFire and NVIDIA SLI, so it makes no sense to put a graphics card here.
The fact that PCI Express x4 is soldered first, so to speak, is good. This fact, on the one hand, means that we can use a huge supercooler in the system. So, neither Thermalright Archon nor Noctua NH-D15 block the main PEG port (as well as PCI Express x4).
The Achilles' heel of ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE is the proximity of two DIMM sockets to the LGA1151-v2 processor socket. The distance from the socket center to the first slot is only (!) 45 mm. This means that most tower coolers will cover the DIMM ports needed to install RAM. The board supports the installation of ultra-fast DDR4 modules, which means that RAM kits with very large heatsinks can be used in the system, which, all the more, do not get along with supercoolers.
Obviously, ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE is "sharpened" for the use of a maintenance-free liquid cooling system, but here we are overtaken by problems. So, the NZXT Kraken X62 “dropsy” water block used in the stand also blocked the DIMM slot - because the pipe fittings for this CO are located on the right. As a result, I had to turn the Kraken water block 90 degrees, and this, dear readers, is , because the "dropsy" has a highlighted logo, which implies a very specific location (although the backlight can be turned off in the software of the cooling device). So here it is necessary to responsibly approach the choice of water cooling. For example, with Cryorig A80 you will not have such problems.
By the way, I have no complaints about the number of DIMM slots. ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE is a device that will be used with expensive components, so it is very likely that a 32 GB dual-channel kit will be installed in the system. They will install it and forget about the lack of RAM for the next many years.
The DIMM slots are soldered so close to the processor socket due to an attempt by ASUS engineers to cram three more slots in after them. Immediately behind the ports for RAM are two M.2 slots - they are equipped with a common metal plug, which simultaneously plays the role of passive cooling. And behind them is a DIMM.2 slot for installing a special expansion card, which is firmly entrenched in the top motherboards of the MAXIMUS series. More about it - just below.
The M.2 ports together allow you to install two solid-state drives of form factors 2242, 2260 and 2280 - while each of the connectors works only in PCI Express x4 3.0 mode (chipset lines). They are covered by a large aluminum radiator. By the way, it can be removed only if no video card is installed in the PCI Express x16 slot. To do this, unscrew the two screws.
In hindsight, as you know, we are all strong. If I were an ASUS engineer, I would move the DIMM slots into place for M.2 drives, and separate the SSD slots in the ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE: one would install it above or to the right of PCI Express x4, redoing the chipset heatsink and moving the slot for batteries; the second M.2 would make it vertical. Actually, this is how it is implemented, for example, in . Yes, it would not be so beautiful, but, in my opinion, more practical.
The board also lights up the entire right side and the large ROG badge on the plastic I/O panel cover. Also, ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE is equipped with two 4-pin connectors for connecting LED strips and other RGB peripherals.
The proprietary ROG DIMM.2 board is installed in the DIMM.2 slot. For the first time, such a design feature of "republican" motherboards appeared in which came out in 2017. Eight PCI Express 3.0 lanes from the processor are connected to the slot. Therefore, if we use it for its intended purpose, then the only PEG port of the device automatically works in x8 mode.
The design of the DIMM.2 card has changed again, and the new option offers passive cooling for the SSD. The board itself allows you to install two M.2 drives up to 110 mm long each.
Due to this configuration of M.2 ports, in particular, only four SATA 6 Gb / s connectors remained on the board. But for a gaming PC, this number of pads will be enough.
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE is equipped with seven 4-pin connectors at once, to which you can connect fans. For a mATX board, this is an excellent indicator! At the same time, part of the connectors (five) are highlighted in black - they allow you to adjust the rotational speed of not only Carlsons with PWM. Therefore, there is no need to use additional devices like reobas or pick up a case with a built-in fan controller. Beauty! The remaining two connectors are white, they cannot reduce the speed. You can “hang” on them, for example, fans with initially low speeds.
The 4-pin connectors are generally well placed. Let's say we use a small tower case and a two-section LSS in the system. The pump and dropsy fans connect to the top row of connectors. The case impeller, located on the rear wall, goes to the connector near the PCI Express x4 slot, and the front case fan goes to the W_PUMP port, located at the bottom and rotated 90 degrees. This port will also come in handy for those who will collect custom LSS along with ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE - the pump tank is usually mounted at the bottom of the tower case.
Yes, all connectors located at the bottom of the PCB are rotated 90 degrees. This was done on purpose, because a video card with a three-slot cooler will simply block this area of the motherboard. Of the interesting internal ports, I note the presence of W_IN / OUT, W_Flow - these connectors monitor the temperature of the refrigerant and its flow rate in the liquid cooling system. The board also has a Node connector, which is required to connect a compatible power supply. If you do this, you will be able to control the fan speed of the power supply, as well as monitor its input and output voltages. A list of compatible hardware can be found .
The I/O panel of the board has a built-in blanking plate. It's pretty densely packed with various ports - in addition to five analog audio jacks and an optical S/P-DIF output, you can find an HDMI display output, a PS/2 combo port (still needed for extreme overclocking, as a USB controller in stressful conditions can “fall off”), a set of USB ports, including the newfangled Type-C, gigabit network, and even two buttons: ClearCMOS and USB BIOS Flashback.
A wired network connection is created using the Intel I219-V controller, and a wireless one is created using the Wireless-AC 9560, which, in addition to Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac standards with a bandwidth of up to 1733 Mbps, also supports and Bluetooth 5.0.
The sound in ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE, like in many other ROG boards, is answered by the Supreme FX audio codec, which is based on the well-known Realtek ALC1220A chip. The manufacturer claims that he gets "exclusive versions" of this microcircuit, so the second letter A is present in the name. Compared to the "standard" Realtek ALC1220, the signal-to-noise ratio of the "elite" ones is higher - 113 versus 108 dB. Traditionally for expensive boards, the audio path includes high-quality Nichicon capacitors and RC4580 and OPA1688 operational amplifiers manufactured by Texas Instruments. The audio chip itself is shielded, and all elements of the sound system are separated from the rest of the board components by a non-conductive textolite strip.
All boards in the MAXIMUS series are suitable for overclocking, and ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE is also suitable for extreme overclocking. Therefore, the board has several overclocker "improvers" at once, which make life easier for young and not so young enthusiasts. The power and reset buttons, as well as the POST signal indicator, are easy to spot. And on the right side of the printed circuit board there are QLED indicators that clearly demonstrate at what stage the computer is loading. There are also ReTry buttons (instantly reboots the system) and Safe Boot (starts the booth with safe settings). Add to this the switches MemOK!, Pause (the computer is paused so that the user can change its parameters during the benchmarking process) and Slow Mode (instantly resetting the CPU multiplier to 8x to ensure that the computer passes especially difficult tests). Finally, at the bottom of the device is a ProbeIt contact track that allows you to accurately measure the main voltages of the system using a multimeter. It is located, however, very unsuccessfully. When using a video card with a three-slot cooler, you can't get close to it (or get close, but then you have to work with a soldering iron). And in general, working with a probe next to a rotating fan of a 3D accelerator is a so-so occupation.
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The CPU is powered by two 8-pin connectors. Do not forget that power supplies with such a set of cables are not very common, and mostly we are talking about powerful devices - 700 watts or more. However, additional power to the processor is needed only in extreme cases.
The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI GENE power converter is based on the ASP1405I PWM controller. It may seem that the board is equipped with 12 phases, but it is not. Each channel responsible for the operation of the CPU is equipped with two inductors and two IR3555 assemblies. Two more single phases look after the iGPU. The power converter looks very powerful.
An array of a pair of medium-sized aluminum radiators, combined, however, with a copper heat pipe, is responsible for cooling the field-effect transistors. I will talk about how efficiently the cooling system of the VRM zone works during overclocking.
Source: 3dnews.ru