ASUS Maximus VIII Hero ATX Motherboard

Description

The Maximus VIII Hero ATX Motherboard from ASUS comes with an LGA1151 socket and an Intel Z170 chipset to support 6th-generation Intel processors. It has four DIMM slots that allow you to instal up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM. ASUS also provides you with the tools that overclock these RAM modules up to 3800 MHz and load up your favourite apps to them for quicker access. To fully utilise SSDs above 500 MB/s, it offers an M.2 and two SATA Express connectors that run on the PCI Express lanes. Furthermore, you can use integrated Intel HD graphics and the motherboard's DisplayPort and HDMI ports for visuals or instal up to three optional dedicated graphics cards.

This Republic of Gamers motherboard gives you features to enhance your components. You can tweak the delivery of power to the processor and increase its base clock frequency up to 400 MHz. To keep your system stable, ASUS offers Fan Expert 3 that provides onboard thermal sensors and utility software to manage your cooling fans and water cooling solutions efficiently. Additionally, KeyBot II upgrades your keyboard by recording macros to the keyboard's F1 to F10 keys.

The Maximus VIII Hero motherboard comes outfitted with three PCI Express 3.0 x16 and three PCI Express x1 slots. It comes built with ROG SupremeFX 2015 that offers immersive sounds through five audio jacks to complete the multimedia experience. Networking is supported by an Intel I219V Gigabit controller. To quickly transfer data to external drives, it comes with 10 Gb/s USB 3.1 type-A and type-C ports. It also has four SATA III 6 Gb/s, two USB 3.0, four USB 2.0 ports along with a single PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port.

Features

SupremeFX 2015
ASUS has designed this motherboard to enhance your gaming experience by immersing you in sounds with the help of five audio jacks and professional-grade audio components. It features Nichicon capacitors along with an ESS ES9023P digital-to-analogue convertor (DAC) with Hyperstream technology, ultra-low-jitter clock, 2Vrms headphone amp, and a Sonic SenseAmp that automatically detects and optimises your headset (32 to 600 ohms) for sound quality. SupremeFX 2015 also offers intuitive Sonic Studio II for you to apply and enjoy different audio effects as well as a Perfect Noise-cancellation technology for team conversations with better clarity.

• Gold-Plate Audio Connectors: Distortion-free for enhanced audio-signal input and output
• SupremeFX Audio Processor: Offers ten DAC channels, simultaneous 7.1-channel playback, independent 2.0-channel, multiple-stream stereo to front-panel outputs, and an EMI cover for better audio quality
• ESS ES9023P Digital-to-Analogue Convertor (DAC): Creates a balance for audio clarity capable of -94dB THD
• Clock Source: High-accuracy timing technology helps ensure ultra-low jitter by preventing fluctuating temperatures
• RC4580 2Vrms Headphone Amp: Provides current and voltage for better tonality and spacious sound imaging
• Nichicon Capacitors: Deliver sound resolution and expansion to create warm and natural audio
• De-Pop Relay: Eliminates the popping sound when the system is powered on or off, or when devices are attached or removed
• Sonic Sense Amp: Automatically detects and optimises headphone impedance by 32 to 600 ohms
• SupremeFX Shielding: Blocks electromagnetic interference from the motherboard or add-on cards to provide cleaner audio

Sonic Studio II
This suite of utilities provides simulated 7.1-channel surround sounds while listening with your 2-channel headset. You can further improve the sound's quality by using its five audio controls, which include Reverb, Bass Boost, Equaliser, Voice Clarity, and Smart AEQ. The Casting Enhancer feature cleans up streaming and recording audio by reducing its noise artefacts and stabilising overall voice volume. It also enhances the details and boost bass effects of in-game sounds and music playback. Furthermore, you also get Perfect Voice that reduces the noise for incoming and outgoing communications during in-game chat.

5-Way Optimisation
This motherboard dynamically optimises essential aspects of your system based on real-time use to provide CPU performance, everyday energy savings, ultra-stable digital power, and cool and quiet fans. It even adjusts the networking and audio settings for the apps that you are using. In short, 5-Way Optimisation ensures that your PC is suitable for gaming, entertainment, productivity, or just about anything else.

• Games run swiftly and smoothly with high performance, prioritised bandwidth, and clear sound
• Fans stay whisper-quiet for everyday computing and ensure cooling efficiency when gaming
• Helps prevent stuttering when running professional apps and heavy loading
• Energy waste is reduced so you'll save money

TurboV Processing Unit

Increase the system's performance by using the AI Suite 3 utility software. The TurboV Processing Unit (TPU) offers precise voltage control and advanced monitoring for the CPU and graphics card, enabling you to adjust CPU frequencies and ratios for optimised performance and exploit the potential out of your graphics card.

Energy Processing Unit

The Energy Processing Unit (EPU) automatically detects and adjusts the power consumption based upon the system's needs. It can reduce the CPU wattage to a set level or even provide more savings with Away Mode, which creates an extreme energy-saving scenario by shutting down unused extra I/O controllers and reduces the power level in graphics cards.

Fan Xpert 3

With thermal sensors and hardware-level 4-pin/3-pin PWM/DC mode detection, Fan Xpert 3 provides advanced fan and water-pump controls that help ensure each fan achieves the best balance of cooling performance and low noise.

DIGI+ Power Control

The ASUS DIGI+ Power Control complies with Intel's IMVP8 specifications to intelligently detect the processor's power draw so you can increase its overclocking potential, enhance system stability, and improve power efficiency with flexibility and accurate control.

Turbo App

ASUS offers an exclusive Turbo App that features an intuitive panel, which lets you adjust your hardware. You can use it to automatically overclock the processor, tune the fans, prioritise network data, and optimise audio settings.

ASUS PRO Clock technology

ASUS offers a dedicated base-clock (BCLK) generator designed for 6th-generation Intel processors so you can overclock the base clock frequencies up to 400 MHz. This custom solution works with the ASUS TurboV Processing Unit to enhance voltage and base-clock overclocking control.

DDR4

Second-generation ASUS T-Topology enables DDR4 memory overclocking to reach over 3733 MHz with all memory slots populated. Featuring a customised trace layout for reduced crosstalk and coupling noise, this T-Topology ensures time-aligned signal transfers for improved memory stability and compatibility.

UEFI BIOS

The BIOS offers a mouse-controlled graphical interface along with EZ and Advanced Modes so you can find your way quickly and easily.* EZ Flash 3 - lets you update the BIOS via the Internet and from within the BIOS

• S.M.A.R.T - cheques your device's Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology logs to gauge reliability and even determine if they're about to fail
• EZ Tuning Wizard - OC and RAID - allow you to select your hardware and apply different scenarios to tune system performance or streamline your RAID configuration
• My Favourites - provides a list that contains your preferred tuning options and tools
• USB Flashback - refreshes your BIOS using a USB flash drive even when the system is off

EZ Mode * Intuitive Graphical Fan Control: Adjusts the spin speed for each fan by dragging a curve with the mouse

• EZ XMP Settings: Improve DRAM performance
• SATA Information: Each SATA port has details displayed, so you can easily recognise devices
• Fast Clock Adjustment: Change the time and date in EZ Mode using the mouse

Advanced Mode * GPU Port: Automatically detect selected ASUS graphics cards to view detailed information

• Secure Erase: Restores your SSDs to the day you first received them
• Last Modified Log: Track last change and save preferred profiles onto a USB drive
• SATA Port Renaming: Rename the SATA ports for easy identification
• USB UEFI BIOS Flashback: Update the BIOS using your flash drive even when the system is off

Engine Digi+#####

ASUS features a digital power controller that uses Texas Instrument's NexFET MOSFETs, MicroFine alloy chokes, a Digi+ PWM controller, and 10K black metallic capacitors to deliver smooth voltages.

RAMCache

This ASUS technology intelligently caches the critical files on a particular storage drive so you favourite games and apps launch at quicker speeds. RAMCache helps boost game-loading times without the risk of losing data.

Intel I219-V Ethernet LAN

The built-in Intel Ethernet controller reduces the processor's overhead and offers high TCP and UDP throughput.

LANGuard

Signal-coupling technology and premium surface-mounted components improve throughput and a more reliable connection, while surge-protected and electrostatically-guarded components allow for 1.9 times greater tolerance to static electricity and 2.5 times better protection (up to 15kV) against surges.

GameFirst III

GameFirst III prioritises game-related packets and allocates more bandwidth for games, thereby eliminating laggy gameplay, streaming stutters, and file-sharing slowdown. You can optimise the speed of your network by choosing between Optimisation, Game, Media Streaming, or File Sharing presets.

ROG Features

• CPU Installation Kit: Protection from socket-pin damage
• TrueVolt USB: Two dedicated USB power supplies provide 5 V of steady power to all USB ports, minimising power fluctuations that can lead to data loss
• Q-Connector: This one-piece plug helps you connect the wires to the motherboard
• Q-Slot: The PCI slots feature large-winged clips so you can easily remove your PCI express cards
• Q-DIMM: One-sided clips can be pushed down for easily removing RAM modules
• DRAM Over-current Protection: An additional resettable fuse protects the connection ports and DRAM against overcurrent and short-circuit damage
• Backplates: Two backplates are built onto the motherboard to offer additional cooling, protection, and reinforcement
• ESD Guards: Provide two times greater electrostatic protection for the PS2, USB, Audio and LAN ports
• Stainless Steel Back I/O: Last three times longer than typical panels
• Black Nickel-coated Q-Shield: Protects your hands from nicks and cuts

LED Lights

ASUS provides onboard LEDs that can change colour based upon the processor's temperature or pulsate to the beat of your favourite music. ASUS offers six control schemes that include: Static - always on Breathing - fades in and out Strobing - flashes on and off Colour cycle - fades between the colours of the rainbow m Music effect - pulses to the beat of your music CPU temperature - changes colour with CPU load

Overwolf

To help you stay in your game, Overwolf provides an unobtrusive overlay so you can browse, email, IM, stream, or record while you play.

KeyBot II

This motherboard comes equipped with a microprocessor that lets you use a software utility to assign macros to function keys F1 to F10 for switching profiles in moments as well as starting and boosting your system from shutdown S5 mode.

Additional Software Included

• AI Suite 3 - one-stop control panel
• ROG CPU-Z - displays your important system information
• Mem TweakIt - dynamic timing monitoring, gauges DRAM efficiency
• RAMDisk - boost your favourite application up to 20 times faster than an SSD with the junction function
• Sonic Radar II - a stealthy overlay that maps battlefield sounds so you can locate opponents and teammates at a glance
• Kaspersky Anti-Virus (1-year) - protection from viruses and spyware
• DAEMON Tools Pro Standard (1-year) - mount optical and virtual discs
• PC Cleaner - eliminates unwanted files to speed up your PC
• SteamOS Support

Intel Z170 Express Chipset

The Intel Z170 Express features a single-chipset design that supports 6th-generation Intel LGA1151 Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Pentium, and Celeron processors. It provides improved performance by utilising serial point-to-point links, allowing increased bandwidth and stability. It also supports integrated-graphics (iGPU) functions, so you'll enjoy Intel's integrated graphics performance. This motherboard has two USB 3.0 ports and two internal USB 3.0 connectors, which supports four additional USB 3.0 ports. It features four SATA III 6 Gb/s ports, four dual-channel DDR4 DIMM slots, and six PCI Express 3.0 slots as well as a 32 Gb/s M.2 interface for faster data retrieval.