X-bit labs

ASUS Maximus Extreme Mainboard Review (page 6)

Category: Mainboards

by Doors4ever

[ 02/05/2008 | 03:32 PM ]

As for the memory timings, there are two informational strings that report their current settings. If you decide to adjust something, you get access to the entire list:

Ai Clock Twister parameter also belongs to memory settings section. It can be set at Auto, Moderate, Light or Strong. Ai Clock Twister does have certain influence on the performance and may help during system fine tuning, however, it is the Ai Transaction Booster that still plays the most important role and allows changing the Performance Level.

Since we decided to set Ai Overclock Tuner manually, we got access to previously unavailable voltage settings:

The voltage settings are not only numerous, but they also can be adjusted within very wide ranges. For example, processor Vcore can be adjusted in the interval from 1.1V to 1.9V with a tiny increment of 0.00625V, and then up to 2.4V with 0.025V increment. Other available voltages are the following:

• CPU PLL Voltage: 1.5V-3.0V with 0.02V increment;
• North Bridge Voltage: 1.25V-2.05V with 0.02V increment;
• DRAM Voltage: 1.5V-3.04V with 0.02V increment;
• FSB Termination Voltage: 1.2V-2.0V with 0.02V increment;
• South Bridge Voltage: 1.05V-1.225V with 0.025V increment;
• SB 1.5V Voltage: 1.5V-2.05V with 0.05V increment.

When the set voltage is far over the nominal value the green numbers turn yellow, and in case of dangerously high values – red. Loadline Calibration parameter prevents the processor core voltage from dropping under workload, according to Intel’s official specification.

The last part of Extreme Tweaker section is devoted to Voltiminder LED, Frequency LED, CPU and PCIE Spread Spectrum management.

Advanced Menu section offers traditional options for CPU configuration, for instance.

Onboard Devices Configuration page allows working with the integrated controllers and external LCD panel.

Everything else is quite common and traditional. I would only like to draw your attention to the hardware Monitor page in the Power section. The list of options available there also doesn’t fit into a single screen:

ASUS Maximus Extreme mainboard allows monitoring 7 temperatures, including three temperatures reported by external thermal diodes that come with the board. COP EX Technology protects the chipset and other selected components from overheating. The rotation speed of processor and case fans can be adjusted automatically. Unfortunately, the rotation speed of a three-pin fan plugged into a four-pin fan connector cannot be adjusted.

There is a separate configuration page for the three additional fans with external thermal diodes. Their rotation speed can be set variable in accordance with the corresponding temperature readings or remain constant in the interval between 70 and 100%.

As for the voltage monitoring, ASUS Maximus Extreme mainboard also offers extensive opportunities for that. It allows monitoring not only the voltages from the system PSU, but also those delivered to the crucial system components.

Boot section allows setting boot-up parameters and the booting devices order. Tools section contains a built-in EZ Flash 2 utility with very convenient graphics interface for updating the BIOS and allows saving two complete settings profiles using O.C.Profile function. You can also save these profiles on external storage devices and exchange them with your friends.

I assume, you will agree with me that ASUS Maximus Extreme boasts truly excellent BIOS features. In some cases, I would even say there are excessively rich :)