ASUS ROG Maximus IX Code
3rd January 2017Type
MotherboardPrice
$357.00 USASUS ROG MAXIMUS IX CODE Board - Close Up
The ASUS ROG Maximus IX code is styled in black and silver. This is a top tier product that retails over $300 US so expect lots of features packed inside this motherboard. The motherboard comes in the standard ATX form factor.
The board uses the LGA 1151 socket to support Intel Core processors. The socket is compatible with both Intel 6th gen (Skylake) and 7th gen (Kaby Lake) processors. The socket has a protective cover out of the box which can easily be removed when installing the processor.
Next to the socket are four DDR4 DIMM slots which can support up to 64 GB dual channel memory. These slots are rated to support XMP profiles up to 4133 MHz. Each slot is labeled, making it easier to install DIMMs in the proper orientation.
The ASUS ROG Maximus IX Code packs an 8+2 phase (CPU+iGPU) Extreme Engine Digi+ digital power design. The design is packed with 2 phase power for the DRAM and uses 10K black metallic solid-state capacitors. The board also features MicroFine alloy chokes, NexFET Power Block MOSFET and a powerful Digi+ Power Control Utility for advanced tuning and configuration routines.
As you can see, the VRMs are getting ample cooling from the two metallic heatsinks that are beefy in terms of overall size. This motherboard is designed for overclocking so expect stable operation of the electrical circuitry when this board is running.
ASUS uses the latest generation of ROG Armor to cover up the board. The entire length of the PCB is covered by this protective armor which provides great looks but also adds durability and less risk of component damage when installing new hardware. The top I/O cover has the MAXIMUS IX logo engraved on it while the heatsink features the CODE label.
The other side of the PCB is also covered by the armor laying on top of the metallic heatsink. ASUS has left cut outs for easier installation of screws on the motherboard.
The CPU is supplied power through a single 8-pin power connector. This will feed the CPU with up to 150W of power. Most Intel CPUs will be shipping with TDPs under 100W but that changes when users overclock, since that changes the power limit based on applied voltages and clock speed.
Expansion slots include three PCI Express 3.0 x16, three PCI Express 3.0 x1 and two M.2 slots. The board can support 3-way multi-GPU (CrossFireX / SLI). The M.2 slots are rated to support NVMe PCIe gen3 x4 and Intel Optane series memory.
ASUS is using a metallic cover on the sides of the expansion slots which provides protection to some extent. It adds more retention and shearing resistance by reinforcing the slots with metal plates. Aside from adding more protection, they do look really sweet although you can't see much of the metal with the ROG cover in place.
There's a "Republic of Gamers" logo in the middle of the board that lights up when the board is up and running. This is also part of the AURA Lighting system that is implemented on this motherboard.
To access the M.2 slot, you have to remove the second cover that is situated next to the PCH. There's a single screw holding this cover in place and it's an easy job taking it off. The PCH cover comes off with this showpiece.
Beneath the cover is a single M.2 slot which can support drives of type 22110, 2280, 2260 and 2242. These offer up to 32 GB/s link speed compared to just 6 GB/s on SATA 3 bus.
You can also see the small chip beneath the primary heatsink. That is the Z270 platform control hub and as you can see, it's getting a good load of cooling from the heatsink mechanism.
The cover also reveals the CMOS battery which is located in a tight spot but accessing it is easy with a single finger. Press the notch and the battery will slide out of the CMOS port without any trouble.
Storage options include six SATA III ports rated to operate at 6 GB/s. These can support 6 different storage devices at once. There's also a right angled USB 3.0 front panel connector. Many fan headers and jumpers can be found beneath the storage ports.
The second M.2 port is located in an unusual spot. It's facing towards the top so the device used will be facing vertical. It's ideal to use the first M.2 slot beneath the cover to use your primary M.2 device, especially storage.
Many overclockers want to use a USB connection without reaching for the back of the board. ASUS addresses this with a front panel USB 3.1 port that is located beneath the 24-pin ATX connector. Coming to the ATX connector, the cover points out the various locations that the connector powers up with CPU, DRAM, VGA and BOOT labels.
The cover has switches built inside it that are used for powering or resetting the motherboard. There's also a cut out which displays the diagnosis LED.
The PCH is fully lit with ASUS AURA and has the iconic ROG Eye logo placed on it. As mentioned earlier, the board is really well built along with a few exceptions.
The SupremeFX onboard system powers the audio on this board. The most unique component that was added to the solution in this generation is the SupremeFX High Fidelity HD Audio S1220. This new codec features an unprecedented 113dB SNR line-in and 120dB SNR line-out that allows users to stream and record with minimal noise.
ASUS ships the ROG motherboards with a WiFi antenna module which looks cool. This module can be adjusted to user preferences and needs to be attached to the Wi-Fi MU MiMO module on the back panel.
Finally, we have the I/O panel which includes the ASUS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac module, ROG Connect switch, reset switch, two USB 3.1 (Type A + Type C), four USB 2.0, four USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet Port, HDMI, DP, DVI port and a 7.1 channel HD audio jack.
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS IX Photo Gallery:
Contents
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At $357 US, the ASUS ROG Maximus IX Code is a expensive product but it has a design that is really high-end and aimed at enthusiasts. It's a high-end product with so much in terms of I/O, OC Support and features which makes it worth its price.
- Great Design Quality
- Great OC Support
- Metal PCI-e Slots
- Full ROG Armor Coverage
- Intel Optane Support
- Intel 6th and 7th Gen Support
- Dual USB 3.1 (Type-A + Type-C)
- Lots of storage capabilities
- Lots of I/O capabilities
- Onboard WiFi Module
- Onboard SupremeFX Audio
- Front Panel USB 3.1 Port
- RGB AURA Lightning
Pros
- High Price ($357 US)
- No U.2 SSD Support
- Vertical M.2 Slot
- Non Metal DIMM slots
- Kaby Lake Not a Big Improvement From Skylake
Cons
About the author: A Software Engineer by training and a PC enthusiast by passion, Hassan Mujtaba serves as Wccftech's Senior Editor for hardware section. With years of experience in the industry, he specializes in deep-dive technical analysis of next-generation CPU and GPU architectures, motherboards, and cooling solutions. His work involves not only breaking news on upcoming technologies but also extensive hands-on reviews and benchmarking.
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