Conclusion

Introduction

It has been a year since Intel released their latest and greatest platform for mainstream desktop PCs. The 100-series platform was part of the 6th generation processor launch. Skylake brought with it a range of new features support and performance updates. The 100-series products were the first to utilize features such as DDR4, M.2, PCIe 3.0 SSDs and more.

Today, Intel officially launches the 200-series platform. Designed to support 7th generation processors that are codenamed Kaby Lake, 200-series offers new features and updates in the form of Intel Optane support. I think the most important thing is that the boards themselves would be far more attractive than the processor series as they are more feature-heavy and offer plenty of reasons for consumers to upgrade.

Republic of Gamers (ROG) announced a new Maximus IX Series ATX gaming motherboard – Maximus IX Code. The Intel Z270 chipset-based MAXIMUS IX CODE motherboard also features the LGA 1151 socket and supports Intel’s new 7th generation Core processors to give enthusiasts unmatched gaming performance.

Intel Z270 Express Chipset - The Top 200-Series PCH

The two chipsets that will be offered with the new Kaby Lake processors are Z270 and H270. Intel will be offering support for the Kaby Lake and Skylake processors on both 100-series and 200-series motherboards. This means that consumers can use their Skylake chips on a 200-series board or a Kaby Lake chip on a 100-series board.

The two new chips are marketed towards specific markets. The Z270 series is aimed at the consumer market while the H270 series is aimed at the consumer and corporate market. We will get on to the features of these chipset which is an update from the previous 100-series generation of products.

Intel Z270 and H270 PCH Features

Intel Z270 and Z170 offer the same CPU PCIe configuration support. They allow for 1 x 16, 2 x 8 or 1 x 8 + 2 x 4 config whereas the H270 and H170 chipset offers just 1 x 16 config. The total number of independent DisplayPorts offered by the PCH are three and power up to four memory DIMMs in dual channel mode. The Z Series offers overclocking support while the H Series is restricted from such support. All chipsets offer Intel SmartSound tech but Intel AIB partners will be offering their own custom audio codecs to power audio.

Moving on, the new 200-series has official support for Optane technology which is not available on 100-series products. Intel Rapid Storage technology is also pushed to 15 (was 14 on 100-series). Some other features in the new chipsets include RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 support, PCIe Storage Drive support, Smart Response Technology and I/O port flexibility.

Intel has increased the number of high-speed I/O lanes to 30 on both 200-series chipsets. The Z170 had 26 while the H170 had 22 lanes. Total USB ports have remained the same at 14 (10 USB 3.0) for Z Series and 14 (8 USB 3.0) for H Series. All boards have 6 SATA III 6 GB/s ports. Expansion slots are powered by 24 PCIe lanes on Z270 and 20 PCIe lanes on H270. This is a slight increase over 20 PCIe lanes on Z170 and 16 on H170.

The KBL-PCH will be able to support Mansion Beach (Optane SSD PCIe/NVMe gen3 x4), Brighton Beach (Optane SSD PCIe/NVMe gen3 x4) and Stony Beach (Optane Memory PCIe/NVMe gen 3 x2 (m.2)) solutions. We covered this topic in more detail over here.

Intel 200-Series PCH Specifications:

Chipset	Intel Z270	Intel H270	Intel Z170	Intel H170
SKU Focus Segment	Consumer	Consumer / Corporate	Consumer	Consumer / Corporate
CPU Support	Kaby Lake-S / Skylake-S	Kaby Lake-S / Skylake-S	Kaby Lake-S / Skylake-S	Kaby Lake-S / Skylake-S
CPI PCI-e Configuration	1 x 16 or 2 x 8 or 1 x 8 + 2 x 4	1 x 16	1 x 16 or 2 x 8 or 1 x 8 + 2 x 4	1 x 16
Independent DisplayPort	3	3	3	3
Memory DIMMs	4	4	4	4
Overclocking	Yes	No	Yes	No
Intel SmartSound Technology	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Intel Optane Technology	Yes	Yes	No	No
Intel Rapid Storage Technology	15	15	14	14
Intel Rapid Storage Technology From PCIe Storage Drive Support	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
RAID 0,1,5,10	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Intel Smart Response Technology	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
I/O Port Flexibility	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Maximum High Speed I/O Lanes	30	30	26	22
Total USB Ports (Max USB 3.0)	14 (10)	14 (8)	14 (10)	14 (8)
Max SATA 6 Gbps Ports	6	6	6	6
Max PCI-E 3.0 Lanes	24	20	20	16
Max Intel RST for PCIe Storage Ports (x2 M.2 or x4 M.2)	3	2	3	2

Intel LGA 1151 Socket - 6th Gen and 7th Gen CPU Support

As last year, the 200-series boards feature the LGA 1151 socket. The socket is built to support both 6th gen and 7th gen processors. This allows 200-series boards to support both Skylake and Kaby Lake processors, making it easier for previous gen owners to upgrade.

The LGA 1151 socket is also featured on the 100-Series chipset motherboards and will extend support to the new Kaby Lake processors. Motherboard vendors like Gigabyte have released updated firmware for 100 series motherboards to support Kaby Lake processors. The LGA 1151 has a total of 1151 contact pins for interfacing with Skylake and Kaby Lake processors. the following are all of the Kaby Lake processors that will be available at launch for 200-series platform:

Intel 7th Generation 'Kaby Lake' Desktop Lineup

SKU Name	Cores/Threads	Core Clock	Boost Clock	L3 Cache	TDP	Socket	Price
Core i7-7700K	4/8	4.2 GHz	4.5 GHz	8 MB	91W	LGA1151	$339 US
Core i7-7700	4/8	3.6 GHz	4.2 GHz	8 MB	65W	LGA1151	$303 US
Core i7-7700T	4/8	2.9 GHz	3.8 GHz	8 MB	35W	LGA1151	$303 US
Core i5-7600K	4/4	3.8 GHz	4.2 GHz	6 MB	91W	LGA1151	$242 US
Core i5-7600	4/4	3.5 GHz	4.1 GHz	6 MB	65W	LGA1151	$213 US
Core i5-7600T	4/4	2.8 GHz	3.7 GHz	6 MB	35W	LGA1151	$213 US
Core i5-7500	4/4	3.4 GHz	3.8 GHz	6 MB	65W	LGA1151	$192 US
Core i5-7500T	4/4	2.7 GHz	3.3 GHz	6 MB	35W	LGA1151	$192 US
Core i5-7400	4/4	3.0 GHz	3.5 GHz	6 MB	65W	LGA1151	$182 US
Core i5-7400T	4/4	2.4 GHz	3.0 GHz	6 MB	35W	LGA1151	$182 US
Core i3-7350K	2/4	4.2 GHz	N/A	4 MB	60W	LGA 1151	$168 US
Core i3-7320	2/4	4.1 GHz	N/A	4 MB	TBD	LGA 1151	$149 US
Core i3-7300	2/4	4.0 GHz	N/A	4 MB	51W	LGA1151	$138 US
Core i3-7300T	2/4	3.5 GHz	N/A	4 MB	35W	LGA1151	$138 US
Core i3-7100	2/4	3.9 GHz	N/A	4 MB	51W	LGA 1151	$117 US
Core i3-7100T	2/4	3.4 GHz	N/A	4 MB	35W	LGA 1151	$117 US
Pentium G4620	2/4	3.7 GHz	N/A	3 MB	51W	LGA1151	$86 US
Pentium G4600	2/4	3.6 GHz	N/A	3 MB	51W	LGA 1151	$75 US
Pentium G4560	2/4	3.5 GHz	N/A	3MB	54W	LGA 1151	$64 US
Pentium G3950	2/2	3.0 GHz	N/A	2 MB	35W	LGA1151	$52 US
Pentium G3930	2/2	2.9 GHz	N/A	2 MB	35W	LGA1151	$42 US

Intel did one thing right with the new socket and that’s the socket positioning which allows older coolers and mounting brackets to remain compatible with the newer socket. So if you have an old LGA 1150 socket cooler that you wish to use with the new LGA 1151 socket, it could be done, but do note that while the socket looks the same as the LGA 1150 socket, the processors are incompatible due to different pin layouts so you don’t want to try putting a Haswell processor into the LGA 1151 socket otherwise it would damage the pins permanently.

Cooler Compatibility With LGA 1151 Socket

While Haswell processors ship with their own boxed coolers and cooler makers providing retention brackets for LGA 1150 compatibility, it should be noted that Intel has stopped offering boxed coolers since the Skylake processor generation, so users have to purchase retail coolers for them.

Intel does offer a separate boxed cooler but it will be a much better choice to get an AIB cooling solution since those offer better cooling performance. Older CPU coolers will remain compatible with the new socket and some manufacturers are providing updated retention brackets for the 1151 socket boards.

The gaming motherboards are built on the renowned and trusted ROG gaming legacy. The new Maximus IX Code motherboard was designed to forge premium gaming features combine with streamlined styling to create an all-new model for this generation. The Maximus IX Code makes the distinctive ROG Armor more accessible to gamers and enthusiasts seeking a unique look for their builds. AURA Sync lighting adds to the aesthetic appeal, while practical features like onboard Wi-Fi and long-lasting components give gamers everything they need in a high-end board.

The series also boasts ROG SupremeFX with a significantly new upgraded audio solution on both back and front panels, advanced networking, fastest onboard M.2 storage interfaces with up to 32Gbps, and Intel USB 3.1 Type-C with power delivery up to 15W for the ultimate gaming experience.

Finally, the ROG UEFI BIOS and ROG exclusive software continues leading the way with cutting edge options.

ASUS ROG Maximus IX Code Specifications:

ROG Water Cooling Zone

As water cooling products decreased in price over the last few years, coupled with the increasing demand for customized PCs, DIY users are more into water cooling products than ever before. Although the market demand has increased, no other motherboard vendor has ever taken it more seriously than the ROG motherboard team. ROG is the first and still the industry-leader on this water cooling trend. The Maximus IX Code offers users a Water Cooling Zone, to enable DIY users a better experience and better enjoyment on water cooling requirements.

USB 3.1 Front Header

Maximus IX Code is not only equipped both Type-A and Type-C on rear I/O but also a special implemented front USB 3.1 connector to enable 10Gbps transfer speeds and give users the convenience of Type-C ports at the front of the chassis. ROG has also partnered with chassis vendors Lian-Li and In-Win to ensure users can take advantage of this header. The corresponding chassis should be released to market at or near the Kaby Lake launch date.

Dual M.2

Maximus IX Code features two M.2 slots (M key socket 3) with support for both the PCIe 3.0 X4 32Gbps standard and SATA 6Gbps standard. Supporting both NVMe and AHCI standards as well as compatibility of full spec support on form factors from 2242, 2260, 2280 to 22110 – bringing you the fastest and the most flexible M.2 interface. Maximus IX Code adopts two M.2 while one in horizontal and the other equipped in vertical. M.2_1 in horizontal supports form factor 2242 / 2260 / 2280 / 22110 in both PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA mode; while M.2_2 supports 2242 / 2260 / 2280 with PCIe 3.0 x4 mode only)

(M.2_1 shares SATA mode with SATA port 1; M.2_2 shares PCIe x4 bandwidth with SATA port 5,6 )

On the Maximus IX Code the M.2 can be utilized for PCIe RAID, by combining the M.2 PCIe storage with another PCIe storage to squeeze out every last drop of PCIe storage performance.

3D Printing Friendly design

3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of using additive layers to create three dimensional objects from a digital file. One of the most eye-catching topics recently in the industry, the very nature of 3D printing is to bring out the endless possibilities for customization, a new kind of value-added feature for those who enjoy the philosophy of “make it your own”.

However what does this technology have to do with a ROG motherboard? This generation the ROG Maximus IX Code ROG offers a template for enthusiasts to print out their own ideas as DIYers can now make their own customization in whatever color they are interested in with ease and hassle-free.

ROG SupremeFX

ROG SupremeFX has been significantly upgraded from last year’s solution. 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. Looking at the RMAA performance, the results speak for themselves.

The SupremeFX ALC S1220 High Fidelity HD audio CODEC is a high performance multi-channel audio CODEC that also features a headphone amplifier with 2.1V rms output capability to drive 600-Ohm high impedance headphones and impedance sensing functions.

• De-pop MOSFET serves a dual function in this generation. Aside from switching on and off to
  minimize pop noises, it also serves as an impedance sense pathway that allows both the front
  and rear panels to detect the impedance of your headphone.
• Impedance sensing brings you the ability to sense line-out/headphone impedance while installed, and automatically determines the best amplify level for your speaker/ headphone. It’s either “Performance” for 0~50ohm, “Powerful” for 51~109ohm, or “Extreme” for 110ohm and above. Lower amplify level can protect your low impedance output device from large driving hazard, while high amplify level increase a better driving ability for your high impedance product.
• ESS Hi-Fi Sabre™ DAC is a 24-bit stereo D/A converter that has the best-sounding audio and highest performance powered by the industry proven SABRE DAC technology.
• Premium Nichicon@ audiophile grade capacitors provide warm, natural, and immersive sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity that are great for game effects and multimedia.
• SupremeFX shielding a physical isolation guard that isolates crosstalk and noise interference from other high frequencies, preserving a pure and a non-distortion pathway from top to bottom, ensures precision analog/digital separation and greatly reduced multi-lateral interference from within the PCB and from other components. Left/Right Channel Track Separation Layout technique to separate left/right channel track, to reduce any possible interference.

AURA RGB Lighting

Maximus IX Code equipped AURA RGB lighting from top to bottom, ensure bright, evenly distributed illumination of your build, lit up and customize your own favorite LED effect to cast a stunning multi-color glow across your build, change shades to indicate CPU temperature, or pulsate in time to the beat of your favorite tunes and a lot of more.

2+2 independent on-board LED areas with refreshed AURA software

There are 2 independent onboard LED groupings – Back IO and Power/Reset Button, and Northbridge logo. Together with 2 additional independent AURA headers, 2 more RGB strips or AURA sync compatible devices can be controlled. While all can be synced up through software AURA and also 9 changeable lighting effects among all your modding gears. It’s easy to use and can be quickly installed to cast brilliant colors across your rig and room. These two onboard RGB strip headers supporting 5050RGB LED strip standard with a maximum power rating of 12V/1A per strip. This equates to a maximum strip length of approximately 2 meters for the best brightness.

AURA Software

Aura lighting control software is the core of Aura aesthetics. It allows users to tweak the colors and brightness of onboard RGB LEDs. ROG Aura lighting control software includes 9 lighting effects - Static / Breathing / Strobing / Color cycle / Rainbow / Comet / Flash and Dash / CPU Temperature and Music Effect that changes LED color according to playback audio or CPU Temperature.

AURA Sync

Aura Sync is also a part of lighting control feature that can be easily utilize to help you sync up other RGB lighting peripherals, user can use this interface to setup your AURA lighting individually or united it together as one. However do keep in mind that this feature may be different on other peripherals as not all products have same effects and lighting mechanism.

BEST GAMING NETWORKING

The ROG Maximus IX Code motherboards feature the latest Intel Ethernet (I219-V) for faster and smoother gaming sessions. It reduces CPU overhead to allot more processing power for gaming and offers exceptionally high Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) throughput.

ROG has also improved on the networking port with Onboard LANGuard; it uses advanced SOC technology to combine the legacy LANGuard elements into one chipset, including signal-coupling technology and premium surface-mounted capacitors to improve throughput. Onboard LANGuard as well features surge-protect ability with no less on electrostatically-guarded components (ESD Guards) to protect motherboard LAN from surge damaging that may be caused by either lightning strikes or static electricity. Onboard LANGuard gives you exactly the same protection as always, 1.5X higher on surge and 1.9X higher on static-electricity tolerance.

The latest ROG-exclusive networking optimization utility, GameFirst IV, comes upgraded with even
more gamer-friendly features and an intuitive interface.

Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet

Current ROG Z270 motherboards feature the Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet chip, and so the following performance comparisons are based on it. As you’d imagine, having the full triad of Intel hardware on your PCB (CPU, PCH, LAN) also gives better compatibility, energy savings and the chip itself can offload UDP/TCP checksums from the CPU, reducing PCH-CPU traffic and overall CPU use.

2X2 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac MU-MIMO Wi-Fi

This motherboard comes with an exclusive 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi module that supports dual frequency band 2.4/5 GHz MU-MIMO wireless networks and Bluetooth 4.1 and 3.0+HS bundled gives you the fastest and widest Wi-Fi coverage.

SafeSlot

SafeSlot provides the user with a great deal of protection on the PCIe slot, reinvented and strengthened through a new insert-molding process to bind the slot for fortifying metal for superior retention and shearing resistance, reinforcing the best strength on all X / Y / Z axis. This new armor is designed with the concept to extend longevity and durability while heavy graphic cards are taken place, SafeSlot was designed using metal hooks to the plastic slot itself which brings user the real benefit on PCIe strength in all 3D X / Y / Z axis.

Q-Shield, Q-Code, Q-LED, Q-Slot, Q-DIMM, Q-Connector

A lot of R&D effort is put into the Q design detailing on all over the boards, hoping to provide user a better DIY experience on all cases. Q-shield was designed to be soft and flexible for nicks free and cuts free. Q-Code makes troubleshooting POST failures even easier. Q-LED leads you to the POST status of the system. 1-Clip Q-Slot helps user to have better experiencing on upgrading the graphics cards with ease. Q-DIMM makes memory modules insertion simplified with just one easily push. Q-Connector takes part for better DIY experience, a sweet little gadget for system front panel installation. All these were made for DIY users that care for quicker and better DIY experiences, no more hassles and hazards on DIY!

RAMCache II (to turbo boost storage)

ROG RAMCache II software provides transparent solution to increase overall storage performance by utilizing the system memory that is not in use. RAMCache II allocates a cache of RAM between the computer hard disk and the applications, and then reads in real time your performance needs regarding the applications you are currently using and the disk I/O demands. It will copy the most frequently used data from the disk to the RAM cache where it can be processed faster, and then automatically writes it back to the disk. One more thing worth noting is that RAMCache II is now ready to support NVM Express protocol storage devices.

Gamer’s Guardian

While you protect yourself in the game, Maximus IX Code protects all sides in the real world.

SafeSlot Core : Structure improvement

One thing worth noting is regarding the PCIe bonding structure, usually the part is designed simply by inserting the metal pin into the plastic slot, which is then fix it to the motherboard. In other words, the strength of the structure on the Y-axis is depends solely on the resistance of the surface friction between metal and plastic. This sometimes results in trouble when the user roughly handles the PCIe slot. ROG resolves this by using an extra hook on the metal pin right before inserting it into the plastic slot. This small technique results in a direct increase in durability of the PCIe slot and as well as an extension on the lifespan of your motherboard.

SafeSlot Core : Reinforced soldering

Together with SafeSlot and the slot binding structure, solder points have also been increased. This gives extra strength for all axes, with 16% durability improvement on X-axis; 66% on Y-axis; and 34% on the Z-axis. On the Maximus IX Code both DRAM and PCIe slots are utilize this technique to ensure that the best protection possible.

DRAM Over-current Protection

Additional resettable fuse protection connecting on ports and DRAM to against over current from short-circuits.

ESD Guards

2X greater protection than the industry standard from electrostatic discharges, to extend a better device life-span for onboard PS2, USB, Audio and LAN ports.

10K Black Metallic Capacitors

Exceptionally high-quality Nichicon solid-state capacitors offer 20% greater temperature endurance and five times longer on the lifespans than the generic equivalents.

New Fan IC

Fan tuning is always a critical consideration when planning an efficient/long lasting/quiet system, ROG leads the motherboard industry as a pioneer on this subject with both Fan Xpert software and the UEFI BIOS interface. For Maximus IX Code we bring you the whole new fan control IC with the capability of OTP (Over Temperature Protect) and OCP (Over Current Protect) to protect your fan IC from potential danger. Together with “Extreme Quiet” mode for the CPU fan and all onboard Chassis fans, PWM/DC mode auto detection, Water Pump header, and High AMP fan headers, this generation features by far the most comprehensive cooling control to date.

Increase GPU source:

When the CPU in the water-cooled state, GPU may also be a part of the key factor for case’s environmental temperature. The new fan control function can set GPU temperature as a fan tuning source, more accurate and effective to reduce the system temperature!

All fan supports Extreme Quiet mode:

Fan Xpert 4 features Extreme Quiet mode on all chassis fans and as well as the CPU fan. (Note: fan extension card, pump header and OPT_fan do not support this mode)

All onboard fans are equipped with auto PWM / DC detection and manual modes:

Fan Xpert 4 gives you PWM / DC auto detection on all fan headers, which makes building the system as simple as it should be. (Note: OPT_fan is not included)

Moreover users can still enjoy the DIY tuning on all onboard fans as manual PWM / DC adjusting is also available to all onboard fan headers. (Notice fan extension and OPT_fan is not included)

Fan Extension Card supported

Maximus IX Code supports the Fan Extension Card, which is an alternative one-to-three fan hub to expand the onboard chassis fan up to 8+3 and thermal sensor sources to 10, utilizing the 4-pin Molex connector to power up these three extended fans, while each one of them can either be controlled specifically as three different fans through onboard EXT_FAN header to EXT_FAN_IN on the extension card, or can be set to run as an unison fan by connecting with FAN_IN, in other words, all fans are capable of controlling under UEFI or through

FanXpert 4 under OS to fulfill your needs in either DC mode or PWM mode. Moreover, to enable user a more powerful scenario, all extension fans can be set to look up to multiple sensors as well, authorize you a total control solution on this high-end system build.

The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS IX Code comes in the standard cardboard package. The front is fully red which is also the color scheme that ROG first introduced several years ago before it became a common site on various gaming motherboards.

The back side of the package lists down the specifications and special features of the motherboard such as the AURA Lighting system, New SupremeFX Codec, USB 3.1 Front Panel connector and the 2x2 MU-MiMO Wi-Fi adapter.

The front side also lists down support for Intel's 6th and 7th generation Core processors. There's also support for Intel Optane memory which is one of the key features of the 200-series platform. The board fully supports NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFire technology for multi-GPU functionality. Note that ASUS ROG motherboards can also support workstation graphics cards such as NVIDIA Quadro and AMD WX series.

Inside the package are two compartments, the top houses the board itself while the lower portion houses the accessories. Here we can see that ASUS has a dedicated cut out for their product user guide. The user guide contains a driver disk along with several stickers that can be used by gamers on their PC case. There's also a 20% off coupon on CableMods

There are several accessories included in the package such as a Wi-Fi antenna module, several SATA III cables, an I/O cover, screws for the 3D mounting bracket, a high-bandwidth SLI bridge, CPU Installation cover and the RGB 4-pin cable.

The motherboard is housed in the top compartment and has a plastic cover on top to protect it from dust and damage while shipping.

The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS IX Code has killer looks as it is designed for the high-performance PC market. The fully covered PCB adds a nice touch and the matte black / silver combination with metallic heatsinks offers a nice visual presentation. The AURA system is fully integrated on ASUS ROG series boards so that will add a new layer of visuals and mods to desktop PCs.

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:

For testing, we used the latest Intel Core i7-7700K processor which we I had acquired with the help of a board manufacturer. The sample is retail ready and not an "ES" chip like the ones sent out by Intel to reviewers. Intel did not contact us or put us under NDA for testing of their Kaby Lake processors. Our review is based purely on fact and precision. We also updated our test rig for the 200-series platform review which is listed in the table below:

ASUS ROG Maximus XI Code Test Setup:

Processor	Intel Core i7-5960X Intel Core i7-5930K Intel Core i7-4960X Intel Core i7-3960X Intel Core i7-7700K Intel Core i7-6700K Intel Core i7-4790K Intel Core i7-4770K Intel Core i7-3770K Intel Core i7-2600K Intel Core i5-4690K Intel Core i5-3570K
Motherboard:	ASUS ROG Maximus XI Code w/Core i7-7700K Gigabyte GA-X99-UD7 w/Core i7-5960X Gigabyte GA-X99-UD7 w/Core i7-5930K ASUS Z170 Pro Gaming w/Core i7-6700K ASUS X79 Deluxe w/Core i7-4960X Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SOC Force w/Core i7-4790K Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SOC Force w/Core i5-4690K Intel DZ87KLT-75K w/ Core i7-4770K Intel DX79SI LGA 2011 w/ Core i7-3960X ASRock Z77 Extreme 6 w/ Core i7-3770K ASRock Z77 Extreme 6 w/ Core i7-3570K ASUS Sabertooth P67 w/ Core i7-2600K
Power Supply:	Corsair RXI 750W Gold Plus
Solid State Drive:	Samsung SSD 960 EVO M.2 (512 GB)
Hard Disk:	Seagate Barracuda 1 TB 7200.12
Memory:	G.SKILL Trident Z Series 16GB (2 X 8GB) CL16 3600 MHz Kingston HyperX 2400 MHz 10th Anniversary Edition Memory Kit (DDR3)
Case:	Corsair Graphite Series 780T Full Tower
Video Cards:	MSI GeForce GTX 1070 ARMOR OC
Cooling Solutions:	Phantek PH-TC14PE Triple Fan
OS:	Windows 10 64-bit Anniversary Edition

I would personally like to thank G.SKILL for arranging a stunning DDR4 memory kit for this review. They shipped us a TridentZ series memory kit (black and white color combination). The memory kit comprises 2 DIMMs that operate in dual channel mode, ideal for our Z270 board tests. The memory is clocked at 3600 MHz which is supported by the new motherboards since they support XMP profiles. Clock timing is set at 16 and the capacity is 16 GB for this specific kit.

We won't be focusing on Intel's Core i7-7700K architecture in this review since it is entirely the same chip as Skylake along with minor improvements. The Skylake / Kaby Lake architecture analysis can be seen in detail here.

Intel Core i7-7700K 5.0 GHz Overclock on ASUS ROG MAXIMUS IX CODE

Our Intel Core i7-7700K isn't a decent overclocker as it requires voltage over 1.35V for a decent clock speed bump. Here, we overclocked the chip to 5.0 GHz (bus speed = 100 MHz x 50.0 Multiplier) using a voltage of 1.390V. The results were stable after testing in Prime95 as a stability run.

X264 HD Encode Benchmark

This benchmark measures the encoding performance of the processor. It offers a standardized benchmark as the clip as well as the encoder used is uniform.

Cinebench R15

CINEBENCH is a real-world cross platform test suite that evaluates your computer’s performance capabilities. CINEBENCH is based on MAXON’s award-winning animation software CINEMA 4D, which is used extensively by studios and production houses worldwide for 3D content creation. MAXON software has been used in blockbuster movies such as Iron Man 3, Oblivion, Life of Pi or Prometheus and many more.

Cinebench R11.5

Cinebench is based on MAXON’s Cinema 4D. It is used to compare graphics as well as processor performance. We are using the CPU performance numbers for our comparison.

PCMark 8

PCMark 8 is a complete PC benchmarking solution for Windows 10. It includes several tests that combine individual workloads covering storage, computation, image and video manipulation, web browsing and gaming. Specifically designed for the full range of PC hardware from netbooks and tablets to notebooks and desktops, PCMark 8 offers complete Windows PC performance testing for home and business use.

POV-Ray

The POV-Ray package includes detailed instructions on using the ray-tracer and creating scenes. Many stunning scenes are included with POV-Ray so you can start creating images immediately when you get the package.

3DMark 11 CPU Performance

DMark 11 makes extensive use of all the new features in DirectX 11 including tessellation, compute shaders and multi-threading. It was released on December 7, 2010. 3DMark 11 includes four graphics tests – Deep Sea 1 & 2, High Temple 1 & 2 – for measuring GPU performance, a Physics test measuring CPU performance, and a Combined test targeting CPU and GPU performance.

3DMark Vantage CPU Performance

3DMark Vantage is a DirectX 10 video card benchmark test for Windows that is designed to measure your PC’s gaming performance. While the overall benchmark is great, the utility also provides a good indication of the CPU performance.

WinAR

WinRAR is a powerful archive manager. It can backup your data and reduce the size of email attachments, decompress RAR, ZIP and other files downloaded from the Internet and create new archives in RAR and ZIP file format.

SuperPI

Super PI is used by many overclockers to test the performance and stability of their computers. In the overclocking community, the standard program provides a benchmark for enthusiasts to compare “world record” pi calculation times and demonstrate their overclocking abilities. The program can also be used to test the stability of a certain overclock speed.

HandBrake

Intel Core i7-7700K – Battlefield 1

Battlefield 1 is the kind of game that doesn’t need any real introduction. The latest installment of the Battlefield series is as beautiful as anyone would expect and comes right out of the gate with full DX11 and DX12. EA and DICE did a fantastic job with their AAA WW1 shooter this time by implementing some key gaming technologies. We tested the game at 1440p using Ultra settings and DirectX 11 API.

Intel Core i7-7700K - GTA V

GTA V is one handsomely optimized title for the PC audience. It's scalable across various PC configurations and delivers an impressive frame rate. Rockstar did an amazing job with the PC build of GTA V and it comes with a large array of settings that can be configured by PC gamers. We tested the title at 1440p with everything set to Ultra and 4x MSAA.

Intel Core i7-7700K - Ashes of The Singularity

Stardock's Ashes of the Singularity RTS title is a new take on the historic genre. The game incorporates several things that many pc gamers have been curious about and anxious to try for themselves such as Explicit Multi-Adapter Support and full asynchronous compute under DirectX 12 API. We tested the game at 1440p with 4x MSAA on Crazy Settings under DirectX 12.

Intel Core i7-7700K - Watch Dogs 2

Watch Dogs 2 once again takes us on a hacking tour, but this time in the city of San Francisco. Using a very evolved version of the OPUS engine the developers should have a better grasp on things this time around than they did with Watch Dogs. The new engine incorporates several NVIDIA GameWorks technologies and is seen as one of the most graphics intensive titles to launch this year. We tested the game on a mix of Ultra and high settings at 1440p (Temporal Filtering Disabled).

Intel Core i7-7700K - Sid Meir's Civilization VI

Civilization VI is the pinnacle of the series. It features huge, sweeping changes, and nothing was left out. Everything has found a purpose, they all work together in tandem but also have a reason to stand alone. It uses a more fleshed out engine that now supports DirectX 12 capabilities. We tested the game with every setting maxed out (4x MSAA, 4096x4096 shadow textures) at 1440p in DirectX 12.

Intel Core i7-7700K - Rise of the Tomb Raider

The latest Rise of the Tomb Raider title gets lots of graphical enhancements added by Crystal Dynamics and Nixxes, including hardware tessellation, increased anisotropic filtering, additional dynamic foliage, increased LOD, additional PureHair strands, sun soft shadows, and improved bokeh DOF. We tested the game at 1440p under DirectX 12 API.

The Kaby Lake architecture is meant to improve overall system power consumption and add to efficiency. In the case of the Core i7-7700K, we are looking at a refined 14nm+ process which allows Intel to gain improved clock speeds under the same power package.

With the frequency bump, the new chips do end up with higher power consumption both in idle and load states. When overclocked, the Core i7-7700K did go past the 400W barrier due to added power and voltage. We used a Phantek’s PH-TC14PE cooler to keep the chip cooled under stock and overclocked loads and the result was a significant increase in the temperatures compared to the Skylake generation.

There are two parts of this review, first one is the processor and the second is the motherboard. While the review mainly focused on the motherboard, the processor is something to talk about as they are an essential part of this yearly upgrade cycle that Intel is bringing to consumers.

Intel's Core i7-7700K Is Nothing To Get Excited About

Intel Kaby Lake series brings us the 7th generation processors in the mainstream market. They feature what Intel calls their most optimized 14nm node, 14nm+. Intel also says that these processors bring performance improvements and support for higher clock speeds. Essentially, Kaby Lake is a better tuned Skylake microarchitecture for the mainstream community.

But Kaby Lake isn't as exciting as it sounds. With Kaby Lake being one of the worst Intel launches when it comes to NDA, a majority of the tech sites have already tested the Core i7-7700K processor. Yes, it is faster compared to Core i7-6700K. But as a result of obtaining faster clocks, it runs hotter and sips more power.

It does what Intel promised, to deliver faster performance and higher clock speeds but it breaks the efficiency rating of Core processors which although it doesn't matter a whole lot to the mainstream audience, it is something that goes against the principles defined by Intel. So yeah, you get that 10% faster performance than Core i7-6700K and you also get that 7% clock speed bump. In return, you get higher temperatures that are much worse when overclocking (The Core i7-7700K can do 5 GHz with ease provided you have a beast of a cooler) and with that clock bump, you get higher power consumption.

Lastly, there's no IPC increase. Kaby Lake is the same as Skylake with higher clock speeds to put it simply and the worst thing is that it might be so for the next 2-3 generations. Upcoming Intel Core series such as Coffee Lake (Kaby Lake refresh) and Cannonlake will be bringing no incremental IPC improvements, but will add more cores for better performance throughput. So without more to say, the Intel Core i7-7700K is without a doubt the fastest mainstream chip in the market but it has too many drawbacks in terms of power and temperatures that make Skylake still look the better option for gamers.

Farewell 100-Series, 200-Series Boards Are The Best Option For 6th and 7th Generation Core PC Builders

ASUS is offering some really high-end products with the Intel 200-series platform launch. We tested one of them and the experience was really great. The ASUS 9th generation ROG MAXIMUS IX Code motherboard is a true high-end motherboard that is designed for gamers and enthusiasts. All around, the motherboard packed everything we wanted from a board.

The design scheme is really interesting as the black and silver textures do away with the renowned red and black color scheme we used to see on ROG motherboards. Instead, the motherboard features AURA RGB that will allow us to change color schemes on several sections of the motherboard which is a great feature for fans of RGB lighting. The motherboard also comes with the ROG Armor plating which covers the entire board and really gives a neat presentation of the board inside PCs.

In terms of overclocking, this board allowed us to reach 5 GHz with ease. The ASUS DIGI+ digital VRM is really strong here as it allows for some great OC numbers. The M.2 slot under the cover can be reached easily while the second M.2 slot that houses devices in a vertical position looks odd. The embedded power and reset switch inside the ROG Armor is another neat feature and the cut outs are ideally placed for you to install the board.

At $357 US, the ASUS ROG Maximus IX Code is an expensive product but it has a design that is really high-end and aimed at enthusiasts. The board packs so much that you'll run out of devices to plug into this product. It's a high-end product with so much in terms of I/O and features which makes it worth its price.

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