TheOverclocker Issue 39 | Page 30

Crossfire. Since SLI is effectively gone, there isn’t much use to this, but if you do happen to own 4-GPUs such as last generations 980 TI for example, you are able to have an x16/ x8/x8/x8 configuration, which isn’t possible on most 4-way supporting motherboards. There’s a crossfire/SLI switch as well which will illuminate the LEDs accordingly on the PCIe slots guiding you as to where you should be installing your graphics cards. ASUS claims that it is possible to even utilize a 4-way GPU configuration and still make use of your M.2 and U.2 drives at full speed. You should note though that this is only possible only if all your graphics cards are using an x8 connection as the remaining x8 lanes are reserved for these two driver connectivity methods. have it present. Well what of internet or network connectivity rather? Well, this is another place where ASUS has gone the full mile by providing all modern standards and redundancy as well. As per usual with ASUS the gigabit network controller chips of choice are from INTEL via the I218-V and the I211-AT. Why anybody would need two is besides, the point but again, this is a $600 motherboard. It would be just wrong to not have this. One only wishes that the controllers supported teaming which they do not. However, they both support prioritized traffic, if not specific to the controllers, at least via the ASUS GameFirst IV software that covers the wireless connections as well. Talking about wireless connectivity, the Wi-Fi solution 30 The OverClocker Issue 39 | 2016 supports up to 1.3GBPS connections via a 3x3 dual band antennas. Again overkill for most people but certainly future proof*. Add the compulsory M.2 connectivity (wired to x4 PCI-Express lanes) and U.2 connector, and you pretty much have all your bases covered. Inspiring and as a nod or concession rather to the truth about SATA-Express, you’ll find no such phantom connectivity on the 10 Edition. Instead board bludgeons you with 10 SATA sockets, you know just in case you wanted to download the internet. Finally, it is the PCIExpress configuration which is interesting as this remains one of the few boards that support 4-way SLI and of course These are but some of the features that the 10 Edition is sporting, yet they are only telling a fraction of the story. The biggest addition or at least largest departure from tradition here is the use of a USB DAC. In fact, one could wager that a large part of the cost of this motherboard is the DAC. Gone is the ROG OC-Panel and in its stead we have the SupremeFX Hi-Fi USB DAC. This unit sits in you 5.25” bay and provides a line-in/mic, 3,5mm stereo and 6.3mm output alongside a volume knob. That’s all you get, but the magic that comes from the DAC is much better than any other offering on any motherboard. Technically it isn’t “on-board” as it’s a separate and independent on the motherboard. It even uses a separate set of drivers and control suit. This is perhaps ASUS lending their audio expertise to the motherboard division (after all this is the same company that brought us the ESSENCE line of USB DACs). How this DAC is presented is in many ways understated as it is possibly the most easily appreciated feature of the entire package. It’s something you may be led to believe you could do without when assembling your PC but you’d likely be