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