Planning for a Ryzen build? good news! because ASUS has now officially unveiled their newest AM4 motherboards for AMD’s latest chips!
ROG Crosshair VI Hero
ROG’s latest in high performance boards can drive overclocked DDR4 performance beyond 3200MHz in a four-DIMM configuration, thanks to the exclusive T-topology technology’s equidistant memory channels. The board also works with DDR4 memory from almost every vendor.
An ROG Crosshair VI Hero paired with a top of the line Ryzen 1800X processor was able to achieve a score of 2454 cr in Cinebench R15. As for CPU frequency validation, it was able to reach 5802.93MHz by enabling the processor’s 8 cores and 16 threads.
The ROG SupremeFX exclusive S1220 codec delivers a 113dB signal-to-noise ratio on line-in connection, and 120dB for line-out combined with Sonic Studio III’s routing feature for streaming to different outputs. The upgraded Sonic Radar III overlay also gives gamers the edge in battle, while GameFirst IV optimizes network traffic for lag-free online gaming.
ROG’s Water Cooling Zone involves dual water-temperature headers and a flow-rate reader which feeds information directly to the Fan Xpert 4 Utility. This allows you to monitor system cooling better than before.
The Crosshair VI Hero is backward compatible with existing AM3 coolers, allowing for easier and hassle-free upgrades. It also has an onboard USB 3.1 front panel connector and PCI Express 3.0 32Gbps M.2 for lightning fast data transfers.
The ASUS Exclusive 5-way optimization feature dynamically optimizes the motherboard’s systems in real-time. This includes a Stress Test Distribution feature which allows users to adjust the proportion of CPU and DRAM stress for maximum overclocking performance, while FanXpert 4 allows for monitoring of GPU temperature more effectively.
The Crosshair VI Hero also features a 3D-printing-friendly-design, making it easy for users to customize the board’s appearance, improve system performance, and manage cables. It features dedicated onboard 3D mounts which use the same screws as M.2 and standard motherboard mounting holes, for quick installation of cable covers, or an M.2 fan holder for lowering M.2 temperature by up to 30°C, which in turn prevents throttling.
ROG has also designed a series of 3D-Printable accessories, including a 2-way SLI bridge cover, fan grille, ROG-font letters, and various sizes of cable combs, which adds that visual zing to any build.
ASUS Prime X370-Pro, B350-Plus and B350M-A
The X370 Pro features 5-way optimization for one-click full system tuning, and can easily enable an overclock of up to 4.07GHz and beyond, thanks to improved auto-tuning. Fax Xpert 4 provides the ability to monitor GPU temperatures for gaming, while 3rd generation T-Topology pushes DDR4 performance to 3200MHz and even beyond.
Experience an immersive listening experience, thanks to the exclusive S1220A codec designed in collaboration with Realtek. There’s also an impedance-sensing circuit which automatically adjusts gain for optimal volume when using headphones.
The X370-Pro has an M.2 slot for 32Gbps of PCI Express bandwidth, as well as USB 3.1 Type-A and reversible Type-C front panel connectors. It also comes with a 2-Way-M SLI HB Bridge which doubles the available bandwidth for silky smooth gaming (Compatible with NVIDIA Titan X, GeForce GTX 1080, and GeForce GTX1070 Graphics Cards).
The Prime X370-Pro, B350-Plus and B350M boards all benefit from multiple hardware safeguards, now enhanced with SafeSlot Core, the ASUS Excusive PCI Express slot. It provides 1.6x stronger retention and 1.3x greater shearing resistance than standard expansion slots.
5X Protection III also features LANGuard for safer Ethernet connections, protection from Overvoltage, a Digi+ VRM (Voltage-Regulator Module) which ensures smooth power delivery, DRAM Overcurrent protection with fuses that can be reset, an I/O panel made from stainless steel to prevent corrosion, and ESD guards for fending off electrical spikes and surges.
Aura Sync RGB illumination
Both the ROG Crosshair VI Hero and Prime X370-Pro features the world’s first motherboard RGB synchronization technology, delivering distinctive lighting effects across capable components and peripherals, all controlled by a simple and intuitive app.
The new Music Mode pulses the lights to the beat of your favorite tune. Aura offer a spectrum of colors to choose from, and can even change shades to reflect the CPU temperature.
Pricing and Availability
The new ASUS and ASUS ROG AM4 motherboards will be available this month. Prices are as follows:
| Model (Click on link for specs) | SRP |
| PRIME B350M-A | PhP5,290 |
| PRIME B350-PLUS | PhP5,820 |
| PRIME X370-PRO | PhP10,320 |
| CROSSHAIR VI HERO | PhP18,790 |
Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.
