Asus Maximus V Formula WiFi Questions

No one sure about this?

Thank you for taking the time BigTroll. I kind of assumed onboard wifi wouldn't be that strong but wanted to double check. At least my Linksys router works very well on all 3 floors so I'll stay with that.

As for the type of system I'm building it isn't top of the line but it is above average (IMO).

Corsair 600T
i7 3770K
16 GB Corsair Mem
XFX HD 7970 Black Edition
Corsair AX850
128 GB SSD
1T Western Digital 10000RPM 64 Cache
Blu-ray Reader
Corsair H100i
Case / Cooler Fan Upgrades

As for the Mobo - I am sold on Asus. It's all I've ever owned and really like their service, products, etc.

I was going to get the Asus Z77 Sabertooth but for a little more I saw that the Asus Maximus V Formula (as an E-ATX) would fit fine in the Corsair 600T without any mods.

So I needed to justify the price increase and came up with the following:

1. The red-line tech and better audio chip is nice.
2. I like the looks of both mobos but the MVF is sexy for sure and will be displayed via the case window.
3. Onboard WIFI - if it would work as well or better than my current router then that would be a bonus.

These 3 things and better power delivery made it worth the price jump but if it is just better sound and power (since I will be doing a slight OC) then I would just stay with the Z77 Sabertooth.

Hope this clears up my thought process and again thanks for the reply.

Thanks for your help again.

No, this is not just a gaming computer and based on my uses, work experience, systems I have worked on and my own research I am 100% sold on a few aspects of this build. I will separate everything into 2 sections: Items I am Sold On and Items I Think I’m SOLD ON.

SOLD ON THE FOLLOWING:

• Corsair 600T – so many reasons I can’t even start to list but let’s just say this thing is pure eye candy to me (IMO). Cases I truly hate the looks of are the HAF and HAF X all of the NZXTs and most Antec cases. I was sold on the Corsair 650D until the 600T was released (same inside just a little sexier on the outside). The case has good air flow, great build quality and all of the features I care about.
• Intel i7 3770K – this is the processor I am sold on. I have used i5 2600 and i7 3770 machines and see a huge difference in the work I perform. Then when you take the price points of each processor into consideration I am left with feeling like the $20-$30 savings isn’t worth it to me.
• 16 GB of RAM is what I need
•XFX 850 PSU is not cheaper than the Corsair AX850. At $150.00 for a fully modular and high rated PSU I don’t think I could really go wrong here. Yes, the XFX is almost the same thing inside from what I read but for the same price I am sold on Corsair and yes, I am sold on modular even with some people’s cons.
• Corsair H100i – love it for its cooling and it’s looks. It makes for a very clean case and while I am not looking to OC out of the gate I am purchasing the 3770K and will look forward to the option of OC’ing down the road.

THINK I’m SOLD ON THE FOLLOWING:

• Blu-ray player – yes I have a ton of blu-rays and yes I watch them on my PC from time to time. The other reason I went with this was the price difference between the DVD writers I wanted and this Blu-ray player was only $25.00 jump. Since all of my other computers had multiple DVD drives (which I never used) I added my budget together and picked the Blu-Ray player instead. Yes, the write speeds are a little lower but I just don’t burn much of anything anymore but it is nice to have if I need to.
• Better 7970s – I know that the Gigabyte is a well respected 7970 but I picked the XFX Black Edition for the increase in warranty. I have seen a ton of good and bad about every card I have ever looked at so maybe I will continue to research this a little more.
• Hard Drives – The SSD is 128 GB so obviously it isn’t for SSD Caching. I wanted a SSD for OS and maybe 1 or 2 other programs. Originally, when looking at SSDs I was looking at smaller sizes and was told it might be a good idea to get a 128 since the number of files that will be written over and over. The 128 size was recommended to me so I went with that. All other programs are and documents are going on the Mechanical Hard Drive and assumed those speeds would be just as important since it isn’t being cached by the SSD.

• Sabertooth or MVF are the two boards I am leaning to. Remember the looks of these boards is important to me and I have read very good things about both of them. Yes, Asus Blue Boards can perform all of my needs and then some but don’t offer the visual appeal I am looking for. As for the Sabertooth being a scam, I’m not really sure I agree completely. Yes, the thermal armor seems like it might be but testing outside of Asus has proven it does work and that’s probably why they offer the increased warranty in connection to the TUF series components. The MVF is only going to offer me better sound, onboard wifi and better power delivery out of the box. Later on it will prove to be a better OC board from what I have read.

NOW BACK ONTO THE ONBOARD WIFI QUESTIONS:

• I am not really asking about bottlenecks or speed of the onboard WIFI but instead the strength of the unit. I currently get great strength anywhere in my home, at any of the three floors and even out on my deck. I was looking for feedback or reviews on the reach / range / strength of the ASUS MVF Wifi option.

Thanks again for all of your help.

Thanks again for taking the time to help me out with this. I know this was started as a simple WiFi question but you have shared some great information. You also seem very passionate about this stuff and knowledgeable as well, so I thank you again for sharing it with me.

• Fractal without question is an awesome case manufacturer. I have seen so many builds and reviews online and all of them say the same thing – they’re awesome. However, cases are made to do two things: provide a functional space to hold your parts and be visually appealing. While I like the looks of the Fractal Cases I have to say I like the Corsair 600T better. Additionally, out of the Fractal Cases I looked at we aren’t talking half price but more like $20 - $30 cheaper for the case and in one case it is the same price. The Corsair 600T isn’t that expensive as it is only $109.00 after mail-in rebate.

• If you go back and read my part on the XFX PSU you will see I wasn’t saying that the XFX wasn’t modular I was saying the modular PSU is the same price as the Corsair so I’m not sure what your link was meant to show me.

• As for the XFX Black Edition – I just checked the XFX Website and Newegg again and both still show it as having a lifetime warranty with product registration. Not sure why you think it was changed to 3 years. However, as in my previous post I saw your logic on the Gigabyte and agreed I need to do a little more research on the HD 7970 that I end up with. I just wish there was a clear winner *sigh*

• Sound is taken care of. After researching a little more in between posts I made the call I will be adding a sound card to the build. I have always had one and can hear the difference. I think I just let the Asus people hype me up with the red line and different chipset *LOL*

• As for Powerline – unless things have changed in the past two years my brother had major issues with it. You also keep referencing speed of the WiFi but I don’t have a concern with that. I have a concern with the strength of the single being about to reach across the 3 levels of my condo. As I stated before, my cheap free wireless router takes my internet at any location in my condo, on any floor. I have even walked into closets in the upstairs bedrooms and closed the door and still have at least 3 – 4 bars.

• As for the Motherboard – I know you are not going to agree with this but I am completely and forever sold on Asus. Yes, they are more expensive and yes all manufacturers can and do produce mistakes, errors and DOA products but I have always had Asus and have always loved them. So the issue is this, I know there are a ton of P8Z77 blue boards out there and I have some are even really great but I sadly do care about visuals in this build. I want it to look awesome when I’m done and therefore the blue boards just don’t work. It is still down between the Z77 Sabertooth and the MVF. Call me crazy but it is what it is. Both are good boards and both can provide what I am looking for. I am for sure a Asus FanBoy *standing proudly*

• On a last note. Your posts have been filled with great recommendations and help and I truly thank you for that but you keep talking about the amount of money I am spending. It isn’t like this is a $5,000.00 PC or anything. Everything from Newegg is working out to be around $1,700.00. That isn’t bad at all for what I am buying. In your PCPICKER link for the “doing it right” build it is the same price when purchased from Newegg. Yes, I am a fanboy of Newegg as well. I don’t want to search around and find the lowest possible price and have things come in all at different times. It is worth it for me to spend an extra $100.00 to know that everything will be here tomorrow and in good shape and I trust Newegg’s RMA process. They have been really good to me and I will stay with them. So, if you buy your stuff from Newegg we are talking the same price.

You're awesome. I really want to thank you for your help. It isn't that I want to just open the window and toss money out because I don't and can't live like that. LOL

• Sorry, didn't see there was a rebate on the XFX dropping the price.

• NCIX, I watch their videos or Linus anyways lol. Online purchases have only been made with Newegg so I was going with what I know. I do prefer to buy from one site but I wouldn't rule out NCIX just love Newegg. It's like my photography equipment only comes from B&H Photo. They are the best around IMO and Newegg has earned my trust as well.

• As for the Mobo. Unless there are other options from Asus I am unaware of in the z77 market other than blue boards, sabertooth and Maximus then I would say, yes it is down to those boards. I know it must seem crazy, even as I type it I am smiling at myself, because to spend a C-Note or better on looks sounds CRAZY. My thought is this, I don't build for myself very often and since I am doing this about every 5 to 6 years I might as well be happy with what it is I end up with. I am sure AsusRock, Gigabyte, MSI and several others are good too but I know and trust Asus. I love their support, drivers and products from start to finish. Like I said, I am a fanboy. The difference in Mobo cost is or could be let's say $150.00. Over 5 years that works out to be $30.00 a year or $2.50 a month or 0.58 a week. I think I am willing to spend a little more for looks for that period of time.

• Which brings me to my original question about WiFi strength. If it is the router that says what the strength and distance a wifi router can provide then why do I see different results from different Wireless Routers. For example, prior to this condo I owned a ranch house. The computer was on the first floor in the back corner of the home. I had the same internet router from my cable company but the wireless router hooked to it couldn't reach past the living room a few rooms down. There was no connection up stairs nor in the basement. However, when I resigned my contract with the cable company they sent me a new wireless router (a cheap on at that) and all I did was unhook the old wireless router and attach the new on. WiFi for everyone was heard from across the street... well, maybe not but I couldn't get full strength all throughout my house 2nd floor and basement and even outside in the backyard by the pool. The only thing that changed was my wireless router so I don't understand how they can all be the same. Additionally, I was assuming cost can't even be a factor with the "you get what you pay for" since the free one is a very cheap bottom tier product.

Sorry. Too many router comments and typed too quickly. What I meant was my Cable Modem stayed the same and the Wireless Router changed.

Are you saying it is the Wireless Router or the Cable Modem that says what the strength will be? That's the part I was confused by.

Thanks again for your help. I think I understand it now.

I also think your last post is what I was looking for on my original post - "based on how powerful the router is and the speeds it's rated at".

I would assume my current router is more powerful than the little card attached to the mobo. Even with my current router NOT having an external antenna. They are both 802.11 with my current router being B/G/N and the mobo card being A/B/G/N.

Thanks again for your posts.

I just wish there was a review of the little card I can find. Thanks again.