Asus Debuts Rampage III Extreme Motherboard
Say hello to the hot rod of motherboards.
Looking for that next hot motherboard to pair up with your fancily-cooled GPU and CPU? Asus wants you to take a look at its new Rampage III Extreme motherboard.
As part of the Republic of Gamers line, the Asus Rampage III Extreme uses Intel’s X58/ICH10R chipset with support for the LGA1366 CPUs with up to six cores.
Asus boasts a bevy of features that should please the extreme gamer who likes to tweak his or her hardware to the very limit. As described with great hype from the press release:
Remote tweaking becomes effortless thanks to built-in ROG Connect and RC Bluetooth, giving users the freedom to unchain true hardware potential. That’s only part of the picture, since this board comes with a host of accoutrements, including the outlandish Extreme OC Kit overclocking tool, which takes the concept way beyond the norm. USB BIOS Flashback allows for easy instant flashing of the BIOS, all the better to drive the most spectacular results through multiple GPUs—up to four full graphics cards. R3E contains the latest iteration of Extreme Engine Digi+ voltage modulation technology for purer, more stable power. All these indicate ASUS’ commitment to innovating and foreshadowing demand from users – the result is a motherboard that not only guarantees mind-blowing output, but also great, rewarding fun.
It’s Got the Power
There can be no assurance of awesome performance without solid power management – something every overclocker worth their salt knows. Extreme Engine Digi+, included on the Rampage III Extreme, does just that. It melds all the advantages of analog and digital VRM design to cut on switching latency and improve overall fidelity in the board. Pulse width modulation (PWM) likewise gains in finesse for added board tolerance, paving the way for exploratory overclocking of the way-out-there variety. Heat dissipation is improved 30% over traditional MOSFET, while conductivity has gone up by 40%, both thanks to use of FET+ in construction. Not content with all this goodness, ASUS has taken comments from competitive overclockers to heart and included a newly-designed signal choke that handles up to a humongous 40 amperes.
This bedrock of power makes radical experimentation more than a possibility – it makes it desirable. And because ASUS believes in doing things fast and easy, the aforementioned USB BIOS Flashback is the easiest way to transport BIOS versions or simply flash them from machine to machine. All that’s needed is a USB stick.
Target Benchmark
Few things are as feel-good rewarding as putting a new piece of hardware to the test, then basking in the glow of exhilarating scores. That’s the mindset Rampage III Extreme captures, and it does so with superlative zeal. The OC Kit strikes a formidable pose as an interface to meet the strenuous requirements of even the techiest overclocker, with LN2 mode and a Q reset that addresses cold boot problems and enables fast operation even under very low temps during extreme overclocking. Dual 8-pin power connectors and two 4-pin Molex plugs furnish CPU and GPU with ample room, freeing power while preventing mishaps.
Thoughtful touches encourage inventive testing, the hallmark of true overclocking. For example, convenient PCIe X16 lane signal disabling—users can test each graphics card individually for optimized results. The road to benchmarking fame passes through the Republic of Gamers, and R3E is the ticket.
All Bases Belong to Rampage III Extreme
Drawing inspiration from everything that makes overclocking such a great pastime, R3E takes it to the next level. It’s a dream come true, empowering the art of hardware tinkering like never before. With a thermal design revamped from the ground up, overclocking tools to keep a gearhead happy ad infinitum, gorgeous looks and performance that’s frankly out of this world, the Rampage III Extreme is the only choice for those looking to make every MHz count.

Wonder how they didn't notice that?
Wonder how they didn't notice that?
I really hate those 4-pin MOLEX connectors for the graphics cards right in the middle of the thing. It's nearly impossible to hide that wire. And what's with the PCI slot? With the board's 4 PCIe x16 slots clearly indicating this thing's obvious SLI or Crossfire capabilities, odds are it'll end up blocked by the 2nd video card in most builds anyway. Sticking the battery there doesn't seem too bright an idea, either.
Btw, the mobo looks very good and with support for the i7 six core, will be a killer mobo.
On a side note, there's a big red "Start" button and a black "Reset" button, and several inches below that the words "Go Button" =) Reminds me of seeing cars with random phrases across their windshields like "Velocity."
On a side note, there's a big red "Start" button and a black "Reset" button, and several inches below that the words "Go Button" =) Reminds me of seeing cars with random phrases across their windshields like "Velocity."
What are you talking about? This is obviously a legitimate review of a great product....
I dunno if it needs them, but it's got them...
I only see one 4-pin MOLEX just above the 1st PCIe slot. Where's the 2nd?
The second one is on the left side of the bottom edge at 90 degrees.
still a good looking board though
This board was reviewed on many cites, and a full video has been up for a while. Tom's is piggy-backing on the reviews as these "official pics" were recently released, though ones from the tradeshow floor have been around for a while. Google it and you'll see a plethora of reviews and info.
The one thing odd is the release date. In the video from the tradeshow floor, the marketing rep said this board would be released to coincide with the Gulftown / Westmere processor. Core i7 980x is available, and there is zero mention of a release date STILL on this board. Odd that Intel drops a bomb, Asus promised a board to support it... then nothing but crickets from Asus about R3E once the chips are available through online retailers, etc.... Maybe once Fermi Ships?... who knows. It just seems they'd want to get this board out and benchmark the hell out of 980x since this targets the same audience.