Three-Way X99 LGA 2011-v3 ATX Motherboard Shootout

ASRock X99 Extreme4 Software

ASRock’s A-Tuning software includes a few basic modes that can save you about a watt (Power Saving) or keep Turbo Boost “on” more often (Performance mode), plus advanced modes with factory-programmed overclock settings and auto-tuned overclock settings.

Programed overclocks include 4 GHz at 1.15 V (292 W full-system in our CPU load test), 4.2 GHz at 1.17 V (315 W), 4.4 GHz at 1.25 V (384 W), and 4.5 GHz at 1.30 V (crashing at around 430 W system power).

The auto-tuning method found a supposedly-stable 4.3 GHz at 1.1 V, but I managed to crash it with an AVX-optimized run of Prime95.

A-Tuning’s Tools menu includes submenus for most of the board’s included software, such as XFast RAM (RAM disk), XFast LAN packet prioritization, FAN-Tastic Tuning, and USB Key security.

OC Tweaker gives users access to firmware-level clock and voltage controls from Windows. Our small changes worked, and were instantly recognized by CPU-Z.

A-Tuning’s System Info menu shows all of the clock, thermal, and voltage levels that we care about when overclocking, also providing quick access to a visual representation of installed parts that can help troubleshoot if something isn’t connected properly. Unfortunately, the visual map did not identify our memory modules.

Seen in A-Tuning, ASRock X-Fast LAN is an interface for cFos’ prioritization software. X99 Extreme4 software also includes the original version of that interface.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
  • dgingeri
    "LGA 2111-v3"??

    Did something change?
    Reply
  • west7
    In the 3D gaming page it should been i7-5760x not i7-4790 and fix the LGA 2111-v3 typo and why there in no SLI/crossfire test?!
    Reply
  • Amdlova
    12 Phases Six Phases Eight Phases what!
    Reply
  • Daniel Ladishew
    Can't wait for them to review some of the other manufacturer's products in the X99 category. The ASUS board especially.
    Reply
  • chiefpiggy
    Noob question: would my socket 1150 i5 4670k work with one of these motherboards or do I need one of the Haswell-E processors?
    Reply
  • sportfreak23
    14199415 said:
    Can't wait for them to review some of the other manufacturer's products in the X99 category. The ASUS board especially.

    +1
    Reply
  • InvalidError
    14199118 said:
    "LGA 2111-v3"??

    Did something change?
    LGA 2011 uses DDR3 while LGA2011-3 uses DDR4 so the sockets are different to prevent people from putting the wrong CPU in the wrong motherboard.

    I think there were other changes but this is the big obvious one.
    Reply
  • firefoxx04
    it should be mentioned (and maybe it was, just not on the first page) that you only get the 40 pci e lanes if you purchase the two higher tiered haswell-E chips. The lowest end model does not support 40 lanes, I think it supports 28.
    Reply
  • dgingeri
    I was commenting on the typo of "2111" vs "2011".
    Reply
  • vincevdc
    The MB grid on page one shows that the MSI X99S Gaming 7 mb has an Intel Z97 Express chipset. This is a typo...
    Reply