ASUS Rampage II Extreme X58 Motherboard Review

Conclusion

When the first images of the prototype Rampage II Extreme started appearing a few months ago, it was clear then that ASUS was creating an enthusiast product that would be the benchmark for all X58 motherboards. Outfitted with a laundry-list of features, an imposing cooling system, option-rich BIOS, and countless accessories, the Rampage II Extreme certainly looks good on paper…and we are happy to report that it is just as good in real life.

After reviewing this motherboard over the last few weeks, it is pretty clear that ASUS has largely managed to recreate the magic that was first seen with the original Rampage Extreme, which is widely regarded as the finest overclocking-oriented motherboard ever built. Yes, at the moment, all X58 motherboards are limited to a fairly narrow BLCK range, but once the platform starts maturing it is nearly assured that the RIIE’s inherent capabilities will lead to some even more impressive overclocking results than what we achieved. Given the intuitive BIOS and excellent Extreme Tweaker section, even educated novices should find it relatively easy to tweak all system settings and achieve some solid overclocking results of their own.

Some people will certainly take exception with the Rampage II Extreme’s price tag. However, from a historical point-of-view, all X58 motherboards are very expensive. Keep in mind, the Bloomfield/X58 combo was always meant to be a high-end platform with no budget-friendly aspirations. As the finely-tuned supercar of the current X58 crop, the RIIE’s price is actually fairly reasonable given the one-of-a-kind overclocking features and the quality of the bundle. The original Rampage Extreme found no lack of buyers, and given time, this new model will likely prove as popular.

The Rampage II Extreme is the complete package and ASUS has done an excellent job catering to the desires and needs on the enthusiast community. So if the worldwide economic meltdown has not hit you too hard, and you are in the market for a highly-capable, overclocking-friendly motherboard, you owe it to yourself to give the ASUS Rampage II extreme some serious consideration.



Pros

- Exceptional overclocking capabilities.
- CrossFireX & 3-Way SLI support.
- Great cooling system.
- Very good layout.
- Top-notch BIOS.
- Supreme temperature & voltage monitoring capabilities.
- Innovative Tweak It & ProbeIt features.
- Impressive software suite.


Cons

- More SATA & USB ports would be welcome.
- Why do we need a PCI Expansion Bracket? Those ports should be on the rear I/O panel.
- Expansion slots endangered by multi-GPU setups.
- IOH cooler lacks a little pizazz.

Our thanks to ASUS for making this review possible!