ConclusionWe came into this review ready to tear this motherboard apart. We had overly high expectations since this m-ATX motherboard was not your typical home theater PC platform, so we thought it shouldn't be treated as one. Instead, we thought the Rampage II Gene should be treated as we treat all other motherboards that don't have onboard video and are advertised under the ASUS ROG nomenclature. Even with this mindset, the ASUS Rampage II Gene still managed to impress us.
The layout is superb from fan header placement to the PCI-E 16X expansion slot layout to the CPU socket area. ASUS has done a fantastic job implementing space saving features at the same time not compromising with anything. Despite measuring in at 23+ square inches smaller than a typical ATX motherboard, the Gene packs all the same features, capabilities, and amenities that the larger boards do. The effective chipset heat sinks don't interfere with CPU cooling installation and provide ample cooling. The heat sinks do need a little bit of active cooling in order to truly be considered capable, but even when that supportive airflow is removed, the heat sinks hold their own.  The one major disappointment is yet again the software package. ASUS is notorious with being overly ambitious with their software package and falling short. The software that comes bundled with the Rampage II Gene is no different. We understand the need for the marketing department to get energy saving features included so they can advertise such features in an energy conscious climate, but transparently disguising such features with a rather ineffective piece of software like EPU-6 on a motherboard designed for enthusiasts is quite insulting. TurboV is a nice step in the right direction for the enthusiast market, but further work is needed to join the likes of EVGA with their E-LEET overclocking software. ASUS needs to recognize who their market is for a motherboard and include an appropriate - simplified - software package for that market.
Software aside, there isn't much else we can complain about. The issues we encountered with the Elpida Hyper based memory kits can hopefully be cleared up with BIOS updates. We are confident the ASUS ROG team will be able to accomplish this task in a rather short period of time. The overclocking results speak for themselves and the ability for the little Rampage II Gene to handle such a huge system load that our overclocked i7 965 processor threw at it is commendable. We were caught off guard with how easy our i7 920 processor was able to climb the base clock ladder, but more than pleased to see how far it went. For the enthusiast that needs to have a small footprint in their case, but demands all the overclocking and potential power of a full size motherboard, the ASUS Rampage II Gene is definitely a top contender for your money. The best part about that statement is that you don't have to spend a relatively large amount of that money to make the Gene yours...as far as i7 motherboards go anyway. Pros:- m-ATX with all the features ATX offers
- Despite a small footprint and tight real estate, excellent layout
- Overclocks like the big boys, and handles a heavily overclocked i7 very well
- For the first time ever, an i7 motherboards price is in the positive column
- Overall a very well thought out and executed m-ATX motherboard
Cons:- The software package needs refining and simplification
- Like all other X58 boards, passive chipset cooling needs active fan support
- Potential compatibility issue with Elpida Hyper memory
We would like to thank all of the folks at ASUS, particularly the ROG group, for providing us with such a robust little m-ATX motherboard.
If you have questions or comments about this review please go to the Rampage II Gene Comment Thread | 
