ASUS Crosshair III Formula AM3 Motherboard Review

Conclusion

So let’s wrap it up. The Crosshair III Formula features everything we have come to expect from a Republic of Gamer’s board and then some. To make matters even better, this motherboard is opening up a new world for AMD users who want to achieve even better overclocking results than previously obtained, and with a few world records under green machine’s belt already, that is some excellent news. We have been waiting for the RoG series to be brought over to the AMD platform and we are happy to report that the wait was worth it.

This board embraces a very practical layout, allowing users to utilize every addition that it features without running into space and fitment issues seen on many cheaper alternatives. It also includes features designed to make life easier for both overclockers and novices alike. Minor things such as start/reset and CMOS buttons on the board seem like gimmicks until you realize how frustrating it is without them. The CPU Level Up should also prove to be a boon for those of you looking to get your feet wet in the wonderful world of overclocking. In addition, the CIIIF's built in extras, such as the LCD Poster and MemOK! mean less time troubleshooting and more time actually using your PC.

The ROG boards are designed to make computing and overclocking less of a headache and more of sport. One of the top standout features of the board is in the BIOS. It is impeccable, allowing adjustments of quite literally every single setting that could possibly be tweaked while being laid out in a user friendly way; suiting everyone from novice to expert.

All these additions do demand a bit of a price premium; but let’s be realistic, you wouldn’t expect to pay the price of a generic compact for a luxury sedan, and with the Crosshair III Formula that is what you are getting: a BMW in a market full of Kias. It makes your journey comfortable, brings the fun back into the hobby of overclocking the AMD platform, and when you really want to let loose it is right there with you, not ready to slow down until you do. Though we harp on the cost, in comparison it isn't priced much higher than most of the competition. Sitting at under $250CAD, it actually makes it relatively affordable for a top end 790FX board, and it doesn't seem to carry the typical jaw dropping markup that the R.O.G series is often known for.

At the end of the day, the Crosshair 3 Formula is out to impress and it does a very good job of doing just that. It is great to see Asus willing to put so much effort into developing such quality products that cater to select market. That said, this board does have a practical purpose for even regular users wanting to dabble in taking the system beyond its normal boundaries, but let’s be honest - this board will not settle for running stock, it demands more.


Pros

Feature packed BIOS that skimps on nothing
Priced accordingly (little ROG markup)
Willing and solid overclocker
Well laid out PCB
Cooling improvements that actually work, and work well!


Cons

Lack of SATA Connections (Only 5)
Dual PCIe x16 instead of adopting the growing trend towards 3 or 4 PCIe x16 slots.
DIMM slots won't allow for tall ramsinks with large air cooler