ASUS Maximus III Formula
LGA1156 Motherboard Review‏

Manufacturer's Part Number: Maximus III Formula
Price: $265CDN+ Price Comparison
Manufacturer's Product Page: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
Warranty: 3 year limited warranty (with 1st year advanced RMA service)



With the launch of the Intel Lynnfield LGA1156 processors and P55 chipset, motherboard manufacturers have been given a new opportunity to woo those who viewed the Bloomfield/X58 platform as too pricey. And boy have they stepped up to the plate with a wide range of offerings. From $110CDN to over $390CDN, there are P55 motherboards for every taste and budget with over three dozen models released and another dozen on the way.

With 11 different models available at the time of this writing, ASUS is obviously fully invested in this new platform, and they certainly aren't only aiming at the budget and mainstream crowd. They have seven models above $200CDN, one of which is the ASUS P7P55D Deluxe that we reviewed last month. It won us over with its rich features list, polished execution, and impressive overclocking capabilities.

Today, we are reviewing the Maximus III Formula, a Republic of Gamers model which has been designed for even greater overclocking feats. Established as the spearhead of ASUS' enthusiast arsenal, the Republic of Gamers series motherboards have historically been one step above the rest, so we are anxious to find out whether the MIIIF can truly distinguish itself from the pack. From a specifications standpoint, this model sports a new 16+3 phase power design, DDR3-2200 capable DDR3 memory slots, 2-way CrossFireX & SLI support, a SupremeFX X-Fi 8-channel HD audio card, onboard voltage read points, a new TurboV EVO real-time overclocking processor, and a jargon-rich list of features that are designed to help you in your overclocking endeavours.

At $265, it's certainly not a cheap motherboard, but given the healthy number of P55 models in the $200-270 range, there's obviously a demand for these higher-end models.