Advanced Features of Asus Crosshair IV Extreme

[Deward]

I want to know about some advanced features of Asus Crosshair IV Extreme. I know that Asus now offers a motherboard using the technology of Hydra LucidLogix for mixing graphics cards. I am also having an idea that the Crosshair Extreme IV is in fact part of the range Republic of Gamers (ROG) from Asus, a range aimed specifically at gamers, while representing the very best from the manufacturer in terms of overclocking. But last week I heard that there are some advanced features of this motherboard.!! Since from then I was thinking to ask you people. What are advanced features of it? I am expecting that someone from your side will provide some notes related to this topic.

[Rixwel]

From a basic standpoint, the Extreme IV Crosshair is a motherboard with a socket AM3 compatible with AMD processors featuring an integrated memory controller compatible with DDR3 (all the Phenom II launched since early 2009). It uses the high-end chipset manufacturer, namely the FX 890 offers 38 lines natively PCI Express 2.0. This is complemented by the Hydra 200 chip in LucidLogix acting its part as a bridge PCI Express also offers 32 PCI Express lanes for graphics cards. First point scoring, and like other ROG boards manufacturer, the Crosshair Extreme IV is significantly larger: it is indeed formatted E-ATX (Extended ATX). Specifically, the card always measured 30.2 centimeters in height, its width depends cons of 24.5 to 27 centimeters. Before investing in such a model, it is imperative to check that your camera can accommodate an E-ATX.

[Lord of the RIG]

A double radiator covers chipsets and power supply circuits, these two blocks are connected by a heatpipe. Nasty surprise when one looks closely, there is indeed a tiny fan behind the grille. The Crosshair IV is not, by default, a passive mother board and it will not fail to notice the first ignition. The noise generated by this tiny fan is inversely proportional to the cooling it provides. The good news is that it disconnects very easily, which does not have posed any problems during our tests. The design of the card is not unlike that of other motherboards range ROG, black PCB and black design and red. The eye is automatically drawn to the PCI Express 16x, the number of 5. We can use up to 3 ports physically 16x mode, use the fourth port configuration 16x/16x/8x/8x imposing. Adding a fifth card will be in 1x mode. The spacing of the cards is done in such a way that it is possible to use four graphics cards in dual slot simultaneously. Side storage SB850 southbridge AMD offers six Serial ATA ports with management III RAID 0,1,5 and 10. Two JMicron chips extend the capabilities of storage, the first animating the two additional Serial ATA II (distinguishable gray), while the second runs two eSATA (external Serial ATA, one of two ports is used for supplying the discs directly eSATA port for models that allow it). In terms of sound, we find the back of the motherboard port S / PDIF optical type, the sound is handled on the motherboard with Realtek ALC889 chip a classic. Network side, Gigabit Ethernet is now run by an Intel chip. Sufficiently rare event on a motherboard AMD to be noticed. Side of the USB, there are a total of 12 USB 2.0 ports managed by the SB850 chipset, six of these ports are available on the front, the other six in the form of headers on the motherboard.

[Zeverto]

Note the middle ports of the motherboard the presence of an additional USB port, angled at 90 degrees. The latter, like the switch at its side, is subservient to the ROG Connect feature. Linked to this feature, we will find a Bluetooth module (Toshiba) that came with the card that is inserted on the back cover above the first switch. Two USB 3.0 ports complete the package, run like there is now used by a controller NEC. They are distinguished by their blue color. For completeness, we note the presence of a PS / 2 port for older keyboards, and a Firewire port, the last switch in the middle of these ports to perform a BIOS reset. This means that the card is already full, but these all are basic functionality.

[Gill_christ]

Beyond the classic features, the Extreme IV Crosshair is distinguished by features from the original to the novel. Some are widespread as the switches on the card for those who do not use boxes (typical situation of extreme overclocking). There are the classic power buttons and reset, and a vest in the feature "Core Unlocker". To recall the latter can try to revive inactive cores on processors like Athlon X2 or Phenom II X3. The presence of the functionality is good, but far be clear, given the price of the card processors will be used where this feature is useless. Two other small switches are present, the first side of the memory triggers the mode MemOK and the builder who tries to automatically find the operating frequency of the memory array if recalcitrant. Also note, like this Asus offers on other cards, four LEDs indicate the status of the boot process (processor, memory, graphics card, other peripherals), useful to see thereby blocking its overclocking.

[Quattro]

I would too like to add some more things about advanced features that are present in this motherboard. The last switch in the bottom of the card can switch from one BIOS to another. Two physical chips are indeed present, to keep two different versions of the BIOS settings with their own. Asus already offers a button on the front to perform a "Clear CMOS", the manufacturer probably could also deport the button on the front. Note that LED will tell you which BIOS is used.

Another feature that we had already crossed, for example on the Big Bang Fuzion MSI, pads are available directly on the motherboard to check real-time voltages from a multimeter. On the menu, CPU, CPU_PLL, memory, northbridge, southbridge and HyperTransport bus. Two points masses surrounding the bonding pads. It is indeed in the box the motherboard two sets of cables inserted here. Two cable go off the connector with plugs that can easily catch the points with a multimeter. Rather a good idea.

[TechPredator]

I am providing here an information about the ROG which is also an important when features of motherboard are considered. Most original feature ROG Connect behind which combines several technologies. The first is called Flashback USB BIOS. Simply place the BIOS that you want to flash on a flash drive (formatted as FAT16 or 32), turn off the machine, insert the key, and hold the button Connect ROG (two rings) for three seconds so the machine automatically flashes the BIOS assets (remember, two separate BIOS is present on the map). The advantage of this method is that the BIOS will be flashed without the machine is turned on. The procedure is quick, and you must be aware of its end when the LEDs do not flash. We can then start the machine normally. Alternatively, the remote monitoring. Asus provides a USB cable male rather unusual (such wiring is prohibited by the USB specification), we will insert one end into the port ROG Connect, and the other into the USB port of another Windows machine on which we will install the application ROG Connect. From this second machine, you can now access a number of features, such as startup, reset or updating the BIOS, but also things like flashing its most original BIOS remotely, including whether the system does not start (similar to the concept USB BIOS Flashback). Several monitoring options are available, tabular and diagram, and we can - especially - overclock your machine remotely and changing in real time without restarting the necessary frequencies and voltages. Sure, the audience for these features is limited, but we can only applaud Asus for their implementation that works even if the Crosshair freeze (due to overclocking too ambitious for example), it is possible to remotely restart.