ASUS ROG Z370 Maximus X Formula Review

Up Close

There is more and more black creeping into the ROG packaging of late. How long before the red disappears entirely? The motherboard looks as it did on our specifications page before, so let’s get a little closer.

  
  

With the inclusion of a built in hybrid cooling solution alongside the larger IO shield the CPU area is extremely busy. If you ever needed a reason to take the plunge into an AIO then now is definitely the time and the Maximus X Formula gives you all the tools to do so with its selection of dedicated 12v water pump headers and plentiful fan headers.

  

It would be easy to look at the PCI Express 3.0 slots on the Formula and suggest it should have more, but nearly everyone runs a single GPU and with the SupremeFX audio onboard too there is little need for more than a single slot, much less three full length and three x1 slots. The M.2 sockets are neatly tucked beneath the covering, and the ROG logo above the primary PCI Express slot has a party trick up its sleeve that you might have spotted from the image at the top of our page.

  

ASUS were one of the first companies to put RGB LED Strip headers on their PCBs and the Maximus X Formula shows how quickly this technological idea has expanded with headers everywhere. It’s not only RGB strips that can be found on the PCB either as ASUS have included the full range of CMOS Clear, reset and onboard power buttons that are a boon to anyone testing their system for peak performance.

  
  
  

Our love for the ASUS built-in IO shield hasn’t diminished with familiarity. It lends an air of solidity to the motherboard which the “slice your fingers open squeezing it into the case” style doesn’t give.

You can see a glimpse of the lighting below, but lets look at it more detail.