ASUS Z87 Maximus VI Formula Review

Introduction

The Formula range has usually been the affordable variant of the Extreme. Retaining the performance whilst stripping away the frippery to keep the price low has been a successful venture. However, given our feelings about the Extreme we’re hoping that the Formula is anything but formulaic, but rather is a complete overhaul.

Those of you who pay attention to our reviews know that we usually are aware of what we think before we start writing, having already tested. So if you’ve got your ASUS fanboy fingers ready to flood our forum with vitriol, thankfully the Formula is a vast improvement and everything that the Extreme should have been when it arrived. So we’ve spoilt the ending somewhat, but the journey is still a fun one.

Technical Specifications

As you would expect from a ROG motherboard, the Formula is absolutely bursting with features. Indeed it speaks volumes about ASUS’ desire to rectify earlier mistakes that they have crammed quite so much into the lower end ROG model.

• CPU
  Intel® Socket 1150 for 4^th Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors
  Supports Intel® 22 nm CPU
  Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
  
  Chipset
  Intel® Z87
• 
  Memory
  4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 3100(O.C.)/3000(O.C.)/2933(O.C.)/2800(O.C.)/2666(O.C.)/2600(O.C.)/2500(O.C.)/2400(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600/1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
  Dual Channel Memory Architecture
  Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
  
  Graphics
  Integrated Graphics Processor
  Multi-VGA output support : HDMI/DisplayPort ports
  – Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz
  – Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz
  Supports Intel® InTru™ 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, Insider™
• Multi-GPU SupportSupports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLIâ„¢ Technology
  Supports AMD 3-Way CrossFireXâ„¢ Technology
• 
  Expansion Slots
  3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8 or x8/x4/x4)
  1 x mini-PCIe 2.0 x1
  3 x PCIe 2.0 x1
• Storage
  Intel® Z87 chipset :
  6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red
  Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
  Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology
  Intel® Z87 chipset :
  1 x M.2 (NGFF) Socket 2 on mPCIe Combo II expansion card(s), black
  Support M.2 (NGFF) Type 2242 SSD card (22mm x 42mm), Support PCI express 2.0 x1 and SATA 6Gb/s standards
  ASMedia® ASM1061 controller :
  4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red
• 
  LAN
  Intel® I217V, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)
• Wireless Data Network
  Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
  Supports dual band frequency 2.4/5 GHz
• BluetoothBluetooth V4.0
  Bluetooth V3.0+HS
• 
  Audio
  ROG SupremeFX Formula 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
  – Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming
  – SupremeFX Shielding Technology
  – Cirrus Logic® CS4398 DAC: 120 dB SNR, -107 dB THD+N (Max. 192 kHz/ 24 -bit)
  – TI 6120A2 high fidelity headphone amplifier
  – WIMA® film capacitors
  – ELNA® premium audio capacitors
  – High-fidelity audio OP AMP(s)
  – Differential circuit design
  Audio Feature :
  – Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection 
  – Sonic Radar
  – DTS Connect
  – Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
• 
  USB Ports
  Intel® Z87 chipset :
  4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board)
  Intel® Z87 chipset :
  8 x USB 2.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, black, 4 at mid-board)
  ASMedia® USB 3.0 controller :
  4 x USB 3.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, blue)
• 
  ROG Exclusive Features
  CrossChill (Hybrid air and liquid cooling)
  ROG Armor (including top cover and SECC steel backplate)
  mPCIe Combo II (mPCIe/M.2 combo card)
  Extreme Engine Digi+ III :
  – 8 + 2 phase power design
  – NexFETâ„¢ Power Block MOSFET
  – 60A BlackWing Chokes
  – 10K Black Metallic Capacitors
  ProbeIt
  UEFI BIOS features :
  – ROG BIOS Print
  – GPU.DIMM Post
  – Tweakers’ Paradise
  – ROG SSD Secure Erase
  ROG RAMDisk
  GameFirst II
  Extreme Tweaker
• 
  Special Features
  ASUS Dual Intelligent Processors 4 with 4-Way Optimization :
  – The tuning key perfectly consolidates ASUS-exclusive DIGI+ Power Control, TPU, EPU, and Fan Xpert 2 optimize the digital power setting, system performance, power saving and whole system cooling configuration
  CPU Level Up
  ASUS Wi-Fi GO!
  – Wi-Fi GO! Function: Cloud GO!, Media Streaming Hub, Smart Sensor Control, Remote Desktop, Remote Keyboard & Mouse, File Transfer, Capture & Send
  – Wi-Fi Engine for network sharing and connection: Client Mode, AP Mode
  – Wi-Fi GO! & NFC Remote for portable Smartphone/Tablet, supporting iOS & Android systems
  ASUS Exclusive Features :
  – GPU Boost
  – USB BIOS Flashback
  – AI Suite 3
  – Ai Charger+
  – USB Charger+
  – USB 3.0 Boost
  – Disk Unlocker
  ASUS EZ DIY :
  – ASUS O.C. Profile
  – ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
  – ASUS EZ Flash 2
  ASUS Q-Design :
  – ASUS Q-Shield
  – ASUS Q-Code
  – ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)
  – ASUS Q-Slot
  – ASUS Q-DIMM
  – ASUS Q-Connector
  Overclocking Protection :
  – ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
• 
  Back I/O Ports
  1 x DisplayPort
  1 x HDMI
  1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
  6 x USB 3.0 (blue)
  4 x USB 2.0
  1 x Optical S/PDIF out
  6 x Audio jack(s)
  1 x Clear CMOS button(s)
  1 x ROG Connect On/ Off switch(es)
• 
  Internal I/O Ports
  1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s)
  2 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 2.0 port(s)
  1 x TPM connector(s)
  10 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
  1 x CPU Fan connector(s)
  1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s)
  3 x Chassis Fan connector(s)
  3 x Optional Fan connector(s)
  1 x S/PDIF out header(s)
  1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
  1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
  1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
  1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP)
  1 x System panel(s)
  1 x DirectKey Button(s)
  1 x DRCT header(s)
  1 x MemOK! button(s)
  10 x ProbeIt Measurement Points
  3 x Thermal sensor connector(s)
  1 x Power-on button(s)
  1 x Reset button(s)
  1 x FastBoot switch(es)
  1 x ROG extension (ROG_EXT) header(s)
  1 x mPCIe Combo II connector(s)
• 
  Accessories
  User’s manual
  I/O Shield
  8 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)
  1 x ASUS 2T2R dual band Wi-Fi moving antennas (Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compliant)
  1 x SLI bridge(s)
  1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1)
  1 x 12 in 1 ROG Cable Label(s)
  1 x mPCIe Combo II card(s) with dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth v4.0/3.0+HS module
  1 x ROG Door Hanger(s)
• BIOS
  64Mb UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.7, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI5.0a Multi-Language BIOS
• 
  Form Factor
  ATX Form Factor
  12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )