ASUS Maximus VIII Extreme (Intel Z170) Motherboard Review

Introduction

The crown jewel of ASUS's Intel Z170 motherboard lineup is the ROG Maximus VIII Extreme. Like other motherboard manufacturers, ASUS divides their motherboards into segments aimed at different consumers.

ASUS's Republic of Gamers (ROG) lineup usually leads the way followed by their mainstream offerings. ROG motherboards are built to target enthusiast gamers with unique features and hardcore hardware. While gaming might be in the name, the ROG line is also known for strong overclocking capabilities and unique features showcased in many ways I will cover shortly.

The Maximus Extreme is usually ASUS's pinnacle product, and customers have come to expect a lot from this particular motherboard model. The Maximus VIII Extreme comes with the latest features encompassing not only connectivity but also gaming and overclocking. The Maximus VIII Extreme does come in as one of the most expensive Z170 motherboards on the market, so let's see what it's got!

Specifications

The Maximus VIII Extreme is chalk full of the latest features. For starters, half of the eight backpanel USB ports are USB 3.1 (including one type-C port) and the rest are USB 3.0. The motherboard also has official support for Thunderbolt 3.0 through the type-C port.

For wired internet connectivity, ASUS provides Intel's latest 1Gbit NIC, and a 3x3 Wireless AC/BT4 card that can reach speeds of 1.3 Gbit. The motherboard supports 2-way SLI and 4-way CrossFireX. There is also a full-size 32Gb/s M.2 slot and a U.2 connector, so you have more interface options.

Pricing

The Maximus VIII Extreme is the most expensive Z170 motherboard, chiming in right under $500 at $499.99 on Newegg at the time of writing.