ASUS launches new X399 and X299 boards ready for HEDT CPUs

CES 2019 - ASUS has chosen the Consumer Electronics Show as the time to launch its new ROG series motherboards, both prepared for respective HEDT processors from AMD in the new Ryzen Threadripper 2000 series and the Intel Core-X range.

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The new motherboards are redesigned in a few ways including power delivery, but this is the first time ASUS has stepped up to the HEDT motherboard mantle with similar features on both of the X399 and X299 motherboards which is a great things to see. Both boards support up to 128GB of DDR4 and support 3-way SLI and CFX multi-GPU configurations and a boat load of connectivity, features, and other technologies.

Both of the new ASUS motherboards feature 10GbE network connectivity, and the usual slew of USB connectivity on the rear.

ASUS ROG Rampage VI Extreme Omega

Intel has its current-gen LGA 2066 socket that supports both the Core-X 7000 and Core-X 9000 series processors, with the new ASUS ROG Rampage VI Extreme Omega including 2 x 8-pin power connectors joined by the usual 24-pin ATX power connector. There are 8 x DIMM slots that will support up to 128GB of DDR4-4266MHz, which when paired with a beasty Core-X 9000 series processor, will pack quite the punch.

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The company is using an 8-phase VRM with 16 power stages, with ASUS using only the best premium chokes, Capps, MOSFETs, and the IR3555 PowIRStage ICs that provide the best of the best for overclocking at levels that mere mortals don't touch. ASUS is meticulous with its cooling with a huge VRM heat sink and continued coverage for maximum heat dissipation. ASUS has used an active fan cooling the motherboard that is hidden behind the heat sink shroud that covers the VRMs, for additional cooling.

ASUS ROG Zenith Extreme Alpha

ASUS has stayed closed to the original design of the ROG Zenith Extreme, where this time with the Alpha model keeping the TR4 socket in the middle and supporting ALL of AMD's Ryzen Threadripper CPUs. There are 8 x DIMM slots for up to 128GB of DDR4-3600MHz, while 2 x 8-pin power connectors power the board alongside the usual 24-inch ATX power connector.

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The company is using an 8-phase VRM with 16 power stages, with ASUS using only the best premium chokes, Capps, MOSFETs, and the IR3555 PowIRStage ICs that provide the best of the best for overclocking at levels that mere mortals don't touch. ASUS is meticulous with its cooling with a huge VRM heat sink and continued coverage for maximum heat dissipation. ASUS has used an active fan cooling the motherboard that is hidden behind the heat sink shroud that covers the VRMs, for additional cooling.

ASUS is using plenty of PCIe connectivity with 4 x PCIe 3.0 x16 ports (x16/x8/x16/x8), 1 x PCIe 3.0 x4, and dual M.2 slots. Both of the M.2 slots have a metal heat sink, with ASUS throwing in a DIMM.2 slot as well. The PCH is covered with RGBs and rocks an ROG Live Dash screen on the I/O cover that will display different things like CPU clock speeds, temperatures, and voltage.