Which ASUS motherboard is right for you?
Which ASUS motherboard is right for you?
ASUS is the number one motherboard vendor in the world by market share, and its boards have long been associated with high performance and quality. The good news is that they fit a wide range of budgets and needs as well, so regardless of whether you want a rig for watching movies or running the latest games at 4K, there will be a board for you.
The Diehard Enthusiast
Do you just want the absolute best? Are you looking to build a machine that will tear through any game at maximum resolution and settings, and then some? Then maybe the ASUS ROG Maximus IX Extreme is for you. With an integrated Bitspower monoblock, dedicated temperature and flow rate sensors, and a built-in leak detector, it is every liquid-cooling enthusiast’s dream and an excellent complement to any ultra-high-end overclocking rig.
If you don’t need such extensive liquid-cooling support, the Maximus IX Formula and Code will suit you well. They both come with ROG Armor and very similar features, but the Formula comes with additional luxuries like the CrossChill EK II cooler, a full-length motherboard backplate, a built-in I/O shield, and more lighting zones.
On top of that, the Formula boasts a more refined aesthetic touch in the form of two brushed metal plates built into the VRM heatsink and a gunmetal gray M.2 cover that blends in better with the rest of the board, a sign of its more premium pedigree. However, the same enthusiast-grade DNA lies at the heart of both boards, and you'll find things like a 10-phase power design, SupremeFX audio with dedicated op-amps and DAC, and onboard 2x2 MU-MIMO Wi-Fi.
A small step down and you arrive at the Maximus IX Apex, which sheds some ports and features like onboard Wi-Fi, but still brings the same enthusiast-oriented focus to the table at a more palatable price.
Here are the official price points of the mentioned boards, but hit the links to get the latest retailer prices too:-
- ASUS ROG Maximus IX Extreme - SRP is S$1,149, check latest retailer price
- ASUS ROG Maximus IX Formula - SRP is S$679, check latest retailer price
- ASUS ROG Maximus IX Code - SRP is S$609, check latest retailer price
- ASUS ROG Maximus IX Apex - SRP is S$559, check latest retailer price
The Mad Fragger
But perhaps you’re only concerned with landing those headshots as the gunslinging McCree in Overwatch, or executing the perfect 1v5 clutch in Counter Strike: Global Offensive. You’re a gamer, first and foremost, and what you want is a snazzy board with features that will help you excel.
The ROG Strix boards include everything from entry-level to mid-range models, but they all come with gaming-oriented features such as Sonic Studio, which provides things like surround sound emulation and in-game audio enhancements, and the GameFirst IV network management software. In addition, you get onboard Wi-Fi and customizable onboard Aura Sync RGB lighting for the convenience and good looks.
The Strix series also hosts mini-ITX, micro-ATX, and full-sized ATX boards, so you’re covered regardless of whether you’re shooting for a small and unintrusive rig or a multi-GPU tower PC.
The board pictured above is the ASUS RIG Strix Z270E Gaming and you can keep tabs on its latest retail pricing in our Price Guide here.
The One That Never Sleeps
On the other hand, maybe your top priority is reliability and stability. You need a system that will last through whatever abuse you throw at it, no questions asked. ASUS’ TUF series was designed with this in mind, and you’ll be able to obsessively monitor and control things like temperature and fan speeds with 10 onboard fan headers and 12 thermal sensors on the TUF Z270 Mark 1.
The TUF motherboards feature heavy-duty, military-grade components that are built to stand up to long hours of use, so these are the boards to get for your 24/7 rig. You can find its latest retail price in our Price Guide.
The Utilitarian
What if you don’t care for all the bells-and-whistles that come with a gaming motherboard? ASUS has got something for you as well in the form of its Prime series boards. These include models based on Intel’s B250, H270, and Z270 chipsets, and are focused on laying a firm foundation for a functional machine that doesn’t break the bank.
The Prime Z270-A is a great starting point for any system, and it boasts a wide range of storage and connectivity options. Its conservative design embodies its no-nonsense ethos, and you only pay for the features you really need. It lists for S$329, but retail prices are friendlier.
For the full list of ASUS 200-series motherboard models and prices, you can refer to this discussion thread in our forum.