The Republic Of Gamers' packaging
We will all be familiar with ASUS's choice of packaging by now for their Republic Of Gamers series of motherboards. The motherboard is packaged in an attractive and vibrant red cardboard box that depicts the gazing eye of the ROG logo at the top left and the motherboard's name below in a reflective silver finish. The box is slightly smaller than the Extreme's given the board itself is 1 inch narrower but that doesn't detract it away from the heritage we have grown accustomed to expecting from the exclusive red ROG box.
The front of the box
The bottom displays a few icons that show the board supporting Intel Core i7 on LGA 1366 socket including the latest 6 core CPUs, Nvidia SLI and ATI CrossFireX. The box also has a handle at the top which may come useful when transporting.
Turning to the back
At the back, ASUS list the technical specifications, albeit not all of it (check the specification page for more detail). These are nicely laid out in tables and lists the main aspects of the board in 7 languages, showing the global appeal for this enthusiast board.
A closer look at the illustrations
Looking closer, we can also see some of the key selling features such as ROG Connect, Intel Ethernet in combination with GameFirst, SupremeFX X-Fi2 audio and support for 3-way SLI/CrossFireX. Illustrations are attached to each to give buyers an idea of their functionality.
Opening the front lid
As with the Rampage and Maximus III Extreme packaging, the front cover acts as a lid attached using Velcro patches. Upon opening the flap, the motherboard is revealed underneath. Again, the colour theme is evident throughout, using the popular red and black that just never seems to get old. A clear plastic cover protects the motherboard and teases potential buyers. Overall, the box gives a sense of quality and professionalism that hopefully the motherboard can deliver as well.
The lid
The flap has typically held more in depth information on some of the board's unique feature and the Formula doesn't disappoint in this regard. Each feature is followed by a small description, repeated in 6 other languages. Pictures accompany some of them to show their implementation. Kaspersky Anti-Virus is also bundled freely so users can get a head start during installation. At the bottom, ASUS present its main overclocking features through icons. These include iROG, Probelt, Extreme Tweaker, CPU Level UP, Voltiminder LED and Loadline Calibration. Although targeted primarily as a gaming motherboard, the flap is titled "Ultimate Overclocking Performance".
