ASUS ROG Zenith Extreme Review

👤by David Mitchelson Comments 📅08-12-17
A Closer Look

As is tradition, let’s take a closer look from the top of the motherboard down.


There’s AMD’s TR4 socket with the retention bracket lifted. In total there are a little over 4000 pins, the same number as their EPYC server socket, which will feed the two active Threadripper dies on each CPU package.

Also noteworthy is the very robust cooling solution for the VRMs arrayed around the socket. A sizeable heatpipe connects both heatsinks, with the one above the I/O zone being actively cooled thanks to a small fan. Assuming ROG have done their homework there should be no VRM-specific temperature issues when overclocking.


On the opposite side to the I/O we can see the four addition slots which allow the motherboard to support eight DDR4 DIMMs in quad-channel mode. You’ll also note a fifth slot slightly separated from the rest… that’s the ASUS DIMM.2 slot, which holds a bracket on which you can install M.2 storage drives. Currently something of a space-saving device, we wouldn’t be shocked if functionality was expanded out to include other features in the fullness of time.

This position zone is also the unorthodox position of two 8-pin CPU power connectors. Although physically distant from the socket compared to the usual place in the top-left of the board, it makes some sense from a space-saving perspective as well as improving cable management. Plus, it de-clutters the area directly around the CPU socket, which is no bad thing considering how exotic some of the cooling solutions may get.

Furthermore, note the PCI-Express DIP switches to selectively disable slots, potentially a lifesaver for troubleshooting multi-GPU configurations when one or more card is water-cooled. You’ll also note the compact USB 3.1 Gen2 Header, for the as-yet uncommon chassis which support it.


Moving further down the edge we come to the usual spot for storage I/O. Six SATA 3 and one U.2 port are located here – not exceptional amongst high-end motherboards – in addition to a USB 3.1 Gen1 front panel header. Under the ROG logo is another M.2 slot supporting drives up to 80mm long, effectively hidden away.


An overhead shot of the same zone more clearly shows the water cooling headers as well as a USB header. Of interest to extreme overclockers, this location also contains tools for LN2 OCs (including a switch to alleviate the ‘cold boot bug’) and a means for booting with known safe settings.

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