Asus Rampage III Extreme Socket 1366/ Intel X58/ 3-Way SLI & CrossFireX/ SATA3&USB3.0/ WiFi/ A&GbE Motherboard

by Asus

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 14.3 x 12.9 x 5 inches ; 6.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B003H2AQG6
• Item model number: RAMPAGE III EXTREME
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 13, 2010

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Want the best performance from the X58 platform? Get the most extreme ROG motherboard to date.

Made for the most hardcore performance enthusiasts, the ASUS Republic of Gamers Rampage III Extreme is designed from the ground up to satisfy virtually all of your overclocking cravings. Designed to be the best motherboard for your next ultimate rig, the RIIIE is designed from the ground up with performance tweaking features and capabilities to achieve new overclocking and benchmark world records. Locked and loaded with advanced overclocking features such as ROG Connect and Loadline calibration, reaching extreme speeds is now faster and easier.

With support for up to DDR3 2200 (overclocked), Intel 32nm 6-core CPU support, and Quad CrossFireX/3-Way SLI support, RIIIE is the place to start when building your next ultimate rig.

ASUS Xtreme Design with User Friendly Layout. View larger.

Wide Array of Inputs and Outputs. View larger.

Key Features

• Supports Intel Core i7 Processor/ Core i7 Extreme Edition Processor with LGA1366 socket (32nm 6-core LGA1366 CPU Ready)
• DDR3 2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600/1333/1066 6 x DIMM, Max. 24 GB Memory Support
• Quad CrossFireX and 3-Way SLI support for the ultimate gaming graphics experience
• State-of-the-art Extreme Engine Digi+ (digital CPU PWM design) for the ultimate reliability at extreme speeds
• USB BIOS Flashback with super-precise voltage tuning intervals for precise and optimal overclocking settings - in real-time
• ROG Connect provides comprehensive and complete tweaking /monitoring through your other PC via USB
• RC Bluetooth lets you change BIOS settings and monitor system status through smartphones* via built-in Bluetooth v2.1+EDR
• Intel Gigabit LAN networking for faster ethernet performance
• TRUE SATA 6 Gb/s and USB 3.0 provide transfer speeds up to 2x faster than SATA 3Gb/s and 10x faster than USB 2.0

Reviews and Awards: Editor's Choice - "...ASUS Rampage III Extreme brings an abundance of features, ease of use, stability, overclockability, innovation, and qalit to market, proving this motherboard is for those who want the very best." - Pureoverclock.com

Learn More

Extreme Engine Digi+

Powerful combination of analog and digital design elements Extreme Engine Digi+ equipped with high performance digital VRM design can easily achieve the ultimate performance with adjustable CPU PWM frequency. It expedites heat dissipation and achieves better electric conduction keeping critical components reliable. Now you'll be able to push your spanking new Intel CPU to the limit, hitting benchmark scores that others only dream of. Extreme Engine Digi+ balances the need for voltage and the desire for rock solid performance to bring the ultimate user experience.

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ROG Connect

Plug and Overclock - Tweak it the hardcore way! Monitor the status of your desktop PC and tweak its parameters in real-time via a notebook—just like a race car engineer—with ROG Connect. ROG Connect links your main system to a notebook through a USB cable, allowing you to view real-time POST code and hardware status readouts on your notebook, as well as make on-the-fly parameter adjustments at a purely hardware level. ROG Connect even allows you to flash your BIOS from the notebook, which means that you can OC your system to the max without any fear of permanently bricking the motherboard due to a corrupted BIOS.

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RC Bluetooth

Smashes through all the barriers of conventional overclocking! Still overclocking the old-fashioned way? Let RC Bluetooth bring you the whole new way of overclocking! Just simply push the button from the Back I/O on the RC Bluetooth card, overclockers can real-time monitor the desktop PC system status & tweak its parameters - such as voltages and frequency on the fly. When users want to use ordinary bluetooth functions, just simply push the button once again & enjoy all the wireless convenience brought from RC Bluetooth.

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Loadline Calibration

Optimal power boost for extreme CPU overclocking! Maintaining ample voltage support for the CPU is critical during overclocking. The Loadline Calibration ensures stable and optimal CPU voltage under heavy loading. It helps overclockers enjoy the motherboard's ultimate overclocking capabilities and benchmark scores without having to worry about vDroop.

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USB BIOS Flashback

Refreshing the BIOS couldn't be easier! USB BIOS Flashback is a new and convenient way to flash the BIOS. When flashing the BIOS, there is no need to enter the BIOS or the operating system; just plug the thumb drive into the ROG Connect port & push the ROG Connect button for 2 seconds, BIOS will be automatically flashed under standby power. USB BIOS Flashback gives you the peace-of-mind and convenience for those extreme overclocking sessions.

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ProbeIt

Get all hands-on with hardware-based overclocking ProbeIt takes the guesswork out of locating the motherboard´s measurement points, identifying them clearly in the form of 8 sets of detection points so you´ll know exactly where to get quick yet accurate readings using a multimeter.

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iROG

Intelligent multiple control at hand The iROG is a special IC which enables several ROG key functions that gives users full overclocking capabilities of the motherboard at any stage. This design allows advanced user control and management to be processed purely at a hardware level. iROG offers state-of-the-art control and efficiency as well as ease of system maintenance during overclocking.

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Warranty

The Rampage III Extreme carries a 3 year limited product warranty. ASUS product warranty is based on the serial number printed on the box.

What's in the Box

The entire ASUS ROG Rampage III Extreme package contains the following:

ROG Rampage III Extreme motherboard

1 x ROG Connect cable

1 x ProbeIt cable set

1 x 3-Way SLI Bridge

1 x SLI Cable

1 x CrossFire Cable

1 x 2 in 1 ASUS Q-Connector Kit

3 x 2-in-1 SATA 3Gb/s cables

1 x 2-in-1 SATA 6Gb/s cables

1 x 2-port USB2.0 + ESATA module

1 x I/O Shield

1 x Thermal Sensor Cable Pack

1 x Cable Ties Pack

1 x ROG theme label

1 x 12-in-1 ROG Cable Label

1 x Optional Fan-Thermal Module

1 x RC Bluetooth card (Bluetooth V2.0/V2.1+EDR, RC Bluetooth On/Off Switch)

Support Disc: Drivers, ASUS PC Probe II, ASUS AI Suite, ASUS Update, Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Futuremark 3DMark Vantage Advanced Edition, ASUS TurboV EVO Utility

Specifications: ASUS ROG Rampage III Extreme Motherboard

Model:	Rampage III Extreme
CPU Socket	LGA 1366 for Intel Core i7 Processor Extreme Edition/Core i7 Processor
Chipset	Intel X58 /ICH10R
Memory	6 x DIMM, Max. 24GB DDR3 2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600/1333/1066 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory - Triple channel memory architecture
Power Phase	ROG Extreme Engine Digi+ (8 CPU + 3 QPI/DRAM + 3 NB + 3 Memory Phases) with ML Caps on CPU, Memory and QPI respectively
Expansion Slots	4 PCIe 2.0 x16, support x16; x16/x16; x16/x8/x8 and x8/x8/x8/x8 configurations 1 x PCIe x4 1 x PCI 2.2
Multi-GPU	ATI Quad-GPU CrossFireX / NVIDIA 3-Way SLI
Gbit LAN	Gigabit Intel LAN
Audio	8-ch HD, DTS, Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection
Storage	2x SATA 6 Gb/s 7x SATA 3Gb/s 1x eSATA
USB	9x USB 2.0 + 2x USB 3.0/2.0
1394a Firewire	2 ports
Overclocking Features	ROG Connect RC Bluetooth ROG Extreme Engine Digi+ ProbeIt iROG Extreme Tweaker BIOS Flashback with onboard switch button USB BIOS Flashback Loadline Calibration
ROG Extreme Overclocking kit	LN2 Mode PCIe x16 Lane Switch Q_Reset Double Power Supply with dual 8-pin (CPU) and dual 4-pin (VGA) molex power connectors
Intelligent Overclocking Tools	ASUS AI Booster Utility Overclocking Profile
Overclocking Protection	COP EX (Component Overheat Protection - EX) Voltiminder LED ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
BIOS	16 Mb Flash ROM AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.5, ACPI2.0a Multi-Language BIOS
Form Factor	ATX Form Factor, 12 inch x 10.6 inch

All specifications are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers. Products may not be available in all markets.
PCB color and bundled software versions are subject to change without notice.
Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies.

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Product Description

Asus Rampage III Extreme Socket 1366/ Intel X58/ 3-Way SLI & CrossFireX/ SATA3&USB3.0/ Wi-Fi/ A&GbE Motherboard

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great, September 5, 2010

By 

Jeff Swartz "SJ" (Arvada, Co USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Asus Rampage III Extreme Socket 1366/ Intel X58/ 3-Way SLI & CrossFireX/ SATA3&USB3.0/ WiFi/ A&GbE Motherboard (Personal Computers)

Manual is lacking as of this post:
No mention of the BIOS Marvell raid setup keys Ctrl-M (SATA 3.0).
No mention of installing the optional thermal module
Setup for system panel connectors section precedes Q-connector section (backwards)
Excessive usage of acronyms without first indicating what they stand for.
Missing explanations for many of the board features.
Memory QVL is way out of date and most triple channel memories don't even exist.


Optional Northbridge thermal module not compatible with my Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler.
The Northbridge runs extremely hot (140F) with passive cooling.
I took the thermal module to the grinder (to mod it) so I could use the supplied fan and my Noctua cooler.

If you setup a raid on the Sata 2.0 port using the Intel Storage Matrix, don't use the supplied ASUS
Intel drivers. These drivers will tell you that one of your drives is going bad when it really isn't.
I can't tell you the headache that this caused. Instead d/l Intel Rapid Storage drivers v9.6.0.1014.
The raid controller doesn't report the drives S.M.A.R.T. data (This is very bad!!).

Such an expensive board but it only has 1 USB and 1 eSATA header (which are intended for the optional USB/eSATA PCI adapter). If your case (i.e. Coolermaster Sniper) has four front USB connectors and an eSATA connector then, you will need to purchase additional parts (i.e. NZXT Internal USB HUB) to utilize all the USBs. I didn't find the NZXT hub compatible with several USB devices.

Overall the board was easy to overclock and is extremely stable.
I think this board is a bit over priced.

System:
Case: Coolermaster Sniper Black Edition SGC-6000-KXN1-GP
Cooling: Noctua NH-D14
Power Supply: Corsair HX1000W
CPU: i7-980x
Memory: Super Talent Chrome Series DDR3-1600 6GB
Video: ZOTAC GeForce GTX 480
Burner: Lite-On iHAS524 24X SATA
Keyboard: Logitech Gaming Keyboard G110
Drives: Raid-0 Samsung SpinPoint F3 HD502HJ

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great board Great Features - Overheat Problems, August 29, 2010

By 

Daniel - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Asus Rampage III Extreme Socket 1366/ Intel X58/ 3-Way SLI & CrossFireX/ SATA3&USB3.0/ WiFi/ A&GbE Motherboard (Personal Computers)

the motherboard is beautifully packaged a lot of useful accessories as described was easy to install everything :)
installed the optional active heatsink and everything was awesome, turned it on and everything was good until i checked the temps:
the IOH [aka north bridge] temps was high got to 100C in few minutes and then my computer turned off in order to prevent damage to my computer then i did few things:
moved the GPU from the first to the third slot [as far as i can from the IOH] and then got the active heatsink off and replaced his TIM with normal one [not pre applied TIM]... then the temps got better - 62C at Ideal - lets say not great but can't do any damage to anything but now because of it the Processor is overheating and everything is crapped out so yeah it gets 3 stars since it doesn't happens to everyone just a crappy luck of mine so here is the solution:
I searched the error: "IOH Oveheat!" and i saw that this motherboard has issues with the thermal compound that asus placed then basiclly what i need to do is take off the whole motherboard out of my case take the passive cooling off and replace the TIM which takes hours so yeah i will do that when i'll buy an aftermarket cooling for my GPU and CPU
anyways yeah it deserves 3 stars cause asus did a 400$ MOBO but they can't put normal thermal compound...

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rampage III Extreme X58 motherboard FTW!!!, May 6, 2010

By 

The Computer Cabin (Tok, Alaska) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Asus Rampage III Extreme Socket 1366/ Intel X58/ 3-Way SLI & CrossFireX/ SATA3&USB3.0/ WiFi/ A&GbE Motherboard (Personal Computers)

From the beginning, when you receive the box from the UPS man, (woman in my case :)) to unpacking it and firing her up, the fervid anticipation never lets up. I was still shaking when it posted upon the push of the power button. I have an Intel i7 965EE and 6GB of Corsair TR3X8G1600C8D memory, along with several video cards. I go by the handle of AKHandyman on the Internets and have done many a hardware review, most notably for PCStats Forums. I also run The Computer Cabin in Tok, AK. This motherboard is arguably the best when it comes to overclocking ... and you DON'T have to be a super guru to do it. The BIOS is easy to use and comes with a few pre-sets to get that i7 proc overclocked without having to adjust a multitude of settings. Ever get that badly translated manual and thought it wasn't worth the paper it was printed on? Well, this is definitely not the case. This user manual is very good and easy to read. Did I mention how awesome this board looks as well? No? Well, if I could, I would post some pics, so you could see it in all its glory!

I am also using a Noctua NH-D14 air cooler with very good results. I will update this review when I have more time. This board definitely rocks and I know there is more to it,... I just need the time to play around and report back. ASUS FTW all the way!!