Asus Maximus V Gene (Z77) Motherboard Sandy Bridge Review

Starting with its looks, the Maximus V Gene may look like any other ROG board, but this is key to the ROG range. By keeping the styling the same right down to the box, you know what you’re getting and you know that the performance levels are to be rivalled. Its colour scheme with its dark board and red highlights lead to an easy system colour scheme choice.

Whilst we’re not able to compare the Sandy Bridge performance on the Maximus V Gene to its bigger brother, you get a huge payload to play with. Generally when one looks at a mATX board in respect to a full blown ATX board of the same range, the conspiracy is that there is a huge cut in performance along with the price. Since the Maximus IV Gene-Z, this idea has been turned onto its head and the Maximus V Gene is another point for the mATX crew.

Over Z68, the performance gains are fantastic under Sandy Bridge, and we look forward to seeing what the board can do with a 3rd Generation chip in its socket. Across the range of tests, we’ve seen impressive gains over the z68 Gene board and this in itself is a huge selling point.

So why should you buy a mATX board over the larger full fat ATX versions? Well if you’re still into the idea that all mATX boards are a performance compromise in order to save a few pounds on the cost of the board, then you should try it out and see for yourself.  There are times when the need for having a full on ATX board are obvious, for example when running 3 or 4 way CrossfireX of SLI setups. Granted this is obvious as the Gene cant offer the support, but if you’re only going to run a 2-way GPU setup then why not save some cost on the board which you can then put towards a better or even another card.

Coming in at a fantastic price of £156.92, that board is a must buy upgrade for any existing ROG user that wants a stepping stone ready for the new processors when they come out. Given that it packs a whole load extra features including the isolated sound card to prevent interference from the main proportion of the board, you’ll be mad not to.

After seeing what this board has given us, with out a doubt I will be waiting in anticipation for its bigger brother’s arrival in the near future to see what extra it has to offer.