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A leader in high-end gaming gear, ASUS’s Republic of Gamers (ROG) Crosshair VIII Formula motherboard is a flagship product. This motherboard is the epitome of the ROG series, designed for enthusiasts and gamers who want nothing less than the best. We will examine every component of the Crosshair VIII Formula in this in-depth analysis, assessing its unique features, performance, and overall value offer.

With a Ryzen 7 3700X processor, AMD prepared the X570 chipset, which provides a more optimized experience for your Ryzen Generation 3 processor. We examine the new ROG Crosshair VIII Formula Motherboard. AX WiFi, 5 Gbps Ethernet, and integrated liquid cooling blocks are features of the new Formula.

For third-generation AMD Ryzen processors, the X570 motherboard is situated in the upper echelon of motherboards. With this release, you’ll see an amazing motherboard with an enormous heatsink, PCIe 4.0 PCI slots, numerous PCIe 4.0 connected M.2 slots, and DDR4 A-XMP functions. 

ROG Crosshair VIII Formula Motherboard Packaging & Closer Look

The package and box are excellent and closely resemble those of the Crosshair VIII Hero. Two braided SATA6Gb/s cables, four SATA6Gb/s cables, an RGB Extension cable, an addressable RGB LED extension cable, a Q-Connector, a WIFI antenna, a ROG coaster, ROG stickers, and the standard handbook and driver DVD are all included in the accessory bundle.

The ASUS NODE can be used in addition to the eight fan headers that ASUS included. Exclusive to ASUS, the NODE is a gadget that enhances RGB LED support, temperature monitoring, and fan management. Up to 3A of output is available from the two yellow-circled connections, while the motherboard’s bottom header operates at full speed by default. 

By default, the green-circled header moves at full speed. A temperature probe input header that is circled in purple is also present on the motherboard. Additionally, there are headers for water cooling that are circled in orange.

These headers have the ability to track flow rate, input and output temperatures, and both. The motherboard is aesthetically pleasing in black, with shields covering the majority of the PCB. A metal cover on the back of the motherboard also aids in keeping the PCB straight and cools the back of the VRM.

Four USB 3.0 ports, seven USB 3.1 (10Gbps) type-A ports, one type-C port, a clear CMOS button, a BIOS Flashback button, a WIFI antenna, 2.5G and 1G LAN ports, and 7.1 gold-plated audio outputs with S/PDIF out are all included on the rear IO panel. The PCI-E slots are located here.

They operate at x16/x0/x4 or x8/x8/x4, with the chipset being connected to the bottommost x16 slot. PCI-E 4.0 speeds are used in all PCI-E slots. A single x1 slot is also present. Two M.2 slots that support x4 PCI-E 4.0/SATA6Gbps are found. It has heat sinks in both M.2 slots.

All eight of the chipset’s SATA6Gb/s ports were implemented by ASUS. There is a 90-degree tilt on one of the internal USB 3.0 headers. On the motherboard, there is a single USB 3.1 type-C header that is oriented vertically. Our start and reset buttons, as well as an addressable and regular RGB LED header, are located at the top of the motherboard.

Our NODE connector, slow mode switch, addressable RGB LED header, RGB LED header, safe boot button, and retry button are all located toward the bottom of the motherboard. Here is also where we locate our LN2 jumper, which, when used in LN2 mode for liquid nitrogen overclocking, unlocks additional functions.

ROG Crosshair VIII Formula Motherboard Performance

With support for the newest AMD Ryzen processors, the AM4 socket is at the core of the ROG Crosshair VIII Formula Motherboard. With its 16+2 power stage design, this motherboard is a powerhouse that guarantees consistent power delivery to the CPU. Users looking for optimal performance, such as overclockers, would greatly benefit from this powerful power supply system.

For activities requiring a lot of memory, the ROG Crosshair VIII Formula Motherboard can support DDR4 memory at up to 4800MHz. Users may set up their systems with a lot of RAM because the system has four DIMM slots that can accommodate up to 128GB of RAM.

The extensive BIOS options, which provide a multitude of settings for fine-tuning the system to extract the greatest potential from the processor, will be appreciated by overclocking fans. Every feature of this motherboard demonstrates ASUS’s commitment to performance, making it an appealing option for users who require unwavering power.

ROG Crosshair VIII Formula Motherboard Specifications

Specification	Details
CPU Socket	AM4
Chipset	AMD X570
Memory	4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR4 4800(O.C.)/4600(O.C.)/4400(O.C.)/4266(O.C.)/4133(O.C.)/4000(O.C.)/3866(O.C.)/3733(O.C.)/3600(O.C.)/3466(O.C.)/3400(O.C.)/3200(O.C.)/3000(O.C.)/2933(O.C.)/2800(O.C.)/2666/2400/2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
Multi-GPU Support	NVIDIA 2-Way SLI Technology, AMD 3-Way CrossFireX Technology
Expansion Slots	– 2 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8) – 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (max at x4 mode) – 3 x PCIe 4.0 x1
Storage	– 1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (SATA & PCIe 4.0 x4 mode) – 1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (SATA & PCIe 3.0 x4 mode) – 8 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s) – Support Raid 0, 1, 10
Networking	– Aquantia AQC111C 5G LAN – Intel I211-AT Gigabit LAN – Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) – Bluetooth 5.0
USB Ports	– 8 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s) (7 x Type-A, 1 x Type-C) – 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s) (4 at mid-board) – 4 x USB 2.0 port(s) (4 at mid-board) – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 front panel connector – 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s) (2 at back panel, Type-A + USB Type-C™) – 8 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s) (8 at back panel)
Audio	– SupremeFX S1220 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC – ESS ES9023P DAC – Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs – Supports: Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking – Sonic Studio III + Sonic Studio Virtual Mixer – DTS Sound Unbound – Sonic Radar III
LAN	– 5Gb Ethernet – Gigabit Ethernet
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Form Factor	ATX
RGB Lighting	ASUS Aura Sync
BIOS	256 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 3.2, ACPI 6.2, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 3, CrashFree BIOS 3, F11 EZ Tuning Wizard, F6 Qfan Control, F3 My Favorites, Last Modified log, F12 PrintScreen, F4 AURA ON/OFF, F9 Search
Operating System Support	– Windows 10 64-bit – Windows 7 64-bit

ROG Crosshair VIII Formula Motherboard Conclusion

When it comes to an ultra-premium enthusiast board, the Crosshair VIII Formula checks a lot of boxes. Its pricing is obviously extreme, especially for the X570, but it does come with an incredible feature set. As Asus has obviously intended the board to be easy to work with and efficient in terms of layout too, you’re immediately saving roughly £100 plus time and effort doing this yourself with a third-party block thanks to the inclusion of a full VRM water block array. But to return to our initial remarks, we don’t think Asus has gone nearly far enough to make the price worthwhile.

ROG Crosshair VIII Formula Motherboard Pros:

1. Top-tier Performance: Equipped with an AMD X570 chipset and AM4 CPU socket, the Crosshair VIII Formula offers exceptional performance suitable for high-end gaming, content creation, and overclocking.
2. Memory Support: Supports up to 128GB of DDR4 RAM with speeds ranging from 2133MHz to 4800MHz (O.C.), providing ample memory for multitasking and memory-intensive applications.
3. Multi-GPU Support: NVIDIA 2-Way SLI and AMD 3-Way CrossFireX technologies allow for multiple graphics card configurations, enabling improved gaming performance and productivity tasks.
4. Expansion Slots: Features multiple PCIe 4.0 expansion slots, including two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots (operating at x16 or dual x8), one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (max at x4 mode), and three PCIe 4.0 x1 slots, offering flexibility for adding additional components such as GPUs, SSDs, and networking cards.
5. Storage Options: Offers versatile storage options, including dual M.2 sockets supporting both SATA and PCIe 4.0 x4 mode, eight SATA 6Gb/s ports with RAID 0, 1, and 10 support, providing ample storage capacity and high-speed data transfer rates.
6. Networking Capabilities: Features Aquantia AQC111C 5G LAN, Intel I211-AT Gigabit LAN, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring fast and reliable network connectivity for gaming, streaming, and downloading.
7. USB Connectivity: Provides extensive USB connectivity with a total of 16 USB ports, including USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and USB 2.0 ports, facilitating easy connection of peripherals, external storage devices, and accessories.
8. Audio Performance: Incorporates SupremeFX S1220 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC, ESS ES9023P DAC, Sonic Studio III, DTS Sound Unbound, and Sonic Radar III, delivering immersive audio experiences with high-fidelity sound and customizable audio settings.
9. Form Factor: Built on the ATX form factor, the motherboard offers compatibility with a wide range of PC cases, providing builders with flexibility in choosing their system’s design and aesthetics.
10. RGB Lighting: Supports ASUS Aura Sync RGB lighting technology, allowing users to synchronize lighting effects with other compatible components and peripherals, enhancing the overall visual appeal of the system.
11. BIOS Features: Equipped with advanced BIOS features such as EZ Flash 3, CrashFree BIOS 3, Qfan Control, and My Favorites, enabling easy system configuration, troubleshooting, and performance optimization.
12. Operating System Support: Compatible with both Windows 10 64-bit and Windows 7 64-bit operating systems, ensuring broad software compatibility and support for the latest gaming and productivity applications.

ROG Crosshair VIII Formula Motherboard Cons:

1. High Price: The premium features and performance of the Crosshair VIII Formula come at a high price point, making it less accessible to budget-conscious users or those seeking more affordable alternatives.
2. Complexity: With its extensive feature set and advanced overclocking capabilities, the motherboard may be challenging for novice users to set up and configure, requiring more technical knowledge and expertise.
3. Limited PCIe 4.0 Support: While the motherboard offers PCIe 4.0 support for select components, such as M.2 SSDs, not all expansion slots operate at PCIe 4.0 speeds, limiting the full utilization of the latest PCIe technology.
4. Potential Compatibility Issues: Users may encounter compatibility issues with certain hardware components, peripherals, or software applications, especially when using older or less common devices with the motherboard.
5. Size Limitations: Despite being an ATX motherboard, the Crosshair VIII Formula’s size may not fit in smaller PC cases or compact builds, restricting its compatibility with certain form factors and chassis designs.
6. Power Consumption: High-performance components and overclocking features may result in increased power consumption, necessitating a robust power supply unit (PSU) and adequate cooling solutions to maintain stable operation.
7. BIOS Updates: While BIOS updates are essential for optimizing performance and addressing potential issues, users may find the process of updating the motherboard’s BIOS firmware somewhat cumbersome or time-consuming.
8. Noise Levels: The motherboard’s extensive connectivity and advanced features may contribute to increased system noise levels, especially when paired with multiple high-power components or cooling solutions, requiring careful consideration of noise management strategies.