X58 Showdown: ASUS Rampage II vs. MSI Eclipse
ASUS Rampage II Extreme - Specifications
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ASUS has refreshed their packaging somewhat with their latest Republic of Gamers release, now shipping in a bold red rather than the more subdued battleship grey, and it also features a more sporty logo. The top flap opens to not only reveal a full view of the board, but also covers a few of the latest technologies including the new TweakIt controls, ProbeIt onboard testing, and the Supreme FX riser card, which now features Creative's X-Fi logo on it. |
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| Processor Support Intel® Socket 1366 Core™ i7 Processor Extreme Edition/Core™ i7 Processor Supports Intel® Dynamic Speed Technology Chipset Intel® X58 / ICH10R Memory 6x DIMM, Max. 24 GB, DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600(O.C.)/1333/1066 Non-ECC,Un-buffered Memory Triple channel memory architecture Expansion Slots 3x PCIe 2.0 x16 support at x16, x8, x8, or dual x16 speed 2x PCIe 2.0 x1 ( the PCIEx1_1 (black) is compatible with audio slot) 1x PCI 2.2 Storage I/O Intel ICH10R controller
Support NVIDIA 3-Way SLI™ / ATI CrossFireX™ Technology Audio SupremeFX X-Fi Audio Card
Dual Gigabit LAN controllers, both featuring AI NET2 Support Teaming Technology IEEE-1394 2x 1394a ports (1 port at back I/O, 1 port onboard) USB 12x USB 2.0 ports (6 ports at mid-board, 6 ports at back panel) |
Back Panel I/O Ports 1x PS/2 Keyboard port (purple) 1x External SATA port 2x LAN (RJ45) ports 6x USB 2.0/1.1 ports 1x IEEE1394a port 1x Clr CMOS switch Internal I/O Connectors 3x USB connectors supports additional 6 USB 2.0 ports 1x Floppy disk drive connector 1x IDE connector 7x SATA connectors 1x IEEE 1394a connector 1x Chassis Fan connector 1x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector 1x 24-pin ATX Power connector 1x EL I/O Shield Connector 3x thermal sensor connectors 1x En/Dis-able Clr CMOS connector 8x Fan connectors: 1x CPU / 1x PWR / 3x Chassis / 3x Optional 8x ProbeIt connectors 1x LCD Poster connector 1x BIOS FlashBack boot up selection header 1x ROG light connector BIOS 16 Mb Flash ROM AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.4, ACPI2.0a Multi-Language BIOS Special Features External LCD Poster Onboard Switches: Power / Reset / Clr CMOS (at rear) EL I/O Q-Fan Plus ROG BIOS Wallpaper ASUS EPU-6 Engine ASUS Q-Connector ASUS Fan Xpert ASUS EZ Flash 2 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 ASUS MyLogo3 Form Factor ATX Form Factor 12 inch x 10.6 inch* ( 30.5 cm x 26.9 cm ) * One inch greater than standard ATX form factor Overclocking Tools TweakIt ProbeIt Extreme Engine with ML Cap CPU Level Up iROG Extreme Tweaker BIOS Flashback Loadline Calibration |
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Although the box seems slim in comparison to the MSI Eclipse, there was still plenty to be found within. Three sets of SATA cables, each containing one straight end and another that's angled, plus a single SATA power splitter cable and flat ribbon IDE cable cover all of the standard connections. A bracket with two USB and IEEE-1394 ports adds additional flexibility. We also found a collection of items that ASUS has been providing for some time now, including active cooling fans for the MOSFET heatsinks, Q-Connector pins for easier front panel installation, and the LCD Poster.
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There are also a handful of new or updated additions that we noted. As the X58 supports not only CrossFire but SLI as well, a standard SLI cable as well as a 3-Way SLI bridge are included for those not operating on a tight budget. The ProbeIt cables as well as the smallish red and black wires pictured above, can be used along with a multitester to more accurately gauge voltages and thermal sensor cables can be attached to certain spots on the board to get a better readout of on-board temps. Finally, an EL I/O shield lights up the back plate. With the clearly labeled ports, this eases connection of devices, especially in dimly lit areas. The final piece is the SupremeFX X-Fi riser card, updated with Creative's X-Fi technology. Although X-Fi is featured prominently, it should be noted that the audio still comes from an ADI CODEC, similar to that used on past boards. It does not use a discrete Creative chip, as does the MSI Eclipse. As such, the SoundMax ADI Audio driver gets installed, but used along with Creative's applications.
