Asus Maximus VIII Hero Z170, ATX motherboard

Compact and powerful mATX board packed with gaming-oriented features

The battlefield is a cacophony, so the clearest audio ups your kills-deaths (K/D) ratio. ROG's awesome audio expertise is the result of extensive R&D,
and SupremeFX is the crystal-clear result — onboard audio that you have to hear to believe.

SUPREMEFX 2015

Jacked-up audio, inside and out

ROG provides you with the very best gaming-audio inputs and outputs, with special shielded designs, and a collection of carefully selected professional-grade audio components, including an ESS ES9023P digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with Hyperstream™ technology, ultra-low-jitter clock, Nichicon capacitors, 2Vrms headphone amp, and Sonic SenseAmp that automatically detects and optimizes any headset (32-600 ohms) for purest sound quality. SupremeFX 2015 also features intuitive Sonic Studio II for you to apply and enjoy different audio effects for perfect entertainment, plus Perfect Noise noise-cancellation technology for team conversations with total clarity.

Greater performance means smoother gameplay — and that means more chance to win. With the best overclocking (OC) design, UEFI BIOS and intuitive OC utility, you'll enjoy unmatched performance — coupled with an exclusive cooling design ensures your system never breaks a sweat.

Get performance, efficiency, digital power, fan control, and even networking and
audio tuning tailored for you

5-Way Optimization at your disposal it takes just one click to tune complex settings — for instant, highly-controllable performance boosts! Our exclusive technology dynamically optimizes essential aspects of your system based on real-time use, so you get superb CPU performance, everyday energy savings, ultra-stable digital power, cool and quiet fans, and even networking and audio settings that are tailored for the apps that you are using. In short, 5-Way Optimization ensures that your PC is perfect for gaming, entertainment, productivity or just about anything else!

- Games run swiftly and smoothly with high performance, prioritized bandwidth and vivid sound
- Fans stay whisper-quiet for everyday computing, and ensure extreme cooling efficiency when gaming
- Stutter is eliminated for smooth-running apps, even under heavy loading
- Energy waste is reduced so you'll save money

DIGI+ Power Control

Power control is one of the most essential motherboard designs. Intelligent CPU-power-draw detection with ASUS DIGI+ Power Control is an innovative, industry-leading technology that fully complies with Intel® IMVP8 specifications, increasing overclocking potential, enhancing system stability, and improving power efficiency with superior flexibility and accurate control.

Whether you're a hardcore gamer or a business professional, you'll feel the benefit of the ASUS-exclusive Turbo App every day. Its intuitive tuning panel boosts a range of hardware, CPU-overclocking, fan-tuning, network data prioritization and audio optimization settings — all with automated ease. And now Turbo App is even more powerful than before, giving you the ability to automatically apply profiles previously set in Sonic Studio II and KeyBot II, so setup couldn't be simpler!

OC DESIGN - ASUS PRO CLOCK TECHNOLOGY

A dedicated base-clock (BCLK) generator designed for 6th-generation Intel® processors that allows overclocked base clock frequencies up to 400MHz. This custom solution works in tandem with the ASUS Turbo Processor Unit (TPU), to enhance voltage and base-clock overclocking control — granting an exciting new way to boost performance to extreme heights.

Advantages of PRO Clock

- Less boot up time
- Lower jitter under extreme conditions.
- More stable under heavy overclocking.

DDR4 OVERCLOCKING STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

ASUS 2nd generation T-Topology allows DDR4 memory overclocking to reach new heights: over DDR4-3733 MHz with all memory slots populated. Featuring a customized trace layout for reduced crosstalk and coupling noise, ASUS 2nd generation T-Topology ensures time-aligned signal transfer for improved memory stability and compatibility.

MEDIA-ACCLAIMED UEFI BIOS

The smoothest, slickest mouse-controlled graphical BIOS has been improved to make it even more appealing. Whether you're a PC novice or a seasoned overclocker, the EZ and Advanced Modes help you find your way, quickly and easily.

RAMCACHE

Speed your game loads

ROG's uniquely-intelligent technology efficiently caches the critical files on a particular storage device, so that your favorite games and apps launch at breakneck speeds—getting to work the moment it's activated. RAMCache turns milliseconds into microseconds to boost game-load times to stratospheric levels, and minimizes risk of data loss!

Minimizing lag is a full-time job. Luckily, ROG motherboards deliver the
sucker punch of superior hardware and software — so you can focus on your game, while your board lands lag a knock-out blow

INTEL GIGABIT ETHERNET

More throughput, less CPU usage and great gaming experiences

ROG features the very latest Intel® Ethernet (I219-V) for faster, smoother gaming — always. Intel's LAN has the serious double advantage of reducing CPU overhead and offering exceptionally high TCP and UDP throughput, so there's more power for your game and your gameplay.

LANGUARD

Pumped-up throughput. Best surge protection

Signal-coupling technology and premium surface-mounted components ensure a more reliable connection and better throughput. Additionally, electrostatically-guarded and surge-protected components (ESD Guards) allow for 1.9x-greater tolerance to static electricity and 2.5x-greater protection (up to 15kV) against surges!

GAMEFIRST III

Banish lag, play smooth

Exclusive GameFirst III prioritizes game-related packets and allocates more bandwidth to games, eliminating laggy gameplay, streaming stutters and file-sharing slowdown — so you'll always be the frontrunner. Choose from Optimization, Game, Media Streaming or File Sharing presets and watch your network fly!

As a gamer you demand stability and durability, so ROG integrates long-lasting, premium components, plus exclusive smart DIY designs across the board — ensuring the best gaming experiences.

OVERWOLF

Stay in the game

The clever unobtrusive overlay that keeps you in the game, so you can browse, email, IM, stream or record while you play, and all dressed up in color-matched ROG skins to show you're part of an elite pack — soon to be available for download on Overwolf's app store!

KEYBOT II

The free keyboard upgrade – upgraded!

Free keyboard upgrade from an exclusive microprocessor and intuitive user interface. Record macros directly from the keyboard, switch profiles in moments, enable special functions with hotkey from F1-F10, start and even boost your PC from shutdown (S5 mode)!

Ready for 6th-generation Intel® LGA1151 Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® processors

This motherboard supports 6th-generation Intel® Core™ i7/i5/i3/Pentium®/Celeron® processors in the LGA1151 package, with graphics, memory and PCI Express controllers integrated to support onboard graphics output with dedicated chipsets, two-channel (4-DIMM) DDR4 memory and 16 PCI Express 3.0/2.0 lanes for great graphics performance.

Intel® Z170 Express Chipset

Intel® Z170 Express is a single-chipset design that supports 6th-generation Intel® LGA1151 Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® processors. It provides improved performance by utilizing serial point-to-point links, allowing increased bandwidth and stability. Additionally, Z170 provides a maximum ten USB 3.0 ports, six SATA 6Gbit/s ports, 32Gbit/s M.2 and PCIe 3.0 lane speed support for faster data retrieval. Intel® Z170 Express also supports integrated-graphics (iGPU) functions, so you'll enjoy the very latest Intel integrated graphics performance.