So I’ve been tossing around the idea of giving our Crush build an upgrade to one of the new Core-X CPUs and sadly the Asus Rampage VI Apex doesn’t fit so I reached out to Asus to see if they have anything that might fit the bill in their X299 boards. They had the ROG Stix X299-XE Gaming and I figured I should get it in and see just how it compares to all of the other X299 boards we have had in. I knew it fits the dimensions needed for the Case Labs case but is it going to be what I need otherwise? Well, I’m going to take a closer look at its features and then test it to see how it performs. Read on if you are interested in finding out what it has to offer. 

Product Name: Asus ROG Strix X299-XE Gaming

Review sample provided for review by: Asus

Written by: Wes Compton

Pictures by: Wes Compton

Amazon Affiliate Link: HERE

 

Specifications

CPU

Intel® Socket 2066 Core™ X-Series Processors

Chipset

Intel® X299

Memory

Intel® Core™ X-series Processors (6-core above)
8 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR4 4133(O.C) to 2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory 
Intel® Core™ X-series Processors (4-core)
4 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR4 4133(O.C) to 2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory 

Multi-GPU Support

Supports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI™ Technology

Supports NVIDIA® 3-Way SLI™ Technology

Supports NVIDIA® 2-Way SLI™ Technology

Supports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology

Supports AMD 3-Way CrossFireX™ Technology

Supports AMD 2-Way CrossFireX Technology

Expansion Slots

44-Lane CPU-
Intel® Core™ X-Series Processors Family
3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16, x16/x16, x16/x16/x8) 
2 x PCIe 3.0 x4 (max at x4 mode) *1
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1 
28-Lane CPU-
Intel® Core™ X-Series Processors Family
3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16, x16/x8, x16/x8/x1) 
2 x PCIe 3.0 x4 (max at x4 mode) *1
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1 
16-Lane CPU-
Intel® Core™ X-Series Processors Family
3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16, x8/x8, x8/x8/x1) 
2 x PCIe 3.0 x4 (max at x4 mode) *1
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1

Storage

Intel® Core™ X-Series Processors Family : 
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (SATA & PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
8 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s)
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel Rapid Start Technology
Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready

LAN

Intel® I219V

Anti-surge LANGuard

ROG GameFirst IV

Wireless Data Network

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Bluetooth

Bluetooth V4.2

Audio

SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220A
- Dual Headphone Amplifiers
- Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
- High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 113 dB SNR stereo playback input
- SupremeFX Shielding Technology
- Supports up to 32-Bit/192kHz playback *2
Audio Feature :
- SupremeFX Shielding™ Technology
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
- Dedicated audio PCB layers: Separate layers for left and right channels to guard the quality of the sensitive audio signals
- Premium Japanese-made audio capacitors: Provide warm, natural and immersive sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity
- Sonic Radar III
- Sonic Studio III

USB Ports

ASMedia® USB 3.1 Gen 2 controller : 
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 front panel connector port(s) 
ASMedia® USB 3.1 Gen 2 controller : 
2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port(s) (2 at back panel, , Type-A + USB Type-CTM)
Intel® X299 Chipset : 
8 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 port(s) (4 at back panel, +blue, 4 at mid-board)
Intel® X299 Chipset : 
4 x USB 2.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, , 2 at mid-board)

ROG Exclusive Features

ROG RAMCache II
ROG CPU-Z
ROG CloneDrive
Overwolf
GameFirst IV
ROG Aura
- Aura Lighting Control
- Aura RGB Strip Headers

Special Features

OC Design - ASUS PRO Clock II Technology
ASUS Dual Intelligent Processors 5-Way Optimization by Dual Intelligent Processors 5 :
- 5-Way Optimization tuning key perfectly consolidates TPU, EPU, DIGI+ VRM, Fan Xpert 4, and Turbo Core App
AURA :
- Aura Lighting Control
- Aura RGB Strip Headers
- Aura Lighting Effects Synchronization with compatible ASUS ROG devices
- Aura Addressable Strip Header(s)
ASUS Exclusive Features :
- USB BIOS Flashback
- AI Suite 3
- Ai Charger 
- Onboard Button : Power
- ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode featuring friendly graphics user interface 
ASUS EZ DIY :
- ASUS EZ Flash 3 
- ASUS USB BIOS Flashback 
- ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode
- Multi-language BIOS
ASUS Q-Design :
- ASUS Q-Shield
- ASUS Q-Code
- ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)
- ASUS Q-Slot
- ASUS Q-DIMM 
- ASUS Q-Connector
Gaming Aesthetics :
- 3D printing friendly
- AURA-RGB Lighting
M.2 Onboard(The latest transfer technologies with up to 32Gb/s data transfer speeds)

Back I/O Ports

1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)

2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A + USB Type-CTM

4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (blue)

2 x USB 2.0 (one port can be switched to USB BIOS Flashback)

1 x Optical S/PDIF out

5 x Audio jack(s)

1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button(s)

1 x ASUS Wi-Fi GO! module (Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth v4.0/3.0+HS)

Internal I/O Ports

1 x Aura Addressable Strip Header(s)

1 x AAFP connector

2 x Aura RGB Strip Headers

2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 3.1 Gen 1 port(s)

1 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 2.0 port(s)

1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (SATA & PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)

1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)

1 x COM port(s) connector(s)

8 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)

1 x M.2_FAN connector

1 x VROC_HW_Key

1 x CPU Fan connector(s)

1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s)

2 x Chassis Fan connector(s)

1 x AIO_PUMP connector

1 x W_PUMP+ connector

1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)

1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)

1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)

1 x Front panel connector(s)

1 x System panel(s) (Q-Connector)

1 x 5-pin EXT_FAN(Extension Fan) connector

1 x Thermal sensor connector(s)

1 x Power-on button(s)

1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s)

1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 front panel connector

1 x CPU_OV jumper

Accessories

User's manual

ASUS Q-Shield

1 x Vertical M.2 bracket set

4 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)

1 x M.2 Screw Package

1 x Supporting DVD

1 x ASUS 2T2R dual band Wi-Fi moving antennas (Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compliant)

1 x MOS Cooling kit (fan bracket and 40mm x 40mm fan)

1 x ROG addressable LED strip (30cm)

1 x Strix door hanger

1 x SLI HB BRIDGE(2-WAY-M)

1 x Q-Connector

1 x 10-in-1 ROG cable label

1 x M.2 screw kit (long screw and mount)

1 x Thermal sensor cable pack(s)

1 x Cable ties pack(s)

ROG Fan Label

1 x Extension Cable for RGB strips (80 cm)

1 x Extension cable for Addressable LED

1 x 3D printing mount package

BIOS

128 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI3.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 3.0, ACPI 6.0, 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 and ASUS DRAM SPD (Serial Presence Detect) memory information

Manageability

WfM 2.0, DMI 3.0, WOL by PME, PXE

Support Disc

Drivers

ASUS Utilities

EZ Update

Anti-virus software (OEM version)

Operating System

Windows® 10 64-bit

Form Factor

ATX Form Factor

12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )

 

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