




Make informed decisions with expert advice. Learn More
Brand | ASRock |
---|---|
Model | Z68 Extreme4 |
CPU Socket Type | LGA 1155 |
---|---|
CPU Type | Core i7 / i5 / i3 (LGA1155) |
Supported CPU Technologies | Supports Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology Supports Intel K-Series unlocked CPU Supports Hyper-Threading Technology |
Chipset | Intel Z68 |
---|
Onboard Video Chipset | Supported only by CPU with integrated graphic |
---|
Number of Memory Slots | 4x240pin |
---|---|
Memory Standard | DDR3 2133(OC)/1866(OC)/1600/1333/1066 |
Maximum Memory Supported | 32GB |
Channel Supported | Dual Channel |
PCI Express 2.0 x16 | 3 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots (PCIE2/PCIE4: single at x16 or dual at x8/x8 mode; PCIE5: x4 mode) |
---|---|
PCI Express x1 | 2 x PCI Express x1 |
PCI Slots | 2 x PCI Slots |
SATA 3Gb/s | 4 x SATA 3Gb/s |
---|---|
SATA 6Gb/s | 2 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors, support RAID (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10, RAID 5, Intel Rapid Storage and Intel Smart Response Technology), NCQ, AHCI and "Hot Plug" functions 2 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors by Marvell SE9120, support NCQ, AHCI and "Hot Plug" functions (SATA3_M2 connector is shared with eSATA3 port) |
SATA RAID | 2 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors, support RAID (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10, RAID 5, Intel Rapid Storage and Intel Smart Response Technology), NCQ, AHCI and Hot Plug functions 4 x SATA2 3.0 Gb/s connectors, support RAID (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10, RAID 5, Intel Rapid Storage and Intel Smart Response Technology), NCQ, AHCI and Hot Plug functions |
Audio Chipset | Realtek ALC892 |
---|---|
Audio Channels | 8 Channels |
LAN Chipset | Broadcom BCM57781 |
---|---|
Max LAN Speed | 10/100/1000Mbps |
PS/2 | 1 |
---|---|
Video Ports | D-Sub + DVI |
HDMI | 1 x HDMI |
DisplayPort | 1 x DisplayPort |
USB 3.0 | 2 x USB 3.0 |
USB 1.1/2.0 | 4 x USB 2.0 |
IEEE 1394 | 1 x IEEE 1394 |
eSATA | 1 x eSATA 6Gb/s |
S/PDIF Out | 1 x Optical |
Audio Ports | 5 Ports |
Onboard USB | 2 x USB 3.0 + 6 x USB 2.0 |
---|---|
Onboard 1394 | 1 x 1394 |
Form Factor | ATX |
---|---|
Dimensions (W x L) | 12.0" x 9.6" |
Power Pin | 24 Pin |
Features | ASRock DuraCaps (2.5 x longer life time), 100% Japan-made high-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors Digi Power, Advanced V8 Power Phase Design Supports Intel K-Series unlocked CPU Supports Intel Smart Response Technology Supports Dual Channel DDR3 2133(OC) Integrated PLX PEX8608 chip onboard to offer sufficient PCI-E lanes Supports ATI Quad CrossFireX , 3-Way CrossFireX and CrossFireX Supports NVIDIA Quad SLI and SLI Supports Intel HD Graphics with Built-in Visuals Multi VGA Output options: D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort 2 x Front USB 3.0 ports, 2 x Rear USB 3.0 ports, 4 x SATA3 connectors, 1 x eSATA3 connector Supports ASRock XFast USB Technology, Graphical UEFI, Lucid Virtu Supports ASRock Extreme Tuning Utility (AXTU), On/Off Play, Instant Boot, Instant Flash, Good Night LED, APP Charger, SmartView Combo Cooler Option (C.C.O.) 7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec), THX TruStudio PRO Free Software: Cyberlink MediaEspresso 6.5 Trial Free Bundle : 1 x Front USB 3.0 Panel, 1 x Rear USB 3.0 Bracket, 1 x 3.5mm Audio Cable |
---|
Date First Available | May 10, 2011 |
---|
Pros: It's kinda weird to say this, but usually there is one particular piece of my computer I like the most. I've been building them for a long time and I always get tickled the most by my graphics card. This time around, everything is different. I really, really like this motherboard and will definitely give Asrock a much closer look in all future purchases. This time around I went with this board because all the options from Gigabyte totally sucked and didn't include IGP (costs hardly anything and makes 3+ monitors much easier - stupid decision). The BIOS is very awesome. During POST it shows the debug information in the bottom right corner (extremely helpful!). The software utilities are really good (except one, more on that below) and I found the user manual to be quite thorough. Overall, I love it!
Cons: I wish it had a few more USB ports on the back, but I'd much rather have all the other stuff so I am actually very okay with the compromise. The Xfast USB software utility is rather irritating. It certainly did increase the transfer speed of my USB mass storage devices, but on every startup and wakeup from sleep, it would take far too long to initialize and sometimes caused devices not to enumerate. It's also rather frustrating that it forces you to plug and unplug the USB device multiple times when it detects that it has never been plugged into the computer before. This utility is really my only complaint. The motherboard itself is still incredible and gets 5 eggs from me.
Overall Review: I highly recommend this board. It did well overclocking my i7-2600k as well. I did not do anything hardcore, but I easily got 4.5GHz and it has been stable for several straight days of super-pi.