Product on Review: ASUS Rampage III Formula
Manufacturer and Sponsor: ASUS
MSRP: Not yet disclosed
Street Price: US $299 (Not available in Europe)
Hot off the press with the recent release of the ASUS Rampage III Gene, the company has had no time to idle and have already announced their next Republic of Gamers motherboard to complete their Rampage series based on the X58 chipset. Sporting the Formula moniker, the motherboard represents what enthusiasts and gamers alike have been accustomed to seeing on ASUS's flagship platform, unparalleled performance coupled with a feature rich solution to meet any needs. So not surprisingly, the Formula boasts an array of ROG features along with the now customary USB3 and SATA 6Gb/s support, which we have seen on both the ASUS Rampage III Gene, and the Rampage III Extreme. The question is, where exactly does this board fit into the already populated line up of X58 motherboards ASUS have in retail?
ASUS have several target audiences at whom they've aimed their ROG segment. While the Extreme is destined to world class overclockers and power users, the GENE caters to LAN party participants and case modders thanks to its small micro-ATX form factor. The Formula on the other hand is primarily targeted towards hardcore gamers and PC enthusiasts. We can argue that the Extreme and GENE are already brilliant motherboards when it comes to gaming performance but it's a welcoming addition to have a board that boasts some of the best features of the Extreme while retaining a lower price point. It's also a new venture in the X58 line up since the original Rampage II series lacked the Formula offering. In terms of features, the Formula combines key features from the GENE and the Extreme to present a very good compromise for those who want a feature rich board and low price point, so users can expect to see ROG specific features such as ROG Connect for remote overclocking and ASUS Probelt, and other multi-media components such as the built in SupremeFX X-Fi 2 sound. More of the features and specifications will be detailed over the next few pages.
A bit about ASUS:
ASUS comes from the last four letters of Pegasus, the winged horse in Greek mythology that represents the inspiration of art and learning. ASUS embodies the strength, creative spirit and purity symbolized by this regal and agile mythical creature, soaring to new heights of quality and innovation with each product it introduces to the market.
ASUS pursues technological and aesthetic perfection through continuous innovation. We place ourselves in our customers’ shoes to develop a deep understanding of, and genuine empathy for, their needs—enabling us to create user experiences that transcend the norm.
ASUS Design Philosophy
ASUS Design develops high-quality solutions our customers will enjoy.
Our design process is built on thorough research, early anticipation and well-planned execution.
We act with a global vision and a focus on local strengths, conditions and heritage.
ASUS comes from the last four letters of Pegasus, the winged horse in Greek mythology that represents the inspiration of art and learning. ASUS embodies the strength, creative spirit and purity symbolized by this regal and agile mythical creature, soaring to new heights of quality and innovation with each product it introduces to the market.
ASUS pursues technological and aesthetic perfection through continuous innovation. We place ourselves in our customers’ shoes to develop a deep understanding of, and genuine empathy for, their needs—enabling us to create user experiences that transcend the norm.
ASUS Design Philosophy
ASUS Design develops high-quality solutions our customers will enjoy.
Our design process is built on thorough research, early anticipation and well-planned execution.
We act with a global vision and a focus on local strengths, conditions and heritage.
ASUS certainly appears to be using a winning "formula" so let's see if the board is worthy of its name. Before moving on, I have to highlight that the Rampage III Formula will unfortunately not be making its way to Europe. Will those in Europe miss out on what promises to be a very capable board? Read on to find out.
