The Board - A Closer Look

One of the ASUS MAXIMUS VI IMPACT's major features is the ability to remove all unnecessary devices from the platform itself, including PCBs, which might allow for what might be the fastest Z87 board yet. Both the ASUS MPCIE COMBO II device and ROG SUPREMEFX IMPACT audio device are on self-contained, removable PCBs that plug into the board via a pin-based interface.


The MPCIE COMBO II card comes with a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card on one side and a M.2 SATA port on the other. M.2 SATA devices are still pretty rare, so I was not able to put it to the test, but the interface does boast some pretty impressive capabilities in terms of speed.


The SUPREMEFX IMPACT audio card is a complete, independent audio solution, complete with front-panel plug and everything else you would expect to find on a discrete audio card. You obviously don't need this device and can remove it if you only use the board to overclock. Having it on its own PCB also adds some electrical isolation that is similar to what the rest of ASUS's current line-up of ROG boards offer.


The downside to the SUPREMEFX IMPACT card is that it only has three audio ports, which might limit some users, although combined with the front panel ports, there should be more ports than most need since there is also HDMI audio connectivity to consider. Speaking of HDMI, ASUS equipped the MAXIMUS VI IMPACT with a Parade PS8201A TMDS for HDMI signal shifting.