Value -
Value is another very subjective topic. What is expensive to some might be a deal to others. You can look at this topic in multiple ways. One is raw price and the other is what you get for the money. Each is accurate and both are correct ways to look at price/value. We tend to look at features, performance and real-property when we discuss value. However, we also take into account the raw cash cost of the item. The Rampage IV Gene will put a $280 dent in your wallet from most online stores. On the surface this is a lot to pay for a hardware component, but when you start talking things apart and looking at what you are getting then things might look a little different. With the Gene you are getting some very good quality components along with some great overclocking and performance options that we have not been able to find anywhere else. The Gene also makes an amazing gaming motherboard for a small form factor case (perfect for LAN Parties) It is not going to be for everyone and if you are cost conscious then this might not be the board for you at this price; for the enthusiast or gamer that wants to get in on the LGA 2011 Core i7 performance and not spend a fortune then this could be the right price and the right board for you.
Conclusion -
There is not much more we can add to what we have already talked about. Put simply the Asus ROG Rampage IV Gene is an excellent product and one that has a decent price for what it is. We found that Asus’ new focus on features that matter at each price point has filled this board with a nice array of items that will fit the gamer and enthusiast. You have PCIe Gen 3.0 Crossfire and SLI complete with Intel LAN and a PCB separated audio CODEC. You have an excellent BIOS interface in Asus UEFI with their Digi+ power controls and more overclocking options that most people will know what to do with. We did run into a few issues with overclocking where the performance was not as good as we would have expected. However, with Asus’ BIOS support team we are sure they will fix the problem pretty quickly. The Rampage IV Gene also has the best memory and HDD (SSD) performance that we have seen in an X79 motherboard. We were very impressed with its performance there and it showed in most of our tests. The Asus Rampage IV Gene is one solid little board and one that you should consider even if you are not looking for a MicroATX motherboard.
With its solid performance, great features and overall user experience we are happy to award the Asus Rampage IV Gene our Gold Key Award.
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