ASUS Prime X299-XE Gaming, Intel X299 Motherboard - Socket 2066 [90MB0VW0-M0EAY0]

This chipset, code-named "Lewisburg," proves to be a true all-rounder, with up to 30 HSIO lanes (high-speed input / output) and maximum 24 PCI Express 3.0 lanes to use Connections allowed.

The ASUS ROG Strix X299-XE gaming motherboard at a glance:
- 3 × PCIe (3.0) x16 (2 × x16 / 1 × x8), 2x PCIe (3.0) × 4
- 3 × USB 3.1 (1 × Type-C / 1 × Type-A / 1 × internal)
- 8 × USB 3.0 (4 × Type-A / 4 × internal) & 4 × USB 2.0 (2 × Type-A / 2 × internal)
- 2 × M.2 (PCIe 3.0 × 4) / 8 × SATA 6G
- 8 × DIMM slots for DDR4 RAM (128 GB maximum with 28 or 44 lane CPU)
- Including ac-WiFi module including antenna connections
- Asus LED Strip Header and Aura Sync RGB LED lighting
- Freely configurable LiveDash onboard display for system monitoring

The ASUS ROG Strix X299-XE gaming in detail
The ASUS ROG Strix X299-XE Gaming is a well-populated, ATX-format enthusiast motherboard suitable for power users and case modders looking for an X299 & Skylake-X or Kaby Lake-X Team have decided. The extremely stylish, black board has three PCIe x16 slots, two of which are connected to the chipset with a full 16 lanes, while the other is electrically connected to eight data lines. This even allows NVIDIA quad-GPU, 3-way SLI, or AMD 3-way CrossFireX configurations when using a 28 lane or 44 lane CPU.
Equipped with a total of eight DIMM slots for DDR4 memory, a CPU with 28 or 44 data lines can use all slots in quad-channel mode and up to a maximum capacity of 128 GB. A 16-lane CPU supports dual-channel operation of four slots with a maximum capacity of 64 GB. Officially DDR4 modules with up to 2.666 MHz can be used, whereby after clocking much higher clock rates are possible: 4.000 MHz!

For data carriers, the board provides a comprehensive set of two M.2 slots for particularly fast NVMe-M.2 SSDs and eight SATA-6G ports for 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch hard disks and SSDs ( including RAID support). The M.2 ports are connected to the chipset via four PCIe lanes in the 3.0 standard and, in combination with the NVMe protocol, enable a data transfer rate of almost 4 GB / s. This makes M.2 PCIe SSDs up to eight times faster than SATA 6G SSDs! In addition, the motherboard has an M.2 cooler, which ensures a constant power and high reliability.

External connections
There are many useful ports on the I / O panel of this performance motherboard to make life easier for the user. In addition to a new Type-C USB 3.1 port, which is particularly thin and can finally be plugged in on both sides, the board has a further, downward-compatible USB 3.1 port. The ASMedia 3142 USB 3.1 controller even achieves maximum speeds of up to 16 Gbps, which is more than three times faster than conventional USB 3.0 ports. Of course, the board also has four USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports for input devices and other gaming peripherals.

For unrestricted network connectivity, the ASUS ROG Strix X299-XE Gaming also features two Intel Gigabit LAN ports and two-port fast wireless AC for a lag-free gaming experience. Proper sound is provided by the Realtek ALC1220 codec and the five audio ports with gold-plated connectors, which are complemented by a Toslink digital optical output. In addition, a USB 2.0 port can be used as a BIOS flashback option.

Other features
Among the special features of the ASUS ROG Strix X299-XE Gaming is a comprehensive RGB LED lighting based on ASUS Aura Sync. In addition to two lighting zones directly on the board, it is also possible to connect several LED strips and also control them perfectly using the Aura Sync software. In total, there are eight connections for fans and pumps. The special ProCool connectors provide a stable and secure connection thanks to lower impedance and higher heat dissipation. An SLI bridge, wireless antennas and a 30-centimeter long strip with addressable RGB LEDs are included in this motherboard for enthusiasts.

Technical details:
- format
- ATX form factor (30.5 x 24.4 cm)
- chipset
- Intel X299 ("Lewisburg")
- Base:
- 2066 (for Intel CPUs of the Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X generation)
- R.A.M:
- 8 × DDR4 (Skylake-X: DDR4-2.666, up to 128 GB with a CPU with 44 or 28 lanes)
- 4 × DDR4 (Kaby Lake-X: DDR4-2.666, up to 64 GB with a 16-lane CPU)
- Quad-Channel (Skylake-X; supports CPUs with 44 or 28 lanes)
- Dual Channel (Kaby Lake-X, supports 16-lane CPUs)
Slots (physical):
- 2 × PCIe 3.0 x16 (electric x16)
- 1 × PCIe 3.0 x16 (electric x8)
- 2 × PCIe 3.0 x4 (electric x4)
- Compatible Multi-VGA Configurations: 3-Way SLI * (Quad GPU), 3-Way CrossFireX * (Quad GPU)
- 1 × PCIe 3.0x1
Internal connections:
- 8 × SATA 6G
- 1 × M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA, 2242/2260/2280/110)
- 1 × M.2 (PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA, 2242/2260/2280)
- 1 × USB 3.1 (Type-C)
- 4 × USB 3.0 (two headers)
- 2 × USB 2.0 (a header)
- 1 × CPU fan (4-pin)
- 1 × CPU OPT Fan Connector
- 2 × system fan (4-pin)
- 1 × EXT_FAN header (5-pin)
- 1 x W_PUMP + connector
- 1 x AIO_PUMP connector
- 1 x M.2_FAN connector
- 2 × LED headers
- 1 × addressable LED header
- 1 × front panel header
- 1 × front panel audio header
- 1 × Thermal Sensor Connector
- 1 × Power Button
- 1 × CPU_OV jumper
- 1 × AAFP connector
- 1 x VROC_HW_Key
External connections:
- 1 × USB 3.1 (Type-C)
- 1 × USB 3.1 (Type-A)
- 4 × USB 3.0 (Type-A)
- 2 × USB 2.0 (Type-A)
- 1 × RJ45 LAN port (Intel I219V)
- 1 × WLAN antenna connection
- 1 × BIOS flashback button
- 1 × Clear CMOS Button
- 1 × Optical S / PDIF output
- 5 × Audio (SupremeFX S1220A)
Power supply:
- 1 × 24 pin EATX
- 1 × 8-pin ATX 12V
- 1 × 4-pin ATX 12V
Equipment:
- ROG fan label
- 1 x Strix door hanger
- 1 x Vertical M.2 Bracket Set
- 1 x extension cable for addressable LED strips
- 1 x driver DVD
- 1 x 10-in-1 ROG cable label
- 1 x cable tie set
- 1 x thermal sensor cable set
- ASUS Q-Shield
- 1 x extension cable for RGB strips (80 cm)
- 1 x 3D printing package for mounts
- 1 x M.2 screw set
- 1 x M.2 screw set (long)
- 1 x Q connector
- 4 x SATA cables
- 1 x SLI HB BRIDGE (2-WAY-M)
- 1 x MOS cooling kit (fan bracket and 40 mm fan)
- 1 x ROG addressable LED strip (30cm)
- 1 x ASUS 2T2R mobile wireless antennas
- Manual