Asus ROG Maximus X Formula

We’ve been taken to tenth-gen heaven.

- Zak storey

NOTHING SAYS “PREMIUM” like a Formula board. They are the kings of Asus’s consumer lineup. Granted the very best features from each generation of mobo design, the Formula is a luxury for those willing to splurge the coin. The tenth iteration of this design ethos has lead to this: a $350 masterpiece of connectivity, rear I/O, BIOS, liquid-cooling, and armor-plated PCB. And it looks marvelous.

That thermal armor—which was introduced with the TUF series, way back in the Z77 era—is hardly a new concept, and whether it actually reduces overall stress and temps on the PCB is still highly debated. That said, there’s no denying just how impressive this thing feels in your hands. The reinforced backplate alone must weigh half a pound at least.