Just finished a Maximus VIII Hero build and have various comments...

[reupens]

Just finished a build yesterday with a Core i7 6700K, Corsair CMK16GX4M2B3000C15 (2x8GB 3000MHz CL15) RAM, a Corsair AX760 PSU and my previous Lian-Li PC-60FNWX case. XMP has been enabled, but I said ‘No’ to enhanced timings. I am now on Windows 10 64-bit, but was on Windows 7 64-bit after finishing the build (and then upgraded).

I have to say every build I’ve done before has been pretty much problem-free except this one. I have comments about loads of stuff.

1. That Supreme FX cover near the expansion card slots made it nearly impossible to install my GTX 960 in the Lian-Li case mentioned above. The case has tool-less expansion card installation and there was not enough clearance between the clips it uses for this and the SupremeFX cover to get the card in. Eventually, I managed to get it in but to be honest I have no idea how and it’s going to be a problem again when I replace the graphics card.

2. The BIOS EZ Flash utility offered to update to BIOS version 1202 when the via Internet option was selected, but it made no reference to the fact it was a beta version. If it is going to be offered via the tool it should be made clear it’s a beta version!

3. Like someone else had posted on the 1202 BIOS thread, I’ve had the BIOS freeze after running the Q-Fan Control Optimize All wizard and clicking OK when it finished. That was with BIOS 1102. I ran it a second time and it worked.

4. I have two optical drives and one of them is missing from the boot order list in the BIOS, even though it appears in the boot override screenshot below! Screenshot: http://imgur.com/YaqKsfH It’s the iHAS324 that’s missing.

5. There is some kind of interference between the two USB 3.0 ports on the top of my case. I have a keyboard wireless receiver in one of the port, and when a flash drive is plugged in the second the keyboard starts missing keystrokes etc. I'm pretty sure I did not have this problem with my previous mobo – an Asus Z87 Pro – so I’m blaming the new mobo. And no, the flash drive isn’t between the receiver and the keyboard.
[edit] Oddly, it doesn't seem to happen with a different flash drive. Perhaps it is just the flash drive itself.

6. I have had one freeze during POST on Q-Code 64. This was after pressing Del, and was on BIOS 1202. It hasn’t happened again.

7. The software that is auto-run on the mobo DVD crashes when it is run. Could just be a bad burn.

8. There were some weird marks on the surface of the mobo. I’m not so bothered as it seems to be working fine, but still a little worrying.

9. I've had a least one double-POST – where when WIndows would normally start the PC rebooted instead. I know double-POSTs are normal but I can't recall ever having one like that. There were no errors afterwards, though, so perhaps it was normal.

So far everything has been working when actually in Windows, at least.

[alexjberry]

FWIWs, the mobo DVD also crashes on me when auto-run (WIndows 10 x64). In my case, on first build and clean windows install the DVD auto-runs ok, and I can load up the LAN driver (which is just as well as Windows 10 doesn't come with the necessary driver built in). At some point I must be installing something onto the PC, though, which interferes with the mobo DVD software, because now it won't run without crashing... Who knows! It's not high on my list of problems to resolve!

My guess is that it's one of the runtime distributables which are installed along the way...

[Nate152]

Hello reupens and alexjberry

Thank you for sharing your experiences with the new ROG Hero VIII.

All in all it sounds good, a few quirks here and there but it seems with a bios version your board is happy with all is well.

I haven't heard of anyone having trouble installing a gpu on the hero VIII, maybe it's something to do with your case?

alexjberry - you might find the motherboard DVD utilities from the asus downloads page.

[NemesisChild]

Welcome to the forum!

As you determined, do not allow the utility to update the bios automatically. Always check the website and update manually.
I'm on bios 1102 and everything seems fine so far. Would be advisable to revert back to this version from 1202 beta.
Always best to update drivers directly from the ASUS support website, DVD drivers are typically out of date.
Did the double post occur when you disconnected power from the board?
Do you have pic of the "weird marks" on the board?

[reupens]

alexjberry wrote:
FWIWs, the mobo DVD also crashes on me when auto-run (WIndows 10 x64). In my case, on first build and clean windows install the DVD auto-runs ok, and I can load up the LAN driver (which is just as well as Windows 10 doesn't come with the necessary driver built in). At some point I must be installing something onto the PC, though, which interferes with the mobo DVD software, because now it won't run without crashing... Who knows! It's not high on my list of problems to resolve!

My guess is that it's one of the runtime distributables which are installed along the way...

That's interesting. It seemed like such a glaring problem that I thought it must be unique to me.

Nate152 wrote:
All in all it sounds good, a few quirks here and there but it seems with a bios version your board is happy with all is well.

Yes, as long as day-to-day use is fine I'm happy.

Nate152 wrote:
I haven't heard of anyone having trouble installing a gpu on the hero VIII, maybe it's something to do with your case?

Yes, it's a compatibility problem between the case and motherboard. Honestly, I think they are equally at fault: that SupremeFX cover does not need to be so big, just a few millimetres shorter and it would've been fine.

NemesisChild wrote:
Always best to update drivers directly from the ASUS support website, DVD drivers are typically out of date.
Did the double post occur when you disconnected power from the board?
Do you have pic of the "weird marks" on the board?

Yes, I was just curious about what was on the DVD, and I did actually need it to install the Ethernet adapter drivers for Windows 10.

I can't remember when that double POST was unfortunately.

I should've taken a photo of the marks before assembling the thing. It is difficult to see now with the components in the way but I'm pretty sure it was the ones I've highlighted in this photo:
http://imgur.com/ZLBUavZ

They are not parallel with anything; they look like scratches to me...

[Nate152]

That's unfortunate but it looks like no damage was done, just the top coating scraped a little.

I don't install anything from the motherboard DVD except the LAN driver, then I go to the downloads page and get the latest drivers.

Your board may be a little different than mine I just install the Chipset driver, IMEI driver and USB 3.0 driver that's all. I do use mem tweakit that's a neat little tool but I'm not sure it's compatible with your new motherboard, I don't use ai suite or install anything else.

So do you have good cooling? Have you done any overclocking yet?

[reupens]

Nate152 wrote:
That's unfortunate but it looks like no damage was done, just the top coating scraped a little.

Yeah, I'm not that bothered about it, but if I have to return the motherboard later on you can imagine they could create some hassle.

Nate152 wrote:
So do you have good cooling? Have you done any overclocking yet?

I've got a Noctua NH-U12S and two Noctua case fans. At stock (+XMP) the CPU cores are averaging about 27 C at idle; after 10 minutes of Prime 95 Small FFT stress testing they are around 59 C. They seem like good temps to me.

Haven't done any overclocking yet; not too fussed about overclocking but I may try a mild one later on.

One thing I do like about this mobo is the fan controls - my PC is near silent at idle, and I don't need the Noctua low noise adapters.

[Nate152]

That's great to hear

59c at stock settings with prime95 is great temps, It sounds like you know what you're doing and are enjoying your new build. 🙂

[Signal]

FYI - If you need to you can remove the plastic SupremeFX cover. It's attached with x3 black screws on the bottom of the motherboard and no other adhesive. Just put the screws back in the removed piece for safe keeping. I'm not even sure what benefits it offers since it's just plastic and has no RF shielding capability. Airflow also seems pretty suspect once you see it off the board.

[reupens]

Thanks, that's good to know. I did think it had dubious utility; five years or so ago I'm sure it'd just have been a sticker...