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ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero

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ROG CROSSHAIR VIII
DARK HERO

Upgraded power delivery, passive chipset cooling, and stealthy aesthetics allow the Crosshair VIII Dark Hero to strike from the shadows and form a menacing duo with AMD Zen 3.

SPEC OVERVIEW

Performance
Cooling
Gaming Immersion
Connectivity
DIY friendly

Extreme Power & Performance

* The specifications depend on different CPU types. The listed specifications are based on AMD Ryzen™ 5000 Series and 3000 Series Desktop Processors.

Comprehensive Cooling

Total Gaming Immersion

Full Connectivity

* The specifications depend on different CPU types. The listed specifications are based on AMD Ryzen™ 5000 Series and 3000 Series Desktop Processors.

DIY Friendly

PERFORMANCE

ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero boasts an optimized power design layout and all the cooling headers you need to handle the prodigious power of the latest AMD Ryzen processors.

Power solution
Memory

Teamed Power Architecture

Modern CPU architectures up the ante for motherboard power design by transitioning from deep power-saving modes to full load almost instantaneously. Our latest VRM architecture rises to the challenge by utilizing teamed power stages to rapidly swing current, while maintaining exemplary thermal performance.

A brief history
A shift in CPU demands
Bucking the trend
Thermal performance
High Quality Components

While doublers help extend the number of effective phases, they do so at the cost of a processing delay. The teamed architecture allows two power stages to work in tandem to provide more power to the CPU. The MOSFETs within the power stages generate the most heat as they are responsible for voltage conversion and delivery to the CPU from the 12V EPS connector.

We became the first manufacturer to implement phase-doublers when we shipped our A8N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard, back in 2005. The board's VRM was lauded for elegantly overcoming the power handling capabilities of components that were available at the time and also reducing voltage ripple. Those benefits led to phase-doublers becoming universally accepted in the industry, and they are still used for similar purposes today.
However, today's CPUs now pack more cores than their predecessors, and the latest instruction sets allow them to crunch computationally dense workloads at an incredible pace. In addition, they consume less power at idle and can transition between load states much more quickly. These improvements necessitate a re-evaluation of power-design priorities because phase-doublers add a propagation delay that hampers transient response.
Fortunately, the latest integrated power components can handle higher currents than the devices of yesteryear, making it possible to implement a simple circuit topology that isn't hamstrung by the processing lag of phase-doublers. That's why ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero utilizes teamed power stages to deliver higher burst current per phase, while maintaining the thermal performance of phase-doubled designs.
Each VRM component serves a specific purpose. PWM controllers and phase-doublers control the circuit, and the power stages do the heavy lifting from an electrical and thermal standpoint. That's why ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero utilizes 16 power stages. The power stage sits at the top of Infineon's lineup and features a low RDSON to reduce switching and conduction losses, helping to improve overall thermal headroom.

ASUS Optimem III

Infused with proprietary memory trace layout tweaks that improve signal integrity and mitigate noise, Optimem III allows memory kits to run at lower latencies, reduced voltages, and operate at higher frequencies. Stack the Dark Hero with your favorite modules and maximize Zen 3 processors throughput for applications that demand massive bandwidth, or balance infinity fabric and memory performance for a diverse range of workloads.

G.Skill Memory 4 x 32GB CL18 @3600MHz
OptiMem III

CL 16
No OptiMem III

CL 18
Lower the data is better

Test Configuration: AMD Ryzen™ 9 5950X | ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero

High Frequency
Max Capacity without Compromise

COOLING

Maintaining system stability is paramount under high load, so Crosshair VIII Dark Hero employs passive chipset cooling with large VRM and chipset heatsinks that strike the right balance between surface area and mass. Featuring premium components and multiple fan headers, Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is fully armed to provide the best foundation for gaming systems.

Heatsinks
Headers

Cooling Heatsinks

Cooler by design

ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero features the most comprehensive cooling options ever.

ROG Water-Cooling Zone

Dual water-temperature headers and a flow-rate header feed information straight into the AI Suite utility, allowing you to track coolant temperatures and the flow rate of the entire loop.

Optimization

ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is packed with intuitive and flexible tools to allow customization across all system parameters to deliver the performance you want.

5-way optimization
BIOS
Differential Sensing

Performance Level Up

The dashboard-style control panel of AI Suite 3 lets you fine-tune almost every aspect of your ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero system with ease. Get the best balance between performance, cooling, stability, and efficiency via one simple and intuitive interface.

TPU
EPU
Fan Xpert 4
Digital power controls
Turbo App

CPU-performance boost

The TurboV Processing Unit (TPU) is an intelligent onboard micro-controller that provides an array of system-tuning features, including the ability to fine-tune voltages, monitor system stats and adjust overclocking parameters.

All-around energy efficiency

With the Energy Processing Unit (EPU) you'll enjoy system-wide power savings. The EPU automatically optimizes power consumption and maximizes savings with Away mode — a smart setting that creates an extreme energy-saving scenario by shutting down unused I/O controllers.

Flexible cooling controls for air or liquid

Enjoy comprehensive control over fans, water pumps and all-in-one (AIO) coolers, via either Fan Expert 4 or our UEFI. Whether you're cooling with air or water, Auto-Tuning mode intelligently configures all parameters with a single click. There's also an Extreme Quiet mode, which reduces all fan speeds to below the default minimum — keeping your system whisper-quiet when performing light tasks.

Precise digital power control

The Digi+ voltage-regulator module (VRM) delivers real-time control over voltage droop, switching frequency and power-efficiency settings, allowing you to fine-tune CPU voltage regulation for ultimate stability and performance.

Turbo App

This intuitive tool allows you to define CPU overclocking, apply fan profiles, prioritize network data and optimize audio settings at app level ― so your system is perfectly optimized for whatever you're doing.

UEFI BIOS

The renowned ROG UEFI (BIOS) provides everything you need to configure, tweak, and tune your rig. It offers intelligently simplified options for newcomers to PC DIY, as well as comprehensive features for seasoned veterans.

Advanced Mode
EZ Mode

When you're ready for a deeper dive, delve into the UEFI's Advanced mode and take complete control. Advanced mode enables full control over every aspect of the motherboard, and a built-in search function helps you quickly find the setting you need.

Advanced Mode

My Favorites
Quickly find tuning options and add preferred tools to the list.
EZ Flash 3
Flash the latest BIOS via the internet from within the BIOS.
S.M.A.R.T.
Check your storage device Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) logs to gauge reliability and identify potential failures.
GPU POST
Automatically detect selected ASUS graphics cards to view detailed information.
Secure Erase
Restore your SSDs and NVMe storage to factory settings.
Last Modified Log
Track the last change and save preferred profiles to a USB drive.
SATA Port Renaming
Rename SATA ports for easy identification.
ASUS User Profile
Port configuration settings between different BIOS versions or share them with friends.
Q-Fan control
Configure the fan's operating speed manually or use pre-configured fan profiles to quickly select Standard, Silent, Turbo or Full Speed modes. By default, system fans will automatically switch to full speed if the temperature reaches 75°C.

Designed to simplify setup, EZ mode presents vital settings and stats on a single page. With guided wizards, drag-and-drop functionality, and one-click application of important settings, your rig will be up and running in no time.

EZ Mode

Intuitive graphical fan controls
Fine-tune individual fans simply by dragging a curve with the mouse.
SATA information
View SATA port details for easy device recognition.
Fast and easy clock adjustment
Use the mouse to quickly change time and date settings.
Aura On/Off mode (Stealth)
Easily enable or disable Aura RGB lighting or every onboard LED, for a more subdued aesthetic.

Accurate Voltage Monitoring

Conventional motherboards use single-ended sensing tapped from a location that isn't ideal, leading to a large disparity between the actual voltage fed to the CPU and the value reported to software. ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero features a differential-sensing circuit and delicate IC that simplify overclocking and tuning by allowing you to track voltages more accurately.

CONNECTIVITY

ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero offers advanced connectivity, including WiFi 6 (AX200) and dual Ethernet with Intel^® 1Gb and Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet port to eliminate bottlenecks so you can enjoy exceptionally smooth online and LAN play. Additionally, the M.2 supports AMD StoreMI technology to maximize the speed of your SSD for faster load times, and SupremeFX on-board audio provides superb sound, while saving a PCIe slot.

Networking
Storage
Audio

WiFi 6 (AX200)

Onboard WiFi 6 (802.11ax) supports ultrafast wireless-networking speeds, improved capacity and better performance in dense WiFi environments, providing exceptional online gaming experiences. *

Pair your motherboard with ASUS WiFi 6 routers to fully experience the networking potential of WiFi 6. Find out more about ASUS WiFi 6 solutions: https://www.asus.com/wifi6/
REALTEK 2.5G LAN

2.5G on-board Ethernet kicks your LAN connection up a notch with an up to 2.5X bandwidth improvement. Using your existing LAN cable, you can take advantage this networking upgrade to experience smoother, lag-free gaming, immediately stream high-resolution videos and enjoy faster file transfers.
Intel^® 1Gbps Ethernet

ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero features the latest Intel^® Ethernet (I211-AT) ensuring data exchanges with your network and the outside world are fast and smooth. Intel LAN reduces CPU overhead and increases TCP and UDP throughput, keeping more processing power.

*Actual speed varies, depending on networking conditions.

Storage

UNTHROTTLED TRANSFER SPEED

Dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 Slot support up to 22110 and provide NVMe SSD RAID support for an incredible performance boost. Create a RAID configuration with up to two PCIe 4.0 storage devices to enjoy the fastest data-transfer speeds on the AMD Ryzen™ 5000 and 3000 Series desktop processors.
AMD STOREMI

AMD StoreMI technology is a software utility that accelerates any drive for better system responsiveness with reduced startup and software load times. It combines SSD performance with the affordability and capacity of an HDD by automatically moving frequently accessed data to dedicated SSD storage.

SupremeFX

ROG SupremeFX audio technology delivers an exceptional 113 dB signal-to-noise ratio on the line-in connection to provide best-ever recording quality. There's also a low-dropout regulator for cleaner power delivery to the SupremeFX S1220 codec, an ESS^® ES9023P digital-to-analog converter for superior front-panel output, and a Texas Instruments^® RC4580 op amp for high gain with low distortion — all to produce unmatched audio quality.
>Learn more about ROG audio technology

Audio Line Shielding
ESS^® ES9023P
S1220 Codec
Switching MOSFETS
Nichicon^® CAPS

Blocks electromagnetic interference from the motherboard or add-ons to provide cleaner audio.
The ESS^® ES9023P digital-to-analog converter creates a perfect balance for top-tier audio clarity capable of 112db DNR /-94dB THD+N for superior front-panel output
10 DAC channels provide simultaneous 7.1-channel playback, independent 2.0-channel, multiple-stream stereo to front-panel outputs
Unique design allows the codec's impedance-sensing function to be ported with either the front or rear headphone outputs
Fine-quality Japanese-made components that produce a warmer, natural sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity

Personalize

In addition to extraordinary performance, ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero provides extensive styling and customization options to let you build a system that truly stands apart.

Aura Sync
Ramcache III
Audio
Armoury Crate

Aura Sync
RGB Header

Grow your gaming world

Gear up with ROG components, from graphics and monitors to mice and keyboards. And up your game with complementary aesthetics, control and compatibility. The ROG ecosystem is more extensive than any competing brand, so enjoy greater choice as your system expands.

Static
Breathing
Strobing
Rainbow
Color cycle
Starry night
Music effect
Smart

Addressable Gen 2 RGB header

The addressable Gen 2 RGB headers now feature software that can automatically tailor lighting effects to specific devices. The new headers also offer backward-compatibility with existing Aura RGB gear.

RAMCache lll software utility turns milliseconds into microseconds to boost game-load times. Fully compatible with the latest NVM Express^® storage options, RAMCache lll utilizes uniquely intelligent technology to effectively cache any storage device, so favorite games and apps launch at breakneck speeds.

Smart mode
Real-time information
Health check

Automatically cache all your storage devices to maximize your system's resources.

Intuitive interface displays real-time drive information, such as current read/write speeds.

Quickly check for corrupt sectors of installed memory modules.

Sonic Studio III

Sonic Studio supports HRTF-based (head-related transfer function*) virtual surround for headsets, casting an immersive aural landscape that draws you deeper into the action. The intuitive Sonic Studio interface also offers a range of EQ options and one-click presets, allowing you to tailor acoustics to suit personal preferences or the characteristics of your headset.

Learn more about Sonic Studio III

*A head-related transfer function is an audio algorithm derived from sound data recorded through a dummy head. Test tones are played from a spherical grid around the dummy head to obtain subtle changes in sounds that come from different directions. The results are combined into an algorithm that allows Sonic Studio's virtual surround to process sound true to life.

Learn more

Sonic Studio Link
App-specific profiles
Sonic Studio virtual mixer

Sonic Studio Link

Easily apply Sonic Studio effects on all playback devices. Simply press the Sonic Studio Link button to enjoy the effect on any playback device.

App-specific profiles

Apply customized audio settings to different applications, so everything you do is perfectly tuned to the way you want to listen.

Sonic Studio virtual mixer

Combine audio output from selected apps with audio from the microphone input and stream the compiled mix.

DTS : Sound Unbound

ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero includes a pre-loaded DTS Sound Unbound app that envelops you in audio as never before, conjuring whole new levels of immersion for extraordinary gaming and entertainment experiences. By exploiting Windows Sonic spatial technology, DTS Sound Unbound delivers audio in a virtual 3D space — putting you right in the middle of the soundscape, where you can sense the location and direction of every gunshot, footstep or other sound in your virtual environment.
* DTS Sound Unbound requires in-game support. Check with developers for titles that offer support.

Stereo Sound
Surround Sound
Spatial Sound

Armoury Crate

Armoury Crate is a software utility designed to provide centralized control of supported ROG gaming products. From a single intuitive interface, Armoury Crate puts command of all your Aura gear at your fingertips with the new Aura Creator suite ready. The software also provides control of settings for a growing number of ROG products, making it easier to tune the look and feel of your system. Armoury Crate even offers dedicated product registration and ROG news feeds to help you stay in touch with the ROG gaming community.
Download Link>

AURA SYNC
Device Configuration
Driver & Manual Download
Gaming Highlight
Account Management

9.5 out of 10

For those who want quietness and reliability, there is good reason to opt for this model since its massive heatsinks effectively void the need for active cooling on the X570 chipset.

Top Techology

Top

Top notch X570 enthusiast mainboard!

Highend Recommendation

Due to the numerous ports, features and performance, we give the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero a "top class" recommendation.

Excellent Hardware

The ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero represents a dream motherboard for many converters, as it offers an extensive feature set, passive chipset cooling, and an exclusive overclocking feature.

Editor's Choice

It is one of the thickest, coolest, most beautiful boards on the market, and one that does not allow you to feel any negative emotions when using the bios and software...

Platinum

one of the best boards this generation has seen for the X570 platform.

編輯推薦

這次的實測也驗證了AMD Ryzen 5000系列在Dark Hero上的絕佳表現，不論是在跑分軟體、遊戲還是創作程式，其所展現的效能都是無庸置疑的強大，相信對於追求外型和極致效能的玩家來說，ROG Corsshair VIII Dark Hero + AMD Ryzen 9 5950X的組合將會是將主機效能推至頂點的關鍵。

玩家推薦

AMD Ryzen 5000 強勢出擊，憑著 Zen 3 架構更新 19% IPC 提升，更在單核、多核與遊戲效能中奪得「最強遊戲處理器」之美名，但因為這代 I/O Die 沒更新的情況下，沿用著既有 X570、B550 與 400 系列主機板；因此華碩 ROG 則讓英雄再臨，主要改變為無風扇設計的「ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero」主機板，維持著 16 相供電、PCIe 4.0、雙 M.2 與 8 SATA 擴充，以及背板多達 12 個 USB、雙 1GbE + 2.5GbE 與 Wi-Fi 6 等高規格。

HKEPC Editor's Choice 2020

it has strengthened the CPU design to supply electricity, overclocking and motherboard heat-cooling

PCM Best Performance 2020

Stable and reliable performance

itndaily.ru recommended

ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is a device created for hardware experiments, not for a gaming PC

Tested by overcloskers.ru

ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is a great motherboard for enthusiasts building a high-performance PC

Editor's Choice

ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero motherboard makes a great base for building a gaming rig with a comprehensive set of USB ports on the rear panel, fast wired connection, and the latest Wi-Fi 6

DD´s Recommended

It is primarily a complexity, ie a combination of still reasonable price, passive cooling, extremely high quality workmanship, including extreme OC support, reasonable design and ATX size. Then yes, the ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR VIII DARK HERO is probably the best set and X570 board on the market today.

Enthusiast Recommended

The board tested today is top notch in all directions, the functionality is 100%. If you want an absolute highend for the Ryzen 5000, there's nothing to deal with. But just because of that you can't buy this board. The main reason is Dynamic OC Switcher and overclocking.

Overclocker's Heaven

Dark Hero is an excellent hi-end board that will please especially extreme clockers, tuners, 'freecoolins' and passive cooling enthusiasts. Basically, I don't have much to blame for the board, the price is traditionally high for a product of this type, while the board would have a longer warranty.

Special solution

ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is a very powerful motherboard with a lot to offer

Der8auer

Tech_Sama

KIOS Komputer

Sebelas Hardware

Others

Gaptech.id

Donanım Arşivi

Andro-news.com

We Do Tech

For those who want quietness and reliability, there is good reason to opt for this model since its massive heatsinks effectively void the need for active cooling on the X570 chipset.

Top Techology

Due to the numerous ports, features and performance, we give the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero a "top class" recommendation.

Top notch X570 enthusiast mainboard!

The ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero represents a dream motherboard for many converters, as it offers an extensive feature set, passive chipset cooling, and an exclusive overclocking feature.

It is one of the thickest, coolest, most beautiful boards on the market, and one that does not allow you to feel any negative emotions when using the bios and software...

one of the best boards this generation has seen for the X570 platform.

目前由 Crosshair VIII Dark Hero 獨佔的 Dynamic OC Switcher 功能，不只解決了全核定頻超頻容易過熱當機的問題，還能兼顧絕佳的單核效能，對於想要在 AMD 平台常態超頻用戶來說，是非常好的設計。

在規格上，ROG CROSSHAIR VIII DARK HERO 算是維持 ROG 旗艦主機板的設定，包括 16 相供電、兩個 M.2 SSD 插槽、兩組 PCIe 4.0 x16 插槽、2.5 GbE + 1 GbE 雙網路設計以及大量的 USB Type-A 連接埠等等，基本上應能滿足大多數玩家的需求，不過就現實面來說，跟陳拔先前的測試平台 ROG Crosshair VIII Hero （WI-FI）並沒有太大差異，但若是想體驗無風扇帶來的安靜運作以及嶄新外觀設計，ROG CROSSHAIR VIII DARK HERO 會是值得考慮的選擇。

最後一個 AM4 腳位的 Ryzen 系列處理器在 11 月 5 日正式解禁，其代號 Vermeer，上市型號為 Ryzen 5000 系列，現階段 AMD 提供 16、12、8 以及 6 核心等 4 款處理器讓市場做選擇。另一方面，AM4 腳位的 Ryzen 5000 系列處理器延用目前的 X570、B550 晶片主機板，同時也有部分 B450 晶片主機板也能支援相關處理器，對於一些使用者來說，這可能是個值得開心的事情，畢竟可以省下主機板的更換費用。當然，也有主機板廠順勢推出新的 AM4 腳位主機板，如 ASUS 以及 MSI，而我們也收到 ASUS 寄出來的 ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero 主機板搭配 Ryzen 9 5950X 這款 16 核心的處理器進行測試。

ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero 隨著 AMD Ryzen 5000 系列處理器更新，主要在主機板外觀設計、電路板塗裝上有著改變，以及最重要的就是晶片組採用被動散熱，若在意 X570 晶片組上的風扇噪音，那這板會是 ROG Crosshair VIII 系列中少數無風扇的選擇。規格上，Dark Hero 維持著 CPU 16 相 Team 架構供電設計、雙 PCIe 4.0 x16 與雙 M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 插槽，以及 8 個 SATA、2.5GbE + 1GbE + Wi-Fi 6 的三網路組合，還有著多道滿出來的 USB 連接埠與 ROG 標配 SupremeFX 音效等好料。若各位喜新厭舊（誤），想無風扇的 ROG X570 主機板，可以考慮下 ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero 顏值更高更有著既有 HERO 的所有功能，讓玩家感受到 AMD Ryzen 5000 帶來的新一代創作、遊戲效能體驗。

it has strengthened the CPU design to supply electricity, overclocking and motherboard heat-cooling

Stable and reliable performance

ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is a device created for hardware experiments, not for a gaming PC

ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is a great motherboard for enthusiasts building a high-performance PC

ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero offers a comprehensive set of features and a significantly improved power delivery

ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero motherboard makes a great base for building a gaming rig with a comprehensive set of USB ports on the rear panel, fast wired connection, and the latest Wi-Fi 6

It was a model that won our admiration with its 3 huge cooling fans, successful design and very good cooling performance.

Therefore, it can serve as a basis in a variety of systems: from a working PC with prolonged loads and to a bench stand for nitrogen sessions, from a gaming one, with an emphasis on appearance, to assembling an enthusiast with a self-assembled LSS. I have absolutely nothing to complain about for the entire time of working with the board, and therefore I can safely recommend it for purchase to everyone who began to secretly dream about it.

ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is a very powerful motherboard with a lot to offer

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