Rampage VI Apex (LGA2066, Intel X299) - info, experience, BIOSes etc.

[Brighttail]

The PCH to CPU link (DMI bus) is PCIe Gen 3.0 X4, which has a max throughput of 32Gbps. That's why PCH based RAID is limited by that bandwidth.

Ah.. okay I get that now. Well I guess a bootable RAID drive is a pipedream anyway and probably not very well recommended at RAID 0 anyway. My Samsung PRO on its own will almost saturate the PCH bandwidth on a single drive. That being said If I can get my storage/render drive using the PCI-e lanes I will be happy.

[Raja@ASUS]

Yeah, I don't see the appeal in BOOTable RAID 0. Storage RAID, perhaps, but even there, I'd purchase a dedicated RAID card from a reputable vendor so that I am not stuck with a dysfunctional array when I change platforms.

[Brighttail]

Thanks again Raja. I'm not familiar with Raid controllers but I may look into it.

[Feklar]

So today is the 9th of August and still no word on when the Apex and Extreme are due to be released. Just "soon" and "we're one day closer " is frustrating. Zenith get released tomorrow and yet no vendors have even a clue when or if they getting the Apex or Extreme. Newegg has no idea and Provantage has a preorder up for 15 day delivery. What does that make It? Sept? Oct? Why the mystery? I guess if the availability were very soon or imminent someone would have a date. I'm ready to give up waiting since it's been too long. The fact that the Zenith will be available first is not a good sign. Has anyone heard anything at all? This has to be the biggest secret since who killed Laura Palmer.

[mpoffo]

So today is the 9th of August and still no word on when the Apex and Extreme are due to be released. Just "soon" and "we're one day closer " is frustrating. Zenith get released tomorrow and yet no vendors have even a clue when or if they getting the Apex or Extreme. Newegg has no idea and Provantage has a preorder up for 15 day delivery. What does that make It? Sept? Oct? Why the mystery? I guess if the availability were very soon or imminent someone would have a date. I'm ready to give up waiting since it's been too long. The fact that the Zenith will be available first is not a good sign. Has anyone heard anything at all? This has to be the biggest secret since who killed Laura Palmer.

Here is my theory and it could be completely wrong.

Since the VRM heatsink had to be redesigned it probably took them a bit to redo/reconfigure things thus a small delay. I know nothing of logistics but I would assume that once the boards were made they needed to be shipped out. In some cases literally on the slow boat from China. From my prior experience (for the US at least) it can take a month or so for things to make it from China/Taiwan. I think we are getting close though. There appears to have been a formal announcement and prices are known now. Some places in the US and Europe are taking pre-orders although not the main retailers in the US at least. If I were a betting man I would say within next week/possibly two we will be able to order these boards. Who knows the logistics of launching the premiere X299 and Zenith boards at the same time. Maybe they have a deal with AMD to launch Zenith first (Always think of the TV brand when I hear that name). Maybe they want to coincide the launch of Apex and Extreme to the release of the higher tier x299 processors at the end of this month. These things we probably will never know.

In the extreme thread we hold periodic meetings of Anorak's Anonymous (AA). You are welcome to join that discussion.

[Feklar]

I don't think the vrm's had to be redesigned, just the vrm heatsink. Interesting that the Zenith was done right the first time without the need for redesign. How did they get so wrong on the top tier x299 boards is anyone's guess. I never used a motherboard from any other manufacturer but I think this may be the push I needed to try some other companies product. The availability of these is too much a mystery. To quote the famous ships captain James T. Kirk, "It's a mystery, and I don't like mysteries, they give me a belly ache and I have beauty right now"

[mpoffo]

I don't think the vrm's had to be redesigned, just the vrm heatsink. Interesting that the Zenith was done right the first time without the need for redesign. How did they get so wrong on the top tier x299 boards is anyone's guess. I never used a motherboard from any other manufacturer but I think this may be the push I needed to try some other companies product. The availability of these is too much a mystery. To quote the famous ships captain James T. Kirk, "It's a mystery, and I don't like mysteries, they give me a belly ache and I have beauty right now"

Yep, I meant the VRM heatsink. I know waiting sucks but I don't want any other motherboard so some of us are a captive audience. My gut is to keep your eye out in the next day or two....we may see something.

[Raja@ASUS]

My gut is to keep your eye out in the next day or two....we may see something.

Sounds like constipation

[mpoffo]

Sounds like constipation

There are so many ways of responding to this. I would say constipation sucks, particularly when you are "waiting" for something to "come out."

[Feklar]

Sounds like constipation

My constipation has hit it's "Apex". I guess that means an "Extreme" laxative is required. That's it, I quit.