Asus x38 ROG Motherboard

[xocoatl]

Longtime lurker, first time poster!

Question:

The new x38 MB from ASUS, the MAXIMUS FORMULA/SE , can this be used passively or does one need to use the water cooling that's built into it? How is it with air cooling? Would a Tuniq Tower 120 work?

 

[thilanliyan]

I'm pretty sure Asus wouldn't make a motherboard that NEEDS to be watercooled so I think aircooling is fine. Also, if you're not gonna watercool it, why not get another motherboard without the unneeded stuff....unless of course you plan on watercooling it later.

 

[xocoatl]

thilan29,

The long range goal is to move into water cooling; long range being within a year. I've been using Asus for a long time, so naturally, I was lookng at their X38 offerings. In the past, I've used Iwill once and an Abit once, but I always come back to Asus.

Do you know if the board would fit a Tuniq tower 120?

 

[thilanliyan]

One thing you might want to find out is whether the block is made of copper or is just anodized aluminum. Considering most of the cooling components you would buy would be copper, I don't think you'd want aluminum in your loop because it CAN be eaten away if you mix copper and aluminum in your loop.

Check this out:

review

He couldn't find out whether it was aluminum (although he suspected it was) and decided not to use the block. On a side note he did manage to fit an Ultra-120...I honestly don't know if it would fit a Tuniq Tower though. I personally had an Ultra-120 before and I'd rather get that than the Tuniq because performance is comparable if not better and is smaller, unless of course you already have the Tuniq.

As for the board, considering some of the unknowns, I think you're better off getting a board that doesn't include that watercooling stuff since you'd probably get better watercooling components if you bought it separately anyway.

 

[xocoatl]

thilan29,

Thanks for the review link of the close up review of the Asus x38 Maximus Formula SE. You're right about mixing the metals...not so good thing to do.

I'll get the board w/o the Fusion block. Thanks!

 

[thilanliyan]

np, glad to have helped. Don't forget to post your thoughts when you do get the board.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: xocoatl
Longtime lurker, first time poster!

Question:

The new x38 MB from ASUS, the MAXIMUS FORMULA/SE , can this be used passively or does one need to use the water cooling that's built into it? How is it with air cooling? Would a Tuniq Tower 120 work?

to be hoenst. No board will require watercooling off the bat. The entire cooling system is just one block and the rest with heat pipes. The heat pipes transfers the heat to the middle nb. That is then cooled via air/convection, or you can use water to cool it down.

As for the mixing metals part, i dont think it uses alu. The entire setup is made of copper. Water doesnt travel to the mosfet area, and other locations. If it did, that would cause a tremendous amount of flow pressure loss. Then it wouldnt be productive. Also the SB pipe looks 1 way, so having water travel down it is impossible.

If you have a water setup, i would recomend putting it on its own loop because of the barb differences or you can use a F splitter. If your thinkn of only watercooling it seperately, i think theres better way of spending your money. The board really isnt worth watercooling by itself.

my 2 cents.