Asus has recently revealed their first FM2+ gaming motherboard under the Republic of Gamers – the Asus Crossblade Ranger. The Crossblade Ranger was launched together with the Maximus VII Formula and Maximus VII Impact. It’s basically targeted towards those who want to build an AMD-based system using an APU, like the Kaveri, and pair it with a premium gaming motherboard. Check out the rest of its features and specifications below.
UPDATE: The Asus Crossblade Ranger is now officially announced. Check out its full features and specifications here -> Asus ROG Crossblade Ranger FM2+ Motherboard Now Official
The Asus Crossblade Ranger FM2+ ROG Motherboard
“Our loyal users have long demanded that we produce an AMD-based powerhouse and the result is Crossblade Ranger — ROG’s first FM2+ gaming motherboard. Crossblade Ranger is equipped with ROG’s core game-boosting features, available on the latest Maximus VII (Z97) motherboards, including expertly optimized SupremeFX 2014 audio with SenseAmp and Sonic Studio technology, ultra-fast Intel Gigabit Ethernet and GameFirst III network-optimization software for no-delay gameplay, as well as the KeyBot, an instant keyboard-upgrade utility.”
The Asus Crossblade Ranger is based on the AMD A88X FCH chipset, just like the ASUS A88X-Pro. It features an 8 phase VRM, 4x DDR3 DIMM slots, two PCIE 3.0 x16 and x8, one PCIE 2.0, 2x PCIE x1 and a legacy PCI slot. However it doesn’t have SATA Express ports and M.2 PCIE ports since they are basic features of Intel 9 Series chipsets.
As of today, I don’t have an idea about the Crossblade Ranger’s suggested retail price, but perhaps it would be priced similarly with its Intel counterpart, the Maximus VII Ranger. The ROG FM2+ motherboard is also expected to hit shelves in the following weeks to come.
