Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero X570 Chipset AMD Ryzen AM4 Socket Gaming Motherboard

Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero AMD AM4 Socket 3rd and 2nd AMD Ryzen/2nd and 1st Gen AMD Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics Processors, Memory: 4 x DIMM, Max 128GB, DDR4, Expansion Slots: 2 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8), 1 x PCIe 4.0 x1, 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8), 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x8 mode), Storage and USB: 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 6 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 4 x USB 2.0, Onboard VGA Output Available: NVIDIA 2-Way SLI, Supports AMD 2-Way CrossFireX Technology, AMD 3-Way CrossFireX

Features:

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.

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.

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
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.

A shift in CPU demands
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.

Bucking the trend
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.

Thermal performance
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.

Dual 8-pin ProCool II power connector
Two ProCool connectors ensure a snug and reliable connection to the EPS 12V power lines.

14+2 power stage
The VRM has 14+2 power stages, each rated to handle 90 amps.

MicroFine alloy chokes
Each Power stage is accompanied by a high-permeability alloy-core choke rated to handle 45 amps.

10K Japanese-made black metallic capacitors
Input and output filtering is provided by solid-polymer capacitors rated to last thousands of hours at high operating temperatures.

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.

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.

VRM heatsink
The two VRM heatsinks are placed above the MOSFETs and chokes, and are connected by a heat-pipe to further increase surface area for heat dissipation.

M.2 heatsink
Two dedicated heatsinks keep the dual M.2 SSDs at the optimum operating temperature for consistent performance and reliability.

High-conductivity thermal pad
A high-quality thermal pad improves overall heat transfer from the system by bridging the heat generated by the power stages to the heatsink.

Passive chipset heatsink
A dedicated chipset heatsink draws heat away to maintain optimum operating temperatures.

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

Multiple temperature sources
Each header can be set to monitor and react to three user-configurable thermal sensors for workload-based cooling. All settings can be easily managed by Fan Xpert 4 or UEFI.

4-pin PWM/DC fan
Every onboard header supports auto-detection of PWM or DC fans.

AIO PUMP
A dedicated PWM/DC header for self-contained water-cooling setups.

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.

Water pump+
A dedicated header can supply over 3 amps to high-performance PWM or DC water pumps.

Water in/out
A dedicated header enables monitoring of temperatures at the input/output points of any component.

Water flow
A dedicated header enables constant monitoring of flow rate throughout 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Audio Line Shielding
Blocks electromagnetic interference from the motherboard or add-ons to provide cleaner audio.

ESS® ES9023P
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

S1220 Codec
10 DAC channels provide simultaneous 7.1-channel playback, independent 2.0-channel, multiple-stream stereo to front-panel outputs

Switching MOSFETS
Unique design allows the codec's impedance-sensing function to be ported with either the front or rear headphone outputs

Nichicon® CAPS
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.

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.

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 III
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.

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.

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.

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.

Specifications:

CPU AMD AM4 Socket for AMD Ryzen 5000 Series/ 4000 G-Series/ 3000 Series/ 3000 G-Series/ 2000 Series/ 2000 G-Series Desktop Processors
Chipset AMD X570
Memory 4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR4 4866(O.C) / 4800(O.C.) / 4600(O.C) / 4400(O.C) / 4333(O.C.) / 4266(O.C.) / 4133(O.C.) / 4000(O.C.) / 3866(O.C.) / 3800(O.C.) / 3600(O.C.) / 3466(O.C.) / 3400(O.C.) / 3200 / 3000 / 2933 / 2800 / 2666 / 2400(O.C.) / 2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR4 5100(O.C) / 5000(O.C) / 4866(O.C) / 4800(O.C.) / 4600(O.C) / 4400(O.C) / 4333(O.C.) / 4266(O.C.) / 4133(O.C.) / 4000(O.C.) / 3866(O.C.) / 3600(O.C.) / 3466(O.C.) / 3400(O.C.) / 3200 / 3000 / 2933 / 2800 / 2666 / 2400 / 2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR4 3600(O.C.) / 3466(O.C.) / 3200 / 3000(O.C.) / 2933 / 2800 / 2666 / 2400 / 2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR4 3200/3000(O.C.)/2933/2800/2666/2400/2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
AMD Ryzen 4000 G-Series Desktop Processors
AMD Ryzen 2000 Series Processors
Dual Channel Memory Architecture
ECC Memory (ECC mode) support varies by CPU.
Multi-GPU Support AMD Ryzen 5000 Series/ 4000 G-Series/ 3000 Series/ 2000 Series Desktop Processors>
AMD Ryzen 3000 G-Series/ 2000 G-Series Desktop Processors
Supports NVIDIA 2-Way SLI Technology
Supports AMD 3-Way CrossFireX Technology
Supports AMD 2-Way CrossFireX Technology
Expansion Slots AMD Ryzen 5000 Series/ 3000 Series Desktop Processors
AMD Ryzen4000 G-Series / 2000 Series Processors
AMD Ryzen 3000 G-Series / 2000 G-Series Processors
2 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x8 mode)
AMD X570 chipset
1 x PCIe 4.0 x16
1 x PCIe 4.0 x1
Storage AMD Ryzen 5000 Series/ 3000 Series Desktop Processors :
AMD Ryzen 4000 G-Series/ 3000 G-Series/ 2000 Series/ 2000 G-Series Desktop Processors :
1 x M.2_1 socket 3, with M Key, Type 2242/2260/2280 (PCIE 4.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
1 x M.2_1 socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (SATA & PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
AMD X570 chipset :
1 x M.2_2 socket 3, with M Key, Type 2242/2260/2280/22110(PCIE 4.0 x4 and SATA modes) storage devices support
8 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s)
Support Raid 0, 1, 10
LAN ASUS LANGuard
Intel I211-AT
Realtek RTL8125-CG 2.5G LAN
Wireless Data Network Supports PCIe interface
Supports up to 2.4Gbps max data rate
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
Supports dual band frequency 2.4/5 GHz
Supports channel bandwidth: HT20/HT40/HT80/HT160
Bluetooth Bluetooth v5.1
*BT 5.1 function will be ready in Windows 10 build 19041 or later.
Audio ROG SupremeFX7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking, up to 24-Bit/192kHz playback
- Dedicated audio PCB layers
- Unique de-pop circuit
- Audio Cover
- Premium Japanese audio capacitors
- Power pre-regulator: Reduces power input noise to ensure consistent performance
- Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs
- High quality120dBSNR stereo playback outputand113dBSNR recording input
- ESS ES9023P
- Supports up to 32-Bit/192kHz playback
Audio Feature :
- SupremeFX Shielding Technology
- Gold-plated jacks
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
* Due to limitations in HDA bandwidth, 32-Bit/192kHz is not supported for 8-Channel audio.
USB Ports AMD Ryzen 5000 Series / 4000 G-Series/ 3000 Series Processors :
AMD Ryzen 3000 G-Series / 2000 Series / 2000 G-Series Processors :
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s)
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s)
AMD X570 chipset :
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 front panel connector port(s)
6 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port(s)
4 x USB 2.0 port(s)
Special Features - ASUS USB BIOS FlashBack
AURA :
- Aura RGB Strip Headers
- Addressable Gen 2 Header
ASUS EZ DIY :
ASUS Q-Design :
- ASUS Q-Code
- ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)
- ASUS Q-Slot
- ASUS Q-DIMM
- ASUS Q-Connector
Back I/O Ports 1 x BIOS FlashBack Button(s)
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
1 x Clear CMOS button(s)
1 x ASUS Wi-Fi Module
5 x Gold-plated audio jacks
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (up to 5Gbps) ports
8 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps) ports ()
1 x Anti-surge 2.5G LAN (RJ45) port
Anti-surge LAN (RJ45) port
Internal I/O Ports 2 x M.2 Socket 3
2 x Aura RGB Strip Headers
2 x Addressable Gen 2 header(s)
2 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 2.0 port(s)
1 x TPM connector(s)
8 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
1 x CPU Fan connector(s)
1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s)
3 x Chassis Fan connector(s)
1 x AIO_PUMP connector
1 x H_AMP fan connector
1 x W_PUMP+ connector
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP)
1 x Slow Mode switch(es)
1 x Reset button(s)
1 x Node Connector(s)
1 x LN2 Mode jumper(s)
1 x Safe Boot button
1 x ReTry button
1 x System panel connector
1 x T_Sensor Connector
1 x W_IN header
1 x W_OUT header
1 x W_FLOW header
1 x Start button
1 x Speaker connector
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps) connector
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (up to 5Gbps) connector support additional 2 USB ports
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
Accessories 1 x M.2 SSD screw package(s)
User's manual
4 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)
1 x Supporting DVD
1 x ROG big sticker
1 x Q-Connector
1 x Wi-Fi Antenna(s)
1 x Extension Cable for RGB strips (80 cm)
1 x Extension cable for Addressable LED
1 x ROG coaster(s)
1 x ROG Thank you card
BIOS 256 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 3.2, ACPI 6.2
Manageability WOL, PXE
Operating System Windows 10 64-bit
Form Factor ATX Form Factor
12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )