Asus X570 ROG Crosshair VIII Hero Wi-Fi Evaluation: A Diverse Mid-Range Offering

Pros

Onboard power/reset buttons
Q-Code LED display
All M.2 slots include a heatsink
12 USB ports on the rear IO

Cons

Expensive
Chipset fan sits directly under the GPU

In the past few months, we have examined a variety of AMD X570 motherboards, primarily concentrating on the budget and mid-range options, which typically start at approximately. We are now transitioning to a higher, yet still mid-range, category to assess whether the Asus Crosshair VIII Hero Wi-Fi merits inclusion in our list of the best motherboards. Available for on Newegg, this product represents a significant advancement compared to previous X570 models. This price increase typically correlates with enhancements in VRM quantity and quality, LED illumination, and various other premium features. The Crosshair VIII Hero Wi-Fi meets expectations, offering a strong VRM, 2.5G LAN connectivity, multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, integrated Wi-Fi 6/802.11ax, and ROG SupremeFX high-fidelity audio, all within a full-sized ATX configuration. The Asus X570 motherboard series features selections from the TUF, Prime, Strix, WS (Workstation), and ROG categories, all currently available exclusively in the ATX form factor. For those seeking an ITX motherboard, options are limited to Gigabyte or ASRock at this time, while Micro-ATX boards can be sourced from Asus, MSI, ASRock, and Gigabyte. The flagship model, the Crosshair VIII Formula, is at the forefront, followed by the Hero and WS models, with the Strix, Prime, and TUF series positioned further down the product hierarchy. With a total of ten motherboards in its range, Asus provides a diverse array of choices to accommodate various build requirements. The Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero Wi-Fi is priced at, positioning it within the upper mid-range of X570 motherboards. The overall experience with this board was favorable, as the stock testing proceeded smoothly and the performance met expectations, yielding results comparable to those of other boards in its category. Asus' newest UEFI for the system is visually appealing and user-friendly, establishing a solid base for a comprehensive system. The motherboard features an impressive total of 12 USB ports on the rear I/O, comprising eight USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (seven Type-A and one Type-C), along with a high-speed 2.5G Realtek-based LAN and integrated Intel Wi-Fi 6. Upon closer inspection, one might even discover a kitchen sink. The ROG Crosshair VIII Hero, like other motherboards on this platform, is compatible with both Ryzen 2000 and Ryzen 3000 series processors. It features eight SATA ports and four DIMM slots, which can accommodate a maximum of 128GB of DDR4 RAM. Asus has not provided specific memory speed ratings on the specifications page. For audio capabilities, the motherboard is equipped with the ROG SupremeFX codec, a modified version of the Realtek ALC1220, offering a high-quality audio experience. A comprehensive list of specifications from Asus is provided below.

Specifications.

Socket	AM4
Chipset	AMD X570
Form Factor	ATX
Voltage Regulator	14 phase / 12 + 2 (“teamed” setup with 7+1 controller)
Video Ports	✗
USB Ports	USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps): 7x Type-A, 1x Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps): 4x Type-A
Network Jacks	(2) Gigabit Ethernet
Audio Jacks	(5) Analog + SPDIF
Legacy Ports/Jacks	✗
Other Ports/Jack	Wi-Fi Antenna
PCIe x16	(3)
PCIe x8	✗
PCIe x4	✗
PCIe x1	(1)
CrossFire/SLI	AMD 3-Way CrossfireX, Nvidia 3-Way SLI
DIMM slots	(4) DDR4
M.2 slots	(2) PCIe 4.0 x4 / SATA + PCIe
U.2 Ports	✗
SATA Ports	(8) 6Gb/s (RAID 0, 1, 5, 10)
USB Headers	(1) v3.2 Gen2, (1) v3.0, (2) USB 2.0
Fan Headers	(8) 4-Pin
Legacy Interfaces	✗
Other Interfaces	FP-Audio, RGB-LED, TPM
Diagnostics Panel	Q-Code LED display
Internal Button/Switch	Power, Reset, Slow Mode, Reset CMOS, Safe boot, Retry
SATA Controllers	✗
Ethernet Controllers	1G - Intel I211-AT 2.5G - Realtek RTL8125-CG 2.5G
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth	Intel Wi-fi 6 AX200 (2.4 Gbps, 2x2, MU-MIMO)
USB Controllers	✗
HD Audio Codec	SupremeFX S1220
DDL/DTS Connect	✗ / Yes

Asus provides a comprehensive selection of accessories with the Crosshair VIII Hero motherboard. This package includes essential items such as a driver disk, manuals, and SATA cables, as well as RGB extensions and a Wi-Fi antenna, ensuring that users have everything necessary to begin their setup. A detailed list of all items included in the box, along with the motherboard itself, is presented below.

SATA cables
1x M.2 screw package
Support DVD
ROG big Sticker
Q-Connector
Wi-Fi Antenna
80cm RGB extension cable
Addressable LED extension cable
ROG Coaster
ROG Thank you card

The board itself gives off a premium vibe with a jet black PCB and heatsinks. Accenting the black is a silver swath going through the chipset heatsink and up through the VRM heatsink. The rear IO heatsink prominently displays the Crosshair VIII name, accompanied by the term "HERO" positioned just beneath it in a silver area, where RGB lighting casts a subtle frosty glow on the text. Additionally, the ROG emblem on the chipset heatsink features RGB illumination, maintaining a similar frosted aesthetic. Control of the RGB lighting is managed through Asus' AURA software. In addition to the aforementioned features, the VRM heatsinks, audio shroud, and DIMM slots are designed in a black-on-black aesthetic. Two out of the three full-length PCIe slots are equipped with reinforcement to support heavy graphics cards and provide EMI slot protection. The Crosshair VIII Hero Wi-Fi truly embodies the characteristics of a high-end motherboard. Its neutral design elements ensure compatibility with a wide range of build themes.

At the uppermost section, positioned on the extreme left, is the rear IO cover that extends over the heatsink. This cover predominantly consists of brushed aluminum, complemented by some plastic elements. The Crosshair VIII designation is displayed at the top, while the term "HERO" is located at the bottom, illuminated by RGB lighting. The VRMs are supplied with an essential 8-pin connector and an optional 4-pin EPS connector, positioned between the shroud and the VRM heatsinks. This motherboard is equipped with an ASP1405i/Infineon IR35201 8-phase controller operating in a 7+1 configuration. Although the heatsinks are not the largest observed, they are interconnected through a heat pipe, which facilitates the distribution of thermal load. During both standard and overclocked testing, the power components remained well within specified limits. Asus employs an alternative topology known as teaming, rather than utilizing phase doublers to engage all VRM phases. The company asserts that this approach delivers superior transient response compared to the doubling method. The motherboard features high-quality Infineon PoweRstage IR3555 components, each rated at 60A. Consequently, the VRM possesses ample capacity, ensuring that it can effectively manage the demands of the forthcoming 16-core 3950X processor without difficulty. To the right of the socket region, one can observe the four DIMM slots, each equipped with a single-sided locking mechanism to facilitate straightforward installation and removal. The motherboard accommodates a maximum of 128GB of DDR4 RAM; however, it is noteworthy that Asus does not specify any memory speeds on the specifications page. Above the memory slots, there are three out of the eight available 4-pin fan and pump headers. This section specifically includes the CPU_FAN, CPU_OPT, and AIO_PUMP headers. Adjacent to these headers is a convenient two-character Q-Code debug LED display, which is utilized for troubleshooting during the startup process. On the right side, there is a prominent start/power button accompanied by a smaller, more straightforward reset button. Positioned directly beneath these is the 24-pin ATX power connector, followed by the front panel USB 3.2 Gen 2 header located below it. A particularly beneficial feature, especially for those engaged in overclocking, is the presence of voltage read points. Given that software can occasionally present inaccurate data, these read points offer the most reliable means of obtaining voltage measurements. The voltage read points encompass ground, Vcore, NB_SOC, DRAM, PLL, and SB. In the upper right corner, there are two RGB headers out of a total of four. One is a 3-pin ARGB header, while the other is a 4-pin header. The 3-pin header operates at 5V and can accommodate up to 300 individually addressable RGB LEDs, with a maximum power capacity of 3A (5V). The 4-pin connector is designed for 12V LED strips, specifically supporting 5050 RGB LED strips, and also has a power rating of 3A (12V). The control of the connected strips is facilitated through the Asus Aura software.

The lower section of the board is predominantly obscured by heatsinks and shrouds. On the extreme left, the SupremeFX S1220 audio component is concealed, accompanied by the Texas Instruments RC4580 op-amp and the ESS ES9023P DAC. However, a partial view of the Nichicon audio capacitors is visible, which are reputed to deliver a warmer and more natural sound profile. The codec utilized is an enhanced variant of the high-end Realtek ALC1220 chip, featuring superior audio performance, including improved signal-to-noise ratio (SnR). This audio configuration is expected to meet the needs of the majority of users effectively. At the center of the motherboard, there are three full-length PCIe slots along with one x1 slot. The primary slot operates at x16, while the secondary slot supports x8 speeds. When both slots are utilized simultaneously, they function at x8/x8 PCIe 4.0. Additionally, both of these slots feature reinforcement for added durability. The lower full-length slot also supports PCIe 4.0 x8 speeds, with its bandwidth derived from the chipset. The Crosshair III Hero Wi-Fi is compatible with both 3-way SLI and Crossfire multi-GPU configurations. Situated between the PCIe slots and concealed beneath the heatsink and shroud are two M.2 slots. Both slots are compatible with either SATA or PCIe-based M.2 modules. The upper slot accommodates drives of up to 80mm in length, while the lower slot can support drives measuring up to 110mm. Consistent with the standard on X570 motherboards, the use of any M.2 module will not impact the availability of SATA ports, thanks to the PCIe lane configuration. Adjacent to the right, one can observe the chipset heatsink and fan, accompanied by eight SATA ports. The fan operates quietly under typical usage conditions, alleviating any concerns in that regard. However, it is positioned, similar to many other chipset fans, directly beneath the video card and its exhaust. According to Asus, the fan boasts a lifespan of 60,000 hours and incorporates a uniquely designed air duct that directs airflow over the fins and ultimately expels it downward, past the lower M.2 slot. Certain readers have expressed considerable concern regarding these fans. However, during my testing of the X570, I found that the majority of the chipset fans were virtually silent compared to the other components. The eight SATA ports provided exceed the requirements of most builders, all of which are derived from the chipset and support RAID configurations 0, 1, 5, and 10. It is important to highlight that the Crosshair VIII Hero Wi-Fi functions as a comprehensive water cooling ecosystem. With its numerous fan and pump headers, as well as water flow and temperature sensors, the motherboard can effectively substitute various advanced fan and system controllers, allowing for control and monitoring via software or the BIOS. Given the trend of cases omitting 5.25-inch bays, this feature can be advantageous, freeing up space for optical drives if required. At the lower edge of the board, there is a significant array of headers and buttons that serve various functions. This includes USB headers, buttons for retry and safe boot, an LN2 switch, temperature headers, among others. Below is a comprehensive list:

Front Panel Audio
2x Fan headers
CMOS jumper
Dual BIOS switch
2x USB 2.0 headers
USB 3.1 header
USB 3.2 header (fast charge)
Front panel header
Clear CMOS jumper

Returning to the rear I/O section, we encounter a sleek black integrated rear I/O panel that upholds a premium aesthetic. This rear I/O configuration features the highest number of USB ports observed on an X570 motherboard, totaling 12. This configuration features a total of eight USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, comprising seven Type-A and one Type-C, in addition to four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. Beyond the ample number of USB connections, the setup includes both the Intel I211-AT Gigabit LAN and a Realtek 2.5G LAN port. Additionally, there are Clear CMOS and BIOS Flashback buttons conveniently located for user accessibility. The design also incorporates antenna mounts for the Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (indicated by the gold protrusions) and a gold-plated audio stack, which consists of five 3.5mm audio jacks and an SPDIF output. The rear I/O of the Crosshair VIII Hero is equipped with a range of features that are standard for motherboards in this category. Its standout attribute is the abundance of USB ports available. However, it is important to note that the motherboard lacks any video outputs. Consequently, individuals intending to utilize integrated graphics on APUs will need to consider alternative options. Nevertheless, it is improbable that users would opt for a budget APU with a motherboard priced significantly higher, alleviating any concerns on this matter.