The ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme Alpha TRX40 E-ATX Motherboard is designed around the AMD TRX40 chipset, supporting 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors with a sTRX4 socket. The 3rd Gen Ryzen Threadripper series processors can utilize 64 lanes of PCIe 4.0, and with four x16 slots, this motherboard offers fast performance for graphics cards as well as PCIe-based storage and networking cards. It has eight memory slots supporting up to 256GB of quad-channel DDR4 RAM, which can run up to 4666 MHz, and even higher when overclocked. It's equipped with eight SATA III ports and three M.2 slots for storage. Other features include AQuantia 10 GbE, Intel Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, as well as SupremeFX 8-channel HD audio.
AMD TRX40 Chipset
The AMD TRX40 chipset delivers overclocking capabilities for the the AMD Socket sTRX40 3rd Gen Ryzen Threadripper series processors, which can boast up to 64 cores. It provides PCIe 4.0 support, USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gb/s ports, and eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports for faster data retrieval.
Connectivity
To build a powerful gaming computer, you'll need to have to bandwidth to fuel multiple PCIe SSDs and graphics cards. Thanks to Threadripper's 64-lane capability, this motherboard can connect up to 20 PCIe devices simultaneously. Every single PCIe x16 and M.2 is wired with PCIe 4.0, and the motherboard also accelerates both wired and wirelessly networking, with both Aquantia 10 Gb/s Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax).
Cooling
Keeping your system cooled is essential when it comes to running a powerful system. This motherboard utilizes large VRM heatsinks that balances surface area and mass. The chipset heatsink integrates an active-cooling solution and employs the same airflow to chill the SoC VRM. The extra-large heatsinks also cover multiple M.2 slots. There's also support for both air cooling and liquid cooling via the appropriate headers.
Audio
Audio is important for an immersive gaming experience. This motherboard utilizes the SupremeFX S1220 codec with a high-end ESS Sabre DAC. Use the Sonic Studio III software and its intuitive management interface to route sound from applications to specific outputs. This motherboard also supports DTS Sound Unbound technology, allowing you to create 3D audio soundscapes.
ASUS Aura Sync
Sync up with ROG components, from graphics cards and monitors to mice and keyboards. Aura Sync lets you customize the RGB lighting of all your Aura Sync compatible devices for a uniformed look.