ASUS is know for their high quality computer components. Whether you are talking about graphics cards like the all new uber ASUS ROG Mars II 3GB card or the ASUS GTX 560 DirectCU II TOP card, which is much more main stream. Either way you get a quality product! Same goes for the motherboards from ASUS, you get quality with all of them. What differentiates the ASUS motherboards is features, and of course price. If you want the top of the line motherboards from ASUS though, you look for the Republic of Gamers tag on the product. The Republic of Gamers branded ASUS products are the top tier products from an already top tier company. Today we are fortunate enough to have two motherboards from the Republic of Gamers motherboard product array! The first of today's pair of motherboards is the ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z. The Maximus IV Gene-Z is a micro-ATX motherboard based on the Intel Z68 chipset. Although the Maximus IV Gene-Z is a micro-ATX it sure looks like it is going to pack a mean punch! With a pair of PCIe X16 slots it will support two GPU's in either NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFireX technology. The ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z also features Lucid Virtu switchable graphic technology. The second board we have is the ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z. Once again this is an Intel Z68 motherboard that features the latest technologies. Much like the ASUS Maximus IV Gene-Z, the Maximus IV Extreme-Z supports both multi-GPU technologies, SLI and CrossFireX. Though the Maximus IV Extreme-Z does it on a larger scale. The Maximus IV Extreme-Z features four PCIe X16 slots and will support Tri-SLI and Quad CrossfireX. Being that the ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z and the Maximus IV Gene-Z are based on the Intel Z68 chipset both boards feature many of the same technologies. Technologies such as Intel's Smart Response technology and Lucid Virtu are two of the main features that came along with the new Intel Z68 chipset, and both are available on our boards today. One of the issues I have come across on a couple of Intel Z68 motherboards was the lack of onboard video. Without the onboard video we didn't have access to Intel's technologies such as Intel Quick Sync technology. When we look at the specifications below, you may notice that the ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z does not have onboard video. That didn't stop ASUS from enabling it on the Extreme-Z, which gives the Extreme-Z access to all of the great Intel Video technologies. The technology behind both boards in nearly identical. Power delivery is handled with an 8 Phase system for the CPU and 4 phases for the iGPU. On the ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z the memory power is delivered through a 3 phase system, the Maximus IV Gene-Z uses a 2 phase design for the memory power. Both of our motherboards today use a digital VRM design, ASUS refers to this technology as Extreme Engine Digi+. It produces the "ultimate performance" according to ASUS. The Extreme Engine Digi+ technology helps to expidite heat dissip