ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero Motherboard

The ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero Motherboard supports AMD Ryzen 5000, 4000, 3000, 2000 Series AMD AM4 processors, features 4 x DDR4 memory slots, PCI-E 4.0, PCI-E 3.0 expansion slots, 2 x M.2 slots, 8 x SATA ports (6GB/s), 12 x rear USB ports (4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 7 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C), 2 x front panel header USB ports (1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 connector supports additional 2 USB ports), Intel I211-AT, Realtek RTL8125-CG 2.5G LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200, Bluetooth 5.1, ROG SupremeFX 7.1 surround sound HD audio codec, and an ATX motherboard form factor.

Warning: This product contains a button battery - If swallowed, a lithium battery can cause severe or fatal injuries with 2 hours. - Keep batteries out of reach of children. - If you think batteries may have been swallowed or placed inside any of the body, seek immediate medical attention.

Features

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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.

Power Solution

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.

Memory

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.

Heatsinks

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.

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.

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

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

Headers

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.

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.

5-way optimisation

CPU-performance boost
The TurboV Processing Unit (TPU) is an intelligent onboard micro-controller that provides an array of system-tuning features, including the ability to fine-tune voltages, monitor system stats and adjust overclocking parameters.

All-around energy efficiency
With the Energy Processing Unit (EPU) you'll enjoy system-wide power savings. The EPU automatically optimizes power consumption and maximizes savings with Away mode — a smart setting that creates an extreme energy-saving scenario by shutting down unused I/O controllers.

Flexible cooling controls for air or liquid
Enjoy comprehensive control over fans, water pumps and all-in-one (AIO) coolers, via either Fan Expert 4 or our UEFI. Whether you're cooling with air or water, Auto-Tuning mode intelligently configures all parameters with a single click. There's also an Extreme Quiet mode, which reduces all fan speeds to below the default minimum — keeping your system whisper-quiet when performing light tasks.

Precise digital power control
The Digi+ voltage-regulator module (VRM) delivers real-time control over voltage droop, switching frequency and power-efficiency settings, allowing you to fine-tune CPU voltage regulation for ultimate stability and performance.

Turbo app
This intuitive tool allows you to define CPU overclocking, apply fan profiles, prioritize network data and optimize audio settings at app level ― so your system is perfectly optimized for whatever you're doing.

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.

Networking

Wi-Fi 6 (AX200)
Onboard Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) supports ultrafast wireless-networking speeds, improved capacity and better performance in dense Wi-Fi 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.

Storage

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.

Aura Sync

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.

Audio

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
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. DTS Sound Unbound requires in-game support. Check with developers for titles that offer support.

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.