14 DAY TRIAL // Intel has been forced to push back the release of the Broadwell range of central processing units, only expecting to release them in December 2014 or January 2015. This isn't, however, stopping motherboard makers from releasing compatible motherboards.
ASUS has just showed it clearly, having unveiled the Z97 chipset-based motherboards known as Maximus VII Formula and Maximus VII Formula/Watch Dogs, both of which ship under the ROG brand (Republic of Gamers).
In truth, the two motherboards are one and the same, only the latter ships with a full version of the game Watch Dogs, by Ubisoft.
You can see the general components of the mainboard just by looking at the pictures, but that won't really make the real perks all that obvious. The memory modules, for one, don't really give you an idea of what type of RAM you can equip the newcomer with.
Essentially, you can install dual-channel DDR3 memory with a clock of over 3,300 MHz, or overclock existing one to that level, assuming it is good enough and has the best heatsinks. You may even need to use water cooling, if not liquid nitrogen.
Not that the Maximus VII Formula doesn't already have better cooling than most other mainboards on the market. The CrossHill Copper technology uses a highly-conductive, corrosion-resistant copper cooling channel with internal fins.
If you add liquid cooling on top of the ROG Armor covering the Formula, the MOSFET temperatures should be lowered by up to 23˚C (the MOSFETS have up to 90% efficiency in normal operation). You don't even need to jump through hoops to find a compatible water cooling: the G1/4-inch threaded fittings are broadly compatible with pipes found online and in stores.
Networking is another well represented asset, thanks to the mPCIe Combo III + 802.11ac / Bluetooth 4.0 module, Gigabit Ethernet and an RJ45 socket with LANGuard, plus advanced signal-coupling technology, as well as ESD Guards for protection against static discharges and lightning strikes.
Moving on, the latest ASUS ROG mainboard boasts mini PCI Express and M.2 SSD mounting technologies (the type that attains 10 Gbps via PCI Express, not just weak, SATA-powered one).
Other assets include high-end audio (7.1 channel audio black nickel EMI cover, warmth-suffusing ELNA and WIMA film capacitors, Instruments LM4562 with 600ohm-impedance via the rear output) and the Extreme Engine DIGI+ III voltage-regulator module (VRM).
The ASUS Maximus VII Formula and Maximus VII Formula/Watch Dogs should run any Haswell and Broadwell CPU, with or without overclocking, while protecting the mainboard from most types of damage. Sadly, prices are undisclosed.