ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Impact X570 Mini-DTX motherboard: specs

The ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Impact is a small-form-factor gaming motherboard built on AMD's X570 chipset and the AM4 socket. It uses the Mini-DTX format, so it fits compact cases while still offering features normally found on larger boards. Here is what its specifications mean.

AM4 socket and Ryzen support

The AM4 socket supports Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors, according to the listing. Check ASUS's support page for the full processor list and any BIOS update needed for a particular chip. The X570 chipset was AMD's top tier for this socket, and it brought PCIe 4.0 support.

Mini-DTX: the form factor explained

The listing gives the board's size as 8.0 x 6.7 inches. That is about one inch taller than Mini-ITX, and ASUS says it fits into any Mini-ITX chassis that supports two-slot graphics cards. Compact cases vary a lot, so always check the case's own compatibility list, as well as clearances for the cooler and graphics card.

PCIe 4.0

PCIe 4.0 doubles the per-lane bandwidth of PCIe 3.0. It matters most for fast NVMe SSDs and compatible graphics cards. The board's SO-DIMM.2 feature is a small riser for M.2 drives, which helps pack storage into a tight layout.

Power and memory

ASUS lists 10 teamed power stages and DDR4 memory overclocking beyond 4800 with OptiMem III. Overclocking results depend on the processor and memory kit, and cannot be guaranteed. The memory is DDR4, so you will need DDR4 modules.

Networking

Onboard Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with MU-MIMO support is included, along with Intel Gigabit Ethernet. ASUS LANGuard and GameFirst V are the brand's tools for network protection and traffic prioritisation. The description also lists SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.2 Gen 2.

Cooling and water cooling

The board has an actively cooled VRM and chipset combo heatsink, plus a full-sized aluminium backplate. A "ROG water cooling zone" is provided to make it easier to integrate a custom water cooling loop. Compact builds run hot, so cooling matters, and active VRM cooling includes a small fan.

Lighting

Aura Sync RGB lighting is built in and can synchronize with compatible devices.

Who it suits

This board suits enthusiasts building a small, powerful Ryzen PC who accept the planning that compact cases require. It is less suited to first-time builders who want simple assembly with plenty of room.

What to check before you buy

• Case compatibility: confirm the case supports Mini-DTX or this board specifically.
• Processor support: check the CPU list and BIOS version.
• Memory: you need DDR4 modules; check the supported types and sizes.
• Cooler and graphics card clearance: small cases limit their size.
• Power and cables: check the power supply length and connectors.
• Old offers: the listing mentions an expired software offer; ignore it.
• What's in the box: check which cables, antenna and accessories are included.

The short version

• Mini-DTX AM4 motherboard with X570 chipset, model ROG CROSSHAIR VIII IMPACT.
• Supports 3rd Gen Ryzen and Ryzen 5000 processors.
• PCIe 4.0, SO-DIMM.2, Wi-Fi 6 and Intel Gigabit LAN.
• Actively cooled VRM and chipset heatsink with a water cooling zone.
• Aura Sync RGB lighting.

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