ASUS ROG OC Station Review

Overclocking on the fly, no need for reboots, stylish dual bay design. Meet the Asus OC station. The ultimate in overclocking device.

Let's have a look at the Box and contents.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...0/DSC00140.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...0/DSC00142.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...DSC00151-1.jpg

This has to be easily the most stylish OC controller on the market at the moment.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...0/DSC00144.jpg

Specifications:
Display 3” Color TFT LCD (3.0 inch WQVGA)

Key Features
Pure hardware-based overclocking support
Adjustable system voltages, frequencies and fan speeds
Real time display of temperatures
Photo Slideshow
Stylish design with 30-degree-tilt moveable faceplate
Supports ROG exclusive CPU Level Up and ASUS EPU
Seamless integration with ROG exclusive CPU Level Up and ASUS EPU-6 Engine

To work well with CPU Level Up and ASUS EPU, ensure that you've updated AI Suite to S1.05.27 and EPU-6 Engine (Intel platform)
to 1.01.11; EPU (AMD platform) to 1.00.18 or later version, and launch the firmware update utility to achieve data processing.

Other Special Features
Boot Debug Code: Post Code, String
Alarm thresholds with audio alerts
8 sets of OC Station's profile settings available
I/O Ports POWER: 1 x ATX 4-pin Power Connector
GP: 1 x 20-pin Connecting Port
FAN: 4 x 3-pin Extra Fan Connectors
Power Voltage: +12V,+5V,+5VSB
Power Consumption : 5A Extra Fan x4 (12V) = 4A; System(+5V,+5VSB) Max = 1A

Accessories
1 x Data connecting cable
1 x Screw set
1 x User guide
Software Support DVD:
Drivers and applications
Installation Requirements 2 x 5.25" Bay required for installation
1 x 4-pin power cable from PC's power supply unit

Compatibility
Motherboard:
ROG Rampage II Extreme, Crosshair III Formula, and Rampage II GENE

Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com for the latest motherboard support/compatibility lists.
Update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version for better compatibility


The OC Station connects to the ROG series motherboards that ASUS make and provides full hardware based overclocking changing the BIOS settings in real time meaning that it isn't an interface extension for some software running on the Operating system

The ROG OC Station is a device that features controls for system overclocking or viewing system infomation on the fly, along with various temperature, voltage, fan speed control, monitoring added to the mix.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...Untitled-2.jpg


As a fan controller, the OC station provides output to four separate fans also it features system information and even a photo slideshow function.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...Untitled-3.jpg


The three Controls buttons take care along with a rotary switch, while a TFT-LCD screen keeps the user posted about clock-speeds, voltages, fan-speeds and temperatures, which might help when the system's display is busy running 3D benchmarks or games.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...Untitled-4.jpg


The device can be used on the desk, where it's front panel can tilt upwards to a 30° angle which makes things much easier for better user viewing also it can be fitted virtually to any PC case, where it occupies two 5.25-inch drive bays making overclocking easy for all user's.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...0/DSC00196.jpg


Conclusion.
Let's face it most overclocking gadgets are more often a load of rubbish and don't work well if at all, However with the Asus OC station everything works straight out of the box giving you all the settings you could possible want to change or tweak on a hardware level.

No longer does the user have to be a god to overclock there system, overclocking is made simple with this device for the masses to use in most environments, saving profiles and changing settings on the fly could not be more simpler now that the ASUS OC station is hear, it does it all with a few pushes on the buttons and a twist of the toggle wheel.

This is gonna work with Maximus 3 Formula as well right?

Price?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bojamijams

This is gonna work with Maximus 3 Formula as well right?

Price?

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Yes this will work once a bios update is available, but you may also know the Maximus III will have ROG connect.

What does something like this cost?

It's about €100, which means expensive as hell. Have one as well, they're fun to play with, handy, but you can do pretty much the same with TweakIt.

so far I try work perfect on :

Rampage II Xtreme
Rampage II Gene
Maximus II Gene
Maximus III Formula
Crosshair III Formula


..............:up::up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mean Machine

It's about €100, which means expensive as hell. Have one as well, they're fun to play with, handy, but you can do pretty much the same with TweakIt.

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As for price I have found a site that sells these for £93.75, this may seem quite an expensive as you said for this bit of kit, but when you think of the fan controllers and screen which can be used to view photos ect then it puts things in prospective of the price these sell for, as a good fan controller on its own would cost around £40.00 to £50.00, plus most gamers ECT want their PC's in case's at LAN parties, so having this ASUS OC station control panel makes things very easy for them to see what is going when clocking there systems in real time without any software intervention meaning it provides full hardware based overclocking changing the BIOS settings in real time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hazzan

so far I try work perfect on :

Rampage II Xtreme
Rampage II Gene
Maximus II Gene
Maximus III Formula
Crosshair III Formula


..............:up::up:

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Does it support Rampage Extreme? The price is so headache. :eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sacha35

As for price I have found a site that sells these for £93.75, this may seem quite an expensive as you said for this bit of kit, but when you think of the fan controllers and screen which can be used to view photos ect then it puts things in prospective of the price these sell for, as a good fan controller on its own would cost around £40.00 to £50.00, plus most gamers ECT want their PC's in case's at LAN parties, so having this ASUS OC station control panel makes things very easy for them to see what is going when clocking there systems in real time without any software intervention meaning it provides full hardware based overclocking changing the BIOS settings in real time.

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Oh its a fan controller too! Nice.. how many channels and how many watts per channel? Do you know? :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by damtachoa

Does it support Rampage Extreme? The price is so headache. :eek:

---

Not at the moment, but as said when bios update's for other M/B's are available it will be fully functional

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bojamijams

Oh its a fan controller too! Nice.. how many channels and how many watts per channel? Do you know? :)

---

Specifications:
Display 3” Color TFT LCD (3.0 inch WQVGA)

Key Features
Pure hardware-based overclocking support
Adjustable system voltages, frequencies and fan speeds
Real time display of temperatures
Photo Slideshow
Stylish design with 30-degree-tilt moveable faceplate
Supports ROG exclusive CPU Level Up and ASUS EPU
Seamless integration with ROG exclusive CPU Level Up and ASUS EPU-6 Engine

To work well with CPU Level Up and ASUS EPU, ensure that you've updated AI Suite to S1.05.27 and EPU-6 Engine (Intel platform)
to 1.01.11; EPU (AMD platform) to 1.00.18 or later version, and launch the firmware update utility to achieve data processing.

Other Special Features
Boot Debug Code: Post Code, String
Alarm thresholds with audio alerts
8 sets of OC Station's profile settings available
I/O Ports POWER: 1 x ATX 4-pin Power Connector
GP: 1 x 20-pin Connecting Port
FAN: 4 x 3-pin Extra Fan Connectors
Power Voltage: +12V,+5V,+5VSB
Power Consumption : 5A Extra Fan x4 (12V) = 4A; System(+5V,+5VSB) Max = 1A

Accessories
1 x Data connecting cable
1 x Screw set
1 x User guide
Software Support DVD:
Drivers and applications
Installation Requirements 2 x 5.25" Bay required for installation
1 x 4-pin power cable from PC's power supply unit

Thanks for this, expensive? Guys a decent Fan controller with 6 cannel costs 60 eu :D i think the price is ok, but it's useless for 90% of users :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hiwa

Thanks for this, expensive? Guys a decent Fan controller with 6 cannel costs 60 eu :D i think the proce is ok but it's useless for 90% of users :)

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This may sound expensive to you but the price you listed is around £52 in the Uk, for just a fan controller, for an extra £40 you get full function overclocking use of this item On ROG line of M/B's, plus the 3” Colour TFT LCD that can display Photo Slideshow, Real time display of temperatures not software, and all the overclocking functions, when you look at it the OC station is priced accordingly and I think it is not to bad on the price, as it is much more than just a fan controller.

Yes this item will be only useful to Guys that own the ASUS ROG line of motherboards, so the numbers will be limited to ASUS users only, but I think we all have to remember the picture is bigger than just us extreme overclockers, there are general users and Gamers out there that like to be fully in control with their setup and settings, so having this ASUS OC station that looks very cool will offer a lot to these guys as well as ourselves.

Do you know where to buy In the U.S.? Been googling but cannot find anything

can someone tell me what am3 Motherboards this is compatible with?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skugpezz

can someone tell me what am3 Motherboards this is compatible with?

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The only one I know is the Crosshair III Formula

I would say I hope support for older ROG board comes out soon but idk if its really worth having this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sacha35

Power Consumption : 5A Extra Fan x4 (12V) = 4A; System(+5V,+5VSB) Max = 1A[/B][/U]

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i'm confused by this. so how many amps can each channel able to handle for the fan controller?

Honestly, i'm dissapointed with mine.

With the original firmware/driver that came with the included cd (v10106) there are plenty of bugs.

It just starts beeping but doesn't show an alarm for example.

The saved profiles seem to have amnesia as the setting "stand by" saved to "disabled" is forgotten after every reboot and the oc station goes in stand by mode after 5 minutes.

For the fancontroller function, i have to load a profile after every reboot or else the fans are blowing full blast. It's not loading the latest used profile.

By default the oc station is turned off so it has to be turned on manually every time at booting up.

With the v10206 it has deleted the saved profiles after every reboot!

Also, with the downloaded files from asus i cannot upgrade firmware as it say the files are not correct firmware files. :shrug:

I'd like to use the latest driver cause it might have a few bugs ironed out but i have no clue how to install it, it's only 92kb or something.

Also tried to install EPU but i get an error saying it's not for this version. Version of what? mainboard? OS? :shrug:

I hope future drivers/firmware releases will solve most of these issues, some are very annoying. :(

Sorry to hear you are having problems with your OC station Zuus, I have passed all your concerns and problems onto ASUS HQ for them to look into.

I must admit though I have not experienced any of the mentioned problem you are having, but my testing was done on the REII, so it could be that this problem is with your Motherboard or operating system and not the OC station.

This is a really nice idea, but tbh I think Asus missed a trick here. If they had included a connector so that it was also able to connect up to their GPU's then that would have made it so much better.

Just a quick note to say that similarly to Zeus, my OC Station running v1.02.31 on a Vista64 Rampage II Extreme (1504) fails the loading and saving of profiles. As long as you’re not rebooting its “Sure to save/load?” works fine. However, come the next startup and all profiles are gone.

Hopefully ASUS is working on another firmware update, ‘cos this is ridiculous…

Thanks for mentioning this product, totally missed it, but already ordered it, should be with me in the middle of next week.

For the Maximus III series, does this OC Station had any features that are not available through ROG Connect? Other than the fan controller of course.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zeus

It just starts beeping but doesn't show an alarm for example.

Also, with the downloaded files from asus i cannot upgrade firmware as it say the files are not correct firmware files. :shrug:

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Even those are exactly my experiences with Rampage II Extreme(Also Bios 1504 and Firmware 02.031). I am about the matter in contact with the ASUS Support.
They gave this answer:

Quote:

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I am confirming with the relative department. If anything update, I will reply to you ASAP.

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One more thing, the CPU temp shown by the OC station is different to what Coretemp for example says.

Guys please try these files as I do not have any of the problem that you are saying with the OC station I am using.

Please uninstall any software and reboot and then install this software and reboot.
1.03.08.rar

Once booted into windows update Firmware with this file.
ocs_v02048.fw


Please make sure you have the Latest bios for your Motherboard installed and boot with default motherboard settings before updating the OCstation.

I just did that, both driver and firmware update and it's even more odd now.

In windows, all set, reboot, stays on and seems fine but soon as the desktop comes up it turns off and comes back with the fans at full speed again.

I have to load the profile again and set standby to disable again, even though i saved that in the stupid profile.

Another quirk, the time seems to stop for a few minutes and updates after some 5 minutes, then again stops and displays the right time after a few minutes and so on.

This OC station is a joke imo, how hard can it be to have the basics right?

I thought about transferring it to my Rampage Extreme but now i really have to hold myself back from selling it. :(

Come on Asus!

Ps, while i'm typing this the time now seems to update every minute again. :shrug:

Hi Zeus

I don't know what is going on with your Oc station but I can assure you I am not having these problems that you are, it could be that the Bios needs another update on your M/B, I would say talk with ASUS and let them know everything you have done and what is going on as I cannot do anymore for you at the moment.
I can say I have tested this with REII, REII micro and Maximus III and each board works very well with the OC station with know problems.

Sincere thanks, Sacha - the firmware update to 2.48 (with 1.03.08) did it for me! I can finally save profiles which survive a reboot.

I recognize Zeus's issue with the time updating whenever it wants to - but I can live with that (for now).

wow what a total turn-off. i almost ordered this thing two days ago when it was available on newegg. glad i hesitated.

An news if the Rampage Extreme will be supported by a BIOS update?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dctokyo

An news if the Rampage Extreme will be supported by a BIOS update?

---

I have no news when it will be supported but will get back to you as soon as I have any info

Yesterday i hooked the oc station up on my Rampage Extreme, expecting at least to get the fancontroller funtion to work but it was not to be.

It did bugger all and gave error : acces violation.

I will hold out some more waiting for a bios that will support or else i'll sell it.

Listed are the main concerns of problems users are having with the OC station, ASUS are looking into these problems and have listed there findings in blue.

1: epu-6 engine freezes when you go to calibration gets half way and freezes up

Checking…

2: the Oc unit lock up today, all it showed was the cog logo on screen and the fans didn't work either, in the end I had to clear cmos and it worked, so no idea why that happened.

Did you switch the motherboard from one platform to another? It will be unlocked once you get into the OS.

3: if I turn power off from the psu, the oc station freezes up no fans running ect

Did you connect the 4-pin power connector? No power from the motherboard, the OC Station will freeze up.

4: By default the oc station is turned off so it has to be turned on manually every time at booting up

We plan to change this setting in our next firmware to make it ON by default soon.

5: with the downloaded files from ASUS I cannot upgrade firmware as it say the files are not correct firmware files.

Previously there’s a bug on our support site, the files have been renewed. Please try again with the attached firmware which is up-to-date.

6: As long as you’re not rebooting its “Sure to save/load?” works fine. However, come the next start-up and all profiles are gone.

The new firmware should have fix it. Please try again.

7: I hooked the Oc station up on my Rampage Extreme, expecting at least to get the fan controller function to work but it was not to be, It did bugger all and gave error : access violation.

OC Station does NOT support Rampage Extreme.

Sacha,

Thanks for your help.

I don't have the Crosshair III Formula any more since i switched back to the mighty Rampage Extreme.

In one of your posts you said future bios updates might get the OC station to work on the Rampage Extreme, any news on this or should i just sell the OC station and forget about it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sacha35

5: with the downloaded files from ASUS I cannot upgrade firmware as it say the files are not correct firmware files.

Previously there’s a bug on our support site, the files have been renewed. Please try again with the attached firmware which is up-to-date.

6: As long as you’re not rebooting its “Sure to save/load?” works fine. However, come the next start-up and all profiles are gone.

The new firmware should have fix it. Please try again.

---

These points are matching now for me. :up:

I expect the new firmware.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zeus

I just did that, both driver and firmware update and it's even more odd now.

In windows, all set, reboot, stays on and seems fine but soon as the desktop comes up it turns off and comes back with the fans at full speed again.

I have to load the profile again and set standby to disable again, even though i saved that in the stupid profile.

Another quirk, the time seems to stop for a few minutes and updates after some 5 minutes, then again stops and displays the right time after a few minutes and so on.

This OC station is a joke imo, how hard can it be to have the basics right?

I thought about transferring it to my Rampage Extreme but now i really have to hold myself back from selling it. :(

Come on Asus!

Ps, while i'm typing this the time now seems to update every minute again. :shrug:

---

I have these exactly same bugs, like Zeus, updated to latest firmware.

Actually if i dont power on OC station on powering PC, like its should needed, it always start itself when windows 7 desktop loads, of course with default profile and from that time stops updating, it only updates when i restarting pc.

EDIT.: time updating randomly now..

EDIT2.: fixed problem with profile resetting when windows loads, installed old OC station software from asus CD, also time is updating normally, for now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sacha35

Hi Zeus

I don't know what is going on with your Oc station but I can assure you I am not having these problems that you are, it could be that the Bios needs another update on your M/B, I would say talk with ASUS and let them know everything you have done and what is going on as I cannot do anymore for you at the moment.
I can say I have tested this with REII, REII micro and Maximus III and each board works very well with the OC station with know problems.

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Hello sacha, to which exact asus email i should write?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spajdr

Hello sacha, to which exact asus email i should write?

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Just contact there support team.

Any fix on the lost profiles thing ? I'm using an R2E and sure is a PITA to reset all the fan speeds after each reboot.

Any news if the ASUS Maximus II Formula will be supported by a BIOS update ?

Any confirmation on whether this supporst the rampage extreme yet? :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mutant_Tractor

Any confirmation on whether this supporst the rampage extreme yet? :)

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I could try, but then again, I'm too lazy. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mutant_Tractor

Any confirmation on whether this supporst the rampage extreme yet? :)

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I tried on mine-- no go! Not even the fancontroller functioned on the REX. (X48 that is)

Awwwh dammit :(
So much for the BIOS update, i really wanted a rampage extreme for LN2 i mean i can do it through the BIOS but its just easier to do it with gadgets ;) lol

Hi

I've been looking for a fan controller / temp monitor for my rampage IIIe Anyone know if this is now compatable?

Seems strange that it doesn't work as the mb has a OC station connector

many thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by desert rat

Hi

I've been looking for a fan controller / temp monitor for my rampage IIIe Anyone know if this is now compatable?

Seems strange that it doesn't work as the mb has a OC station connector

many thanks

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ASUS RAMPAGE III EXTREME + OC station is compatible yes :up:

Many thanks for the speedy reply Oliver.

Are you currently using to OC station with this board? Do you find it now works as advertised? Did you need to do a bios upgrade for this?

Sorry for asking so many questions. My build is still in progress and i'm a bit of a novice so it seems the perfect choice for me.

Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by desert rat

Many thanks for the speedy reply Oliver.

Are you currently using to OC station with this board? Do you find it now works as advertised? Did you need to do a bios upgrade for this?

Sorry for asking so many questions. My build is still in progress and i'm a bit of a novice so it seems the perfect choice for me.

Thanks

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I dont have it sorry, but its listed @ R3E specifications.

However, I would personally use RoG Connect, by USB to an laptop for instance, where you also can see system temps

good luck !

The OC Station is supported by the REX III but currently not working. I'm told update is coming soon. I have both so I will confirm when it works.

[Info] A new Firmware and Driver is out ->ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/asus/mb/ac...OG_OC_Station/

I can confirm the OC station works with R3E.

I updated the firmware to the one above, and using bios 0901 after a brief 2min test at least the bclk and vcore adjustment is fine.

I have been having mixed success with the R3E and OC Station, also with the new OC Station firmware.

R3E:
This board seems to have a temperature sensor problem. Temp is reported all over the place. I've had it report crazy numbers like -127C. Because of this, the temp alarm in my OC Station keeps going off. All temps are affected: mb, nb, opt 1, opt 2, opt 3, etc.

Firmware:
The new OC Station firmware seems to maintain settings amnesia. Every time I reboot my PC, the settings are gone. For example, I have the stanby mode for the OC Station disabled. Reboot and it's enabled again.

Is anyone else having these issues?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Booj

I can confirm the OC station works with R3E.

I updated the firmware to the one above, and using bios 0901 after a brief 2min test at least the bclk and vcore adjustment is fine.

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So does it work properly? No crazy temps over the place? Anybody else having issues with it besides the poster above?

Might pick this up, found a good price on it.

Where did you find one? I have been serching for Asus OC Station for a couple of months now. Any location assistance would be great.:up:

Cheapest online is 150$ + shipping.

http://www.provantage.com/asus-oc-station~7ASU913A.htm

I found a lightly used one locally for 130$. It's a damn expensive fan controller, I just want to know if it works properly with the Rampage 3 Extreme, and if the problem the user above posted is something isolated or wide spread with this thing.

Yeah, I called them but they have no stock. Which is what all of the vendors are saying. However the last time that I contacted them I was told that they would have stock around 06-OCT-2010. I was starting to think that Asus was no longer going to produce them, but they have recently posted a firmware upgrade. Hopefully the new gens will address the problems others have had. We'll see...:shrug:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by deshen

Yeah, I called them but they have no stock. Which is what all of the vendors are saying. However the last time that I contacted them I was told that they would have stock around 06-OCT-2010. I was starting to think that Asus was no longer going to produce them, but they have recently posted a firmware upgrade. Hopefully the new gens will address the problems others have had. We'll see...:shrug:

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They don't have it in stock, but the manufacturer does. Items like these ship directly from there. It took 3 weeks for my LCD arm to arrive after I placed the order with Provantage.

Now my question still is how many more people are having problems with this and the R3E?

I know this thread is old sorry.
I had a TE CPU cooler that had a bay controller and when I built this PC I could no longer use it and miss having all that information at my fingertips. I finally decided sense my MB supported one I'd get one and everytime I found one I didn't have the extra $$ and if I had the extra $$ they were out of stock LOL I finally found one and ordered it but was told it had to come from ASUS so it would take an extra 7 to 14 days to get it did I want to wait... ahhh YEAH! I'll wait! LOL anyway when it comes in I'll let ya know how it works on a Crosshair IV Extreme :up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 03hdfatboy

I know this thread is old sorry.
I had a TE CPU cooler that had a bay controller and when I built this PC I could no longer use it and miss having all that information at my fingertips. I finally decided sense my MB supported one I'd get one and everytime I found one I didn't have the extra $$ and if I had the extra $$ they were out of stock LOL I finally found one and ordered it but was told it had to come from ASUS so it would take an extra 7 to 14 days to get it did I want to wait... ahhh YEAH! I'll wait! LOL anyway when it comes in I'll let ya know how it works on a Crosshair IV Extreme :up:

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I've had the Crosshair iv extreme/OC station setup for months now and still can't get it to work! How are you getting on?

Anyone tried it with the R4E? I suppose there is no need with the monitor dongle thing, but still, it'd be nice to know

I got one sitting in the closet if anyone want it.

Anyone know if it will ever be made to support the MIVE/SB line?

I think there was a reason why this thing was discontinued. Too many bugs that were never really fixed. What a necro bump.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TerraMonkey

I've had the Crosshair iv extreme/OC station setup for months now and still can't get it to work! How are you getting on?

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I never got one after being on back order for 2 months I was told they were no longer available :(

Just getting new maxiums gene v so I'm hoping this connects to this fine, for the love of gadgets

seems like overclocking is already extremely easy asus boards have the CPU level up 1 click boom oced like a boss even if you have no idea what your doing.