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ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£260
  • Avg. price in US: ~$300
  • CPU socket: AM3
  • Chipset: AMD 890FX
  • Form factor: E-ATX

ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

4.8

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

4.6

Technical Score

10.0%

6.2

User score

Poor
4.6

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

3.9

Memory

16.0%

6.1

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.5

Storage

15.0%

5.7

Network

13.0%

2.8

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.6

Expansion

8.0%

5.9

Power & Cooling

5.0%

7.7

Audio

Poor
6.2

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.9

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(7)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(8)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Good
  • 3.0
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    5.8

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    1.0

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    1.0

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • asus-crosshair-iv-extreme
  • asus-crosshair-iv-extreme
asus-crosshair-iv-extreme
asus-crosshair-iv-extreme

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Asus Crosshair IV Extreme is a premium Socket AM3 enthusiast motherboard utilizing the AMD 890FX chipset designed for 140W TDP Phenom II and Athlon II processors. Key features include Extreme Engine Digi+ for stable power, a Lucid Hydra chip enabling mixed GPU support (AMD + Nvidia), and five PCIe 2.0 x16 slots supporting 4-way CrossFireX. Pro: Extensive overclocking tools like ROG Connect, ProbeIt, and Bluetooth tweak support via smartphone, plus superior cooling and voltage regulation. Cons: Expensive price tag at launch, not compatible with AM3+ Bulldozer processors, and the chipset-cooling fan can be loud.

Technical Specifications of ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

3.9

Memory

16.0%

6.1

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.5

Storage

15.0%

5.7

Network

13.0%

2.8

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.6

Expansion

8.0%

5.9

Power & Cooling

5.0%

7.7

Audio

4.6
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a technical score of 4.64 points, which is lower than that of 86.2% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.9

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(7)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(8)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

6.2
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a user score of 6.16 points, which is lower than that of 92.2% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
1.9
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a popularity of 1.9 points, which is lower than 69.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

4.8

Overall score

40.0%

9.2

Price

6.1
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.1 points, which is lower than 91.7% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

Asus
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

AM3
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme uses the AM3 CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 97.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

AMD
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

AMD 890FX
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme uses the AMD 890FX chipset, which is less advanced than that of 91.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% of motherboards.
Paired with SB850 southbridge.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

E-ATX
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has the E-ATX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 92% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.8% of motherboards.
Show more
DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR3
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme uses DDR3 memory, which is older than that of 86.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 13.4% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

4
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

16 GB
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme supports up to 16 GB of memory, which is less than 98.2% of motherboards and equal to 1.6% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

1,600 MT/s
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme supports memory speeds up to 1600 MT/s, which is lower than that of 93.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.4% of motherboards.
Show more
N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

0
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 0 M.2 sockets, which is fewer than 88.4% of motherboards and equal to 11.7% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

N/A
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

6
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 6 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 52.6% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
JBOD excluded from RAID-level set
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

no
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
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N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

0
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 0 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 59.5% of motherboards and equal to 40.5% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

x16/x0/x16/x4/x4, x16/x0/x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x8/x8/x4
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme uses x16/x0/x16/x4/x4, x16/x0/x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x8/x8/x4 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is more flexible than that of 96.7% of motherboards.
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not support PCIe bifurcation. 61% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

8
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 8 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 40.3% of motherboards and equal to 30.7% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

15
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 15 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 48.3% of motherboards and equal to 13.5% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

0
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 0 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.6% of motherboards and equal to 35.4% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

0
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 0 USB-C ports (including headers), which is fewer than 69.6% of motherboards and equal to 30.4% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
Show more
LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

1 Gbps
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.1% of motherboards.
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

?
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

1
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 1 RJ45 ports, which is equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 49.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

N/A
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek ALC889
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme uses the Realtek ALC889 audio codec, which is less advanced than that of 88.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.3% of motherboards.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

108 dB
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has an audio SNR of 108 dB, which is lower than that of 61.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 2% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

yes
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

6
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 6 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 86.6% of motherboards and equal to 13.4% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

8+2
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 8+2 VRM phases, which is fewer than 59.1% of motherboards and equal to 4.5% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

2
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.3% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

9
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has 9 fan headers, which is more than 97.5% of motherboards and equal to 0.6% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not have a pump header. 77% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

0 A
ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme supports up to 0 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 74.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 25.7% of motherboards.
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ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme vs the average motherboard

  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x16/x4/x4, x16/x0/x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x8/x8/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
    What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
    When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x16/x4/x4, x16/x0/x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x8/x8/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.x16/x0/x16/x4/x4, x16/x0/x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x8/x8/x4 vs x16/x1
  • 4 more fan headers
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more fan headers than the average motherboard (9 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
    What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
    When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=6

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more fan headers than the average motherboard (9 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.9 vs 5
  • Includes POST code display
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
    What it is: Shows whether the board includes a diagnostic POST code readout for boot troubleshooting.
    When it matters: When you troubleshoot boot issues and want clearer error information.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
    What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=2

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.2 vs 1
  • 1 more PCI slots
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.
    What it is: The number of legacy PCI slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you need compatibility with older expansion cards.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.1 vs 0
  • Includes dual BIOS
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes two BIOS chips for redundancy or recovery.
    When it matters: When BIOS safety and recovery matter to you.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • 5 more PCIe 2.0x16 slots
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (5 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe 2.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you compare older full-length expansion options.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (5 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.5 vs 0
  • 2 more SATA 2 connectors
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more SATA 2 connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 SATA 2 connectors.
    What it is: The number of SATA 3Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you still use older SATA devices.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more SATA 2 connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 SATA 2 connectors.2 vs 0
  • Includes POST code display
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • Includes onboard power button
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • 2 more SATA 2 connectors
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more SATA 2 connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 SATA 2 connectors.
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x16/x4/x4, x16/x0/x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x8/x8/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 1 more PCI slots
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.
  • 5 more PCIe 2.0x16 slots
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (5 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
  • 2 more eSATA ports
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more eSATA ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 eSATA port/s.
  • 5 more USB 2.0 ports
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (7 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • 1 more 3.5mm audio jacks
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • 4 more fan headers
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more fan headers than the average motherboard (9 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.

Total
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD 890FX vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    Paired with SB850 southbridge.
  • No integrated graphics support
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not support integrated graphics, while the average motherboard does. 89.4% of motherboards support integrated graphics.
  • Older CPU socket
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has older CPU socket than the average motherboard (AM3 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Not ready for Windows 11
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme is not ready for Windows 11, while the average motherboard is. 77.1% of motherboards are ready for Windows 11.
  • Narrower Windows support
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
  • 11 years older release date
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme is older than the average motherboard (2,010 vs 2,021). The average motherboard was released in 2,021.
    September 2010
  • No TPM connector
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not have a TPM connector, while the average motherboard does. 86.7% of motherboards include a TPM connector.
  • 87.5% less maximum memory capacity
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (16 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 65.2% lower maximum RAM speed
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (1,600 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • No NVMe RAID support
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • 2 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
  • 1 fewer USB 2.0 headers
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
    supports 2 USB 2.0 ports
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 1 fewer HDMI outputs
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer HDMI outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 HDMI outputs.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • Older Bluetooth version
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (2.1 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
  • More basic audio codec
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC889 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • 7 dB lower audio SNR
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (108 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • More basic chipset cooling
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more basic chipset cooling than the average motherboard (active vs Passive). The average motherboard uses Passive chipset cooling.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No pump header
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 77% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 2 A lower pump header current limit
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a lower pump header current than the average motherboard (0 A vs 2 A). The average motherboard provides pump header current of 2 A.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (8+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 25 mm wider
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme is wider than the average motherboard (269 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD 890FX vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    Paired with SB850 southbridge.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD 890FX vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.AMD 890FX vs Intel B860
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 2.5GbE

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • 87.5% less maximum memory capacity
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (16 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
    When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=128 GB

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (16 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.16 GB vs 128 GB
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.0 vs 2
  • No NVMe RAID support
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
    What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
    When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
    When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: DDR5

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR3 vs DDR4
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
    What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
    When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
    What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=1

    ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.0 vs 1
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
7 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
8 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme?

  • Exceptional overclocking performance and capabilities
  • Lucid Hydra technology allows mixing and matching different GPUs (ATI and Nvidia)
  • Comprehensive feature set including ROG Connect and Bluetooth monitoring
  • Solid build quality and high-end aesthetic design
  • Extensive BIOS features and dual BIOS chips for redundancy
  • Excellent cooling options with multiple fan headers and temperature sensors
  • Support for high-performance DDR3 RAM speeds up to 2133 MHz (O.C.)

What customers dislike about ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme?

  • High price point compared to other AM3 motherboards
  • Northbridge blower-style fan can be loud and intrusive
  • Board is wider than standard ATX (10.6 inches), which may not fit in all cases
  • Lucid Hydra technology can sometimes cause latency or graphical glitches in games
  • Higher power consumption compared to more mainstream boards
  • Complex setup and feature set may be overkill for non-enthusiast users

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