ASUS TRX40

...this is a board that, even at £800, fully realises its Extreme name and potential.

That AMD's new Ryzen Threadripper 3000 is "hard to overclock" is a myth purported by people who don't understand overclocking beyond multipliers, voltages, and basic memory timings. Even without any overclocking, the third-generation Ryzen Threadripper line represents the very best in client-segment computing power. At $1,400, the Ryzen Threadripper 3960X is the fastest piece of silicon I've ever used; it never runs out of steam no matter what I throw at it, and I'm sure it will be a potent tool in the hands of creators for whom time is money.

The ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme is a true sight to behold, with a sophisticated black and chrome finish. The RGB LEDs are the best I have seen on any board, and that is before accounting for the OLED display, which is both pretty and practical. While boards of this caliber garner certain expectations of quality and attention to detail, the ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme goes above and beyond. ASUS pulled out all the stops when designing this new HEDT flagship, and it shows no matter where you look. Of course, its looks are not what make the ASUS ROG Zenith II "Extreme."

The ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme has an MSRP of $850 and is one of two models at the price point. The ASUS model focuses on refining the previous Zenith model for the PCIe 4.0 TRX40 chipset and does so very well. Allowing users to use up to five PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 drives simultaneously while supporting up to 256 GB of DDR4-4733 memory across its eight slots gives users a solid foundation to build a ridiculously powerful desktop system. AMD has re-invigorated the HEDT market with its Threadripper 3000 processors, with the madness set to continue next year when the Threadripper 3990X with 64-cores is unleashed; the ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme is one such board that enthusiasts will be chomping at the bit to put Threadripper 3000 to full use.