ROG CROSSHAIR VIII DARK HERO

Upgraded power delivery, passive chipset cooling, and stealthy aesthetics allow the Crosshair VIII Dark Hero to strike from the shadows and form a menacing duo with AMD Zen 3.

Teamed Power Architecture

Modern CPU architectures up the ante for motherboard power design by transitioning from deep power-saving modes to full load almost instantaneously. Our latest VRM architecture rises to the challenge by utilizing teamed power stages to rapidly swing current, while maintaining exemplary thermal performance.

Each VRM component serves a specific purpose. PWM controllers and phase-doublers control the circuit, and the power stages do the heavy lifting from an electrical and thermal standpoint. That’s why ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero utilizes 16 power stages. The power stage sits at the top of Infineon’s lineup and features a low RDSON to reduce switching and conduction losses, helping to improve overall thermal headroom.

ASUS Optimem III

Infused with proprietary memory trace layout tweaks that improve signal integrity and mitigate noise, Optimem III allows memory kits to run at lower latencies, reduced voltages, and operate at higher frequencies. Stack the Dark Hero with your favorite modules and maximize Zen 3 processors throughput for applications that demand massive bandwidth, or balance infinity fabric and memory performance for a diverse range of workloads.

MicroFine alloy chokes

Each Power stage is accompanied by a high-permeability alloy-core choke rated to handle 45 amps.

14+2 power stage

The VRM has 14+2 power stages, each rated to handle 90 amps.

Dual 8-pin ProCool II power connector

Two ProCool connectors ensure a snug and reliable connection to the EPS 12V power lines.

WiFi 6 (AX200)

Onboard WiFi 6 (802.11ax) supports ultrafast wireless-networking speeds, improved capacity and better performance in dense WiFi environments, providing exceptional online gaming experiences. *

REALTEK 2.5G LAN

2.5G on-board Ethernet kicks your LAN connection up a notch with an up to 2.5X bandwidth improvement. Using your existing LAN cable, you can take advantage this networking upgrade to experience smoother, lag-free gaming, immediately stream high-resolution videos and enjoy faster file transfers.​

Intel® 1Gbps Ethernet

ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero features the latest Intel® Ethernet (I211-AT) ensuring data exchanges with your network and the outside world are fast and smooth. Intel LAN reduces CPU overhead and increases TCP and UDP throughput, keeping more processing power.

PERSONALIZE

In addition to extraordinary performance, ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero provides extensive styling and customization options to let you build a system that truly stands apart.

COOLING

Maintaining system stability is paramount under high load, so Crosshair VIII Dark Hero employs passive chipset cooling with large VRM and chipset heatsinks that strike the right balance between surface area and mass. Featuring premium components and multiple fan headers, Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is fully armed to provide the best foundation for gaming systems.

VRM heatsink

The two VRM heatsinks are placed above the MOSFETs and chokes, and are connected by a heat-pipe to further increase surface area for heat dissipation.

M.2 heatsink

Two dedicated heatsinks keep the dual M.2 SSDs at the optimum operating temperature for consistent performance and reliability.

High-conductivity thermal pad

A high-quality thermal pad improves overall heat transfer from the system by bridging the heat generated by the power stages to the heatsink.