There was a time not so long ago when ITX and even micro ATX motherboards were thought of as underpowered and lacking the necessary capabilities and features that would endear them to enthusiasts. Now that more gamers are looking to downsize the physical dimensions of their respective systems, there's a burgeoning market for small form factor boards and manufacturers are rushing to fill the void. ASUS has been on the leading edge and their Maximus VI Impact clearly demonstrates how much can be crammed onto an ITX motherboard.

Being part of the Republic of Gamers series automatically makes the Maximus VI Impact an enthusiast-oriented motherboard and that may be a lot to ask considering its diminutive size. Due to past experiences we?ve got an unusually high set of expectations for anything that comes out of ASUS? version of Skunk Works and this is, well, a really small board that just can't be stuffed to the gills with features. Right? Not so fast. If you?re still tied at the hip to those low-grade mini ITX system expectations, prepare to be floored by what ASUS has accomplished here.