The new ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO is built to succeed. It has the Z790 chipset. This new model from Intel modernizes the highest range of motherboards. In simple words, it invites a high competition: matching the platform features with which they present their alternatives for AMD Ryzen 7000 processors. New design, new connective features, new power designs and other improved capabilities.
This review was made thanks to Asus Chile and Dust 2, who provided us with the equipment. Let’s detail this Asus motherboard:
Technical characteristics of the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO
- Socket: AM5 LGA1700
- Chipset: Intel Z790
- Memory: 4x DDR5 DIMMs up to 7200+ Intel XMP 3.0
- SATA storage: 6 x 6Gbps RAID 0, 1, 10
- PCIe storage: 1x M.2 2280 Socket3 PCI Express 5.0 4x (conditional). 2x M.2 2280 Socket3 PCI Express 4.0 4x
- Slots: 2x16x PCI Express 5.0, 1x PCI Express 4.0 16x format (maximum 4x link), PCI Express 5.0 M.2 22110mm expansion card (2 units, one PCI Express 5.0 and another PCI Express 4.0)
- Sound DSP: Realtek ALC4082
- Power supply configuration: 20+1 phases, Digital VRM, double EPS input 8 contacts.
- Others: ARGB lighting, USB 3.2 Gen2x2 20Gbps USB-C connectivity with fast charging, HDMI 1.4, Displayport 1.4, 2.5GbE Ethernet, Wifi-6E, 2x Thunderbolt 4 Alternate Mode.
What equipment was it tested on?
Dust2in agreement with Asus Chile, gave FayerWayer as a loan a desktop computer assembled with the following components:
• ASUS ROG STRIX GX601 Helios White Cabinet
• ASUS ROG Thor 1200W 80+ Platinum Power Supply
• Liquid Cooling NZXT Kraken Z73 OLED Screen 360mm
• ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero Motherboard
• 1 x SSD M.2 SOLIDIGM 2TB
• 1 x Kingston Fury Renegade 500 GB M.2 SSD
• Intel I9 13900K processor
• 2 x Kingston Fury BEAST DDR5 RGB 16gb x 5200 Mhz Ram Memories
•Windows 10 Pro
educating the community
We will make a parenthesis, since this information may be “Chinese” for some. We will detail simple aspects. For example, what is the chipset and why is it so important?
The chipset functions as a communications hub and traffic control center on the motherboard. By having these two functionalities, it becomes the most important element since it facilitates communication between almost all the components of our computer.
Depending on the chipset we have, our system will be compatible with different processors, models of hard drives, SSDs and graphics cards. It also determines what and how many peripherals the system supports.
Explained this, we go in detail to the Chip Set of the motherboard in review.
Intel Z790 Chipset
We will not find with the new Intel Z790. It is a chipset that improves USB 3.2 connectivity with capacity for up to 5 20Gbps ports, compared to the previous model (Z690).
chipset Intel Z790 it inherits the revamped connectivity capabilities of the Z690 and enhances them in USB connectivity. Like its younger brother, it adopts PCI Express 4.0 as the connective base for communication with added components. and with the processor itself thanks to the i8x DMI 4.0 interface that communicates with these new 13th generation processors, as well as the previous 12th generation Alder Lake-S. They are a total of 128GT/s of bandwidth.
The Intel Z790 has up to 12 PCI Express 4.0 lanes which can be distributed, in turn, in 16 PCI Express 3.0 lines. Four are used for the DMI 4.0 interface so we are left with 8 that the integration can use at will. This also means doubling the connective and expansion capabilities of the Z590 generation and as with this chipset, the maximum link configuration is 4x.
Why is this important?
Because the performance of your team depends on this (in part). We explain it to you in simple: The motherboard serves as a communications center where all components have a communication with each other directly or indirectly.
It also has the responsibility of managing information traffic within the computer system, and it does this through the chipset on the motherboard. The function of the motherboard chipset is to direct the flow of data that computer components require or acquire.
USB, networks and disks
Continuing with the Chipset analysis, USB connectivity is maintained in the same way that the Z690 already enjoyed, as well as support for audio and network interfaces, with direct support for 2.5GbE or Wifi-6E networks. Regarding the total number of USB ports, there are 14, like the previous generation, with the only difference that it adds a possible 20Gbps port from four ports. up to five 20Gbps 2×2 USB 3.2 Gen2 typesup to 10 USB 3.2 Gen2 2×1 10Gbps ports and up to 10 USB 3.2 Gen1 5Gbps ports.
As for storage connectivity, it remains the same, the Z790 supports up to 8 SATA ports, with RAID modes 0, 1, 5 and 10 with support for both PCI Express and SATA. To all this, we must add the intrinsic capacity of the new processors to provide their own PCI Express connectivity.
Storage on the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO
The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO has a storage of three M.2 slots integrated into the motherboard itself and another two incorporated into an additional storage card called ROG Hyper M.2. When we have this card installed in the second PCI Express 5.0 16x expansion slot on the board, the main slot, supported by the CPU, supports PCI Express 5.0 4x linkswhich are also supported in the first slot of the expansion card.
If we do not use the expansion card then the maximum link of the first M.2 slot of up to 110mm is limited to PCI Express 4.0. This is because the processors have 20 PCI Express lanes, but only 16 are PCI Express 5.0 so they are reserved for the main graphics slot, but if we use the second slot then the link is 8x for the main one leaving 8 lanes for storage or another graphics card. A little complex, but it boils down to the fact that if you want PCI Express 5.0 storage on this motherboard you must use the ROG Hyper M.2 card that is included with it and you must also use it in the second 16x expansion slot.
The other two available slots are up to 80mm long with a 22mm wide M.2 format. They are all 4x PCI Express 4.0 and the third also supports SATA connectivity. Both are contributed by the Z790 chipset itself that brings the motherboard to life.
The PCI Express 5.0 interface for storage will allow us to develop up to 128Gbps of bandwidthdouble what we currently see in the best PCI Express 4.0 drives.
more connections
The main M.2 connector of this motherboard is under a large aluminum heatsink that will allow the storage unit to develop its full potential while maintaining really good temperatures whatever its format.. It is a maximum of 110mm long, and is fixed to the motherboard by means of a quick release and two “lossless” screws. The heatsink has a high-quality thermal pad, as well as the motherboard itself, to also take care of units that have memories on both sides of the card.
All the units are well hidden in the different heatsink blocks of the motherboard, which achieves a complete closure of the same, good heatsink and a perfect finish.
The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO It also has six conventional SATA ports, located at one end of the board with a 90-degree turn for easier and more orderly wiring assembly. The board supports RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 modes in both its PCI Express and SATA units, although not in all of them because the two SATA-E connectors are provided by an added controller that we will not be able to manage within the chipset features, this it means that we will not be able to boot the system from them or we will not be able to mount RAID modes by bios software.
The ROG Hyper M.2 card we have talked about provides two M.2 ports up to 110mm long with a high-quality heatsink, completely passive, without the need for extra power. One of the slots is PCI Express 5.0 but the second is 4.0 and we can use both simultaneously.
God level Ram
On this motherboard we can mount up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM in four banks and quadruple channel of 32-Bit, the usual 128-Bit in DDR4, and this new generation of processors officially supports faster memories, up to 5600MHz in DDR5 that are added to the particular capacity of up to 7200MHz, with OC, of this motherboard.
The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO supports on its rear panel, with integrated plate, 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports.0, with integrated graphics output of the DisplayPort 1.4 Alternate Mode type with 5k resolution of 60Hz usable, as far as graphics are concerned, by processors that have integrated graphics, all except the “F” series.
media connectivity
It is accompanied by six 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen2 ports divided between five type A and one type C. Followed by another four USB 3.2 Gen1 5Gbps ports completing the rear connectivity.
The front connectivity is more than remarkable with a 20Gbps USB-C 3.2 Gen2 2×2 ports with USB-C PD charging capability up to 60W if we feed it with the 6-contact PEG port located near the connector. Otherwise, the charging capacity is limited to 27W, but complying, in any case, with the most widespread charging standards such as Qualcomm’s PD and QC4+.
The front is completed with internal ports for up to four USB 2.2 Gen1 Type A connectors and 5Gbps of bandwidth and another four legacy USB 2.0 ports.
Other connectors integrated into this motherboard are its eight connectors for fans (one of them specially designed for drive pumps and another for CPU), with intelligent control of the same, or also its three connectors for ARGB (Addressable RGB) lighting which complement well with a standard RGB connector for less recent lighting fixtures. It even has a dedicated area for custom liquid cooling elements with ports for a temperature probe and also a coolant flow meter.
Conclution
If you plan to purchase this board, for gaming, video editing, or whatever you can think of, the top will be the components you choose. This board is foolproof.
For all the technology it contains, and which we have tried to summarize here (although we are aware that we still have aspects to address), this motherboard is prepared to last over time.
It is an ideal plate to do OC if you are familiar with this practice (we take advantage of clarifying that in the team test we did not do it at the request of those who facilitated it).
Anything else to add? We also highlight the great possibility of having m.2 storage. If you want something high-end, that offers the best on the market, this is your choice.
*Thanks to the specialized PC and technology store Dust2 and to Asus Chile for providing the equipment for review.
