In terms of I/O, you get a 5G (Aquantia AQC111C) ethernet port and a 1G Intel I219-V Ethernet port. Some models even offer BIOS FlashBack™ so you can boot the board with a USB stick and PSU to update the firmware without a processor installed. Aura Sync and RGB LED strip headers (two standard, one Gen 2 addressable) let you extend this board’s rockin’ style to an external light show. Despite its small size, this board comes ready to connect through 13 total USB ports from internal headers and external ports, including three Type-A ports and a Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2 connector at the back panel. You also get SupremeFX S1220 audio and a TB header on the motherboard. Audio is provided through the SupremeFX S1220A audio chipset. The top-chain of the ASUS Gaming lineup is made up of four powerful ROG Maximus XII series Z490 motherboards. The rest of the features are entirely the same as the Z490-A but you can expect a lower cost for the Z490-H. You’ll find a set of dedicated headers for liquid cooling loops, including inputs for coolant flow and temperature. Mass storage drives can be plugged into an octet of SATA ports, too. Other specifications include four DDR4 DIMM slots which can support up to 128 GB capacities with speeds of up to 4800 MHz+ (32 GB capacities operate at DDR4-3600 CL16 with Optimem III). Those shields aren’t just beautiful to look at—they eliminate the frustration of forgetting to install a separate I/O shield in your case before you install the motherboard. AI Overclocking offers ROG Strix builders an easy way to push chips past stock performance. The ROG Maximus XII lineup features the following motherboards: Each motherboard has different features to talk, some of them really cool in their own respectful manner and carry different price points for different market tiers. To help in that endeavor, we've created AI Cooling, an all-new system that can reduce fan noise by up to 37% under sustained loads. AI Overclocking and AI Networking technologies allow you to take both processing and gaming performance to 11 on the Z490-H, and it stays cool thanks to six total fan headers, a dedicated AIO liquid cooler pump header, and a thermal sensor input. Beyond the large heat pipe and heatsinks that serve as the first line in wicking heat away from the VRMs, we machined the entire I/O shroud from solid aluminum and coupled it with the rest of the cooling system for even greater heat-dissipation potential. Some posts on Wccftech.com may contain affiliate links. ROG Maximus XII motherboards feature comprehensive cooling to meet the demands of the latest Z490 processors and high-performance memory. SupremeFX audio on select ROG Strix boards incorporates dual op-amps, impedance matching, and DTS® Sound Unbound 3D virtualization to ensure that music sounds the way it was intended and that no enemy will ever escape your notice. On models fitted with Wi-Fi, the Z490 chipset's built-in Intel CNVi tech handles air traffic control, providing multi-gigabit transmissions over the airwaves and Bluetooth® 5.1 support. SupremeFX S1220 codecs handle audio output, and we ensconce them in shielded circuitry, dedicated PCB layers, dual op-amps, and Japanese capacitors. The Maximus XII Hero (Wi-Fi) delivers all the sophisticated features you expect from an ROG board in a package that’s carefully designed to cover all the bases of the modern high-end gaming system in enviable luxury. On the audio software side, there’s support for 3D surround sound virtualization via the DTS® Sound Unbound app. Our OptiMem III design put 5000MHz RAM multipliers and beyond at your fingertips, and the extensive array of OC settings in the firmware give you the tools to go well past stock performance potential. Every model has plenty of fan headers along with dedicated AIO and pump headers to keep power-hungry components cool. AI Networking with GameFirst VI ensures your ping times are as low as they can be, even with downloads running in the background. The motherboard has four DDR4 DIMM slots that support up to DDR4-4600 MHz memory and can handle up to 128 GB capacities. All 16 of those teamed stages are dedicated to the CPU Vcore. Asus ROG Maximus XII Extreme; Best Intel Z490 motherboards. There's also an aluminum heatsink cover near the PCIe slots which provides cooling to the M.2 slots. Quality sound draws the most enjoyment out of your favorite music and plays an important part in ensuring movies and games are as engrossing as possible. To keep those speedy drives cool and performing optimally, we include M.2 heatsinks aplenty across the lineup. The ROG Strix family takes a healthy dose of that high-performance DNA and infuses it in an attainable family of boards that give mainstream gamers everything they need for winning performance in their systems. Your system will stay both cool and quiet thanks to AI Cooling’s smarts, while AI Networking ensures your gaming packets get highest priority through your networking adapter of choice. Two slots support both SATA and PCIe 3.0 x4 modes, and the other slot supports PCIe 3.0 x4 for NVMe. Additionally, AI Overclocking can adjust its settings over time thanks to continuous algorithm training, adapting to seasonal temperature changes and potential losses in heat dissipation due to circumstances like dust buildup. Whatever your vision for your high-end gaming PC, the Hero is ready to help you make it legendary. The motherboard has the most unique design of all the ROG Maximus XII series boards, with an X cut around the PCH. The pristine SupremeFX S1220A audio codec with dual amplifiers ensures your games and tunes get top-of-the-charts treatment on the way to your ears, too. Being one of the biggest OEM partners of Intel, ASUS will be offering a range of Z490 motherboards featured in different lineups. These segments will have their own unique sub-brands such as ROG Maximus, ROG STRIX, and TUF Gaming for the Gaming segment, while PRIME, Pro Art, and Pro series motherboards would be featured in the Productivity and Commercial segments. Style is perhaps the hardest line to walk when you’re drawing up your dream build, but the Hero deftly incorporates tasteful RGB LED accents into its stealthy, blacked-out aesthetic. One of the two M.2 slots is topped off by a dedicated heatsink, and a third M.2 E-key slot stands ready to take in an optional WiFi 6 module. ... Don’t forget that Asus offers the Maximus XII Apex if OC is your main game. 16 teamed power stages, each capable of producing a whopping 70A of current with enviable efficiency, border the CPU socket. Please visit the ASUS USA and ASUS Canada websites for information about locally available products. We filled out the Formula’s feature set with a tantalizing array of top-end specs. The VRM heatsink consists of an extended heat pipe design that transfers heat to the copper water channel layer which is cooled directly by the liquid. A secondary heatsink cools the Z490 chipset, while ProCool II auxiliary power connectors and six-layer PCBs ensure stable power gets to where it needs to be across both boards. Two slots support both SATA and PCIe 3.0 x4 modes, and the other slot supports PCIe 3.0 x4 for NVMe. There's WiFi 6 on this motherboard which is a plus point but you could final several tuning switches on this motherboard, allowing a range of options for overclock enthusiasts. Buy ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex (WiFi 6) Z490 LGA 1200 (Intel 10th Gen) ATX Gaming Motherboard (16 Power Stages, DDR4 5000, Intel 2.5Gb LAN, DIMM.2, USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Aura Sync RGB): Motherboards - Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases If it's hard to configure the settings you want or you inadvertently change a setting you’re not sure of, you can experience no end of frustration. Most overclockers tune their processors by twisting each knob manually, and we fully support that fine-grained approach. In total, ASUS has 19 motherboards in its Z490 lineup which include 5 in the ROG Maximus, 7 in the ROG STRIX, 2 in the TUF Gaming, 4 in the PRIME and a single board for the Pro Art series. AI Overclocking can figure out the best clocks and voltage settings for your 10th Gen CPU at the press of a button, while our OptiMem III design brings even 4800MHz RAM along for the overclocking ride. $101.00 0 bids + shipping . ASUS Intel Z490 ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX 10th Gen ATX Motherboard ASUS MAXIMUS XII APEX, Intel Z490, S 1200, DDR4, SATA3, DIMM.2, SLi/CrossFire, 2.5GbE, ax Wifi/BT5.1, USB 3.2 Gen2, ATX In fact, you’ll be surprised just how easy it is to extract maximum performance from exotic components on this board. It’s quite a marvel how many features you can cram into 6.7 in2. Fast 2.5Gb Ethernet lets the Z490-G blast packets across the network more than twice as fast as older Gigabit Ethernet controllers, and optional WiFi 6 connectivity lets this board enjoy all the advantages of the next-gen wireless standard when paired with a compatible router. Two slots support both SATA and PCIe 3.0 x4 modes, and the other slot supports PCIe 3.0 x4 for NVMe. The block users G1/4" threads and come with a watertight rubber gasket which should help prevent leaks. The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex ( WiFi 6) is the premiere overclocking platform for extreme OC enthusiasts looking to unlock the full potential of the latest generation Intel Core processors. It's also important that your voice is clearly heard, whether in the middle of a business meeting or when you’re enveloped in a virtual firefight. We number every edition of ROG motherboards to mark our long legacy of leading performance, and the Z490 series is the 12th in our line of Maximus boards for Intel’s mainstream socket. They’re small enough to fit into compact builds, yet large enough to accommodate all the features and expansion slots a builder might need or want. The Z490 chipset pairs plenty of cutting-edge connectivity options with these new CPUs, including a built-in Wi-Fi controller and abundant USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. ASUS states that they don't rely on doublers like other manufacturers for its ROG Maximus XII VRM hierarchy, offering better support for Intel's mainstream high-core count platform. AI Overclocking will gladly take the wheel if you just want an easy boost on both the Z490-E and Z490-F, though. Asus Rog Maximus X Apex Z370. Two M.2 slots lie beneath heatsinks on the front of the board and there’s one more around the back—all configurable in a RAID array for maximum parallel storage performance. The ROG Maximus XII Apex is the top predator in the overclocking jungle. Optane Memory and chipset RAID support report for duty across the entire lineup. © 2020 NewAge ADS, LLC. The Maximus XII Formula is no exception, featuring the latest Crosschill EK III water hybrid cooling solution which has layers upon layers for best cooling performance for the VRM. The POST code readout, Start and FlexKey remappable buttons, as well as a full set of fan headers and liquid-cooling sensor headers are all present and accounted for. The integrated virtual mixer lets you route multiple audio sources at will, a particularly useful feature for streamers and videographers. The ASUS ROG Maximus XII HERO (Wi-Fi) is the most cost-optimized Maximus variant, coming in at around $399 US price. It’ll never go out of style. The ROG Maximus XII Extreme is your path to greatness. The CPU is powered by an 8+4 pin connector configuration. The board has 3 PCIe 3.0 x16, 3 PCIe 3.0 x1 and 2 M.2 slots. This visual revolution has grown into a world of RGB LED case strips, diffusers, addressable RGB LED fans, and other photon-emitting accessories. Although extreme overclocking isn't as popular as it once was, ASUS has announced its enthusiast-grade Maximus XII Apex … We selected exotic, efficient Infineon TDA21490 integrated power stages capable of handling up to 90A of output each without losing their cool. The Republic of Gamers was established in 2006 with a simple formula: build cutting-edge motherboards with top-shelf components for overclockers and demanding enthusiasts looking for the highest clocks around. Aside from its icy look, this model is quite similar to the Strix Z490-H above. This motherboard would feature the same design hierarchy as the rest of the Maximus motherboards but in a more effective manner to reduce costs. The POST code display and pair of Start and remappable FlexKey buttons round out the onboard control hub. There are 6 SATA III ports while the expansion configuration includes 3 PCIe 3.0 x16, 3 PCIe 3.0 x1, and 3 M.2 ports. The voltage regulator modules (VRMs) for our Z490 boards have been beefed up across the line to deliver reliable, responsive power, and the standard setup across for most models now includes two auxiliary power inputs with ProCool solid-pin connectors. Every board in the line can now run faster RAM than ever, and ROG Maximus XII models are fitted with our proprietary OptiMem III technology with an enhanced trace layout for better signal integrity. Buy ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero Z490 (WiFi 6) LGA 1200 (Intel 10th Gen) ATX Gaming Motherboard (14+2 Power Stages, DDR4 4800+, 5Gbps LAN, Intel LAN, Bluetooth v5.1, Triple M.2, Aura Sync): Motherboards - Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases AI Cooling works in tandem with our industry-leading Q-Fan intelligence and kicks in when the CPU is operating under a steady load. The motherboard will be priced at $299.99 US at launch. ASUS ROG Maximus XII Apex. Next up, we have the ASUS ROG STRIX series lineup which is the largest of all other, consisting of 7 motherboards. ASUS has yet to reveal the Maximus XII Glacial but it would feature a design scheme similar to the Maximus XII Extreme but with a custom water block fitted on it for an open-loop cooling solution. Additional Intel Optane memory recognizes, remembers, and speeds up access to most frequently used files, applications, and games for faster, more responsive performance. ... ASUS ROG STRIX Z490-E. The short trace lengths this approach enables allows overclockers to pursue new records with DDR4 RAM. Every motherboard flying the ROG banner comes outfitted for overclocking, but the Maximus XII Apex’s purpose in life is to wring every last MHz out of a 10th Gen Intel Core CPU and accompanying DDR4 RAM. It also comes with HDMI 1.4 and DP 1.4 while the other two ROG STRIX (E/F) boards feature the HDMI 1.4b and DisplayPort 1.2 ports. You can also find a BIOS flash-back and a Clear CMOS button on the rear panel which is a must-have for ASUS ROG series boards along with the various tuning switches and buttons on the PCB too. The heatsink resting on those power stages incorporates a heat pipe in its foundation to ensure the components underneath can stay cool while working hard under sustained loads. We’ve taken plenty of time to think through our boards’ software, and it shows. The baseline Ethernet speed for the ROG Strix range is 2.5Gb thanks to all-new Intel I225-V controllers. ASUS left nothing to chance and its ROG MAXIMUS XII HERO is one of the best motherboards on the Z490 platform. For storage, you get 6 SATA III ports and for expansion, you'd get 3 PCIe 3.0 x16, a single PCIe 3.0 x1, and 3 M.2 slots (1 x 22110 & 2 x 2280). You do get a Thunderbolt header which is great. This model ticks every possible checkbox we could think of, and it comes dressed to impress. All ASUS ROG STRIX Z490 motherboards feature SupremeFX S1220A powered audio. Those slots sit as close to the CPU as our board layout engineers could make them. Dedicated control hardware and software keep an eye on temperature, fan speeds, and power draw to ensure there’s enough cooling power for when the system is under load. ASUS Radeon RX 6900 XT ROG STRIX LC, PowerColor RX 6900 XT Red Devil Limited & Gigabyte RX 6900 XT Gaming OC Custom Cards Unveiled, ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme / Extreme Glacial. $175.00 0 bids + $24.57 shipping . Our award-winning UEFI firmware offers easy and advanced modes, and a concise, clearly organized user interface with search functionality and a summary of any changed settings for extra assurance before you save your tweaks. If your current or future needs call for Thunderbolt 3 connectivity and its 40 Gbps of bandwidth, you can install the optional ThunderboltEX 3-TR card. To support overclockers in extracting maximum performance from their CPU and RAM, the Extreme features an onboard POST code LED display next to power-on, retry, and safe boot buttons. All rights reserved. It comes with the same networking capabilities of 10G/2.5G along with WiFi-6. We can expect the Formula around the $499 US price range. When you want the lights off, these two boards can drop into stealth mode with blacked-out PCBs and heatsinks. The Aluminum I/O cover is, in fact, a very large heatsink that covers the entire VRM section and is interconnected by a large diameter heat pipe that runs all the way from the top VRM area to the PCH heatsink. The Republic of Gamers lineup has always attracted high-end gaming enthusiasts & this year would be no exception. The Z490-I’s memory slots offer extra performance potential with ultra-fast RAM kits.