Take Your Gaming with APEX to Maximum ENCORE

  

ROG MAXIMUS Z790 APEX

A relentless focus on overclocking makes the Maximus Apex Z790 a dream for upper-echelon enthusiasts. Bountiful power delivery and similarly capable cooling stack the odds in your favor for reaching 6 GHz and higher with the latest 13th Gen Intel® Core™ Processors. PCB trace optimizations allow DDR5 memory to strut timings and frequencies far beyond the capabilities of 4-DIMM-slot designs. A plethora of quality-of-life features and controls afforded by onboard components and software utilities make it all readily accessible for users of all stripes. Get ready for the highest performance numbers... ever.

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SPEC OVERVIEW

	Intel® LGA 1700 socket: Ready for 14th, 13th & 12th Gen Intel® Core™, Intel Pentium® Gold and Celeron® Processors Upscaled Power Solution: 24 + 0 power solution rated for 105A per stage, high-quality alloy chokes, and durable capacitors to support multi-core processors Optimized VRM Thermals: Massive heatsinks with integrated I/O cover, high-conductivity thermal pads, and connected with a heatpipe Next-Gen M.2 Support: One PCIe® 5.0 M.2 slot on a PCIe 5.0 M.2 expansion card, two PCIe 4.0 slots on an ROG DIMM.2 expansion card, and two on-board PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots with heatsinks Abundant Connectivity: USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C® rear I/O port and additional front-panel connector with Quick Charge 4+ up to 60W, USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 1 ports, PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlot High-Performance Networking: On-board Intel WI-FI 6E (802.11ax) and Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard		Intelligent Control: ASUS-exclusive AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, AI Networking and Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation to simplify setup and improve performance Immersive Audio: ALC4080 with Savitech SV3H712 amplifier, along with DTS® Sound Unbound and Sonic Studio III Unmatched Personalization: ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including one RGB header and three addressable Gen 2 RGB headers DIY Friendly Design: PCIe Slot Q-Release, M.2 Q-Latch, pre-mounted I/O shield, Q-Code, Q-LED, FlexKey button, Start button, BIOS FlashBack™ button, and Clear CMOS button Renowned Software: Bundled 1-year AIDA64 Extreme trial subscription and intuitive UEFI BIOS dashboard with integrated MemTest86

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PERFORMANCE
COOLING
GAMING IMMERSION
CONNECTIVITY
DIY FRIENDLY

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ROG OVERCLOCKING TECHNOLOGIES

Psyche up and engage the Hero over-clocker in you, with onboard intelligence to scan, predict, and adapt CPU performance parameters, and tools to command and track system vitals.

AI OVERCLOCKING Tuning is now faster and smarter than ever before. ASUS AI Overclocking profiles the CPU and cooling to predict the optimal configuration and push the system to its limits. Predicted values can be engaged automatically or used as a launching ground for further experimentation.

DIFFERENTIAL SENSING Conventional motherboards use single-ended sensing tapped from a location that isn't ideal, leading to a large disparity between the actual voltage fed to the CPU and the value reported to software. The ROG Maximus Z790 Apex features a differential-sensing circuit and delicate IC that simplify overclocking and tuning by allowing you to track voltages more accurately.

CONDENSATION DETECTION

Specialized circuitry allows ROG Maximus Z790 Apex to detect when condensation occurs on the back of the board. Divided into three distinct sections — CPU, DRAM, and PCIe — the feature provides a useful warning when an area may be at risk of short-circuiting.

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TEAMED POWER ARCHITECTURE

Today's CPU architectures place incredible demands on motherboard power design by transitioning from deep power-saving modes, going from lower-power mode to full load in an instant. The latest ROG VRM architecture rises to the challenge by utilizing teamed power stages to rapidly swing current, while maintaining exemplary thermal performance.

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. The power stages feature low RDSON to reduce switching and conduction losses, helping to improve overall thermal headroom.

High Quality Components
8 + 8 PIN PROCOOL II POWER CONNECTORS Two ProCool connectors ensure a snug and reliable connection to the EPS 12V power lines.	MICROFINE ALLOY CHOKES Each power stage is accompanied by a high-permeability alloy-core choke rated to handle 45 amps.
24 + 0 POWER STAGES The VRM features 24 + 0 power stages, each rated to handle 105 amps.	SMD CAPACITORS Input and output filtering is provided by solid-polymer capacitors rated to last thousands of hours at high operating temperatures.

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MEMORY

Comprehensive memory tuning options are the cornerstone of ROG motherboards. With the ROG Maximus Z790 APEX, you can extract all of the potential out of your DDR5 modules, regardless of if they're from an extreme-speed kit or an entry-level set that would otherwise be locked.

DDR5 Domination ROG has a long legacy of flexing the fastest memory performance, and DDR5 is no outlier. Thanks to improved signal routing, now enthusiast-grade kits have been driven far beyond the 7 GT/s mark on the Maximus Z790 APEX, and who knows how far future DIMMs can go? Seasoned veterans can test their mettle by tinkering with the extensive array of tuning options in the UEFI.

AEMP II ASUS Enhanced Memory Profile (AEMP) is an exclusive hardware and firmware solution to overclock generic memory modules. AEMP’s second version allows for automatic tuning of kits during system startup and leverages the PCB trace optimizations of the Maximus Z790 APEX to push frequencies higher than ever before. AEMP II can even overclock mixed kits in a quad-DIMM arrangement, and the vast library of support now extends to nearly every DDR5 module that does not otherwise have XMP support.

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COOLING

Stacked with titanic heatsink arrays and surging with controls for liquid- and air-cooled setups, the Hero is fully armed to combat the fiery heat of the latest processors and high-speed drives.

Heatsinks Cooler by Design

ROG WATER-COOLING ZONE Dual water-temperature headers and a flow-rate header feed information straight into Armoury Crate, allowing you to track coolant temperatures and the flow rate of the entire loop.

COOLER COMPATIBILITY The ROG Maximus Z790 APEX bears the same LGA 1700 socket as the Z690 models, so it is backward compatible with all coolers that supported the previous generation, including all AIO offerings from ASUS and ROG.

Thermal Management Headers

	An extensive array of headers on the ROG Maximus Z790 APEX for precise cooling control and monitoring.

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CONNECTIVITY

As the Maximus moniker implies, the Z790 Apex is fully equipped with the latest storage, networking, and audio features.

ONBOARD M.2 Slots Two Onboard PVIE 4.0 M.2 Slots with heatsinks keep high-performance storage cool.		EXPANSION Slots Both of the 16x expansion slots have the PCIE 5.0 treatment to offer incredible speeds up to 64 GB/s for compatible devices. To bear the brunt of massive graphics cards, they are also protected with SafeSlot retention brackets, and the top slot can be released easily thanks to the Q-Release button.

PCIE 5.0 M.2 Card The bundled ROG PCIE 5.0 M.2 Card offers access to a Gen5-ready slot and robust heatsink coverage.		ROG DIMM.2 Card The ROG DIMM.2 card allows you to easily mount two M.2 drives next to the memory slots, where its large heatsink benefit directly from chassis airflow for prime cooling performance.

USB 3.2 GEN 2X2 TYPE-C® FRONT-PANEL CONNECTOR WITH QUICK CHARGE 4+ USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 adds an additional lane that can boost Type-C data transfers with speeds of up to 20 Gbps. The port also features Quick Charge 4+ technology that can quickly charge devices up to 60W*. * Requires a PCIe power supply cable to be plugged into the nearby 6-pin connector.

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NETWORKING

2.5G ETHERNET

Low-latency gaming, speedy file transfers, and high-resolution video streaming are among the many perks of onboard Intel® 2.5 Gbps Ethernet.

WIFI 6E

Onboard WiFi 6E technology takes advantage of newly available spectrum in the 6 GHz band to provide up to seven 160 MHz channels for ultrafast throughput and better performance in dense wireless environments.

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AUDIO

SUPREMEFX

ROG SupremeFX audio technology delivers an exceptional 113 dB signal-to-noise ratio on the line-in connection to provide exceptional recording quality. There’s also a low-dropout regulator for cleaner power delivery to the SupremeFX ALC4082 codec, and an integrated ESS® ES9218 QUAD DAC capable of reaching -115dB THD+N for superior front-panel output. The combined solution allows for end-to-end 32-bit 384 kHz resolution playback that conveys all the subtlety and nuances of each audio track.

AUDIO Line Shielding Blocks electromagnetic interference from the motherboard or add-ons to provide cleaner audio.

SAVITECH SV3H712 Amplifier Fine-quality components that produce a warmer, natural sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity.

ALC4082 Codec Instead of the conventional high definition audio (HDA) interface, the ALC4082 codec uses a USB interface to deliver studio-level sound reaching up to 32-bit 384 kHz audio resolution.

SWITCHING MOSFETS Unique design allows the codec's impedance-sensing function to be ported with either the front or rear headphone outputs.

CAPACITORS Fine-quality components that produce a warmer, natural sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity.

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OPTIMIZATION

Flexible utilities and firmware provide everything needed to optimize the performance of your system loadout.

INTELLIGENT CONTROL

AI Cooling II

Balance the thermals and acoustics of any build with a single click. A proprietary ASUS algorithm slashes unnecessary noise while running a quick stress test, and then monitors CPU temperatures to dynamically adjust fans to optimal speeds.

Two-Way AI Noise Cancellation

This utility leverages a massive deep-learning database to reduce over 5 million types of background noise from incoming or outgoing audio, helping ensure crystal-clear communication in games or calls.

AI Networking

GameFirst VI optimizes networking performance by allocating bandwidth in real time based on application usage scenarios and corresponding learning algorithms. The latest update includes dedicated support for GeForce NOW to ensure the lowest latency possible during intense game streaming sessions.

AI SUITE 3

TPU Insight

The TurboV Processing Unit (TPU) is an intelligent onboard micro-controller that provides an array of system-tuning features, including the ability to fine-tune voltages, monitor system stats and adjust overclocking parameters.

Digital power Control

The Digi+ voltage-regulator module (VRM) delivers real-time control over voltage droop, switching frequency and power-efficiency settings, allowing you to fine-tune CPU voltage regulatio for ultimate stability and performance.

Turbo Core App

Modern processors feature per-core tuning, and the ASUS Trubo app makes use of this feature by letting you assign applications to specific processor cores, prioritizing compting power where it's needed the most.

BIOS

The renowned ROG UEFI (BIOS) provides everything you need to configure, tweak, and tune your rig. It offers intelligently simplified options for newcomers to PC DIY, as well as more comprehensive features for seasoned veterans.

MEMTEST86

For diagnostic convenience, the MemTest86 has been pre-installed in the ROG UEFI. Run the test to pinpoint memory issues without the need to start-up the OS or attach a USB drive. Memory test results are stored in the BIOS archives for later reference.

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PERSONALIZATION

Illuminating the I/O shroud of the ROG Maximus Z790 Hero is a colorful microstructural array called Polymo Lighting. Two stylish patterns are available for builders to tinker with in Armoury Crate and sync up with the rest of their system for a brilliant display of individuality.

AURA SYNC

	Grow Your Gaming World with Aura Sync Up your game with complementary Aura Sync enhanced aesthetics, featuring preset lighting effects that can be easily synchronized across compatible ROG graphics cards, monitors, keyboards, and mice to give your setup a unified look.

GAMING AUDIO

Sonic Studio III

Sonic Studio supports HRTF-based (head-related transfer function*) virtual surround for headsets, casting an immersive aural landscape that draws you deeper into the action. The intuitive Sonic Studio interface also offers a range of EQ options and one-click presets, allowing you to tailor acoustics to suit personal preferences or the characteristics of your headset.

Armoury Crate

Armoury Crate is a software utility designed to give you centralized control of supported gaming products, making it easy to tune the look and feel of your system. From a single intuitive interface, Armoury Crate helps you customize RGB lighting and effects for compatible devices and synchronize them with Aura Sync to create a unified lighting scheme across your system. In addition, Armoury Crate’s Fan Xpert4 tool provides comprehensive control over fans, water pumps, and all-in-one (AIO) coolers.
You can use Armoury Crate to download drivers, tools, and user manuals, and to register products. It also taps into a special news feed that connects you to the global ASUS gaming community.

*Windows 10 or 11 required for full Aura Sync functionality within Armoury Crate. For Windows 8 and earlier versions, standalone Aura Sync software is available for free download from the product support site.

AIDA64 EXTREME

The ROG Maximus Z790 Hero includes a one-year AIDA64 Extreme subscription, a tool that provides detailed information about hardware and software, as well as benchmarks to measure the performance of the entire system or individual components. AIDA64 Extreme includes a monitoring and diagnostics feature to detect and prevent hardware issues. All vital system sensors can be tracked in real time, allowing voltage readings, fan speeds, and temperature information to be displayed on the desktop or sent to dedicated displays or to the LCD panels of ROG AIO liquid coolers*.

*Support available for ROG Ryujin II and later models.