New ROG Maximus and ROG Strix motherboards
added to the Intel Z790-based ASUS lineupMUMBAI, India, October 16, 2023 — ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced four new Intel® Z790 motherboards: the ROG Maximus Z790 Formula, the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore, the ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi II, and the ROG Strix Z790-F Gaming WiFi II. These motherboards join the three Z790 models previously announced at Gamescom: the ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero, the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II, and the TUF Gaming Z790-Pro WiFi. All seven motherboards support 14th Gen, 13th Gen, and 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processors. Each motherboard includes PCIe® 5.0, DDR5 memory support, enhanced connectivity, performance tuning capabilities, efficient cooling solutions, DIY-friendly features and a host of other benefits.
Intel LGA 1700 CPU socket
12th and 13th Generation Intel Core processors slot into the LGA 1700 socket, so users have been able to build their own way with either Z690 or Z790 motherboards while taking their pick from a wide selection of CPUs. But LGA 1700’s time is not over. This socket will also be compatible with 14th Gen Intel Core processors. This means that users will have plentiful options as they plan a new build or an upgrade. They can upgrade their motherboard to take advantage of the high-performance networking, abundant connectivity and optimized power solutions of the latest ASUS Z790 motherboards. Or they can stick with their battle-tested Z690 or Z790 motherboard while they upgrade to an 14th Gen Intel processor. They only need to make sure to ‘update their older motherboards BIOS for full compatibility with upcoming Intel processors.
Next-level bandwidth with WiFi 7
Featuring Intel WiFi 7, these four new ROG Z790 motherboards empower users to harness the full potential of the latest wireless standard when paired with a WiFi 7 router.
To help users get the most out of their WiFi 7 connection, ASUS is introducing the ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna. Featuring an all-new hardware design including both circuit optimizations to the PCB and new enhanced inner pin connectors, it greatly improves signal throughput for the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. Its easy one-step design means that users do not have to do anything more than plug it in to have a great experience. Since it is a directional antenna, ASUS also gives users convenient tools in the Armoury Crate app to improve signal quality and range by adjusting its position.
DIMM Flex maximizes memory performance and stability
The latest Z790 motherboards from ROG Maximus and ROG Strix take memory optimization efforts a step further with DIMM Flex. Like the CPU and GPU, DDR5 memory modules produce heat when they are under load, especially when they are overclocked. As with those other components, users might not get the full performance from their DDR5 RAM sticks if they do not deal with that heat effectively.
Easy memory optimization with AEMP II
For a time, PC builders debated whether they would prefer affordable DDR4 or high-performance DDR5 memory for their systems. Now that the DDR5 market has matured, and a wide range of memory kits are available at increasingly enticing prices, it is getting harder to ignore the performance potential of next-gen memory. Content creators, gamers, engineers who work with large datasets and heavy multitaskers all benefit from a high-core-count CPU with exceptional multi-threaded performance — and DDR5 is a better match for 14th Gen Intel Core processors than DDR4.
Now, AEMP II offers even more flexibility. With the latest firmware update, AEMP II allows users to optimize the performance of a four-DIMM DDR5 RAM configuration, even with a mixture of different brands and dies. Increasing the memory capacity of a build by adding additional DIMMs has never been easier — with AEMP II, users can get optimized memory performance even when all four memory modules are not an exact match.
Water-cooled excellence: the ROG Maximus Z790 Formula
Users plotting a build with a custom liquid cooling loop or considering assembling a crew of white-themed components for their next PC should take a look at the ROG Maximus Z790 Formula. Pristine white surfaces across its heatsinks and integrated I/O shroud give it a standout look that is accented by the customizable 2-inch OLED display built into the heatsink for the central M.2 slot. The new all-copper HybridChill VRM block offers standout passive cooling, and it is easy to connect to a custom loop for even more cooling power.
As an ROG Maximus motherboard, the ROG Maximus Z790 Formula delivers an enviable feature set. Users will find a pair of Thunderbolt™ 4 ports and a fleet of high-speed USB ports on the rear panel. WiFi 7 and a 5 Gbps Ethernet port give users rock-solid, high-bandwidth networking. And the ROG SupremeFX audio solution serves up pristine sound for gaming experiences.
Memory overclocking powerhouse: the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore
When professional overclockers look for a motherboard ready to provide a platform for record-breaking memory performance, they often turn first to the ROG Maximus Apex motherboards. The original ROG Maximus Z790 Apex helped the ASUS Republic of Gamers overclocking team push an Intel CPU past the 9 GHz barrier — and now ASUS is gearing up for round two with the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore.
For those using a liquid cooling loop to keep temperatures low, the ROG Water Cooling Zone puts them in command. The ROG Water-Cooling Zone’s dual water-temperature headers and flow-rate header feed information straight into ROG’s intuitive Fan Xpert 4 utility, letting users stay on top of the heat and stay cool in every game.