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Manufacturer: ASUS Last updated: September 11, 2026
ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero (LGA1700/Intel Z790/ATX/PCIe 5.0/Thunderbolt 4/Wi-Fi 6E) Review
The ROG Maximus Z790 Hero was ASUS's flagship LGA1700 board for 12th/13th/14th Gen Intel processors, still a strong pick for builders who want a high-end Intel platform without moving to the newer Core Ultra Series 2 chips.
ASUS's specification pages for this board rate its VRM as sufficient for i9-13900K and i9-14900K chips at sustained overclocked settings, though an exact phase count isn't listed on the current spec page. Four DDR5 DIMM slots support high-capacity, high-speed memory kits with ASUS AEMP-enabled overclocking for 13th/14th Gen Intel processors. Expansion includes a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for the GPU. Storage covers multiple M.2 slots including PCIe 4.0 support across CPU and chipset lanes. Dual 2.5Gb LAN controllers handle wired networking, paired with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and onboard Thunderbolt 4 for high-speed peripheral connectivity. Audio uses ASUS's ROG SupremeFX implementation. Against the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi in this batch, the Maximus Z790 Hero adds Thunderbolt 4 and dual 2.5Gb LAN as its key differentiators, positioned as ASUS's higher-tier LGA1700 flagship.
Power Delivery and VRM Design
ASUS's specification pages for this board rate its VRM as sufficient for i9-13900K and i9-14900K chips at sustained overclocked settings, though an exact phase count isn't listed on the current spec page.
Memory Support
Four DDR5 DIMM slots support high-capacity, high-speed memory kits with ASUS AEMP-enabled overclocking for 13th/14th Gen Intel processors.
Expansion and Storage
Expansion includes a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for the GPU. Storage covers multiple M.2 slots including PCIe 4.0 support across CPU and chipset lanes.
Connectivity
Dual 2.5Gb LAN controllers handle wired networking, paired with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and onboard Thunderbolt 4 for high-speed peripheral connectivity. Audio uses ASUS's ROG SupremeFX implementation.
Comparison to Sibling Products
Against the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi in this batch, the Maximus Z790 Hero adds Thunderbolt 4 and dual 2.5Gb LAN as its key differentiators, positioned as ASUS's higher-tier LGA1700 flagship.
Specifications
Platform and CPU compatibility
| Platform | Intel |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 |
| Socket | Intel 12th / 13th / 14th Gen Core |
| Chipset | Z790 |
Platform
| Socket Type | LGA1700 |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | ATX |
Memory
| Memory Type | DDR5 |
|---|---|
| Memory Slots | 4 |
| Max Memory | 128 GB |
| Memory Type | 4x DDR5 DIMM, AEMP-enabled overclocking |
Expansion & Connectivity
| M.2 Slots | 4 |
|---|---|
| PCIe 5.0 Support | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Onboard | Yes |
Network and audio
| Audio Codec | ROG SupremeFX |
|---|
| Model | ROG Maximus Z790 Hero |
|---|---|
| VRM | High-end design (exact phase count not currently listed) |
| Expansion | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| Connectivity | Thunderbolt 4 |
| Networking | Dual 2.5Gb LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Special Features | Multiple M.2 slots (PCIe 4.0) |
Expert Review
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Best for
- Builders who want a high-end LGA1700 board with Thunderbolt 4
- Enthusiasts completing a 13th/14th Gen Intel system
Not for
- New builds better served by the newer Core Ultra Series 2 (LGA1851) platform
- Budget-first LGA1700 builds
FAQs
What are the key specifications of the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero (LGA1700/Intel Z790/ATX/PCIe 5.0/Thunderbolt 4/Wi-Fi 6E)?
The ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero (LGA1700/Intel Z790/ATX/PCIe 5.0/Thunderbolt 4/Wi-Fi 6E) is a motherboard from ASUS. Key specs: Socket LGA1700, Chipset Z790, VRM High-end design (exact phase count not currently listed), Memory 4x DDR5 DIMM, AEMP-enabled overclocking, Expansion PCIe 5.0 x16.
Will the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero (LGA1700/Intel Z790/ATX/PCIe 5.0/Thunderbolt 4/Wi-Fi 6E) work with my current setup?
The ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero (LGA1700/Intel Z790/ATX/PCIe 5.0/Thunderbolt 4/Wi-Fi 6E) lists Socket is LGA1700. Check that against the hardware you already own before buying, since this is the field that most often decides whether a part fits.
Who is the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero (LGA1700/Intel Z790/ATX/PCIe 5.0/Thunderbolt 4/Wi-Fi 6E) best suited to?
It suits builders who want a high-end lga1700 board with thunderbolt 4, enthusiasts completing a 13th/14th gen intel system.
What are the drawbacks of the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero (LGA1700/Intel Z790/ATX/PCIe 5.0/Thunderbolt 4/Wi-Fi 6E)?
It is a poor fit for new builds better served by the newer core ultra series 2 (lga1851) platform, budget-first lga1700 builds.
Compare and read more
- ASRock X570 Steel Legend (AM4/AMD X570/ATX/PCIe 4.0/Dual M.2) vs ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero (LGA1700/Intel Z790/ATX/PCIe 5.0/Thunderbolt 4/Wi-Fi 6E)
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning (AM5/AMD B650/ATX/Two M.2 Slots/PCIe 5.0/2.5G LAN) vs ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero (LGA1700/Intel Z790/ATX/PCIe 5.0/Thunderbolt 4/Wi-Fi 6E)
- ASRock B650E PG Riptide WiFi (AM5/AMD B650E/ATX/14+2+1 Power Phase VRM/Wi-Fi 6E) vs ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero (LGA1700/Intel Z790/ATX/PCIe 5.0/Thunderbolt 4/Wi-Fi 6E)
- ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi (AM5/AMD B650/ATX/16+2+1 Phase 60A SPS VRM/Three M.2 Slots/Wi-Fi 6E) vs ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero (LGA1700/Intel Z790/ATX/PCIe 5.0/Thunderbolt 4/Wi-Fi 6E)
- ASRock B850 Steel Legend WiFi (AM5/AMD B850/ATX/14+2+1 Phase 80A Dr.MOS VRM/Four M.2 Slots/Wi-Fi 7) vs ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero (LGA1700/Intel Z790/ATX/PCIe 5.0/Thunderbolt 4/Wi-Fi 6E)