Asus 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.

OVERCLOCKING
ROG Maximus Apex boards are well-known as a record-setting platform for overclocking enthusiasts. From OC-centric components and design choices, to a massive power delivery system, the beast is back to rock new world records in multiple domains.

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.

The ROG Overclocker’s Toolkit is a powerful set of hardware-level controls to enhance your overclocking experience. Some are quick and easy time savers, while others offer masterful functionality to help you smash benchmarks and break records.

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.

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.

ASUS became the first manufacturer to implement phase-doublers with the A8N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard, back in 2005. The board's VRM was lauded for elegantly overcoming the power handling capabilities of components that were available at the time while also reducing voltage ripple. Those benefits led to phase-doublers becoming universally accepted in the industry, and they are still used for similar purposes today.

Modern CPUs pack more cores than their predecessors, and the latest instruction sets allow them to crunch computationally dense workloads at an incredible pace. In addition, they consume less power at idle and can transition between load states much more quickly. These improvements necessitate a re-evaluation of power-design priorities because phase-doublers add a propagation delay that hampers transient response.

Fortunately, the latest integrated power components can handle higher currents than the devices of yesteryear, making it possible to implement a simple circuit topology that isn't hamstrung by the processing lag of phase-doublers. That's why the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex utilizes teamed power stages to deliver higher burst current per phase, while maintaining the thermal performance of phase-doubled designs.

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.

8 + 8 PIN PROCOOL II POWER CONNECTORS
Two ProCool connectors ensure a snug and reliable connection to the EPS 12V power lines.

24 + 0 POWER STAGES
The VRM features 24 + 0 power stages, each rated to handle 105 amps.

MICROFINE ALLOY CHOKES
Each power stage is accompanied by a high-permeability alloy-core choke rated to handle 45 amps.

SMD CAPACITORS
Input and output filtering is provided by solid-polymer capacitors rated to last thousands of hours at high operating temperatures.

MEMORY
Comprehensive memory tuning options are a cornerstone of ROG motherboards. With the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex, you can extract maximum potential out of the highest-performing DDR5 modules.

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 as far as 8 GT/s 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.

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. The vast library of support now extends to nearly every DDR5 module that does not otherwise have XMP support.

COOLING
Massive heatsinks cover the Z790 Apex from top to bottom and across both M.2 expansion cards, giving critical components ample thermal headroom to realize their true potential.

VRM HEATSINK ARRAY
VRM heatsinks on the MOSFETs and chokes are connected by an embedded heatpipe to increase mass and surface area for dissipation.

M.2 HEATSINKS AND BACKPLATES
Both onboard M.2 slots are thoroughly cooled with heatsinks and backplates for maximum cooling performance.

PCIE 5.0 M.2 CARD HEATSINK
The bundled PCIe 5.0 M.2 card wraps its slot in a massive heatsink to ensure adequate cooling for the most performant drives.

EXTENDED VRM AND M.2 HEATSINK
An extended heatsink helps further cool the VRM along with an M.2 drive.

ROG DIMM.2 CARD HEATSINK
Two additional M.2 slots are kept cool with the DIMM.2 card's hefty heatsinks.

THERMAL MANAGEMENT
An extensive array of headers allow for precise cooling control and monitoring.

MULTIPLE TEMPERATURE SOURCES
Each header can be set to monitor and react to three user-configurable thermal sensors for workload-based cooling, and all settings can be easily managed by Fan Xpert 4 or UEFI.

4-PIN FAN HEADERS
Every onboard header supports auto-detection of DC or PWM fans.

AIO PUMP HEADER
A dedicated PWM/DC header for self-contained water-cooling setups.

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.

WATER PUMP+
A dedicated header can supply over 3 amps to a high-performance PWM or DC water pump.

WATER IN/OUT
A dedicated header enables monitoring of temperatures at the input/output points of any component.

WATER FLOW
A dedicated header enables constant monitoring of flow rate throughout 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.

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

PCIE 5.0
Fully embracing the new standard, the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex offers abundant Gen 5 support to give unfettered bandwidth to the fastest SSDs and graphics cards available.

USB 3.2 GEN 2X2
ROG Maximus Z790 Apex comes loaded with two USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C® connectors for speedy data transfers up to 20 Gbps. One is a port on the rear I/O; the other can be attached to the chassis front panel and it also features Quick Charge 4+ technology to quickly charge devices at up to 60W*.
* Requires a PCIe power supply cable to be plugged into the nearby 6-pin connector.

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.

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.

SUPREMEFX
ROG SupremeFX is a unique blend of hardware and software that provides superior audio. The ROG Maximus Z790 Apex's SupremeFX implementation features the ALC4080 codec with up to 32-bit/384 kHz playback. The front-panel output is streamed through a highly integrated Savitech amplifier that is capable of driving a wide variety of gaming headsets and high-fidelity headphones.

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

The integrated Hi-Fi Savitech amplifier holds up its end of the signal path with -89dB THD+N and a signal-to-noise ratio of 114dB, bringing pristine audio to gaming headsets and premium cans.

Instead of the conventional high definition audio (HDA) interface, the ALC4080 codec uses a USB interface to deliver studio-level sound reaching up to 32-bit 384 kHz audio resolution.

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

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

OPTIMIZATION
A bevy of innovative tools offers control over every aspect of your system.

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 CANCELATION
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
The AI Suite 3 dashboard contains a set of intuitive controls that boost CPU performance while maintaining system stability.

UEFI 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.

PERSONALIZATION
The Z790 Apex keeps its iconic cross-board slash, but brings a new silver and white color scheme to the Maximus lineup. Onboard components contrast beautifully against a white PCB, and a tasteful touch of RGB on the shroud and chipset heatsink brings customizable color into the mix.

GROW YOUR GAMING WORLD
ROG motherboards feature ASUS Aura technology, enabling full lighting control and a variety of presets for both onboard RGB LEDs and third-party accessories. Effects can be easily synced across compatible ROG graphics cards, monitors, keyboards, and mice to give your setup a unified look.

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.

Through the pre-loaded DTS® Sound Unbound™ app, the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex conjures a detailed soundscape for new levels of immersion. By leveraging Microsoft's spatial sound technology, DTS Sound Unbound allows you to accurately pinpoint the location and direction of gunshots, footsteps, and other sounds in a virtual 3D environment.
* DTS Sound Unbound requires in-game support. Check with developers for supported titles.

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 Apex 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.