ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero Review

Up Close – Overview

Like all ROG products the packaging is gorgeous. Stiff, high quality, cardboard everywhere and plenty of internal packaging to keep everything in place during transit. Very nice indeed, although you’d expect that at this end of the market.

  

Like the Maximus Formula and Strix Z690-E the Maximus Hero comes complete with the Hyper M.2 add-in card to expand your system with an extra two M.2 ports. Otherwise you receive the full set of accessories, namely ARGB and RGB extension cables, SATA cables, moveable antenna, Q-Latch, stickers, USB drive with the drivers, manual and keychain.

  

Like all the other Z690s we have reviewed the heatsink on the VRMs is an absolute monster and weighs the board down considerably. If you’ve ever wanted to ensure that your motherboard screws are suitably strong then now is the time.

  

As we will see much later on in this review it most definitely isn’t a heatsink that’s all for show. Just look at it. Four layers, heavy slashes for airflow, it’s a beast. This is the coolest motherboard of the Z690 models we’ve reviewed.

  

It would be easy to assume that the ROG Eye Logo on the chipset heatsink is lit up, but in fact it’s just so reflective that it’s picking up all of our photography lights. We’ve tried to give you a few different views of it so hopefully it’s clear that it’s a pixellated mirror instead of open holes through which shines LEDs.