Published: October 24, 2024 | Source: ASUS | Author: Tom Logan

ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Apex Preview

In Detail

Just before we get to the details of the ASUS ROG Z890 Maximus Apex, a chance to look at an overview of it. Clearly the white aesthetic is strong here. We’re not sure if we like the block based ROG and ROG Eye logos. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We’re not really beholding this.

Beginning as we always do with two – armoured – 12V CPU headers as well as a fan header for easy exhaust fan cable routing.

The top right corner has four fan headers, including two CPU dedicated ones and a single aimed at AIO and Pump. If you want more storage the ASUS DIMM.2 slot is where the extra board we saw on the previous page goes. We love the Safe Boot button, helping us recover from optimistic overclocks.

Continuing around the Apex, we have two USB Type-C front panel connectors as well as another fan header, perfectly positioned for the DIMM cooling module.

Four SATA ports appears to be the way forwards, with both Intel and AMD adopting that route. If you need even more power in your motherboard the extra power connector is here, for those of you who live on the overclocking edge.

As befits a ASUS ROG product the Maximus Apex has pump and fan headers on the bottom right, as well as three different types of USB front panel headers. From right to left, USB 2.0 Type-A, USB 3 Type-A, and Thunderbolt AKA USB 4.

If you are a big fan of granular overclocking controls then the included four buttons will be just your thing. Extreme overclockers will attest that it’s often easier to get that last little bit once your rig is up and running.

Around the back of the Z890 Maximus Apex we have 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, 8 USB Type-A and 1 USB 20G Type-C, as well as the 5G LAN and PS2 keyboard port. It’s good that ASUS have given us white WiFi 7 mounting plugs, even if they’ll always be covered up by the antenna itself.