ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Hero BTF Review

Conclusion

Conclusion

The Maximus Hero BTF is one of the easiest motherboards to sum up. It is, at its core, the regular Z890 version just with all the connectors on the back. Otherwise it’s very much the same beast.

In fact, performance too was very much the same as its more regularly orientated brethren. If you are just here to see if there is a performance gain or deficit from this alignment then we can categorically tell you no. Which way up your connectors face is immaterial. That’s very much a good thing. So often these new ideas come with either teething problems or just the simple performance vs aesthetic trade off. Here there is no trading required.

The positive is obviously the lack of visible cables. We know that doesn’t bother everyone, but we also know many people too lazy to tidy cables away. If that is you, then here you get an easy to build system that, by its very design, means you’ll get a rig that looks cable tied whether you care or not and with no extra effort on your behalf. It’s a win win.

Things to note

What you do need to take into account of is that BTF motherboards require a new case designed for them. Motherboard trays tend to be a uniform plate with just a cut out for the CPU cooler. Certainly 99% of them haven’t the spaces necessary for the connectors and cables. So a new case will be an added expense. Fortunately you can migrate your GPU, although you’ll have to put up with the power cable going into it. If you’re in the market for an upgrade and have the cash, it’s 100% worth committing and grabbing a BTF one. The Strix we showed you earlier for example.

In our opinion any things that will need changing to maximise the aesthetic benefits of a BTF setup are more than worth it. Everything is so neat and tidy. The ASUS ROG Z890 Maximus Hero BTF is a premium performing motherboard enhanced by its BTF design and wins our OC3D Performance Award.

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