ASUS ROG Z390 Maximus XI Hero Review

ASUS ROG Z390 Maximus XI Hero Preview

Introduction

The Maximus XI Hero is the entry level model in the Maximus range. The Formula and Extreme are above it, but just because it is relatively affordable doesn’t mean that it’s stripped bare of features. After all, it’s still a ROG model, still with the full-fat Z390 chipset, still part of the Maximus XI range.

To this end the design team at ASUS have acknowledged its market positioning and taken the opportunity to provide potential purchasers with lots of helpful features and information that might be pertinent to those dipping their toes into the ocean of knowledge required to build your own PC. The primary DIMM and PCI Express slots have been highlighted on the PCB for easy reference. There are onboard power and reset buttons for quick overclocking testing whilst the AI overclocking has been refined to give you a great starting point from which to perform your own feats of high clock brilliance. If you push things too far the Mem OK II has been updated to support more modules and quickly recover your system if you have pushed the limits a bit too far.

Refinements to the pathways also help by providing more accurate monitoring of CPU VCore voltage – the one area most likely to cause an overclock to fail – whilst also improving DDR4 support all the way up to 4266 MHz, even if all four sockets are populated. Your cooling needs are met with plentiful Pump and Fan headers whilst those of you with custom water cooling loops will be pleased to know that flow and temperature monitoring is built into the Maximus XI Hero, freeing you up from the need to purchase an external monitor.

Technical Specifications

Although the Hero is the entry level model of the Maximus XI range it’s still a part of the ROG line up and the selection of features are fulsome enough to pique the interest of anyone who wants to be part of the Republic of Gamers ownership but hasn’t the funds to go for the flagship Extreme model. With so much connectivity being part of the Z390 chipset the difference between the top range models and the more affordable options are really about the sides, as the meat of the dish remains the same.

ASUS ROG Z390 Maximus XI Hero Review  
ASUS ROG Z390 Maximus XI Hero Review  
ASUS ROG Z390 Maximus XI Hero Review Â