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Professional’s Score
Professionals
- Premium construct high quality
- Filled with options
- Intuitive BIOS and software program
- CPU cooler LGA 1200/1700 appropriate
Cons
- Cheaper alternate options can be found with most of those options
- DDR5 solely, and can be restricted with 4 sticks to base velocity
- Thick plates could intervene with some cumbersome GPU coolers
Our Verdict
The Asus ROG Most Z690 Excessive is really a motherboard for the PC fanatic who calls for the very best of the very best, value be damned.
Finest Costs Right this moment
Not Obtainable
Free
Intel has lastly rejoined the aggressive panorama towards AMD with its Z690 platform, matching high-end muscle with the ferocious Core i9-12900K CPU. With nice energy comes not-so-great pricing, nonetheless. The Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Excessive’s $1,099 price ticket eclipses the $649 value of previous juggernaut motherboards just like the X299 Asus Rampage VI Excessive, recasting what a high-end motherboard ought to price.
We’ll focus on the specs, options, and efficiency it is best to anticipate from a motherboard of this caliber, and whether or not it delivers sufficient to justify your buy.
The specs
The Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Excessive is filled with numerous options and a formidable spec record, together with DDR5 reminiscence assist and Thunderbolt 4. Needless to say it’s an prolonged dimension, or E-ATX, that means it’s bigger than a typical ATX motherboard and will not slot in all instances. You’ll get an built-in I/O defend, too—no worries about forgetting this step of the construct course of!
You’ll discover Wi-Fi 6E together with 10GB ethernet. Thunderbolt 4 accompanies the various USB Gen 2 ports on the again. You’ll have 5 slots for M.2, and two of them are on the included ROG Dimn2 card that attaches subsequent to the RAM.
Listed here are some vital specs to concentrate on:
- E-ATX 12×13 inches, or 305x330mm (wider than an ATX motherboard)
- Intel Twelfth-gen Alder Lake CPU assist with 24+1 energy levels (LGA 1700)
- DDR5 RAM solely, 4 slots
- PCI-E 5.0
- 5 M.2 slots
- Thunderbolt 4
- USB-C Gen 2
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 10GB LAN (Marvel AQtion and an Intel 2.5GB LAN)
- ROG SupremeFX ALC4082 With ESS ES9018QC2 DAC
- 2-inch OLED Stay Sprint, and AniMe Matrix show
- 3- and 4-pin RGB headers
- Clear CMOS and BIOS flashbacks buttons
- ROG Dimn2 M.2 adapter card
- A number of fan and water cooling headers
- HDMI port for built-in graphics (when GPU not accessible)
- Six SATA 6GB/S ports
- M.2 latch, and PCI-E button for releasing GPUs
- CPU cooler backwards compatibility with LGA 1200 or 1700
Thiago Trevisan / IDG
Design
Excessive. That phrase describes why many would really like this motherboard, proper? Minimalist, RGB-agnostic afficionados needn’t apply; this motherboard packs some severe “Occasions-Sq.-Degree” lights. With a 2-inch OLED and animated Matrix show, it may be configured to point out something from CPU stats to animations. While you’re paying for further options, that features eye sweet.
Thiago Trevisan / IDG
Additionally, it’s heavy. Like, actually heavy, however in a great way. Weighing in at over six kilos, it’s mighty to carry. The construct high quality is spectacular, with an armor again plate and loads of cowl for the entrance areas. The VRM heatsinks are large too, and naturally you’ll get loads of M.2 cooling with the coated plates a effectively.
It’s a really engaging motherboard general, with nice management over the RGB lighting through Asus Aura software program, so it may be personalized nonetheless you’d like.
One vital factor to remember is that the highest M.2 cowl does keep barely raised, so in case you’re doing a water-cooled graphics card with a thick backplate, equivalent to these with energetic cooling, be conscious of clearance points. Likewise, in case you’re doing a GPU on the underside PCI-E slot, a thick GPU cooler can intervene with a few of the cables, stopping a strong connection. (This occurred to me with an Asus Strix GPU cooler and the RGB and USB ports on the underside of the motherboard.)
Thiago Trevisan / IDG
Distinctive options
Many motherboards have distinctive options, however what units aside a board at this degree, and value, is the sheer quantity and mixture of options. Let’s break down a few of the most fascinating:
- Robust networking choices with 10GB, 2.5GB LAN, and Wi-Fi 6E for max flexibility
- Connectivity choices proceed to impress, with Thunderbolt 4 and lots of USB ports, together with kind C, and 60W charging skill
- Implausible M.2 SSD assist, though be mindful solely the highest M.2 is PCI-E Gen 5, however that can include some restrictions
- DDR5 is right here, however be mindful it’s costlier than DDR4 for minimal efficiency good points. There’s additionally an enormous situation with working quad RAM sticks—they gained’t do XMP profiles—so chances are you’ll need to follow two RAM sticks of upper capability
- M.2 latch and PCI-E slot simple launch/entry—we hope to see this on much more motherboards sooner or later!
- Nice VRM and CPU efficiency, however you may get comparable or higher with some cheaper motherboards such because the Asus Z690 Apex (it gained’t be as function packed, nonetheless)
- Wish to do two GPUs, for both higher spacing to enhance thermals when doing content material creation, and even…gasp…the already defunct SLI/NV Hyperlink? You are able to do that right here, with 4-slot NVlink assist
- OLED show may be very cool (PC fanatics will recognize it!)
- Asus software program has a formidable suite with Armoury Crate, permitting fan management, Ai overclocking, and RGB customization
- LGA 1700 would require a brand new bracket for many coolers, however Asus motherboards are appropriate with LGA 1200 out of the field, too
- You’ll get some neat gadgets within the field, like an RGB controller that may show helpful in fashionable builds
Efficiency and BIOS
With a strong CPU such because the Intel Core i9-12900K, you’ll need to be sure to’re maximizing its potential with a board like this.
The Asus BIOS continues to be one of the vital nice and intuitive to make use of, and in case you’re doing any overclocking, you’ll actually spend plenty of time right here. You’ll be able to tweak many CPU settings, and your RAM has large potential as effectively.
Let’s get the DDR5 situation out of the best way—you’ll need to stick to 2 RAM modules if you wish to use the XMP profile and get the utmost rated velocity. It might be a good suggestion to get larger capability in case you want it, as going to 4 RAM sticks will restrict your DDR5 speeds to the bottom 4800Mhz. That is…not excessive, nevertheless it’s how it’s at current. Reminiscence is at all times Twin Channel, in fact.
Asus
VRM temperatures with the facility stage elements are greater than satisfactory for even a strong, hot-running 12900K.
It looks as if a lot of contemporary overclocking is extra CPU restricted, as they arrive working fairly sizzling from the manufacturing facility as is—so any minor enhancements with guide tinkering may have diminishing returns.
Asus has a wonderful suite of AI overclocking and optimization instruments, as effectively. You will discover these each within the BIOS, in addition to the Armoury Crate Software program.
Clear CMOS and BIOS flashback can also be accessible, making overclocking makes an attempt simpler to get better from. You’ll even get LN2 Mode swap for customers desirous to push it additional with liquid nitrogen; plus a retry button, thermal headers, and so forth. (Don’t really feel disregarded; we’re not doing any liquid-nitrogen cooling both!)
Backside line
Are there cheaper alternate options available on the market for Z690, such because the Asus ROG Strix or Gigabyte Aorus Grasp? Certain, and so they even pack most of the similar options because the ROG Maximus Z690 Excessive. The magic is within the particulars in case you can abdomen the value, nonetheless. Right here, you’ll get all the options packed collectively—to not point out a very spectacular and premium design. You might also need to try the Asus ROG Apex or Method motherboards, which have many of the options, however much less of a value premium. (Take a look at Alaina Yee’s tips about what to search for in a motherboard on your Twelfth-gen CPU.)
It’s not even the most costly choice available on the market, both. If you would like a water-cooled answer, you could find the liquid cooling-focused Glacial model of this motherboard for far more—and MSI’s luxurious Godlike not too long ago made an look for Z690 as effectively.
This motherboard is for the one who desires an especially high-end construct and to tick all the efficiency and aesthetic choices. With PC elements all skyrocketing in value the previous couple of years, it was solely a matter of time earlier than motherboards received an increasing number of costly, too.
It’ll go well with each content material creators, with its large connectivity suite, in addition to fanatic PC builders and avid gamers, with a plethora of efficiency and aesthetic niceties.
Small quirks and the excessive price ticket preserve it from being a 5-star product and extremely advisable motherboard, particularly when contemplating that another motherboards with comparable (however not all) options are available in at lots of of {dollars} much less. When you love the design and should have all of its many options, nonetheless, it’s a tremendous product for the discerning high-end fanatic who doesn’t thoughts shelling out the money.
Editor’s word: This text was revealed on March 22, however was up to date so as to add the video evaluate.
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