Today is the official “launch” day for Intel’s Arrow Lake-S desktop processors. We’ve already taken a look at the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and we tested it on the motherboard that we are taking a look at today! That motherboard is the ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Hero. Being in the ROG Maximus line this is going to be a top-tier choice for your Arrow Lake build. This board features a 22+1+2+2 power phase design, a total of six M.2 slots, dual Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, WiFi 7, both 5G and 2.5G LAN, and DDR5 support with NitroPath DRAM technology. On top of that we have a very attractive design with ASUS’s Polymo Lighting II that is going to look great in any build and we can’t forget all of the AI features like ASUS AI Advisor, AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, and AI Networking II! Let’s jump in and see what this board is all about!
Special thanks to ASUS for providing us with the ROG Maximus Z890 Hero Motherboard to review.
ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Hero Motherboard Features
- Ready for Advanced AI PCs: Designed for the future of AI computing, with the power and connectivity needed for demanding AI applications
- Intel® LGA 1851 Socket: Ready for Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2)
- Exclusive AI Technologies: ASUS AI Advisor, AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, and AI Networking II to simplify setup and improve performance
- Advanced Overclocking & Memory Technologies: NPU Boost, NitroPath DRAM Technology, DIMM Fit, DIMM Flex and AEMP III
- Robust Power Solution: 22(110A)+1(90A)+2(90A)+2(80A) power stages with ProCool II power connectors, MicroFine alloy chokes and premium metallic capacitors
- Optimized Thermal Design: Massive heatsinks integrated with the I/O cover, joined by a U-shaped heatpipe and connected to the power stages with high-conductivity thermal pads
- Latest M.2 Support: Three PCIe® 5.0 M.2 slots and three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots onboard with ROG M.2 PowerBoost, all with substantial cooling solutions
- Abundant Connectivity: Dual Thunderbolt™ 4 USB Type-C® ports, USB 20Gbps Type-C front-panel connector with Quick Charge 4+ up to 60W and USB Wattage Watcher, USB 10Gbps Type-C front-panel connector, five additional USB 10Gbps ports, PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlot with full support for next-gen graphics cards, HDMI™ 2.1
- High-Performance Networking: On-board Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna, Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet and Realtek 5Gb Ethernet
- DIY-Friendly Design: PCIe Slot Q-Release Slim, new M.2 Q-Latch, M.2 Q-Release, M.2 Q-Slide, Q-Antenna, BIOS Q-Dashboard, Q-Code, Q-LED, FlexKey button, Start button, BIOS FlashBack™ button, Clear CMOS button and pre-mounted I/O shield
- Immersive Audio: ROG SupremeFX ALC4082 codec with ESS® ES9219 Quad DAC for up to 32-Bit/384 kHz playback Unmatched Personalization: I/O cover with Polymo Lighting II, three Gen 2 ARGB headers, all configurable with ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting
- Renowned Software: ASUS DriverHub, Dolby Atmos®, exclusive 1-year Internet Security subscription, TurboV Core, GlideX, HWiNFO, and bundled 1-year AIDA64 Extreme subscription
Packaging of the ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Hero Motherboard
The ROG Maximus Z890 Hero comes in ASUS’s standard motherboard packaging. On the front there is a large ROG logo and many of the board’s features are listed.
Flipping over to the back we have a picture of the board and many of the features are detailed. We also have a full run-down of the rear I/O ports and specifications.
As far as accessories that come with the board you are going to get the following…
Cables
1 x ARGB RGB extension cable
4 x SATA 6Gb/s cables
Additional Cooling Kit
1 x DDR5 fan holder
1 x Thermal pad for M.2 22110
Miscellaneous
1 x ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna
1 x Q-connector
1 x M.2 Q-Latch package
3 x M.2 Q-Slide packages
1 x ROG stickers
6 x M.2 rubber packages
1 x ROG thank you card
1 x ROG Bottle Opener
Installation Media
1 x USB drive with utilities and drivers
Documentation
1 x Quick start guide
It was quite nice to see a USB flash drive with the drivers and utilities on it. Also the ROG bottle opener is about the size of a credit card and is made of metal!
