Asus ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX Review
In our latest review, we take a look at the flagship motherboard Asus ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX. We will test it in conjunction with the processor. Core Ultra 7 265 and RAM Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5-8000 48 GB Limited EditionWe also used a water cooling system. ROG STRIX LC III 360 ARGB LCD
Artline Company provided a processor for testing Core Ultra 7 265 and motherboard Asus ROG STRIX B860-F GAMING WIFI, these dovars are available for purchase on the store's website.
| APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS |
Asus ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX — is a flagship motherboard from ASUS, designed for overclocking enthusiasts, professionals and those who are looking for the perfect platform for modern Intel processors. This model is a combination of maximum performance, advanced cooling and innovative design, reflecting the philosophy of the ROG MAXIMUS series.
Below is a detailed overview of the board's key features, taking into account its unique advantages and advanced technologies.
| APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS |
Aggressive and futuristic style
Asus ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX is the pinnacle of engineering with a unique design, created for those who value style and performance. The motherboard is made in a silver and white color scheme with chrome accents and minimalist decorative elements, which makes it a bright decoration for any gaming or professional build. Metal heatsinks covering key areas of the board, such as VRM and M.2 slots, not only provide effective cooling, but also emphasize the premium nature of the device.
backlight Aura Sync RGB adds style. The ROG logo, stripes on the radiators and other elements of the board are equipped with dynamic lighting, which can be customized using the proprietary software. A wide range of modes and colors allows you to create a unique visualization that harmonizes with the overall style of the case.
The board is made on high-quality black and white PCB, which makes it universal for any case solutions. Its design is complemented by geometric lines and neat inscriptions, emphasizing the corporate style of the ROG MAXIMUS series.
Premium equipment for enthusiasts
Asus ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX comes in a durable branded box with a silver design, where the key features of the device are indicated in detail. The box protects the device from damage thanks to reliable packaging. Inside, the board and accessories are located in anti-static bags and are additionally fixed with foam inserts, ensuring the safety of all components.
The kit includes:
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ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX Motherboard;
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Set of fasteners M.2 Q-Slide и M.2 Q Latch for quick and easy SSD installation;
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ROG DIMM.2 — unique adapter for installing two additional M.2 drives;
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A set of thermal pads for optimal cooling of M.2 drives;
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Two SATA cables for connecting hard drives and SSD;
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Wi-Fi Q-antenna for improved wireless signal;
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ROG branded flash drive with drivers and utilities;
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A detailed user manual and a set of ROG stickers to customize your build.
This kit allows you not only to immediately start assembling a powerful system, but also to add a corporate style and additional options for customization and overclocking.
Processor support
Asus ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX is based on the latest chipset Intel Z890 and supports Intel Core processors Ultra 14th generation. Socket LGA1851 provides compatibility with Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 and 3.0 technologies, which allow the processor to dynamically increase frequencies under load. This makes the board ideal for gaming, graphics work, and other resource-intensive tasks.
RAM
The board is equipped with two DIMM slots supporting up to 128 GB of DDR5 RAM with a frequency of up to 9600 MT/s in overclocking mode. Intel XMP and ASUS AEMP III technologies provide easy tuning and timing optimization, which is especially important for achieving stability at high frequencies.
Expansion slots
For video cards and other devices, there are two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots with the ability to operate in x16 or x8/x8 modes. In addition, there are two additional PCIe 4.0 x4 slots for connecting drives or other cards.
Storage devices
The Asus ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX supports up to six M.2 drives and four SATA ports. Two M.2 slots use the PCIe 5.0 interface for maximum speed, while the other four use PCIe 4.0. RAID 0/1/5/10 is also available for increased performance or data reliability.
Wi-Fi 7 and Ethernet
The board is equipped with a Wi-Fi 7 module, providing speeds up to 5.8 Gbps and a stable connection even in networks with high loads. Wired connection is implemented via a Realtek 5Gb Ethernet port with ASUS LANGuard protection.
SupremeFX Audio System
The ROG SupremeFX 7.1 codec with ALC4080 delivers high-quality audio. It uses premium audio capacitors and noise-canceling technologies, making it ideal for gaming, video streaming, and multimedia.
Features and Innovations
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Охлаждение
Massive heatsinks with heat pipes provide effective cooling of VRM and M.2. The back panel is equipped with thermal pads for additional heat dissipation. -
Innovative solutions for ease of assembly
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M.2 Q-Latch and Q-Slide: quick and tool-free SSD installation;
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Start, Safe Boot and ReTry buttons for overclocking and diagnostics;
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Pre-installed I/O Shield for easy installation.
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Interfaces and connection
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Thunderbolt 4: Two USB Type-C ports support up to 8K video output and a maximum throughput of 40Gbps;
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Front USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C with support for fast charging up to 60W.
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Aura Sync backlighting
RGB synchronization with other ROG devices and customization via Armoury Crate add style and personality to your build.
Asus ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX is not just a motherboard, but a tool for creating a powerful system. Its design, innovative technologies and support for the latest standards make it the number one choice for gamers and enthusiasts. The board combines the highest performance, ease of use and style, making it a leader among solutions in 2025.
| UEFI |
Section Extreme Tweaker is designed to manage the overclocking parameters of the system. Here the user can configure the target processor frequencies (Performance Core and Efficient Core), DDR5 memory frequency, processor cache frequency and other important parameters. Mode Performance Preferences allows you to select preset profiles such as Intel Default Settings or ASUS Advanced OC Profile, making it easy to customize performance. Ai Overclock Tuner enables automatic overclocking, and the ASUS MultiCore Enhancement option provides optimization of the multi-core processor.
This screen allows you to control parameters such as the frequency of the RAM (DDR5-8400MHz), the ratio of the memory and controller frequencies (Memory Controller : DRAM Frequency Ratio) and enabling the DIMM Flex feature to improve module compatibility. In the section DRAM Timing Control you can adjust the memory timings, and through DIGI + VRM — regulate the voltage of the processor and other components for system stability under high loads.
Tab Advanced provides access to the settings of the internal components of the platform. Sections Platform Misc Configuration и CPU Configuration allow you to configure processor parameters, including power saving and virtualization technologies. System Agent Configuration controls the integrated video core and memory configuration, and through PCH Configuration и PCH Storage Configuration you can optimize the operation of the drives. Here you can also configure the cooling system and security parameters via Trusted Computing.
Section Monitor designed to monitor the main parameters of the system in real time. temperature monitor Displays current temperatures of the processor, VRM, chipset and other components. Fan Speed Monitor shows the rotation speed of the fans, and through Q-Fan Configuration You can configure the operating modes of the cooling system, including creating custom profiles. Option CPU Temperature LED Switch Activates LED indication when critical temperature is reached.
Tab Boat is responsible for managing the operating system boot. Here you can configure the boot order of the drives via Boot Option Priorities and select the device for temporary download via Boot Override... Function Secure Boot Ensures security by checking the digital signatures of downloaded programs, preventing unauthorized code from running.
Section tool offers additional utilities for system management. ASUS EZ Flash 4 Utility allows you to update the BIOS using external drives, and BIOS Image Rollback Support makes it possible to roll back the firmware to the previous version. ASUS SPD Information provides detailed information about memory modules, and ASUS Secure Erase used to securely erase data from storage devices.
Utility interface ASUS EZ Flash shows available drives and firmware files, allowing you to quickly update the BIOS. This is important for supporting new processors, improving hardware compatibility, and troubleshooting system errors.
Tab Exit contains options to save or discard changes. Load Optimized Defaults restores factory settings, Save Changes & Reset saves the changes and reboots the computer, and Discard Changes & Exit Undoes all edits made. Option Launch EFI Shell from USB drives Launches a console for executing advanced commands.
EZ Mode provides an overview of the system status: processor frequency and voltage, component temperature, RAM and storage status. Here you can activate the XMP profile for memory overclocking and select the OS boot priority by simply dragging and dropping elements.
Section Q-Fan Control allows you to configure fan operating modes depending on the temperature of the components. Using a graphical interface and sliders, the user can set automatic or manual operating parameters, including noise levels and cooling speeds, which is especially important for systems with intensive loads.
| ACCELERATION |
Motherboard ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX, like the entire premium ROG MAXIMUS line, provides a powerful arsenal of tools for overclocking the processor and RAM. However, it is worth considering that modern processors of the series Intel Core Ultra already operate at extremely high frequencies. Therefore, the additional performance gain may be insignificant, especially considering that going beyond the limits Intel Default Settings may result in loss of official manufacturer's warranty.
Cooling system and temperature indicators
A liquid cooling system was used for testing. ROG STRIX LC III 360 ARGB LCD, which did an excellent job of dissipating heat. Under stress load conditions, the processor temperature did not exceed 73 °C. This demonstrates the high potential of the “processor + board + liquid cooling system” bundle in terms of heat dissipation. Users can safely experiment with various overclocking profiles without fear of overheating even under maximum loads.
Operating modes and overclocking capabilities
The basic configuration, known as Intel Default Settings, provides the optimal balance of frequencies and voltages recommended by Intel. When the profile is activated ASUS Advanced OC Profile The motherboard reveals additional performance reserves by increasing the processor clock rate and DDR5 RAM. However, the BIOS interface contains a warning about possible loss of warranty when using non-standard parameters. The final decision on the use of these settings remains with the user.
Testing DDR5 Memory Frequencies
To test the board's capabilities, memory modules with different frequencies were used - from DDR5-6400 to DDR5-8400. Test results in AIDA64 showed the expected increase in throughput and decrease in latency as memory frequency increases. However, as we approach maximum values (e.g. DDR5-8400), the effectiveness of further frequency increases becomes less noticeable in real-world usage scenarios.
| AIDA64 test results at different memory frequencies |
We tested the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX in combination with the processor Core Ultra 7 265 and various RAM configurations Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5-8000, using the AIDA64 Cache & Memory Benchmark utility. This allowed us to evaluate the impact of memory frequencies and their timings on the overall system throughput and latency.
DDR5-6400 mode
- Options: 32-51-51-102 CR2, DRAM:FSB ratio = 32.0
- Results:
- Reading: ~ 93,1 GB / s
- Record: ~ 81,8 GB / s
- Copy: ~ 82,9 GB / s
- Delay: ~94,9 ns
L1 cache demonstrated high values: 5032,1 GB/s (read), 3525,8 GB/s (write), 7260,3 GB/s (copy). This is a basic configuration that provides good stability and acceptable performance for most everyday tasks.
DDR5-7200 mode
- Options: 58-58-58-115 CR2, DRAM:FSB ratio = 36.0
- Results:
- Reading: ~ 109,1 GB / s
- Record: ~ 97,0 GB / s
- Copy: ~ 97,4 GB / s
- Delay: ~84,3 ns
The increase in throughput coupled with the reduction in latency is especially noticeable in multitasking workloads. However, the increase in frequency is accompanied by increased requirements for system stability.
DDR5-8000 mode
- Options: 36-48-48-128 CR2, DRAM:FSB ratio = 40.0
- Results:
- Reading: ~ 121,3 GB / s
- Record: ~ 101,2 GB / s
- Copy: ~ 107,2 GB / s
- Delay: ~73,5 ns
At DDR5-8000, the system exhibits significantly improved memory access speeds, especially in bandwidth-intensive scenarios such as rendering and professional computing.
DDR5-8400 mode
- Options: 36-48-48-128 CR2, DRAM:FSB ratio = 42.0
- Results:
- Reading: ~ 124,7 GB / s
- Record: ~ 102,6 GB / s
- Copy: ~ 111,7 GB / s
- Delay: ~71,8 ns
This is an extreme profile that allows you to unleash the potential of DDR5 memory at maximum frequencies. Despite the minimal latency, the performance increase becomes less noticeable for all-day tasks, but is critical in games...
| TEST PART |
| Test configuration | |
| test stands |
ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO Kingston XS2000 Portable SSD 4 TB- optimal solution for testing different configurations 48 GB DDR5 8000 Kingston FURY Renegade Kingston FURY Renegade PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Multimedia equipment |
Deepcool PX1200G 1200W Power Supply Cooling system: ROG STRIX LC III 360 ARGB LCD Housing: DeepCool CH780 WH |
| Software configuration |
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| Operating system | Windows 11 |
| Graphics driver |
Nvidia GeForce/ION Driver Release 566.36 WHQL |
| Monitoring programs |
MSI Afterburner |
| Cyberpunk 2077 |
The testing settings are shown in the screenshots above.
On DDR5-8400 with the ASUS Advanced OC Profile, the minimum FPS was 116, and the average was 130. With Intel Default Settings, the figures were 113 and 126 FPS, respectively. This highlights the importance of using extreme memory profiles for maximum performance in graphically intensive games.
| Dragon's Dogma 2 |
The testing settings are shown in the screenshots above.
A similar trend can be seen in Dragon's Dogma 2: DDR5-8400 with ASUS Advanced OC Profile shows the best results - 120 FPS. At the same time, Intel Default Settings at the same frequency provide 112 FPS. The average FPS values in the range of DDR5-7200 and DDR5-6400 also confirm that memory overclocking has a significant impact on the smoothness of the game and responsiveness.
| Horizon Forbidden West |
The testing settings are shown in the screenshots above.
Horizon Forbidden West shows the biggest performance gains when using DDR5-8400 in the ASUS Advanced OC Profile. The results reach up to 168 FPS, which is significantly higher than the result of DDR5-6400 with Intel Default Settings (151 FPS). This game is especially sensitive to memory bandwidth, and BIOS optimization allows for the smoothest possible gaming experience.
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl |
The testing settings are shown in the screenshots above.
For S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl The difference between DDR5-8400 ASUS Advanced OC Profile and Intel Default Settings modes is only 1 FPS (95 vs. 94), indicating a less pronounced dependence on the memory frequency. However, when the frequency is reduced to DDR5-6400, the minimum FPS drops to 69, which affects the stability of the gameplay.
| Dragon Age: The Veilguard |
The testing settings are shown in the screenshots above.
The maximum FPS (113) was achieved at DDR5-8400 with the ASUS Advanced OC Profile enabled. With the standard Intel Default Settings, the figures are slightly lower (112 FPS). This confirms the advantage of manually optimizing the BIOS for higher performance in demanding RPG games.
| CONCLUSION |
The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX motherboard is a benchmark of performance and features for enthusiasts who want to unleash the full potential of their components. High-speed memory modules were used in testing Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5-8000 48 GB Limited Edition, which showed excellent compatibility with the board and high results in synthetic tests and gaming scenarios.
The main advantages:
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Overclocking potential: The board easily handles high-frequency DDR5-8000 memory and higher, providing stability and performance even at extreme settings. Using ASUS Advanced OC Profiles allows you to achieve a noticeable increase in memory speed and overall computing performance.
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Efficient Cooling: The ROG STRIX LC III 360 ARGB LCD liquid cooling system successfully copes with the load, maintaining the processor temperature at a safe level even under stressful conditions. This confirms the high potential of the component bundle under maximum loads.
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Results in games: In popular games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon Forbidden West и Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the maximum FPS values were obtained at settings with DDR5-8000 and higher. This makes the board an excellent choice for gamers who want a smooth gaming experience.
Important aspects:
- Component Compatibility: High DDR5-8000 memory frequency requires high-quality modules such as Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5-8000 Limited Edition, which is confirmed by stable testing results.
- BIOS Settings: The rich functionality of the BIOS allows the user to fine-tune the system for specific tasks, be it games, streaming or rendering. This is one of the strengths of the board.
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z890 APEX is a powerful tool for assembling high-performance systems. It combines excellent overclocking capabilities, stability and performance, making it one of the best solutions in its class. The use of premium memory modules provides the highest performance in any work scenarios, be it games or professional tasks.
