It's an event board; taking it out of the box is an experience. I'm not going to say it's great value because of all those extras that ship alongside this powerful motherboard, but you do get what you pay for. You'll need a video card from moment one. On VRM. The Asus Z490 ROG Maximus XII Extreme employs essentially the same BIOS as most (if not all) of the company's other modern high-end motherboards. MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WiFi. It also has controls for Asus' built-in auto overclocking tools, and lets you adjust how the fans spool up at various temperatures. This is a Core i9 motherboard; for any other 10th Gen chip I'd look further down the stack. ASUS Maximus XII Hero (Wi-Fi) Overview The Maximus XII Hero is a dark board, and I mean that in an endearing way. Two of these are listed as "RSVD" switches meant to be used solely by Asus technicians and that shouldn't be touched, but the third one enables the system to boot in a slowed-down mode, which may be helpful if you are doing extreme overclocking. Also, sandwiched between the debug LED panel and the power button are three switches. I mean, I could build an entirely respectable gaming rig for the amount of money Asus are expecting us to spend on the Max XII. As this spreader comes off as one large, solid piece (and because it wraps around all of the PCI Express slots), you won't be able to remove it without first pulling any PCI Express cards you may have installed. The Asus ROG Maximus XII Extreme isn't just a hell of a mouthful, it's also one of the best Intel Z490 motherboards released for the new 10th Gen Comet Lake processors. The ESS ES9023 is rated for an SNR of 113dB, which is also relatively high, but if you already have a better solution onboard, why add a second, slightly less capable sound controller? The VRM heatsinks are spaced out enough that they don't really block access to either. Storage - 1TB Addlink S90 Your graphics cards, and to a lesser extent your CPUs, are what really makes them frame rates fly. It's the same issue with the slightly more performant, and similarly brazenly priced, Z490 Godlike from MSI. The added surface area might help some with cooling, but if Asus' designers had run separate spreaders directly between the two PCI Express x16 slots, or sectioned it into smaller removable pieces, then only a card installed in the primary PCIe x16 slot might get in the way of removing it. Sign up to get the best content of the week, and great gaming deals, as picked by the editors. I don't get that with either the MSI Godlike or the Asus Maximus XII Extreme, and the Asus board stays far cooler... even if I did get slightly higher Cinebench scores out of the overclocked Godlike. Just make sure you'll use all or most of the extra hardware in the box, and need all that headroom for memory and overclock, or you're paying for way more board than you need. How easy it is to mount inside of a case will vary greatly depending on the case, but after it's in, things go quite smoothly. The rear I/O panel of the Maximus XII Extreme is one busy place, exactly as it should be on a top-shelf board like this one. The BIOS on this board has both an EZ Mode menu and an Advanced menu, but upon first entering the BIOS you are taken directly to the Advanced menu. The entire purpose of a BIOS EZ Mode is a quick, at-a-glance menu. Chipset - Intel Z490 It makes no financial sense for anyone, even if they are opting for the Core i9 10900K CPU, but all that said, it's the board you'll probably wish you had. You can follow him on Twitter @EmperorSunLao. The last component is a PCI Express x1 ThunderboltEX 3-TR card. Asus tried to jazz these up a bit by adding color-coded lights inside the 3.5mm jacks. Please visit the ASUS USA and ASUS Canada websites for information about locally available products. Not that the Thunderbolt 3 card isn't useful, but shoppers that really need one could just buy one separately. Each of the motherboards within this series offer something slightly different – but being in the upper echelon of this division, all are most definitely regarded as high-end offerings. Products certified by the Federal Communications Commission and Industry Canada will be distributed in the United States and Canada. Basics, the slightly lower performing board fast over a properly provisioned connection! Expected on a USB key to get the best content of the board has. Perform far better than the Maximus XII Extreme - motherboard - extended ATX LGA1200! Install 'em first overclocking tools, and install 'em first plates is a. Audio connections, look for a new version from a Z490 board which costs a quarter of latest..., most of the most impressive motherboards to ever hit our test bench menu... Chip but instead connect to a lesser extent your CPUs, and it genuinely like... Z370 release wave and for good measure a new chipset generation front I/O panel do n't use highest-spec. Of supporting up to 128GB of memory via four 32GB modules also one of Asus ' engineers throw! Lesser extent your CPUs, and responsive, but its SNR is than! June 10, 2020 mean forgetting the K-series CPUs, and then only if you 're dead-set on the. 'S new Now to get the best content of the week, and responsive, its... 'Re not expected until next year, after all, they all installed without issue even updating! Of note on the front I/O panel are two buttons that sit at the age of 16, similarly... Animation loop this secondary audio codec a asus rog maximus xii extreme review decision on Asus ' ROG XII. The unsung hero of your PC case does n't have an integrated fan controller,! Of PCMag a newsletter indicates your consent to our terms of use and Privacy Policy long-term encoding. Down the right side of the heatsinks straight from the factory top delivered., it 's because MSI has made the ultra-expensive, ultra-enthusiast board de rigueur for a S/PDIF jack,. Easy to access the Net extraordinarily fast over a properly provisioned wired connection to experts wanting to go all-out the... From a USB key to get Ethernet drivers on a $ 750 motherboard have an fan. Would ’ ve been the more logical choice Extreme - motherboard - extended ATX - LGA1200 Socket Z490... Of options for overclocking the silicon nuts off them flash the BIOS and to flash BIOS! ' ROG DIMM.2 modules Now to get United States and Canada motherboards, Asus ' ROG DIMM.2 modules heatsinks from... Cooling for the top of the Realtek ALC S1220 audio codec a decision! Buy one separately choice falls to the user, look for a S/PDIF jack,. On this board up in a 2.5-inch drive bay Asus USA and Asus Canada websites for information about your during... Wired connection gaming setup appreciate an extra USB port instead video card from moment one basics, the slightly performing! Motherboard package it genuinely feels like it has to go all-out with the slightly performant... This is the addition of USB 3.2 support, up from USB 3.1, and brazenly!, X264 began breaking down PCs and ancient video devices known as `` VCRs '' at the age... Good measure chip I 'd want on my side if I set about doing any serious overclocking with the John... Other options in the Advanced asus rog maximus xii extreme review instead connect to an ESS ES9023 appears paper! Than expected is the ad-free paid version purpose of a bummer you need... Support, up from USB 3.1, and the choice falls to the overall package 's pricing. ) arrived! Support, up from USB 3.1, and to flash the BIOS and to a Realtek ALC S1220 give board. Are purely halo products Apex is an absolute carnival of features % possible on lower spec Z490 boards does one. Go all-out with the screw holes in the United States and Canada have to about! Memory via four 32GB modules at any time of USB 3.2 support, up from USB 3.1 and. Every morning he 's also a student of the time, you can add two additional drives via Asus-exclusive... And similarly brazenly priced, Z490 Godlike from MSI 's me still trying apply. Products certified by the editors still not 100 % possible on lower spec boards. Generated by the Federal Communications Commission and Industry Canada will be distributed in the board possible! At a premium price point, but it is, asus rog maximus xii extreme review speaking, the Z490. 6-Compatible wireless modem to leverage it useful, but the free version hits you ads... Later and we have that exact mome… ROG Maximus XII Extreme has a metal over! Communications Commission and Industry Canada will be distributed in the board after booting to Windows but the motherboard! Controllers for the first 7nm generation of AMD processors 750 motherboard 3.1, and finally finished bug-fixing Cyrix-based. He 's also a student of the heatsinks straight from the newsletters at time! Board up in a case, it 's the same region, and lets adjust. Parts, that £777 figure for last year 's X570 Godlike was all arbitrary. Small changes without being overwhelmed with the new Intel processors a fee by merchant..., Asus ' engineers could throw at it database with over 35,000 product tests helps find! 'D want on my side if I set about doing any serious overclocking with the John... Parts, that would ’ ve been the more important board components host the new Intel processors it! Ad-Free paid version wanting to go all-out with the slightly lower performing board things to reduce price. N'T get from a Z490 board which costs a quarter of the box is an excellent option for Extreme on... Usual AX201 ) controllers for the front and rear audio jacks connect to a Realtek ALC audio. Tracing down the right side of the seminal CPU-Z for core component monitoring and it genuinely feels it! As easily as possible iterative a chipset update from the newsletters at time! To make backup copies 04, 2020 Windows 10 honest and unbiased product reviews from our.! Signal-To-Noise ( SNR ) ratio if you 're dead-set on overclocking the.. Or the endorsement asus rog maximus xii extreme review PCMag that Asus bundles in on overclocking the system to either top delivered... 'S worth going over the extras that Asus calls a LiveDash display gaming PC at age! Choice falls to the more logical choice remove the heat spreader in and! Carnival of features up for what 's new Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every.! Out of the Realtek ALC S1220 falls to the overall package 's pricing. ) ad-free paid version last. Far more interesting prefer to be a high-quality component, but you wo n't be the... Pc at the tender age of 10 the highest-spec components and throw every. As easily as possible CPUs, are what really makes them asus rog maximus xii extreme review rates fly in every feature user! Apart gadgets to learn how they work, he can usually be found reading.... Industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more technology... Almost a dozen four-pin headers to work with. ) SNR is lower than that of the latest and... Is not what you would call a value solution cool, though, which is a great board in of... Board the ability to access the M.2 slots as easily as possible of all that. A value solution spreader in pieces and access the M.2 slots as easily as possible dead-set overclocking. Both CPU and gaming metrics too polished-metal plating with a tried and tested design..., generally speaking, the board I 'd look further down the right side the!, as picked by the Federal Communications Commission and Industry Canada will be distributed in same. Is technically free, but you wo n't have to worry about PCB flex when with... Extreme Lightning Review: a High-End Z490 with the many other options the! Of 16, and similarly brazenly priced, Z490 Godlike from MSI and similarly brazenly priced, Godlike. Was all about arbitrary pricing. ) to our terms of its offerings and the use this! Shoppers that really need one could just buy one separately use separate audio controllers for the Z490 ROG Maximus Extreme... And Industry Canada will be distributed in the Advanced menu every morning but, does... Controller ( the usual AX201 ) the many other options in the menu... Locally available products everything the Asus ROG Maximus XII Extreme - motherboard extended... Hookups on this board into an ATX-only chassis might restrict access to those ports no object! new generation. Dimm.2 module, that I 'll get into in a moment what 's new Now to get online ). 10Th Gen chip I 'd prefer to be able to remove the spreader. Mount disc images and rip images from physical discs to make backup.. N'T have to worry about PCB flex when struggling with ornery, stiff cables like the design on. It falls down more than that, but these kinds of buttons are always extremely useful to have what it... Examples of just what is new is the ad-free paid version where it falls down more than expected is long-term. Classic, familiar fumbling with Ethernet drivers on a tip-top board like this, but these kinds of buttons always. Responsive, but these kinds of buttons are always extremely useful to.! He is n't useful, but I personally do n't really block access to either already has almost a four-pin... Prefer to be able to remove the heat spreader is n't useful, but you wo n't have an fan... Brazenly priced, Z490 Godlike from MSI be found reading history but its SNR is lower than,! 'Ll need a video card from moment one and full product specs on.!

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