Introduction
Despite having the ROG Strix series existing together with the mainline ROG products, ASUS has made it pretty clear there is a great distinction between the two series and the ROG Strix are not the introduction to the top-end but rather a sampler of what could be had. The HERO set of products from the ROG series serve as the introduction to the flagship series of the company, and ASUS positions them to be the best balance of value and feature. Today we’ll be taking a closer look at the ASUS ROG Maximus XI HERO Wi-Fi, one of the launch models in ASUS’ ROG stack of Z390 products. Let’s take a look if this is worth being your first motherboard for the dip to 9th-gen. Read on!
Features
- LGA1151 socket for 9th/8th -gen Intel® Core™ desktop processors
- Synchronized RGB lighting technology works with a vast portfolio of Aura Sync-capable PC gear and includes support for addressable light strips and Phillip Hue
- Perfected cooling with dedicated water header zones, M.2 heatsink and various fan control
- Gaming connectivity: Intel Gigabit Ethernet , LANGuard, dual M.2, USB 3.1 Gen 2, Wi-Fi with MU-MI-MO 802.11
- 5-way Optimization: Automated system-wide tuning, providing AI Overclocking and cooling profiles trailor-made for your rig
- Gaming Audio: SupremeFX and Sonic Studio III – High fidelity audio that draws you deeper into the action
- Gaming durability: ASUS SafeSlot and premium components for maximum durability
Where to Buy
US: $289 – [easyazon_link identifier=”B07HCXT591″ locale=”US” tag=”back2gaming-20″]ASUS MAXIMUS XI HERO in Amazon[/easyazon_link]PH: Php17850 – PCHUB
[easyazon_infoblock align=”none” identifier=”B07HCXT591″ locale=”US” tag=”back2gaming-20″]About Intel Z390
It was already announced that Intel would be releasing a Z390 chipset a bit further in the year with the announcement of Z370 back in early 2018. That announcement materializes late in 2018 with the launch of the Intel Z390. Usually a processor would be the prelude to a new chipset but in this case, with the rumor already floating around that an 8-core Intel MSDT part would be released, it was already expected.
Not much has changed from Z390 to Z370. The new 9th-gen processors themselves work fine on Z370 chipset boards although Intel has been very adamant in utilizing the new Z390 boards with 8-core parts due to revisions on standards about how board makers should configure their VRMs.
In terms of changes, there’s only a few to note which includes Intel WIFI-AC having been baked directly into the board, the increase in USB3.1 Gen2 ports to 6. PCI-e lanes and HSIO config remains the same from last generation.
Coffee Lake Refreshed
The 9th-generation Intel Core processors mark the debut of the Core i9 in the mainstream market, previously only being made available in HEDT platform. This also sees Intel’s first 8-core offering for mainstream. One that would see prices skyrocket for their top parts. Factor in the current, ongoing supply issues that Intel has and its been a difficult time for the company and customers alike in terms of availability and pricing.
Going back to the processors themselves, Intel has announced three launch models: the Core i9-9900K, Core i7-9700K and the Core i5-9600K. Other SKUs have seen been announced including models without IGPs. Besides core count, one of the main changes that the 9th-gen Core processsors will is the total lack of Hyperthreading. Only the Core i9-9900K will have Hyperthreading amongst all currently announced models alongside its non-IGP counterpart.
As with the previous Coffee Lake release, the parts are forged in the 14nm fab process.
You can read more in our review of the Core i9 9900K and Core i7 9700K.
Note: Best viewed on desktop 1366x768 or higher.
| Core i9 | Core i7 | Core i5 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â i9-13900K | Â i9-13900KF | Â i9 13900 | Â i9 13900F | Â i9 13900T | Â i7-13700K | Â i7-13700KF | Â i7-13700 | Â i7-13700F | Â i7-13700T | i5-13600K | i5-13600KF | Â i5 13400 | Â i5 13400F | |
| TDP | 125 W | 125 W | 65 W | 65 W | 35 W | 125 W | 125 W | 65 W | 65 W | 35 W | 125 W | 125 W | 65 W | 65 W |
| Core Count | 24 (8P+16E) | 24 (8P+16E) | 24 (8P+16E) | 24 (8P+16E) | 24 (8P+16E) | 16(8P+8E) | 16(8P+8E) | 16(8P+8E) | 16(8P+8E) | 16(8P+8E) | 14(6P+8E) | 14(6P+8E) | 14(6P+8E) | 14(6P+8E) |
| Base Clock | 3.0 Ghz | 3.0 Ghz | 2.0 Ghz | 2.0 Ghz | 1.1 Ghz | 3.4 Ghz | 3.4 Ghz | 2.1 Ghz | 2.1 Ghz | 1.4 Ghz | 3.5 Ghz | 3.5 Ghz | 2.5 Ghz | 2.5 Ghz |
| TVB Single Core | 5.8 Ghz | 5.8 Ghz | 5.6 Ghz | 5.6 Ghz | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Single Core Turbo | 5.4 Ghz | 5.4 Ghz | 5.3 Ghz | 5.2 Ghz | N/A | 5.3 Ghz | 5.3 Ghz | 5.1 Ghz | 5.1 Ghz | N/A | 5.1 Ghz | 5.1 Ghz | 4.6 Ghz | 4.6 Ghz |
| Turbo Boost Max 3.0 | 5.7 Ghz | 5.7 Ghz | 5.5 Ghz | 5.5 Ghz | 5.3 Ghz | 5.4 Ghz | 5.4 Ghz | 5.4 Ghz | 5.2 Ghz | 4.9 Ghz | 5.2 Ghz | 5.1 Ghz | N/A | N/A |
| Memory Support | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 | DDR4/DDR5 |
| DDR4 | 3200 MT/s | 3200 MT/s | 3200 MT/s | 3200 MT/s | 3200 MT/s | 3200 MT/s | 3200 MT/s | 3200 MT/s | 3200 MT/s | 3200 MT/s | 3200 MT/s | 3200 MT/s | 3200 MT/s | 3200 MT/s |
| DDR5 | 5600 MT/s | 5600 MT/s | 5600 MT/s | 5600 MT/s | 5600 MT/s | 5600 MT/s | 5600 MT/s | 5600 MT/s | 5600 MT/s | 5600 MT/s | 5600 MT/s | 5600 MT/s | 5600 MT/s | 5600 MT/s |
- CPUIntel® Socket 1151 9th / 8th Gen Intel® Core™, Pentium® Gold and Celeron® Processors
Supports Intel® 14 nm CPU
Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
* The Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 support depends on the CPU types.
* Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support list - ChipsetIntel® Z390
- Memory4 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR4 4400(O.C)/4266(O.C.)/4133(O.C.)/4000(O.C.)/3866(O.C.)/3733(O.C.)/3600(O.C.)/3466(O.C.)/3400(O.C.)/3333(O.C.)/3300(O.C.)/3200(O.C.)/3000(O.C.)/2800(O.C.)/2666/2400/2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
Dual Channel Memory Architecture
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
* Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs.
* Refer to www.asus.com for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists). - GraphicIntegrated Graphics Processor- Intel® UHD Graphics support
Multi-VGA output support : HDMI/DisplayPort ports
– Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 30 Hz
– Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096 x 2304 @ 60 Hz - Multi-GPU SupportSupports NVIDIA® 2-Way SLI™ Technology
Supports AMD 3-Way CrossFireX™ Technology - Expansion SlotsIntel® Z390 Chipset
2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8 or x8/x4/x4)
1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4 mode) *1
3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 - StorageIntel® Z390 Chipset :
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (SATA & PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)*2
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s)
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready - LANIntel® I219V, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s), Dual interconnect between the Integrated Media Access Controller (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)
Anti-surge LANGuard
ROG GameFirst Technology - Wireless Data NetworkIntel® Wireless-AC 9560
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Supports dual band frequency 2.4/5 GHz
Supports MU-MIMO
Supports channel bandwidth: HT20/HT40/HT80/HT160 - BluetoothBluetooth® 5.0
- AudioROG SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220
– Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs
– Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
– High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 113 dB SNR recording input
– SupremeFX Shielding Technology
– ESS® ES9023P
– Supports up to 32-Bit/192kHz playback *3
Audio Feature :
– Gold-plated jacks
– Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
– Sonic Radar III
– Sonic Studio III + Sonic Studio Link - USB PortsIntel® Z390 Chipset :
4 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port(s) (4 at back panel, +red, 1 x Type-C+3 x Type-A)
Intel® Z390 Chipset :
2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 port(s) (2 at back panel, +blue, 2 x Type-A)
Intel® Z390 Chipset :
6 x USB 2.0 port(s) (2 at back panel, +black, 4 at mid-board)
Intel® Z390 Chipset :
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 front panel connector port(s) - ROG Exclusive FeaturesReTry Button
Start Button
Reset Button
Extreme Engine Digi+ :
– MicroFine Alloy Chokes
– 10K Black Metallic Capacitors
– OptiMOS™ MOSFET
Mem TweakIt
Extreme Tweaker
ROG Exclusive Software
– Mem Tweakit
– RAMCache III
– RAMDisk
– CPU-Z
– GameFirst V
– Sonic Studio III + Sonic Studio Link
– Sonic Radar III - Special FeaturesASUS Dual Intelligent Processors 5-Way Optimization by Dual Intelligent Processors 5 :
– 5-Way Optimization tuning key perfectly consolidates TPU Insight, EPU Guidance, DIGI+ VRM, Fan Expert 4, and Turbo App
AURA :
– Aura Lighting Control
– Aura RGB Strip Headers
– Aura Lighting Effects Synchronization with compatible ASUS ROG devices
– Aura Addressable Strip Header(s)
ASUS Exclusive Features :
– USB BIOS Flashback
– MemOK! II
– AI Suite 3
– Ai Charger
– ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
– Armoury Crate
– Pre-mounted I/O Shield
– ASUS NODE: hardware control interface
– OptiMem II
– ASUS EZ Flash 3
– ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
– BUPDATER
– BIOS Flashback Button
– Clear CMOS Button
– Reset Button
ASUS EZ DIY :
– ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
– ASUS EZ Flash 3
ASUS Q-Design :
– ASUS Q-Code
– ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)
– ASUS Q-Slot
– ASUS Q-DIMM
– ASUS Q-Connector
Overclocking Protection :
– ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall) - Back I/O Ports1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s)
1 x DisplayPort
1 x HDMI
1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
4 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (1 x Type-C+3 x Type-A)
2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (blue) Type-A
2 x USB 2.0
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
1 x Clear CMOS button(s)
1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button(s)
1 x ASUS Wi-Fi Module
5 x Gold-plated audio jacks - Internal I/O Ports2 x Aura Addressable Strip Header(s)
2 x Aura RGB Strip Headers
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1(up to 5Gbps) connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 port(s)
2 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 2.0 port(s)
1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support (SATA & PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
1 x TPM connector(s)
6 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin)
1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin)
3 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (3 x 4 -pin)
1 x AIO_PUMP connector (1 x 4 -pin)
1 x H_AMP fan connector
1 x W_PUMP+ connector (1 x 4 -pin)
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
1 x 8-pin EATX 12V Power connectors
1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP)
1 x MemOK! II switch(es)
1 x Reset button(s)
1 x ReTry button
1 x System panel connector
1 x EXT_Fan header
1 x W_IN header
1 x W_OUT header
1 x W_FLOW header
1 x Thermal sensor connector
1 x Start button
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 front panel connector - AccessoriesUser’s manual
4 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)
1 x M.2 Screw Package
1 x Supporting DVD
1 x ASUS 2T2R dual band Wi-Fi moving antennas (Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compliant)
1 x SLI HB BRIDGE(2-WAY-M)
1 x ROG big sticker
1 x Q-Connector
1 x Extension Cable for RGB strips (80 cm)
1 x Extension cable for Addressable LED
1 x ROG coaster(s) - BIOS1 x 128 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI3.0, SM BIOS 3.1, ACPI 6.1
- Operating SystemWindows® 10 64-bit
- Form FactorATX Form Factor
12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm ) - Note*1 The PCIe x16_3 slot shares bandwidth with SATA6G_5 and SATA6G_6. The PCIe x16_3 runs x2 mode by default.
*2 When the M.2_1 Socket 3 is operating in SATA mode, SATA6G_2 port will be disabled.
*3 Due to limitations in HDA bandwidth, 32-Bit/192kHz is not supported for 8-Channel audio.
Power Draw
wpDataChart with provided ID not found!We really don’t put too much stock on individual component temperatures as they will vary depending on usage and we do not benchmark using extreme loads anymore as they’re not reflective of real world applications. To stress the CPU, we use a 20-minute run of AIDA64 stress test. We recorded the peak CPU temps and cross-match HWINFO and AIDA64 readings. For power readings, we measure the peak system draw.
Thermal Images
Idle 
Load
Value & Conclusion
There is a clear argument that Z390 is a unneeded release and Intel’s insistence on VRM improvement and built-in WIFI is positioned more to appease board makers than consumers. Still, there’s also a clear view that some brands have not slept on improving their offerings and despite the relatively modest improvements that Z390 offers, ASUS has done very well on making their Maximus XI Hero distinct from the previous Maximus X.
Starting off with aesthetics, the board looks absolutely clean. It is by far the most decked looking Maximus Hero to date but its attention to small details like the M.2 slot placement and perfectly aligned lines from the I/O shroud to the PCH heatsink is a masterful execution of design.
Performance-wise, it does keep up with its bigger brothers including the Extreme so performance is within expectations and will not hold back a Core i9-9900K. Overclocking the Core i9 is a bit tricky so we’ll hold off comments on that but just to reassure anyone reading this that the Maximus XI Hero is capable of handling a decent overclock on the i9. You just need to keep in mind that the 9900K needs decent cooling.
Feature-wise, there’s nothing the ROG Maximus XI Hero can do that its less-endowed ROG Strix brothers can’t or similarly, the higher-end ROG ones. Still, the visual difference alone in terms aesthetics and build quality already set the tone on how different the ROG vs. the ROG Strix line is. As the entry-level product of the mainline ROG series, the Maximus XI Hero offers premium build quality and its feature set are refined to meet higher ROG-level standards. Its quite hard to put in words but suffice to say, the Maximus XI Hero is the most normal of all the ROG boards that don’t go diving into extremes or specialized use like its higher-end brothers.
That said, the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO motherboard features all the core essentials that you need to build a high-performance system based on Intel’s latest 9th-gen CPUs including the Core i9 9900K. Its excellent build quality, great aesthetics and good performance make it the ideal foundation for a serious gaming machine that don’t break into the extreme category.
The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO ticks all the right boxes if you want a flexible, high-end motherboard for your gaming system that offers a good balance of value and features.
ASUS backs the ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO with a 3-year warranty. We give it our B2G Gold Award!
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