ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme E-ATX Motherboard: features and specs

The ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme is a flagship E-ATX motherboard for Intel Core Ultra (series 2) processors. It has a heavy power-delivery design, DDR5 memory support, fast storage and networking, and a 5-inch LCD screen. It is made for enthusiast builds, overclocking and demanding workloads.

Socket, chipset and memory

The board uses Intel's Z890 chipset and LGA 1851 socket, which supports Intel Core Ultra processors (series 2). Memory is DDR5, with ASUS technologies such as NitroPath DRAM, DIMM Fit, DIMM Flex and AEMP III. ASUS says these simplify setup and improve performance, particularly at high memory speeds. NPU Boost is also listed, relating to the AI engine inside the processor.

Power delivery

The board lists 24(110A)+2(90A)+1(90A)+2(80A) power stages, plus ProCool II power connectors, MicroFine alloy chokes and metallic capacitors. Power stages feed clean, stable current to the processor, and a larger count with higher amp figures generally gives more headroom for overclocking. These are the specifications as ASUS states them.

Cooling

Large heatsinks are integrated with the I/O cover and joined by a U-shaped heatpipe. They are connected to the power stages with high-conductivity thermal pads. A 3D VC M.2 heatsink cools one of the PCIe 5.0 slots, and the other M.2 slots have their own cooling.

Storage

The listing gives three PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots and one PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot onboard, and two more PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots on the ROG Q-DIMM.2 card. PCIe 5.0 SSDs offer roughly twice the bandwidth of PCIe 4.0 on paper, so they matter most for very large file transfers. ROG M.2 PowerBoost is also listed.

Connectivity

• Two Thunderbolt 5 USB Type-C ports
• A front-panel USB 20Gbps Type-C connector with Quick Charge 4+ up to 60W, plus a 10Gbps Type-C connector
• Eight additional USB 10Gbps ports
• HDMI 2.1
• Two PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlots
• Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with the ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna
• Marvell 10 Gb Ethernet and Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet

AI features and DIY design

ASUS lists AI Advisor, AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II and AI Networking II to simplify setup. For building, there are tool-free latches for PCIe and M.2, Q-Code and Q-LED diagnostics, FlexKey, Start, BIOS FlashBack and Clear CMOS buttons, and a pre-mounted I/O shield.

Size

It measures about 14.9 x 12.6 x 5.0 inches (38 x 32 x 13 cm) and weighs 8.0 lb (about 3.6 kg).

What to check before you buy

• That your case supports E-ATX boards.
• Your processor is a compatible LGA 1851 Core Ultra (series 2) model.
• That you use DDR5 memory; other types will not fit.
• That your power supply has the connectors the board and graphics card need.
• Whether the Thunderbolt 5 and 10 Gb Ethernet suit your devices and network.
• That your cooler fits the LGA 1851 mounting.

The short version

• E-ATX board for LGA 1851 Intel Core Ultra (series 2) processors.
• DDR5, 24+2+1+2 power stages, three PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots.
• Dual Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, 10 Gb and 2.5 Gb Ethernet.
• 5-inch LCD and tool-free DIY features.

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