*Some review samples did not include a user manual

We have reached the end of the review, and it is once again time to consolidate everything into a few talking points. As standard, the conclusion starts with what ASUS could improve upon to make future ASUS ROG Crosshair motherboards an even better product, covering what might be amiss for the consumer. This includes feature requests and items of concern for the buyer. Wrapping up, this review will conclude by putting everything into perspective and finishing on a positive note.

First, let's discuss the overall state of DRAM memory support for the AM5 platform. Since the launch of the Ryzen 7000 series in late 2022, AMD has been pushing AGESA updates, which are incorporated into each new motherboard BIOS release. A number of early memory related complaints since launch have been resolved, enabling shorter boot times and better memory compatibility. There are still a number of system memory restrictions that may never be resolved for this current CPU cycle. Early adopters of the first Ryzen CPUs in 2017 will have a bit of Déjà vu here with the weak memory support. The overall recommendation for AM5 platforms is to buy memory binned to a max of DDR5-6000. The ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E HERO doesn't change that.

The upcoming complains and concerns are all interconnected. Thanks in part to the X670E dual-chipset implementation, users can enjoy the benefits of more USB ports, M.2 sockets and PCIe slots. This still has a limit, due to the total amount of PCIe lanes available from the CPU and chipsets combined. ASUS's choice to not include 10 Gb/s LAN is somewhat disappointing for the price point, though it can be remedied fairly cheaply using that spare single PCIe 1x slot. Due to how the PCIe lanes are allocated, the CPU has 24 Gen 5 lanes in total, with 16 going to the PCIe slots and the remaining split into 4+4. The ROG Crosshair X670E HERO has used these for both the M.2 Gen 5 sockets and USB4. The problem is that these two are not documented in sharing bandwidth. During testing, it was discovered that with both USB4 and the top M.2 Gen 5 slot when in use, bandwidth tests became erratic, with dropouts to the USB4 enclosure. What often seems like a superficial complaint that no physical manual is included, holds more weight now that there is an issue. A digital copy is still acceptable and here ASUS does put a quick start guide on the USB flash drive, but fails to include a full digital manual, and the buyer has to look online.

Review Update: After investigation, some review samples did not come with a user manual. Currently production will have one included.

The ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E HERO is one of the more expensive AMD motherboards, strictly targeting PC enthusiasts and those who have more money to spend on extra features. The most important thing here is to acknowledge this is in fact a X670E product. What that means in the big picture is that the Extreme (E) variation of the X670 chipset supports PCIe 5.0 and M.2 Gen 5. If these capabilities are something you're looking for in a motherboard, ASUS offers a variety of models. It should be mentioned that MSI, Gigabyte and ASRock all have options within a similar price point, each offering overlapping features.

ASUS offers one of the few non E-ATX motherboards for this X670E category, which is worth appreciation. Not only does the ROG Crosshair X670E HERO stay within the more common format, it also is full of M.2 sockets, with spacing for a 4-slot graphics card. While these larger graphics cards will fit in all ATX motherboards, depending on the PCIe slot layout, often the second or third slot is partially blocked or covered completely, rendering the motherboard useless for additional add-on cards. The spacing is just right here, leaving access to the second and third PCIe slot, while still having support for those extra thick graphics cards.

To wrap this review up, is the ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E right for you? Echoing the same viewpoint in each and every AM5 review so far, AMD is betting that PCIe Gen 5 devices will become an integral part of computers in the next few years. The B650E and X670E motherboards fundamentally have the advantage of built in support today, designed to stay relevant for the entire life cycle of the AM5 platform.

ASUS does falter somewhat with the USB4 shared bandwidth implementation and the PCIe M.2 add-on card only supporting a single M.2 drive (while MSI's version supports two). Unless you have your mind set on buying only ASUS products, it is encouraged to consider all your options, as with every expensive purchase. ASUS still delivers a solid motherboard for those PC enthusiasts who want the newest technologies and are not overly concerned about the suggested price point. The ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E HERO comes with nearly everything expected from a motherboard using AMD's X670E chipset, while still fitting into the standard ATX form factor for maximum case compatibility. While not being a perfect product, it is a worthy contender for that next system upgrade.