Introduction

2019 so far has been dominated by Team Red. The Ryzen and Navi launch hype started all the way back in January at CES and only got more intense as the year went on. The hype culminated at the outset of July with a single massive launch, which actually lived up to most expectations. I can't speak for the community, but for myself and the rest of the reviewers around the web, the onslaught of AMD coverage has been exhausting, even if very exciting. It is a great relief to have proper competition in the CPU space once again, and there is still more to come from AMD before this year is out. In light of that, I would like to take a break from AMD and dive back into what Intel has to combat the X570 juggernaut: the Z390 platform.

There is no doubt that the new Ryzen processors and the X570 platform that launched beside them are a huge upset to the industry, a phenomenon that can only be good for us as consumers. In the budget and midrange categories, AMD has offered some excellent new options, and building a workstation/gaming hybrid has never been easier or more affordable. There is one segment, however, where Intel still has a definite advantage: high-end gaming. Specifically, in no compromise gaming exclusive builds, which I know sounds overly specific, but is a real market segment.

If you want the absolute best CPU for gaming and have deep pockets, the Core i9-9900K is the best option for you, making Z390 the platform of choice. The distinction is smaller than it has ever been, So lets dive into the ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) from ASUS to see just what that lead looks like. The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) is positioned as a high-end mainstream option that has the accoutrement one would expect from the ROG brand ASUS has built up. With M.2 heatsinks on both slots, a premium lighting solution, integrated rear I/O shield, and great ASUS BIOS, the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) has the ingredients of a premium board. Does it have the performance as well?

Specifications

Packaging and Contents

The front of the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) box features a black background with subtle, printed patterns. In the top-right corner is a brushed metal background, while the rest of the box has a line pattern. "ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) Gaming Motherboard" is in the center left, with the Republic of Gamers logo in the top right. "ASUS" is in the bottom left, and the brand badging is in the bottom right.

The back of the box at least has variations of what I look for: a shot of the board that includes a good view of the rear I/O, a list of standout features, and the specifications list. Overall, the box design follows the premium minimalist approach, which works very well.


Opening the box, the board sits in a cardboard tray, underneath a molded plastic cover. The inside of the lid features the ROG logo and "Welcome to the Republic" in metallic red lettering. The accessories are stored below the tray.


The accessories are typical of high-end ASUS boards, with extras like a ROG coaster, ROG sticker sheet, and a CableMod coupon. Notably absent is any kind of rear I/O shield because the shield is integrated into the board. I am very happy with how often I have been seeing this feature lately, and props to ASUS for incorporating it into the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi).

The full list of accessories includes:

• Manual and support DVD
• 20% off coupon for CableMod cables
• 4x SATA 6 Gb/s cables
• 2x Addressable LED extension cable
• 2x M.2 mounting screws
• Q-Connector
• (WiFi) antenna
• SLI hard bridge
• ROG sticker sheet and coaster

Board Layout

The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) features a matte black PCB with a subtle pattern of printed lines. The rear I/O cover is also matte black, with "MAXIMUS XI" in white across the top. The heatsinks for the VRM, chipset, and M.2 drives are a dark gunmetal gray with a brushed finish.

The back of the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) is a uniform matte black with more printed gloss lines for accenting.


The CPU socket is open enough to accommodate most coolers, and the VRM heatsink looks quite capable.


There are only two M.2 slots on the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi). The first sits just under the CPU socket, while the second is between the second and third PCIe 3.0 x16 slots. Both have heatsinks for improved thermal performance.



The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) offers three PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, the first two of which are encased in metal reinforcement, as well as three PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots. The board has a total of six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, and all are angled 90 degrees from the board.


The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) has a good rear I/O offering that includes both DisplayPort and HDMI ports, as well as an optical S/PDIF out port. The full list consists of:

• 1x HDMI 2.0b port
• 1x DisplayPort
• 1x Clear CMOS button
• 1x BIOS Flashback button
• 2x WiFi antenna connectors
• 1x PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo connector
• 2x USB 2.0 ports
• 2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A ports
• 3x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A ports
• 1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port
• 1x RJ-45 LAN port
• 1x Optical SPDIF out port
• 5x 3.5 mm audio jacks

Networking on the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) is handled by an Intel I211AT and an Intel 802.11 AC controller for wireless connectivity.