ASUS ROG MAXIMUS X HERO Motherboard Review

Overclocking and Conclusion

ASUS has built-in presets for overclocking your 8th-gen Core processor. Their i7-8700K 5Ghz profile was a simple 50x CPU multiplier with automatic VCORE. With auto voltage set, our core voltage was set to 1.44v for 5Ghz which was way driving temps crazy beyond 100*C. We switched to manual voltage and increased to Level 6 LLC. This managed to give us a good 5ghz on 1.3v which was still very toasty with temps  hovering upwards of 92*C. Its obvious that the 8700K is a very warm chip. We’ll cover overclocking in a separate article as we wait for our retail processor.

Performance-wise, its a close game and as we’ve mentioned in our reviews for the past two Intel generations we’re shifting our conclusion away from that and basing off the experience that the motherboard provides. Still, performance is unhindered in this board as expected from an ROG mainline offering.

Moving over to aesthetics, ASUS has stuck with their MAXIMUS IX design with some design tweaks like the black PCB prints which were white/grey for the MAXIMUS IX. The pre-installed I/O shield is one of the key differences though as well as the M.2 heatsink which helps pull the look together. RGB on the motherboard also helps in complimenting the look of the MAXIMUS X HERO keeping it flashy yet subdued at the same time as it doesn’t have the extremely flashy backlight LED lighting that other models have. The ASUS MAXIMUS X HERO features support for addressable RGB LED strips for extensive lighting customization making it a good choice for modders who need a feature-rich board yet don’t need the full array of features because they’ll eventually bury the board in a artistic array of loops or under a shroud.

In terms of feature, its pure gaming essentials for the ROG MAXIMUS X HERO. If you’re a gamer that want good sound, good overclocking, good scalability in terms of multi-GPU support and memory compatibility this board is an excellent choice and offers great flexibility when working with a build that’s purely going to be used for gaming.

Compared to its ROG big brothers, its not a standout motherboard but as the entry-level model in ASUS’ flagship ROG club, this motherboard is more on quality and delivering ASUS ROG level of craftsmanship than bleeding-edge features. Its a solid platform and a great foundation for gaming and performance builds but ultimately the appeal of the MAXIMUS X HERO lies in if you want to go ROG.

Our ASUS rep has reached out to us to give a clarification in pricing. While still unofficial, the ASUS MAXIMUS X HERO goes head-to-head against the GIGABYTE Z370 AORUS GAMING 7. At this range, both motherboards compete with a pretty similar feature set and it ultimately boils down to user needs and preference and which to choose.

That being said, ROG has an appeal that’s hard to put in words. The branding alone pretty much justifies it for most people and ASUS, for the most part, has been a bit more generous in their premium tax to their ROG line compared to previous iterations and given the more streamlined offering in the mainline ROG, there’s not a lot to choose from so the stack is quite defined and ASUS has put in the effort to really set the ROG apart from their other sub-brands.

All of that taken into consideration and focusing on what the motherboard offers, its a solid all-rounder. As we already mentioned, the ASUS MAXIMUS X HERO is great balanced platform for a high-end system build that focuses on the top-end essentials of a gaming build. If you’re building primarily for performance and quality, the ASUS MAXIMUS X HERO is a great choice and offers what ASUS prides itself in: performance and quality. All for a relatively accessible price.

No official pricing has been announced for the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS X HERO. We’ll update accordingly.

ASUS backs the ROG MAXIMUS X HERO with a 3-year warranty. We give it our B2G Gold Award and B2G Recommended Award!

Edit: 10/06/17 1:45AM – ASUS Right to Reply: Price notice. Conclusion updated to reflect positioning and value.