Highlights
- The Asus ROG Maximus Z790 APEX Encore, a top-tier gaming motherboard, has been leaked ahead of its official launch. It is an upgrade over the Z790 APEX and features new additions like Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support.
- The motherboard supports PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 6E, and Asus-exclusive features like AI Overclocking and Aura Sync RGB lighting. It has a black design, although there might be a white variant as well.
- The APEX series is known for its overclocking capabilities and broke multiple world records last year. The motherboard is expected to be released around the same time as Intel’s Raptor Lake Refresh desktop CPUs, possibly on October 17.
Asus ROG Maximus Z790 APEX Encore has been leaked ahead of its official launch. The motherboard was spotted on a Scandinavian retailer website, suggesting that a successor to the popular APEX series motherboards is around the corner. Asus will join other manufacturers that have been updating their Z790 motherboards including Gigabyte and MSI. The ROG Maximus Z790 APEX Encore is said to use a black design, and it is unclear if there will be a white variant.
The ROG Maximus Z790 APEX is a top-tier gaming motherboard designed for overclocking. Based on the LGA 1700 platform, the motherboard supports PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 6E, and several Asus-exclusive features like AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, and Aura Sync RGB lighting. It also has only two DIMM slots instead of the typical four, but it does come with a ROG DIMM.2 expansion card that gives two extra M.2 slots. The APEX series is renowned for its overclocking capabilities. Late last year, it broke multiple world records, one of which was reaching 9008.82 MHz with the i9-13900K CPU.
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Norwegian retailer Proshop listed (via Overclocking) the ROG Maximus Z790 APEX Encore motherboard ahead of its official launch. While the listing did not have an image for the motherboard, it did list some of the specifications and the price. As the name suggests, the upcoming motherboard will be an upgrade over the Z790 APEX, bringing a few new features like support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. It should be noted that Asus has not shared any information about the new motherboard, and the listing has since been taken down as well.
Currently Available Z790 Motherboards
MSI PRO Z790-A WiFi Gaming Motherboard
$210 $280 Save $70
The MSI PRO Z790-A Wi-Fi Gaming Motherboard is an excellent, well-rounded Z790 motherboard with plenty of connectivity while supporting Intel’s 12th and 13th-generation processors. In addition, it has a decent 16+1+1 phase power delivery mechanism at a price that makes it comparable to Intel’s more budget B760 motherboards.
$220 at Amazon $210 at Best Buy
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi
$450 $480 Save $30
The Asus ROG Strix Z790-E is the ultimate motherboard for gamers and content creators looking to make a statement. The motherboard supports 12th and 13th-generation Intel CPUs with an 18+1 power solution to maximize processor performance. Leading a crowded field of contenders, the Asus ROG Strix Z790-E also includes a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot for the fastest storage possible.
$450 at Amazon $480 at Best Buy $480 at Walmart
EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N
$460 $490 Save $30
The EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N motherboard is designed to unleash the full power of Intel’s 12th and 13th-generation CPUs. A 21-phase VRM ensures that these CPUs have consistent and steady power, while a 14-layer low-loss PCB maintains maximum signal integrity for overclocking memory. On the cutting edge of motherboards, the Z790 DARK K|NGP|N supports PCIe Gen 5 components. A dream for overclockers, the Z790 DARK K|NGP|N has sensors to monitor voltage and temperatures constantly.
$460 at Amazon $490 at Newegg $800 at EVGA
ASRock Z790 PG-ITX/TB4 Gaming Motherboard
$332 $420 Save $88
The ASRock Z790 PG-ITX/TB4 Gaming Motherboard is an excellent mITX motherboard that brings a host of new features including USB4, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 to a Z790 chipset in a compact but potent form factor while clocking in at a considerable discount to its closest Z790-based competition.
$332 at Amazon $335 at Newegg $335 at Walmart
GIGABYTE Z790 UD AC Gaming Motherboard
$190 $200 Save $10
The GIGABYTE Z790 UD AC Gaming Motherboard is an entry-level Z790 Motherboard that offers DDR5, Wi-Fi AC bundled with 3 M2 slots. Priced around the same range as most B760 motherboards, it promises exceptional value from a price-to-performance perspective.
$190 at Amazon $190 at Walmart $190 at Newegg
A separate report shows (via Videocardz) images of the Maximus Z790 APEX Encore, and it looks like this time Asus is going with a black colorway. The Maximus Z790 APEX comes in a white colorway with RGB accents. The Encore model seems to have the same design but in white.
Asus has not shared a release date for the APEX Encore motherboard, but the retailer listing suggests an imminent launch. The company will soon join Gigabyte, MSI, and other manufacturers who have also upgraded their current lineup to support Intel’s upcoming 14th generation of desktop CPUs. The next generation of CPUs will continue to use the same socket – LGA 1700 – for the third consecutive year.
As for pricing, the retailer listing had the motherboard priced at NOK 9790 which is about $893 and about €850. It is expected to be released around the same time as Intel’s Raptor Lake Refresh desktop CPUs which, according to reports, will be on October 17. The company showed off its new and upcoming lineup, the new technological advancements, and release dates for some CPUs. The Meteor Lake mobile CPUs will arrive on December 14 and desktop counterparts will arrive next year, possibly in the first quarter of next year.
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