ASUS ROG Maximus XII Family of Z490 Chipset Motherboards Detailed

[btarunr]

Here are some of the first pictures of the ASUS' high-end Republic of Gamers (ROG) Maximus XII family of socket LGA1200 motherboards based on Intel Z490 chipset. The lineup consists of an impressive 5 SKUs: ROG Maximus XII Extreme and Extreme Glacial (M12E); ROG Maximus XII Formula (M12F), ROG Maximus XII Hero WiFi (M12H), and the ROG Maximus XII Apex (M12A). The Maximus XII Extreme leads the pack with its 16-phase VRM that probably uses 90 A power stages. It includes Thunderbolt 3 and 10 GbE support. The Glacial version is possibly a combination of cosmetic- and functional changes (such as preparation for sub-zero cooling).

The Maximus XII Formula is the go-to board for overclockers with elaborate liquid-cooling setups. The board comes with liquid-cooling ready VRM heatsinks. Compared to the Extreme, the Formula loses out on Thunderbolt, but retains 10 GbE. The Maximus XII Hero (WiFi) is next in line, and somehow better endowed than the Maximus XII Apex, in featuring an 8-layer PCB like the Extreme and the Formula; and a combination of 5 GbE and 1 GbE networking. The Maximus XII Apex comes with a 6-layer PCB, a single 2.5 GbE connection, but somehow a similar CPU VRM configuration to the Extreme. This is probably how the Apex could end up pricier than the Hero. Find specific details in the specs sheet below.



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[low]

No Gene?

 

[TheLostSwede]

The SATA port layout on the Apex is something quite unique...
May 13th is apparently the date to look forward to these over priced boards.

 

[Animalpak]

Let's see a mini ITX variant.

We already talked about that these CPU's are power hungry and considering the beefy VRM's that means its true.

But im curious to see benchmarks, power draw and in-games performance.

 

[Flanker]

The SATA port layout on the Apex is something quite unique...
May 13th is apparently the date to look forward to these over priced boards.

correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't see any benefit to those 45 degree angles...

 

[btarunr]

If motherboard makers are placing so much faith in Comet Lake to build such elaborate and expensive boards, it's quite likely that the 10900K beats the 3900X.

 

[dj-electric]

If motherboard makers are placing so much faith in Comet Lake to build such elaborate and expensive boards, it's quite likely that the 10900K beats the 3900X.

Or... that its just a "New Intel generation", with plenty of marketing and potential customers, since its a "New Intel generation" and many potential customers will just keep buying what they are familiar with for many years.

Just a thought tho

 

[Turmania]

If these boards are made in Taiwan I would pay some premium for sure.but mid range boards going for 400? I would rather wait as they will have to bring the prices way down in couple of months as spending power will be less.

 

[TheLostSwede]

correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't see any benefit to those 45 degree angles...

Neither do I. It actually looks like it'll make things harder.

 

[E-curbi]

That Apex 12 is So Dope! Best Apex EVER! VRM power stages on 3-sides of the LGA1200 socket just like we hoped. Three Sides Live, baby!

IF only the Apex was at least a partial E-ATX form factor, geez.

And Asus didn't even extend the Apex PCIe aesthetic cover to make it fully complete. Even the Hero board got more love, not fair.

Oh well, looks like I'll NEVER get my 2-dimm ROG EATX Superboard.

-----

Hello EVGA? When will that Z490 Dark be ready?

 

[ARF]

If motherboard makers are placing so much faith in Comet Lake to build such elaborate and expensive boards, it's quite likely that the 10900K beats the 3900X.

Heavily overclocked 10-core part with 125-watt+ - 200-watt power draw vs a 105-watt 12-core. The 12-core is not even the highest-end offering from AMD - it's the 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X.

Or... that its just a "New Intel generation", with plenty of marketing and potential customers, since its a "New Intel generation" and many potential customers will just keep buying what they are familiar with for many years.

Just a thought tho

With around 10% sales share at sites like Mindfactory DE.

 

[E-curbi]

This slide below: Apex 12 capable of running 5000Mhz ddr4 dimms? New Trident Z kits launching soon?

Had heard the CML IMC had been improved over Coffee Lake Refresh, was really hoping for 5200Mhz, oh well.

 

[dj-electric]

With around 10% sales share at sites like Mindfactory DE.

Last time i checked, the AMD-ad and promotion centric Mindfactory DE store does not represent global CPU sales, especially not where it counts (prebuilds and OEM), it hardware news outlets sure love making it seem so.

 

[Bones]

Personal thoughts and conclusions from what I'm seeing here.
Mind you it's just that and no more.

The Apex out of all shown is the top OC'ing model, meant for breaking records and just running all-out at subzero temps.

The Formula and Extreme models aren't slouches either but both being more suited as being for a gaming rig with watercooling combined with all the features they have.

I'd have to say the Extreme is meant for those that want both, gaming and high OC'ing capability with the Formula being more of a Cadillac type of board - All the nice features with some power but just not towards the extreme end like an Apex itself is meant to be.

The Hero itself being the more modest, budget gaming board in the lineup but still more than capable in it's own right, just don't go expecting to break any records with it.

 

[E-curbi]

Personal thoughts and conclusions from what I'm seeing here.
Mind you it's just that and no more.

The Apex out of all shown is the top OC'ing model, meant for breaking records and just running all-out at subzero temps.

The Formula and Extreme models aren't slouches either but both being more suited as being for a gaming rig with watercooling combined with all the features they have.

I'd have to say the Extreme is meant for those that want both, gaming and high OC'ing capability with the Formula being more of a Cadillac type of board - All the nice features with some power but just not towards the extreme end like an Apex itself is meant to be.

The Hero itself being the more modest, budget gaming board in the lineup but still more than capable in it's own right, just don't go expecting to break any records with it.

Yes, but from what we know currently the Apex 12 board only differentiates itself by ddr4 memory overclocking capability. (and some questionably-cool SATA ports)

The VRM CPU power delivery seems to be the same on Apex, Extreme, and Formula.

Still, the VRM power looks amazing on all ROG Maximus boards this series. Setting up a very sweet trend for Rocket and Alder.

-----

Have a strong feeling when Asus ROG designed these boards, they had no idea Comet Lake's lifespan would later become so abbreviated by Intel management.

Motherboard makes most likely extremely pissed off.

If Rocket Lake arrives 4months to 6months after the Comet Lake official release.

Just a thought. And if true, Rocket Lake ROG Maximus 13 Series boards probably won't see much design change at all.

 

[Flanker]

If these boards are made in Taiwan I would pay some premium for sure.but mid range boards going for 400? I would rather wait as they will have to bring the prices way down in couple of months as spending power will be less.

If I have to guess, most ASUS products are made by Pegatron's facility in Shanghai

 

[ARF]

Last time i checked, the AMD-ad and promotion centric Mindfactory DE store does not represent global CPU sales, especially not where it counts (prebuilds and OEM), it hardware news outlets sure love making it seem so.

Don't be confused. People are already wakening for the much faster, more energy efficient, cheaper and more feature rich AMD platforms.
It's the same everywhere - Amazon, Ebay, Newegg, Mindfactory, even the tech news sites polls:

Intel Core i7-10700K 8 Core And Core i5-10600K 6 Core CPU Benchmarks Leak Out - Faster In Single-Core And On Par In Multi-Core Versus AMD Ryzen 3000 CPUs

New benchmarks for Intel's 10th Gen Core i7-10700K 8 core and Core i5-10600K 6 core CPU have leaked out versus AMD Ryzen 3000 CPUs.

wccftech.com

 

[dj-electric]

The first rule of sampling reasonable market share is not ask the enthuseists for their heavily influenced and informed opinions.

 

[Ruyki]

These expensive ROG boards will be bought mostly by enthusiasts probably.

 

[E-curbi]

These expensive ROG boards will be bought mostly by enthusiasts probably.

In all probability.

 

[Bones]

Yes, but from what we know currently the Apex 12 board only differentiates itself by ddr4 memory overclocking capability. (and some questionably-cool SATA ports)

The VRM CPU power delivery seems to be the same on Apex, Extreme, and Formula.

Still, the VRM power looks amazing on all ROG Maximus boards this series. Setting up a very sweet trend for Rocket and Alder.

-----

Have a strong feeling when Asus ROG designed these boards, they had no idea Comet Lake's lifespan would later become so abbreviated by Intel management.

Motherboard makes most likely extremely pissed off.

If Rocket Lake arrives 4months to 6months after the Comet Lake official release.

Just a thought. And if true, Rocket Lake ROG Maximus 13 Series boards probably won't see much design change at all.

The biggest differences aside from it having just two RAM slots would be in the BIOS, it would be missing some of the features the Extreme and Formula would have making it a lean-n-mean to the purpose piece of hardware.
The options in the BIOS would probrably be more extensive such as a higher CPU voltage would be possible vs what the others could give.
I can promise you RAM options would be at least as good if not better than the Extreme and could have the highest potential RAM OC'ing range of any model.

Simply put, the Apex is a weapon vs the rest and that's not limited to just the Asus lineup.

 

[Sabishii Hito]

In for an Apex (unless there is a Gene or Impact)!

 

[Tom Sunday]

Looking for Mobo deal at the computer show this past weekend the boys from Varanasi told me that Z490 buyers have been experiencing unsolvable problems in getting their LAN to work. ASUS cannot help and is basically all talk. Not even a new BIOS update, driver hotfixes and new cables will help. Even INTEL updated drivers are not working. It appears that there are problems with the I225-V (LAN Chip) and Asus want to keep this issue hushed. Simply this being a hardware problem and no software or driver updates can permanently fix it. What has been done to date is only bandaging the problem. Many new Mobo purchaser's in frustration (disconnected their onboard NIC) and installed a new PCIE NIC and gotten it to work without a hitch! But its another $50 or so out of pocket to simply forego the downtime, hanging on the telephone and difficult RMA's. Will the new Z590 Mobo's in early 2021 get a new NIC chip? Anyway, the best advice is probably to stay away from purchasing any (2020) Z490 leftover boards using the embedded I225-V Ethernet controller and buy in a few weeks time a Z590 MOBO if INTEL is ones choice. Any Thoughts?

 

[EarthDog]

Looking for Mobo deal at the computer show this past weekend the boys from Varanasi told me that Z490 buyers have been experiencing unsolvable problems in getting their LAN to work. ASUS cannot help and is basically all talk. Not even a new BIOS update, driver hotfixes and new cables will help. Even INTEL updated drivers are not working. It appears that there are problems with the I225-V (LAN Chip) and Asus want to keep this issue hushed. Simply this being a hardware problem and no software or driver updates can permanently fix it. What has been done to date is only bandaging the problem. Many new Mobo purchaser's in frustration (disconnected their onboard NIC) and installed a new PCIE NIC and gotten it to work without a hitch! But its another $50 or so out of pocket to simply forego the downtime, hanging on the telephone and difficult RMA's. Will the new Z590 Mobo's in early 2021 get a new NIC chip? Anyway, the best advice is probably to stay away from purchasing any (2020) Z490 leftover boards using the embedded I225-V Ethernet controller and buy in a few weeks time a Z590 MOBO if INTEL is ones choice. Any Thoughts?

How many times are you going to post this same thing in a random thread, bud?

 

[Caring1]

Looking for Mobo deal at the computer show this past weekend the boys from Varanasi told me that Z490 buyers have been experiencing unsolvable problems in getting their LAN to work. ASUS cannot help and is basically all talk. Not even a new BIOS update, driver hotfixes and new cables will help. Even INTEL updated drivers are not working. It appears that there are problems with the I225-V (LAN Chip) and Asus want to keep this issue hushed. Simply this being a hardware problem and no software or driver updates can permanently fix it. What has been done to date is only bandaging the problem. Many new Mobo purchaser's in frustration (disconnected their onboard NIC) and installed a new PCIE NIC and gotten it to work without a hitch! But its another $50 or so out of pocket to simply forego the downtime, hanging on the telephone and difficult RMA's. Will the new Z590 Mobo's in early 2021 get a new NIC chip? Anyway, the best advice is probably to stay away from purchasing any (2020) Z490 leftover boards using the embedded I225-V Ethernet controller and buy in a few weeks time a Z590 MOBO if INTEL is ones choice. Any Thoughts?

Your living in the past, that controller issue was solved with the second iteration on that board.
Don't take technical advice from a salesman.