The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) has an attractive, subtle, and complex design. While it may not have every bell and whistle, ASUS truly put some thought into what to include. The VRM is more than adequate for any of Intel's current or future mainstream CPUs. Even if it lacks the complexity and sophistication of some of its competitors, it has the current output to get the job done. The integrated rear I/O shield is an excellent touch, adding a little bit of luxury that lends itself perfectly to the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) refined gamer aesthetic. Rather than a single grand feature that makes the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) stand out, it is the relentless attention to detail in every element that comes together and creates something that is more than the sum of its parts. A cliche, I know, but ASUS is a top brand for a reason.

As for performance, memory stability was pretty good, but not quite top tier. I have seen higher clocks out of this memory kit on other boards. However, ASUS gets a lot of points for the safeguards and aids they have put in place that make the overclocking process simpler and less stressful. CPU overclocking went well, but failed to match the best overclock I have seen on this 9900K, falling 100 MHz short at 5.1 GHz all-core at 1.385 V. ASUS has plenty of tweaking built into these boards to keep even the most avid enthusiasts occupied, with one of the most comprehensive BIOSes in the industry. As for thermals: in my testing, no amount of abuse could bring the Vcore VRM anywhere near its thermal limits even with no airflow.

The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) isn't perfect. ASUS still has a lot of software bloat built into their utilities, and I would have liked to see a third M.2 slot at this price point, and possibly a couple more SATA ports. I would also have liked to see multi-Gigabit LAN, which is becoming a standard feature on mainstream flagships. The VRM, while robust, is just an overbuilt 4-phase design. The RGB LED implementation is excellent overall, but lacks the brightness that would truly make it head-turning. As it is, it is still top tier, especially for those looking for a more subtle look.

The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WiFi) is a great-looking board with lots of extra features that make using it day to day a better and less frustrating experience. I would love to see a refresh with brighter RGB LEDs, WiFi 6, and multi-gigabit LAN. However, as it is, I would still recommend it for fans of the ASUS ROG ecosystem, even if it is not the best value for the money.