ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme Glacial Review

Name: ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme Glacial
Brand: ASUS
Price: 2000 USD

ir_cow

on Aug 8th, 2022,

in Motherboards.

Manufacturer: ASUS

Board Software »

BIOS Overview

Clocks	Range	Interval
BCLK Frequency:	80–1000 MHz	0.050 MHz
CPU P-Core Ratio:	8–85	1
CPU E-Core Ratio:	8–85	1
CPU Cache/Ring Ratio:	8–85	1
DRAM Frequency:	DDR5-800 - DDR5-13333	N/A
CPU Voltages	Range	Interval
CPU Voltage:	0.6–1.7 V	0.001 V
CPU Input Voltage:	1.5–2.1 V	0.010 V
VCCSA Voltage:	.08-1.50 V	0.010 V
VDD2 (IMC):	0.7–1.8 V	0.0010 V
VDDQ_TX:	0.7–2.2 V	0.005 V
DRAM Voltages	Range	Interval
DRAM VDD:	0.800–2.070	0.010 V
DRAM VDDQ:	0.800–2.070	0.010 V
DRAM VPP:	1.5–2.135 V	0.010 V

The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme Glacial uses the same BIOS layout as the entire Maximus lineup, which will be great for those that are already familiar with ASUS products. Upon first boot into the BIOS, you will be greeted with the default landing named named "EZ Mode". This page gives you the ability to set the memory XMP profile, drive boot priority, automatic overclocking, and fan control without digging deeply into the sub-menus.

Across the top is a few helpful tools that can be a hassle to find otherwise. First is the Search Tool, which as the name suggests, allows users to search for functions by a single word. This means you don't need to the whole title, just part of it. Next is the AURA RGB on/off option along with Resize Bar enabling option as well. EZ Mode is for those who do not wish to enter the Advanced BIOS.

For the more experienced users Advanced Mode can be accessed by pressing F7. The first tab is always "My Favorites" which is where commonly used functions can be added and subtracted for future convenience.

Under the Extreme Tweaker tab is where the magic happens. Practically everything you can think to change is somewhere in either this menu or under the Advanced tab. This is both my biggest complaint about the ASUS BIOS in general and holds my utmost appreciation as well. ASUS is simply not holding users' hands here in the Advance Mode and that can be a good thing to some extent. Because of the endless amount of settings, it can be overwhelming for many to grasp what to change when it comes to tweaking in general. Most of these settings will be left on auto for the duration of the computers life. My suggestion to every motherboard manufacturer has always been to lower the cluster without actually removing functions for advanced users. It sounds like EZ-Mode, but more of a middle ground for Novice users. ASUS could split these tabs into more menus that stay greyed out or hidden unless enabled. The countless settings that even extreme overclockers do not adjust could be hidden from the user completely this way.

ASUS gets a A+ for absolutely including every setting imaginable and with so many options, in some sense, it feels has ASUS has taken off the training wheels. After all, this is the flagship motherboard. Regardless of what it will be used for, these settings should always available even if they are mainly for the ASUS engineering team internal use only.