ROG Maximus Z690 APEX:
With each new generation of Maximus motherboards, Asus offers us an APEX model that is sometimes only reserved for a select few or, with luck, can be found for sale online. The previous model, the Maximus XIII APEX was well distributed and many people were able to buy it. This should also be the case for this Z690 version.
The APEX series represents the best from Asus for overclockers. The card has many tools implemented on the PCB and benefits from regular BIOS updates. The engineering team is very reactive. If you want to lower the temperature of your CPU below 0°C, this APEX will certainly prove to be one of the best choices for the Z690 chipset.
Bundle:
A quick tour through the bundle of this ROG Maximus Z690 APEX to see if it benefits from “special accessories”. And the least we can say is that there is a lot to show you! First of all, the “ROG True Voltician” which is a USB format oscilloscope and which is in the suite of the V-Latch always integrated on the PCB of the motherboard. We will come back in more details on this module which is plugged into a USB port as well as on the management software. We’ll have to take a closer look at the information and details. You should also know that the mini-USB port allows the software to run on a separate PC.
Asus also provides a PCIe card that has a slot for a hard drive in M.2 SSD format and PCIe 5.0 compatible. The point is that when these drives become available, you can add one to your configuration via this card. Currently no GPU or SSD is available in this standard.
New Maximus and PCIe 5.0 support:
This is already the fourteenth version of the Maximus, one of the most famous models of the Asus brand. This one is of course part of the ROG(Republic Of Gamers) series. It seems that Asus no longer names the number of the series since the title on the box is Maximus Z690 APEX. We no longer have a reference to the number “XIV”.
The Asus Maximus Z690 APEX is built around Intel’s new Z690 chipset, and this motherboard changes its socket from LGA-1200 (Z490/Z590) to LGA-1700 . The reason is simple, the size of the CPU is larger.
Above, a capture detailing the difference between the two sockets (source Igor’s Lab). The LGA-1700 socket has 1700 pins, against 1200 for the previous one. You may have to invest in a new cooling system. Some brands, like Noctua, offer an adapter for your current cooler. Make sure you ask about it, as it’s often free. But you’ll find out later, Asus has provided two mounting holes.
The Z690 chipset officially supports PCIe 5.0 offering higher storage performance than the previous generation. However, currently, no chipset is yet compatible with this standard. The other big change is the support for DDR5.
The various heat sinks:
The dimensions of the board are 305 mm x 244 mm, which corresponds to the ATX format. The dominant colors on the PCB are black and gray. The design is always peculiar, but on this version the PCB takes its rectangular shape. Aesthetically, it looks quite similar to the previous version of the APEX model. Let’s start the tour with the radiators which are four in number! First of all, the three radiators located on the top of the motherboard and surrounding the socket. The two largest ones cover the power supply stage. These two radiators are connected by a heat pipe.
A third, smaller, and also connected through a heat pipe is responsible for keeping the stage cool a part of the supply stage. We are here on a completely passive system. The radiator stamped with the quote ” For those who dare “. It is composed of two parts and hides under the upper part, a slot for an SSD type M2 PCIe 4.0. Asus has reworked its cooling system of the power supply stages for this 12th generation. Indeed, under load, we can easily reach 280 watts and be very low in standby. In fact, the use of two types of cores can make the load vary extremely quickly.
The fourth is the one that covers the chipset and has a fairly large surface but a low height to allow easy placement of graphics cards. We find the Asus ROG logo which benefits from an RGB backlighting system.
Four M.2 SSD slots:
A black aluminum plate, whose cut-out perfectly matches the one on the chipset, covers an M.2 SSD slot on the PCB. As you can see, the SSD is sandwiched between two thermal pads. You also have the option of using the vertical stand, which is included in the bundle and can also accommodate two M.2 SSDs. This brings the total number of M.2 SSDs to four.
The socket and PCIe :
The space around the socket is quite clear and will be easy enough to isolate with rubber for testing under LN2. In addition, Asus offers two mounting holes on the ROG models. One of them is compatible with LGA-1700 but also LGA-115x coolers! A very good point for Asus. Very interesting thing, the “capacitor”, the capacitors do not look like the coils we are used to see but are flat versions. The idea is to greatly facilitate the life of extreme overclockers by facilitating the isolation around the socket.
This Maximus Z690 APEX can accommodate a maximum of two DDR5 memory arrays. I invite you to read the page dedicated to DDR5 in our article on Alder Lake. The trace quality has been improved on this model and on the EXTREME version. And don’t forget that the Z690 chipset will allow to design motherboards supporting DDR5 but also (entry-level) DDR4 models. Also new on this APEX is a button called Q-Release. When a card is plugged into the first PCIe slot , pressing this button opens the retention system and releases your graphics card. This was a concern we had with the previous generation when a heatsink was too close to the first PCIe slot. Good job Asus !
This APEX supports dual channel memory kits up to 6600 MHz+ (OC) and for a maximum amount of 64 GB. There are two PCIe 5.0 16x slots that will work in x8/x8 if you opt for SLI or CrossfireX. A third slot in PCIe 3.0 x4 and a fourth in PCIe 3.0 x1. To power all this, the card has a 24-pin connector and two 8-pin connectors next to the power stages.
RGB or not RGB?
As is the case for a large part of the ROG range, it has the AURA system with LEDs present on the PCB at the level of the heatsink covering the connectors and the logo placed on the chipset. The management of these lights is set via the AURA software but it is possible to disable them, quite easily, via the BIOS if you wish.
The rendering is quite sober, it’s simple and efficient, no need for more!
