Asus' New Z790 Overclocking Motherboard Listed Overseas For Over $850

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By Zhiye Liu
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A refreshed motherboard for refreshed CPUs

Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore
Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore (Image credit: Benchlife)

Asus has revised the brand's ROG Maximus Z790 Apex for Intel's upcoming 14th Generation Raptor Lake Refresh chips. Dubbed the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore, the new overclocking-eccentric motherboard will no doubt secure many world overclocking records.

According to the leaked renders from Benchlife, Asus has reverted to a black and silver theme on the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore. It's the predominant color combination on Apex motherboards, so it was a shock that Asus had switched things up with the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex and opted for a full-white theme. Some liked the new theme, while others didn't. However, the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore has returned to the Apex's roots. Hopefully, Asus has fixed the PCB flexing issue prevalent on the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex. Due to the large heatsink that cools the power delivery subsystem, many ROG Maximus Z790 Apex owners noticed the PCB warped in that area.

The ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore is an LGA1700 motherboard with the high-end Z790 chipset. Given that the motherboard will likely launch alongside Raptor Lake Refresh, it'll support the new Intel processors right out of the gate, unlike existing 700-series motherboards that require a minor firmware upgrade. The original ROG Maximus Z790 Apex has a 24-stage design, so we expect the Encore to feature an equal or superior power solution. The two 8-pin EPS power connectors remain to ensure the Raptor Lake Refresh processor, such as the Core i9-14900K, draws all the power it needs during overclocking.

(Image credit: Benchlife)

Aimed at overclockers, the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore continues to provide only two DDR5 memory slots. The original model supported data rates up to DDR5-8000 and beyond. We've witnessed professional overclockers push DDR5 memory up to DDR5-11202 on the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex so that the Encore will be equally capable of memory overclocking. However, two DDR5 memory slots limit the maximum capacity to 96GB (2x48GB). The other slot is Asus' proprietary DIMM.2 slot for mounting M.2 SSDs.

While there are six SATA III ports on the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex, the Encore only appears to have four. Assuming the M.2 slots remain the same, the motherboard delivers one M.2 PCIe 5.0 slot and four M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots (including the two from the DIMM.2). Asus made some changes to the expansion slots on the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore as well. The revised model has two PCIe 4.0 x4 slots instead of the PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 4.0 x1 combination on the regular ROG Maximus Z790 Apex. Meanwhile, the two PCIe 5.0 x16 expansion slots are unlikely to suffer any modifications.

Wired connectivity hasn't changed. There's still only one 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port on the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore, which the Intel I225-V Ethernet controller powers. Wireless, on the other hand, has enjoyed a nice upgrade. According to a European retailer, the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore offers Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 functions, an upgrade from the Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 on its predecessor. Lacking a specification sheet and renders of the rear panel, it's hard to guess whether the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore has the same connectivity ports as the regular Apex.

Proshop (via Harukaze5719) has listed the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore for $879 and $881 in its Finnish and Norwegian online stores, respectively. If we subtract the VAT (value-added tax), we're looking at a price tag of around the $700 mark, similar to the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex's $699.99 MSRP. Raptor Lake Refresh reportedly launches on October 17, so the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex Encore is just around the corner.

Zhiye Liu
Zhiye Liu
RAM Reviewer and News Editor

Zhiye Liu is a Freelance News Writer at Tom’s Hardware US. Although he loves everything that’s hardware, he has a soft spot for CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.

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6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Crazyy8
    $850 dollars for a MOBO? I can get an entire system for that price, and a good one for that.
    Reply
  • Co BIY
    Crazyy8 said:
    $850 dollars for a MOBO? I can get an entire system for that price, and a good one for that.
    But can you you get one with fewer memory slots and fewer storage connections than standard?

    Yah, you probably can.
    Reply
  • Crazyy8
    Co BIY said:
    But can you you get one with fewer memory slots and fewer storage connections than standard?

    Yah, you probably can.
    My 13 year old X58 MOBO has more than this MOBO, more than most MOBOs these days(6 DDR3 slots, I am using all of them). The standard needs to be 4 dimm slots(6 for expensive MOBOs like this is supposed to be), a debug display, CMOS reset, good VRMs, PCIE 4-5 X4 slots and PCIE 4-5 X16 slots, and unlocked overclocking(Like on most Ryzen boards).
    Reply
  • Tom Sunday
    Another MB ‘REFRESH’ at large. Many consider a refresh just another marketing ploy for quick OEM cash and grab at the last generational moment and with limited MB improvements or new worthwhile tech. Its amazing that in times of our ongoing economy still being in turmoil and our nationwide inflation further going south, that MB OEMs are still producing products at this price level. Obviously the OEMs are not living in reality nor with boots on the ground. Then the 15th generation is all but looming up ahead with a larger new generation chip and a possible uplift of 30%. I question that in times like these who would buy any Z790 MB refresh. Comments here at the weekend commuter show and across the folding tabbies were: “We would wait for the 15th gen, as the 14th gen is the last compatible CPU and will no longer be upgradeable with future generations. But note that with the 15th generation you will need to buy new MB altogether and possibly a new cooler."

    Never a dull moment but as prices go, I will probably in 2024 be forced in spending for a new 15th gen CPU, a halo type MB, premium DDR5 and a new AIO cooler close to $1,700 plus. If the cooler information is correct one could fly with a ‘free-of-charge’ mounting upgrade kit from a refreshed LGA1700 format. But with a hardware investment of so many dollars why would any real enthusiast do that? Either way, a move to a larger socket, no matter how microscopic the increase might seem, fits Intel's habit of advancing after two CPU generations, just like its 10th and 11th Gen chips shared an LGA 1200 format.
    Reply
  • Co BIY
    Tom Sunday said:
    Its amazing that in times of our ongoing economy still being in turmoil and our nationwide inflation further going south, that MB OEMs are still producing products at this price level. Obviously the OEMs are not living in reality nor with boots on the ground. Then the 15th generation is all but looming up ahead with a larger new generation chip and a possible uplift of 30%. I question that in times like these who would buy any Z790 MB refresh.
    The market in the high end may actually be less volatile than for mid and low range.

    These OC boards are more like a Flagship or even Prototype ( Protohype ? ) to demonstrate what the hardware can do. Not really what it needs or will do for most.
    Reply
  • Tom Sunday
    Co BIY said:
    These OC boards are more like a Flagship or even Prototype. Not really what it needs or will do for most.
    The mention 'Flagship or Prototype' makes and clearly underscores the point! I should have known better as I was thinking only about the hoped and or immediate money grab by the OEM. With that I recall talking with a SVP at NIKE HQ in Beaverton, OR...who said: "With great effort and over the top design and our branding we just pushed out the Alphafly2 running shoe for a mere $285, and if sales in the first 30-days do not go off the charts…we have not done well.” About doing well…I thought about this when I recently again tanked up at Chevron on North Alameda, Los Angeles at $7.79 a gallon and with only $20 in my pocket! Moving to Montana is looking better everyday!
    Reply