華碩的 BTF (BACK TO FUTURE) 宇宙停不了,這次擴展至高階主機板系列 ROG MAXIMUS HERO,推出 ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO BTF 主機板。在這一年多的時間裡,華碩總共為 INTEL Z790 平台推出 5 款 HERO 主機板,包含 ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO、ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO EVA-02 EDITION (EVANGENLION)、ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO EVA-02 EDITION (EVANGELION)、ROG MAXIMUS Z790 DARK HERO 和最新的 ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO BTF。BTF 也就是背插版本,把所有原來在 PCB 正面的接頭都搬到 PCB 背面,使線材從正面完全消失。而因應華碩 BTF 顯示卡的發展,這次 Z790 HERO BTF 也加入華碩自行定制的 BTF GC-HPWR 接頭,只是 Z790 HERO BTF 與之前的 BTF 主機板有點不同,因為 Z790 HERO BTF 只提供 16-PIN,而沒有 PCI-E 8-PIN。
ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO BTF 是款好 HERO
華碩第一款自帶 BTF GC-HPWR 接頭的 BTF 主機板,有提供 16-PIN 和 PCI-E 8-PIN 共兩種方案,供使用者自行決定。也就是因為有額外的 PCI-E 8-PIN 選項,在搭配華碩 BTF 顯示卡後,原則上可以完全避免使用 16-PIN (12VHPWR / 12V-2X6)。
可是在最新推出的頂級 ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO BTF 上,卻只保留 16-PIN 而未有提供任何 PCI-E 8-PIN 為 BTF GC-HPWR 接頭供電。筆者認為這剛好帶出目前 BTF 設計規範需要再改進的地方,那就是空間的問題。頂級主機板之所以頂級,光看接頭數量就已經是中階低階主機板望塵莫及的境界。也就是因為 ROG HERO 等級,就算華碩已在 Z790 HERO BTF 上砍掉為 USB TYPE-C 供電的 PCI-E 8-PIN 後,因為要保留原有的 4 個 SATA,所以也再沒有空間放下 3 個 PCI-E 8-PIN 作為 16-PIN 的替代方案。
原則上經重新設計 (新開案),筆者認為華碩要在 Z790 HERO BTF 上塞進所有原有的接頭,也不是不可能。只是 BTF 針對 PCB 背面左邊的設計,好像沒有考慮橫向甚至水平擺放接頭的做法。垂直擺放佔用空間,也不利 16-PIN 線材的彎折。當然在 BTF 研發之初,好像還未有爆出 16-PIN 的問題,那是非戰之罪了。
支援 BTF GC-HPWR 接頭的 BTF 主機板,還是應該利用 PCB 背後下方的空間來擺放 SATA 埠;另一方面華碩也應該放棄 3 個 PCI-E 8-PIN 的做法,因為對於高品質的電供來說,1 個 PCI-E 8-PIN 已經可以輕鬆推動 300W 以上的水平,那怕是 DAISY CHAIN 的 PCI-E 8-PIN。只要電供廠商沒有在 DAISY CHAIN 的部份縮料 (18AWG 20AWG 22AWG),一根線兩個 8-PIN 本來就可以也應該能夠推動 300W。至於 BTF 主機板針對 PCB 背後左邊的規範,於今天看來是太保守了,應該再多開一點橫向空間。
關於這款新 Z790 HERO,筆者真正感興趣的地方是它的規格。很明顯華碩有把一些原有的設計拿掉,但筆者非常喜歡這種縮料,甚至覺得應該把 THUNDERBOLT 4 和 GEN5 M.2 支援也砍掉。要是華碩以此再推出第 6 款 Z790 HERO (標準的正插版本),把價格打下來,便可使更多消費者享受到 ROG MAXIMUS HERO 的 BIOS 調校。
ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO BTF
CPU
Intel® Socket LGA1700 for Intel® Core™ 14th & 13th Gen Processors, Intel® Core™ 12th Gen, Pentium® Gold and Celeron® Processors
Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0**
* Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support list.
** Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 support depends on the CPU types.Chipset
Intel® Z790 ChipsetMemory
4 x DIMM slots, max. 192GB, DDR5
8000+(OC)/7800+(OC)/7600(OC)/7400(OC)/7200(OC)/7000(OC)/6800(OC)/6600(OC)/6400(OC)/6200(OC)/6000(OC)/5800(OC)/5600/5400/5200/5000/4800MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory*
Dual channel memory architecture
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory module
ASUS Enhanced Memory Profile II (AEMP II)
Supports DIMM Flex
* Supported memory types, data rate (Speed), and number of DRAM modules vary depending on the CPU and memory configuration, for more information refer to www.asus.com for memory support list.
* Non-ECC, un-buffered DDR5 memory supports On-Die ECC function.Graphics
1 x HDMITM port**
2 x Intel® Thunderbolt™ 4 ports (USB Type-C®) support DisplayPort and Thunderbolt™ video outputs***
* Graphics specifications may vary between CPU types. Please refer to www.intel.com for any updates.
** Support 4K@60Hz as specified in HDMI 2.1.
*** VGA resolution support depends on processors' or graphic cards' resolution.Expansion Slots
Intel® CoreTM Processors (14th & 13th & 12th Gen)*
21 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slots (support x16 or x8/x8 modes)**Intel® Z790 Chipset
1 x PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
* Please check the PCIe bifurcation table on the support site (https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1037507/).
** M.2_1 shares bandwidth with PCIEX16(G5)_2. When M.2_1 is enabled, PCIEX16(G5)_2 will be disabled and PCIEX16(G5)_1 will run x8 only.
- To ensure compatibility of the device installed, please refer to https://www.asus.com/support/ for the list of supported peripherals.
Storage
Total supports 5 x M.2 slots and 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports*
Intel® CoreTM Processors (14th & 13th & 12th Gen)
M.2_1 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280/22110 (supports PCIe 5.0 x4 mode.)**
M.2_2 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode.)
Intel® Z790 Chipset**
M.2_3 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)
M.2_4 slot (Key M), type 2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)
M.2_5 slot (Key M), type 2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)
4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
* Intel® Rapid Storage Technology supports PCIe RAID 0/1/5/10, SATA RAID 0/1/5/10.
** M.2_1 shares bandwidth with PCIEX16(G5)_2. When M.2_1 is enabled, PCIEX16(G5)_2 will be disabled and PCIEX16(G5)_1 will run x8 only.Ethernet
1 x Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet
ASUS LANGuardWireless & Bluetooth
Intel® Wi-Fi 7*
2x2 Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)**
Supports 2.4/5/6GHz frequency band***
Support Wi-Fi 7 320MHz bandwidth, up to 5.76Gbps transfer rate.
Bluetooth® v5.4****
* Compatible with Windows 11 or later.
** Wi-Fi 7 MLO(Multi-link Operation) full functions support will be ready in Windows 11 2024 Platform (Windows 11 24H2) or later.
*** Wi-Fi 6GHz frequency band and bandwidth regulatory may vary between countries.
**** The Bluetooth version may vary, please refer to the Wi-Fi module manufacturer's website for the latest specifications.USB
Rear USB (Total 12 ports)
2 x Thunderbolt™ 4 ports (2 x USB Type-C®)
6 x USB 10Gbps ports (5 x Type-A + 1 x USB Type-C®)
4 x USB 5Gbps ports (4 x Type-A)
Front USB (Total 9 ports)
1 x USB 20Gbps connector(supports USB Type-C® with up to 60W PD/QC4+)
2 x USB 5Gbps headers support 4 additional USB 5Gbps ports
2 x USB 2.0 headers support 4 additional USB 2.0 portsAudio
ROG SupremeFX 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC ALC4082*
- Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs
- Supports: Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
- High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 110 dB SNR recording input
- Supports up to 32-Bit/384 kHz playback
Audio Features
- SupremeFX Shielding Technology
- ESS® ES9218 QUAD DAC
- Gold-plated audio jacks
- Rear optical S/PDIF out port
- Premium audio capacitors
*The LINE OUT port on the rear panel does not support spatial audio. If you wish to use spatial audio, make sure to connect your audio output device to the audio jack on the front panel of your chassis or use a USB interface audio device.Back Panel I/O Ports
2 x Thunderbolt™ 4 USB Type-C® ports
6 x USB 10Gbps ports (5 x Type-A + 1 x USB Type-C®)
4 x USB 5Gbps ports (4 x Type-A)
1 x HDMITM port
1 x Wi-Fi Module
1 x Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet port
5 x Gold-plated audio jacks
1 x Optical S/PDIF out port
1 x BIOS FlashBack™ button
1 x Clear CMOS buttonInternal I/O Connectors
Fan and Cooling related
1 x 4-pin CPU Fan header
1 x 4-pin CPU OPT Fan header
1 x 4-pin AIO Pump header
4 x 4-pin Chassis Fan headers
1 x W_PUMP+ header
1 x 2-pin Water In header
1 x 2-pin Water Out header
1 x 3-pin Water Flow headerPower related
1 x 24-pin main power connector
2 x 8-pin +12V power connector
1 x 8-pin PCIe power connector1 x Graphics card high power slot
1 x 12V-2X6 Auxiliary power connectorStorage related
5 x M.2 slots (Key M)
4 x SATA 6Gb/s portsUSB
1 x USB 20Gbps connector (supports USB Type-C®)
2 x USB 5Gbps headers support 4 additional USB 5Gbps ports
2 x USB 2.0 headers support 4 additional USB 2.0 portsMiscellaneous
3 x Addressable Gen 2 headers
1 x AURA RGB header
1 x FlexKey button
1 x Front panel audio header (F_AUDIO)
1 x Start button
1 x ReTry button
1 x 10-1 pin system panel header
1 x Thermal sensor header
1 x CPU over voltage jumper
1 x Alternative PCIe mode switchSpecial Features
Extreme OC Kit
- FlexKey button
- ReTry button
- Start buttonExtreme Engine Digi+
- 10K Black metallic capacitors
- MicroFine alloy chokeASUS Q-Design
- M.2 Q-Latch
- PCIe Slot Q-Release
- Q-Antenna
- Q-Code
- Q-Connector
- Q-DIMM
- Q-LED (CPU [red], DRAM [yellow], VGA [white], Boot Device [yellow green]) with DRAM Detection
- Q-SlotASUS Thermal Solution
- M.2 heatsink backplate
- M.2 heatsink
- Metal backplate
- VRM heatsink designASUS EZ DIY
- BIOS FlashBack™ button
- Clear CMOS button
- CPU Socket lever protector
- ProCool II
- Pre-mounted I/O shield
- SafeSlot
- SafeDIMMAURA Sync
- AURA RGB header(s)
- Addressable Gen 2 header(s)
Front Panel USB 20G with Quick Charge 4+ Support
- Support: up to 60W fast charging and USB Wattage Watcher*
- Output: 5/9/15/20V max. 3A, PPS:3.3–21V max. 3A
- Compatible with PD3.0 and PPS
* To support 60W, please install the power cable to 8-pin PCIe power connector or else only 27W will be supported.Software Features
ROG Exclusive Software
- ROG CPU-Z
- DTS® Sound Unbound
- Internet Security (1 year full version)
ASUS Exclusive Software
Armoury Crate
- AIDA64 Extreme (1 year full version)
- Aura Creator
- Aura Sync
- Fan Xpert 4 (with AI Cooling II)
- GameFirst
- Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation
- Power Saving
- Sonic Studio
AI Suite 3
- Easy Optimization with AI Overclocking
- TPU
- DIGI+ Power Control
- Turbo app
- PC Cleaner
MyAsus
USB Wattage Watcher
Intel® Unison™
Adobe Creative Cloud (Free Trial)
WinRAR (40 Days Free Trial)
UEFI BIOS
AI Overclocking Guide
ASUS EZ DIY
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 3
- ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode
- ASUS MyHotkey
MemTest86
BIOS
256 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS
Manageability
WOL by PME, PXE
Accessories
Cables
1 x ARGB RGB extension cable
4 x SATA 6Gb/s cables
Additional Cooling Kit
1 x Thermal pad for M.2
1 x DDR5 fan holder
Miscellaneous
1 x ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna
3 x M.2 backplate Q-Latch packages
3 x M.2 backplate Rubber Packages
1 x Q-connector
1 x ROG stickers
1 x ROG key chain
1 x M.2 rubber package
1 x ROG VIP card
Installation Media
1 x USB drive with utilities and drivers
Documentation
1 x Quick start guide
Operating System
Windows® 11, Windows® 10 64-bit
Form Factor
ATX Form Factor
12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )
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