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DARK HERO

ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero

The ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero boasts robust cooling, WiFi 7 and ample PCIe 5.0 slot for unmatched performance, and it offers full compatibility with 14th Gen Intel® Core™ processors. Meanwhile, its stealthy design is accentuated by new Polymo lighting, which illuminates the I/O shroud with a microstructural array of dual-layer RGB and adds a personalized touch of style to your gaming setup.

Click to check our Z790 Motherboard Guide


ROG
1 MONTH FREE Adobe Creative Cloud
The ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero is the ultimate partner for any Intel 13th Gen processor.
  • x1 onboard M.2 slot, and x2 PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • Effortless performance boost

  • One-click fan tuning

  • 20+1+2 Power Stages

SPEC OVERVIEW

  • Cooling
  • Gaming Immersion
  • Connectivity

Extreme Power & Performance

Performance specs of the ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero Performance specs of the ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero
  1. DUAL PROCOOL II POWER
    CONNECTORS
  2. 20+1+2 POWER STAGES
  3. EXPANSION SLOTS

    ・ 2 x PCIe 5.0 x16 Safeslots (x16, x8/x8)

    ・ 1 x PCIe 4.0 x4 Slot

  4. INTEL® SOCKET LGA 1700

    For 14th Gen & 13th Gen Intel Core™ Processors, and 12th Gen Intel Core, Pentium® Gold, and Celeron® Processors

  5. DDR5, 4 X DIMM

    ・ Max. 192GB

    ・ Dual Channel

  6. 5 X M.2 SLOTS

    ・ 1 x M.2 22110 (PCIe 5.0 x4)

    ・ 4 x M.2 2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4)

PERFORMANCE

  • Power Design
  • Memory

ROG OVERCLOCKING TECHNOLOGIES

Psyche up and engage the Dark Hero overclocker in you, with onboard intelligence to scan, predict, and adapt CPU performance parameters, and tools to command and track system vitals.

  • Differential Sensing

AI OVERCLOCKING

Tuning is now faster and smarter than ever before. ASUS AI Overclocking profiles the CPU and cooling to predict the optimal configuration and push the system to its limits. Predicted values can be engaged automatically or used as a launching ground for further experimentation.

AI Overclocking lets you automatically optimize performance.

COOLING

  • Headers
  • ROG Water-Cooling Zone
  • Compatibility

Cooler by Design

The ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero features an upgraded cooling solution.
  1. VRM and aluminum I/O heatsink

    A VRM heatsink on the MOSFETs and chokes is connected to the aluminum I/O cover via an embedded heatpipe to increase mass and surface area for dissipation.

  2. M.2 heatsinks and backplates

    Large aluminum heatsinks provide extensive surface area to cool mounted M.2 drives, and each of the three onboard slots has a dedicated backplate for additional heat dissipation.

  3. High-conductivity thermal pads

    Each thermal pad improves overall heat transfer from the system by bridging the heat generated by the power stages to the heatsink. For future maintenance, a replacement thermal pad can also be found in the package.

  4. Metal backplate

    A metal plate spans the underside of the ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero, establishing a reinforced platform for smoother DIY PC building.

  5. Chipset heatsink

    A dedicated heatsink draws heat away from the chipset to maintain optimum operating temperature.

CONNECTIVITY

  • USB Ports
  • Audio
  • WIFI 7

    Next-gen WiFi 7* chipset introduces all-new ultrawide 320 MHz channel bandwidth in the 6 GHz band and 4096 QAM, delivering up to 2.4X ultra-fast WiFi speeds**. The revolutionary Multi-Link Operation (MLO) provides a more stable WiFi connection and lower latency, unlocking the realms of the unknown in gaming, streaming, and industrial IoT.

    Learn more about Multi-link Operation (MLO) and WiFi 7 technology.

    *WiFi 7 features require onboard WiFi chipset, WiFi AP, and WiFi 7-supported operating systems to support the corresponding features. The 320 Mhz in the 6 GHz band may be unavailable in some regions / countries due to regulatory restrictions. Expected support for Multi-Link Operation (MLO) will be available later this year (October 2023). Please visit the ASUS support page for more information.
    **Compared to WiFi 6E
  • 2.5Gb ETHERNET

    Low-latency gaming, speedy file transfers, and high-resolution video streaming are among the many perks of onboard Intel® 2.5 Gbps Ethernet.

  • ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna

  • Fast Check

  • Direction Finder

USB Wattage Watcher

USB Wattage Watcher allows users to monitor the current wattage delivered to a device connected to the USB 20Gbps Type-C front-panel connector. With USB Wattage Watcher, users can glance at their device's charging wattage in real-time and check on their device’s Fast-Charging status.

The UI picture of USB Wattage Watcher

DIY-FRIENDLY FEATURES

  • PCIE® SLOT Q-RELEASE

  • M.2 Q-Latch

  • Q-Antenna

  • Q-CODE

  • Q-LED

  • BIOS FLASHBACK™ & CLEAR CMOS

OPTIMIZATION

  • AI Cooling II
  • TWO-WAY AI NOISE CANCELATION
  • AI Networking
ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero AI Cooling II user interface

AI COOLING II

Balance the thermals and acoustics of any build with a single click. A proprietary ASUS algorithm slashes unnecessary noise while running a quick stress test, and then monitors CPU temperatures to dynamically adjust fans to optimal speeds.

A gaming scenario showcases two-way AI noise cancelation

TWO-WAY AI NOISE CANCELATION

This utility leverages a massive deep-learning database to reduce over 5 million types of background noise from incoming or outgoing audio, helping ensure crystal-clear communication in games or calls.

Hear the difference

AI ON

AI OFF

AI networking can be used to improve network performance

AI NETWORKING

GameFirst is now integrated into Armoury Crate for an even better user experience. GameFirst optimizes networking performance by allocating bandwidth in real time, based on intelligent algorithms designed for various application customizable usage scenarios and corresponding learning algorithms. The latest update includes dedicated support for NVIDIA® GeForce NOW to ensure the lowest latency possible during intense game streaming cloud gaming sessions. To provide a better user’s experience, GameFirst is now integrated into Armoury Crate.

PERSONALIZATION

  • Gaming Audio

GROW YOUR GAMING WORLD WITH AURA SYNC

Up your game with complementary Aura Sync enhanced aesthetics, featuring preset lighting effects that can be easily synchronized across compatible ROG graphics cards, monitors, keyboards, and mice to give your setup a unified look.

Learn more about Aura Sync

  • Static
  • Breathing
  • Strobing
  • Rainbow
  • Color cycle
  • Starry night
  • Music effect
  • Smart
  • Adaptive color
  • Dark
The ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero features Aura Sync.
Addressable Gen 2 RGB Header

ADDRESSABLE GEN 2 RGB HEADERS

ARGB GEN2, POWERED BY AURA SYNC

The addressable Gen 2 RGB headers can be controlled with Aura software, which automatically tailors your preferred lighting effects to the number of LEDs present in the connected gear or strip. The new headers also offer backward-compatibility with existing Aura RGB components.

A tree with the ROG logo in the background A tree with the ROG logo in the background

Dare to Be Green

We at the Republic of Gamers are on a mission to create a sustainable future where all gamers can flourish on the planet we call home.

Every step counts, and as part of ROG’s commitment to creating a more sustainable future, ROG has begun to utilize post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic and paper materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC™) in the packaging of motherboard.

Intel® Unison™

Our latest ROG and ROG Strix Z790 WiFi 7 motherboards help you unify your tech life with a free 9-month subscription to Intel Unison.

Intel Unison lets you use a compatible tablet as a second display, wirelessly transfer content between your phone, computer and tablet, and to do thing like accessing your smartphone’s picture photos while you’re working from on your PC. You can also keep an eye on your text messages and notifications while you’re working on your PC to stay connected without losing your flow, and you can even make phone calls without touching your phone.

Learn more
Note: Certain functions are expected to be operational in Q4 2023; however, the actual support will be contingent upon Intel's preparedness.
a laptop, tablet and mobile phone with Intel Unison UI

Awards

Video Reviews

Asus ROG Dark Hero Review - 14900k Performance - Undervolting Benchmarks & Gaming

I do like the fact that the motherboard still comes with at least a single display connector so we have a HDMI connector built on top that's probably not going to be useful for gaming because if you're buying a motherboard like this you can have a dedicated graphics card but it's very useful for doing troubleshooting when you have a graphics card issue

We're building the ULTIMATE Gaming PC equipped with the latest Intel Core i9 14900K, an ROG RTX 4080 and 32 GB of DDR5 at 8000MHz, all installed in the latest ROG case, the Hyperion!

We're BUILDING the Gaming PC of KAMETO!

My new PC GAMER 2024 : AMAZING 🤯🤯🤯

Today I'm going to talk about these six new Z790 motherboards from ASUS.

最終形態みたいな自作PC【ASUS Hyperion】[超猫拳]

200 million PC set using VGA ASUS ROG Matrix Platium RTX 4090 nearly 100 million

Going to the Forest to Install a PC 205,000,000 VND Best ROG ASUS in Vietnam

Pc 195 Million Traning AI is extremely hot, uses 2 VGA RTX 4090 Rog Strix

Motherboard used for cpu testing

The ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero was used in the video to explain the differences between the new Z790 Refresh and the 'old' Z790 and Z690.

The ROG RYUJIN III 360 ARGB is the flagship liquid cooler from ASUS ROG. This is no ordinary liquid heatsink, in fact, it is able to push cooling performance to the max while also winking at the look, which matches well with modern builds.The product was tested on a ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero motherboard, ensuring excellent performance.

The latest generation of Intel 14th Raptor Lake (Refresh) processors has arrived on the market and with it the choice of new components. There are several premium motherboards on the market where Asus has some of the most desirable models such as the ROG Maximus Dark Hero (Z790 chipset / LGA 1700 socket). ​

New INTEL is the reason to buy AMD...

Will the Ryujin III 360 cool the new 14th generation Intel? And what boards do we have for it?

The ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero board, as the successor of last year's Hero model, brings more than cosmetic novelties. This includes redesigning the lower part of the board and fitting as many as five M.2 slots, new coolers for them and then finally a new WiFi 7 network.

The ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero board, as the successor of last year's Hero model, brings more than cosmetic novelties.

Видеообзор от канала ASUS ROG CIS

Видеообзор от канала ASUS ROG CIS

Видеообзор от канала ASUS ROG CIS

Видеообзор от канала ASUS ROG CIS

ASUS Z790 Dark Hero is a high-quality motherboard intended for the most demanding users. Given its extensive feature set, it's the perfect choice for enthusiasts looking for superior performance, reliability and customization options.

ASUS Z790 Dark Hero earned the Diamond award because it is a top-notch piece of hardware.

Media Reviews

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

Recommended Products

ROG MAXIMUS Z790 APEX

Intel® Z790 LGA 1700 ATX motherboard with 24 + 0 power stages, DDR5 memory support, five M.2 slots, PCIe® 5.0 M.2 Card with a PCIe 5.0 NVMe® SSD slot, two PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlots, PCIe slot Q-Release, WiFi 6E, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C® rear I/O port and additional front-panel connector with Quick Charge 4+ up to 60W, AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, and Aura Sync RGB lighting

ROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI

Intel® Z790 LGA 1700 ATX motherboard with 16 + 1 power stages, DDR5 up to 7800 MT/s, four M.2 slots, PCIe® 5.0 x16 SafeSlot with Q-Release, WiFi 6E, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C® rear I/O port and additional front-panel connector with PD 3.0 up to 30W, AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, and Aura Sync RGB lighting

ROG STRIX Z790-H GAMING WIFI

Intel® Z790 LGA 1700 ATX motherboard with 16 + 1 power stages, DDR5 up to 7800 MT/s, PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlot with Q-Release, four PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, WiFi 6E, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C® rear I/O port and additional front-panel connector, AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, and Aura Sync RGB lighting

ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO EVA-02 EDITION

Intel® Z790 LGA 1700 ATX motherboard with 20 + 1 power stages, DDR5, five M.2 slots, PCIe® 5.0 NVMe® SSD slot on Hyper M.2 Card, PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlots with Q-Release, Wi-Fi 6E, two Thunderbolt™ 4 ports, USB 20Gbps Type-C® front-panel connector with Quick Charge 4+ up to 60W, AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, and Aura Sync RGB lighting

ROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI II

ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II, Intel® Z790 LGA 1700 ATX motherboard, 16 + 1 power stages, DDR5, Five M.2 slots, PCIe® 5.0x16 SafeSlot with Q-Release, WiFi 7 with new White Wi-Fi Antenna, USB 20Gbps Type-C® with PD 3.0 up to 30W, AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, and Aura Sync RGB

ROG STRIX Z790-E GAMING WIFI II

Intel® Z790 LGA 1700 ATX motherboard with 18+1+2 power stages, DDR5 slots, five M.2 slots with heatsinks, PCIe® 5.0 NVMe® SSD slot with M.2 Combo-Sink, PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlot with Q-Release, WiFi 7, USB 20Gbps rear I/O port and front-panel connector with PD 3.0 up to 30W, AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II and Aura Sync RGB lighting

ROG STRIX Z790-F GAMING WIFI II

Intel® Z790 LGA 1700 ATX motherboard with 16+1+2 power stages, DDR5 slots, five M.2 slots with heatsinks, PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlot with Q-Release, WiFi 7, USB 20Gbps rear I/O port, front-panel USB connector with PD 3.0 up to 30W, AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, and Aura Sync RGB lighting

ROG MAXIMUS Z790 APEX ENCORE

Intel® Z790 LGA 1700 ATX motherboard with 24+0+2 power stages, DDR5 support with AEMP II & DIMM Flex, ROG Memory Fan Kit, Intel® Wi-Fi 7 with ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna, five M.2 slots, PCIe® 5.0 NVMe® SSD slot onboard, PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlots with PCIe Slot Q-Release, USB 20Gbps Type-C® front-panel connector with Quick Charge 4+ up to 60W, AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, AI Networking, Two-way AI Noise Cancelation, and Aura Sync RGB lighting

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