The ASUS flagship counterpart
ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme
ASUS's answer to the Godlike: Thunderbolt 5, dual 10G/2.5G LAN, six M.2 and a 5-inch LCD - at $849 it undercuts its own rival.
Our verdict
The Maximus Z890 Extreme is halo-board theater done properly: the 5-inch LCD is genuinely striking, the I/O is endless, and at its current $849 it is the cheapest of the three Z890 flagships. The same caveat applies as to every halo board - the far cheaper Maximus Hero delivers most of the substance.
Best for: Showcase LGA1851 builds that want the flagship experience for less than Godlike money.
Skip it if: You are buying performance - reviewers agree it is not a league apart from boards at half the price.
Chipset
Z890
Socket
LGA1851
Form factor
EATX
RAM
4x DDR5 to 192GB
Full specifications
| CPU Support | Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2) |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1851 |
| Chipset | Intel Z890 |
| Power / VRM | 24+1+2+2 power stages (110A for VCore) |
| Memory | 4x DIMM DDR5, max 256GB, up to 9200+ MT/s (OC), CUDIMM support |
| PCIe Slots | 2x PCIe 5.0 x16 from CPU (x16 or x8/x8 or x8/x4/x4) + 1x PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| M.2 Storage | 6 total: 4 onboard (3x PCIe 5.0, 1x PCIe 4.0) + 2x PCIe 4.0 via bundled ROG DIMM.2 |
| SATA | 4x SATA 6Gb/s |
| Rear USB | 2x Thunderbolt 5 Type-C, 1x USB 20Gbps Type-C, 7x USB 10Gbps |
| Networking | Marvell AQtion 10GbE + Intel 2.5GbE, Intel Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Audio | ROG SupremeFX ALC4082 with ESS ES9219 Quad DAC (32-bit/384kHz) |
| Onboard Display | 5-inch full-color LCD for monitoring and custom graphics |
| Form Factor | E-ATX, 12 x 10.9 in |
Transcribed from the manufacturer's official spec sheet - always confirm details there before buying.
Why buy it
- Dual Thunderbolt 5 and 10GbE + 2.5GbE - I/O nothing midrange matches
- Six M.2 slots (three Gen5) including the bundled DIMM.2 module
- The 5-inch LCD reviewers called 'jaw-dropping'
Think twice if
- Specs barely differ from the far cheaper Maximus Hero
- Reviewers found the overclocking process convoluted
- E-ATX and physically very heavy - plan the case
What reviewers say
OC3D
Innovation AwardCalled the 5-inch full-color screen 'stunning... jaw-dropping' and enough to win the Innovation Award, but said the price 'is too much money' since specs and even power phases barely differ from the far cheaper Maximus Hero, and performance 'isn't a league apart from the competition.'
Full review ↗Hardware Asylum
RecommendedPraised the premium build, 5-inch LCD, PCIe 5.0 and strong DDR5 overclocking, concluding cheaper boards may match performance but 'none of them have the same clout or dedication to the craft of high-end computing'; criticisms centered on a convoluted overclocking process and a UEFI with 'almost too many memory controls.'
Full review ↗Lowyat.NET
Lauded the exceptional build quality, toolless M.2 design, dual 10Gb/2.5Gb LAN and the programmable LCD, but deemed the board a 'luxury' item that is 'very, very heavy' and unattainable for mid-range builders.
Full review ↗Build around it
A full build starting from this board - picks computed from our live catalog, matched to the board's budget class.
CPU
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus
The strongest gaming CPU we track for LGA1851 - score 93/100 at ~$312.
GPU
NVIDIA RTX 5090
The ceiling pairing - a board this far up the stack deserves the fastest card we track. Score 99/100 at ~$3,600.
RAM
Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5-6400 CL32 32GB (2x16GB)
DDR5-6400 CL32, 2x16GB - the cheapest kit on the Z890 sweet spot at ~$278. Faster kits are mostly wasted money here.
Case
This is an E-ATX board and E-ATX support is NOT a given - many mid-towers stop at ATX. Filter for cases that explicitly list it.
Find an E-ATX case →Frequently Asked Questions
What CPUs does the ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme support?
It uses the Intel Z890 chipset on the LGA1851 socket. That means Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) desktop CPUs. Check any specific pairing with our free bottleneck checker before you buy.
What RAM should I put in the ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme?
It takes DDR5 in 4 slots (up to 192GB). The sweet spot on Z890 is DDR5-6400 - faster kits cost more for little real-world gain. Our RAM advisor picks a kit for your exact use.
Will the ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme fit my case?
It is an EATX board. E-ATX needs a case that explicitly lists E-ATX support - many mid-towers do not. Our case finder filters cases by the form factors they actually take.
How much does the ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme cost?
As of our last price check it was $849. The price on the retailer page is the real one.
Prices are from our latest first-party retailer check and change constantly - always confirm on the product page. Reviewer citations are attributed and linked; we summarize, they tested. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.