Z790 APEX Encore spotted
There is a new board from ASUS coming very soon, designed specifically for overclockers.
Scandinavian retailers have recently started listing a fresh addition to ASUS motherboard lineup, the ROG Maximus Z790 APEX Encore. The “Encore” designation signifies that this is a new iteration succeeding the original APEX version launched last year. It’s worth noting that all motherboard manufacturers are currently in the process of updating their Z790 series, with names like Z790 X (Gigabyte) or Z790 MAX (MSI). ASUS, however, has opted for a distinct approach by giving their boards new names like “Dark Hero” or simply “II.”
The Z790 APEX is a top-tier enthusiast motherboard crafted specifically for users with overclocking ambitions. Similar to other overclocking-focused boards, it features only two DIMM slots instead of the typical four. Additionally, it supports ROG DIMM M.2, which expands motherboard capabilities with two extra M.2 slots, should you need them.
Update: the first photograph of the new APEX has been leaked by Benchlife. The board is confirmed to use a black design.
ROG Maximus Z790 APEX Encore, Source: Benchlife
The APEX series is renowned for its overclocking capabilities. It has brought several world records, such as i9-13900K at 9 GHz or DDR5 memory being overclocked past 11.2 GT/s. This was partially possible thanks to the original board’s robust 24 power stage system. However, the specific enhancements introduced by the Encore version in this regard are yet to be officially confirmed.
Z790 ROG APEX Encore, Source: Proshop
One noteworthy and confirmed feature is the adoption of the WiFi-7 standard, a significant upgrade over Wi-Fi 6E. This enhancement is a consistent feature across all the refreshed Z790 motherboards, and the APEX Encore follows suit in incorporating this advanced wireless technology. However, it’s important to note that there haven’t been any modifications to the Ethernet port, which remains a single 2.5GbE port. Additionally, the audio chipset remains unchanged, utilizing the Realtek ALC4080 processor in combination with the Savitech SV3H712 amplifier.
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 APEX ENCORE Motherboard – Intel Z790 – Intel LGA1700 socket – DDR5 RAM – ATX
Mainboard, size: ATX, Intel LGA1700 socket, Intel Z790 chipset, 2 x PCI-Express 5.0 x16, Dual DDR5-5600 2 x DIMM slots (Intel XMP support), storage ports: 4 x SATA-600 / 4 x M.2 NVMe PCI-Express 4.0 / 1 x M.2 NVMe PCI-Express 5.0 (M.2 size: 2242 / 2260 / 2280), USB 3.2 Gen 2 type A & C, Intel I225-V 2.5 Gigabit network (LAN), Intel WiFi 7 & Bluetooth 5.4, Realtek ALC4080 HD Audio (8-channel) sound card, ASUS AURA Sync software(exceprt from the sellers page)
The APEX Encore has already been listed by multiple retailers, with prices ranging from 9789 NOK or 839 EUR. The board should launch very soon, most likely before or when Intel launches its Raptor Lake Refresh aka 14th Gen Core series on October 17th.
Source: Overclocking
