ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero Motherboard Review

Quick Overview

ASUS unveiled the ROG Maximus IX Hero early in 2017 for the 7th Generation Intel Core processors.

It has been more than four years since its release, and it won’t work with the latest 10th and 11th Gen Intel CPUs.

Nevertheless, it still stands out as one of the best motherboards for any 6th or 7th Gen Core CPU you have lying around.

In this ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero motherboard review, we will look at the components and features that make it stand out.

If, in the end, you think this board is too much for you, we also included a few alternatives.

ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero Motherboard Review

The ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) unites gamers from all walks of life by providing the best gaming experiences through hardware design and production.

Every year, ASUS brings forth a vast array of ROG products that test the limits of speed and power in the world of gaming.

During the launch of the Maximus IX Hero, ASUS has achieved a milestone for enthusiast-grade Intel-based platforms.

The ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero is an ATX form factor motherboard that quickly became a flagship model in its time.

It offers exceptional gaming performance out of the box, and it brings with it a software package that makes overclocking more manageable.

ALSO READ: SUS Sabertooth 990FX Motherboard Review

Who Is This Product For?

If you’re still wondering why we are featuring a motherboard from 2017, the following list should clear out the air.

• For Those with a 6th or 7th Gen Intel

This motherboard is the perfect solution for PC builders who have extra 6th and 7th Gen Intel processors lying around.

Instead of leaving those processors to collect dust somewhere, you can eke out some happy gaming years by setting it up with a new rig.

If an extra gaming PC is out of the question, you can always gift it to a nephew or cousin.

Improving your PC building skills in the process is a perfect takeaway.

• For Hardcore Gamers

A 7th Gen Intel Core CPU is perfectly capable of running even the latest games if you pair it with the Maximus IX Hero.

A system equipped with such components may not be enough to trample existing overclocking records.

Still, its overclocking functions can accommodate the best games.

What’s Included?

If you get the ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero, you will also receive a set of PC building essentials.

Cables include two 2-in-1 SATA 6Gbps connectors as well as one 2-Way-M SLI HB Bridge.

It also comes with an I/O Shield, a Q-Connector, a CPU installation tool, an M.2 screw package, and an 80-cm RGB strip extension cable.

If you are into 3D printing, you’ll be happy to know that this motherboard comes with a set of 3D printing mount screws.

It also makes cable organization much easier with the inclusion of a 10-in-1 ROG cable label set.

In addition to the cables and accessories, you will also get a ROG motherboard support DVD and a User Guide.

Other unrelated extras include a ROG cup coaster and a ROG sticker.

Overview of the Features

The Maximus IX Hero has four DDR4 DIMM sockets capable of holding memory modules with a 16GB RAM volume.

If you use all sockets, you can have 64GB of system memory.

This motherboard can support memory speeds of up to 2133MHz, but with overclocking, the numbers can go as high as 4133MHz.

Expansion sockets include three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots and three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, and all of them allow the use of PCIe 2.0 devices.

If you plan to use multiple graphics cards, choose NVIDIA chips that support 2-Way SLI or AMD chips that work with 3-Way CrossFireX.

• Storage

Moving on to storage, the board features six SATA 6Gbps ports and two M.2 slots.

Both M.2 slots support PCIe 3.0 storage modules, but only one of them allows SATA drive connections.

Using a SATA drive on the first M.2 slot disables SATA1 while operating the second M.2 slot in PCIe x4 mode disables SATA5 and SATA6.

• Network Connectivity

ASUS equips the Maximus IX Hero with an Intel I219-V Gigabit LAN module.

It boasts the advantages of Anti-surge LANGuard and ROG GameFirst IV, which means it can provide seamless wired connections.

However, wireless gaming is only possible if you install a Wi-Fi adapter on the included M.2 header close to the rear panel.

• Display and Audio

This motherboard can provide 4K Ultra HD display support using its HDMI 1.4b port and DisplayPort 1.2.

Regardless, always check for better display output options, especially when using one or several graphics cards.

Audio features on the Maximus IX Hero can still compete with those on the latest motherboards.

It uses the ROG SupremeFX 8-Channel HD S1120 Audio Codec with five gold-plated jacks and an optical S/PDIF out port.

• USB Ports

The rear panel USB ports include four USB 2.0, four USB 3.0, one USB 3.1 Type-A, and one USB 3.1 Type-C.

If you need more USB ports, you can use the internal headers for two USB 2.0, two USB 3.0, and one USB 3.1 Gen2.

• 5-Way Optimization

The Maximus IX Hero offers a one-click, system-wide overclocking feature that makes performance tweaking an easy task.

With ASUS’ user-friendly software bundle, you won’t have to spend much time figuring out how to overclock.

How to Get the Most Out of It

Like all motherboards, the Maximus IX Hero will need some hardware additives to get the ball rolling.

You can get the most out of it by taking advantage of all the available connectors.

• Get a Suitable Graphics Card

Although adding a graphics card is entirely your choice, equipping the system with one should bring your gaming experience to new heights.

Having a GPU is a non-negotiable for most gamers.

After all, most high-end games require the push and acceleration for image and video rendering and animation.

• Maximize Its Cooling Potential

If you’re into overclocking, you probably already know that you should compensate for heat gain by maxing out all available cooling options.

In that case, you’ll like that the Maximus IX Hero has six fan headers, two water cooling connectors, and three water flow sensor connectors.

Populating all of them should be enough for overclocking applications.

If you need more, this ASUS motherboard has an EXT Fan header, which allows you to install a fan extension card.

With a fan extension card, you can add more fans and thermal sensors.

• Spruce It Up with Lighting Effects

The Maximus IX Hero is, in itself, a very attractive motherboard.

It features hunky metallic gray and black heatsinks and gray abstract prints on a jet-black PCB.

The first time you fire it up without using RGB headers, you will notice backlighting behind the primary heatsinks.

These lights will illuminate the ROG logo on the PCH heatsink and the Maximus IX emblem beside the rear panel.

If these onboard lighting fixtures are not enough, you can always add controllable lights using two 4-pin RGB strip headers.

You can customize your rig’s lighting effects using the ASUS Aura Sync app. Unfortunately, addressable lighting headers were not yet available at the time of launch.

Alternatives

If you’re looking for similar offerings from other manufacturers, ASRock and MSI also have something to offer.

The following alternatives carry the same Z270 chipset, and both are more affordable than the Maximus IX Hero.

You might also want to check out the MSI Z170A Gaming M5 if you’re curious about the Z170 chipset.

1. ASRock Z270 Extreme4

The ASRock Z270 Extreme4 was also a flagship motherboard, at least when the 6th and 7th Generation Intel Core processors were popular.

It is a bit more affordable than the Maximus IX Hero, and the features are almost similar.

An advantage of the Extreme4 is its eight SATA connectors, but its drawback is the single M.2 slot.

You should know that this motherboard does not come with a wireless module. Instead, it sports a mounting bracket for a dual-antenna Wi-Fi adapter.

2. MSI Z270 Gaming M7

The MSI Z270 Gaming M7 sets the bar high for a budget-friendly alternative compatible with the Intel Core 6th and 7th Gen CPUs.

It has a similar drawback of not having wireless connectivity, but it offers enough expansion slots for multiple GPUs and a wireless adapter.

The MSI Z270 Gaming M7 is a great-looking motherboard featuring the reminiscent red and black MSI color scheme.

It has plenty of built-in LED lights, and it adds in a LED strip header.

RELATED: Asus ATX DDR3 2600 FM2 Motherboard Crossblade Ranger Review (Guide)

Final Thoughts

This ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero motherboard review attests to the speed and power of this board.

Even if it has been around for years, it is still fully capable of squeezing several more years out of the 6th or 7th Gen CPUs.

The only disadvantage is its price point, which is much higher than many competing options.

Also, remember that this motherboard and the alternatives presented will only work for 6th and 7th Gen Intel processors.

If you have an 8th Gen CPU, you’re better off with any of the best Z370 motherboards.