ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme DDR5 Motherboard

The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme D5 Motherboard supports Intel LGA 1700 for 12th Gen Core, Pentium Gold and Celeron processors, features up to 4 x DDR5 memory slots, PCI-E 5.0, 4.0, and 3.0 compatible expansion slots, 5 x M.2 slots, 6 x SATA ports (6GB/s), 10 x rear USB ports (1 x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C, 7 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C), 10 x front panel header USB ports (1 x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C connector, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 connector that supports Type-C, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 headers that support an additional 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB 2.0 headers support additional 4 x USB 2.0), 1 x Intel 2.5G Ethernet, 1 x Marvell 10Gb Ethernet, TUF LANGuard, Intel Wi-Fi 6E, ROG SupremeFX 7.1 surround sound ALC4082 HD audio codec and an E-ATX motherboard form factor.

Warning: This product contains a button battery - If swallowed, a lithium battery can cause severe or fatal injuries with 2 hours. - Keep batteries out of reach of children. - If you think batteries may have been swallowed or placed inside any of the body, seek immediate medical attention.

Features

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Features of the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme D5 Motherboard at a glance:

Intel® Z690 EATX motherboard with 24+1 power stages, DDR5 with OptiMem III, Five M.2, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 front-panel connector with Quick Charge 4+ Support, Dual Thunderbolt™ 4, PCIe® 5.0, Onboard Wi-Fi 6E and Aura Sync RGB lighting

ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme represents the ultimate in enthusiast motherboard design for those who want the best possible option that excels at both air and liquid cooling for 12th Gen Intel® Core™ CPUs. And this platform is packed with the most features that you will find on a ROG Z690 motherboard, including heavy-duty 24+1 power stages, ASUS Enhanced Memory Profiles for top-notch DDR5 speeds, multiple PCIe 5.0 slots, and the exclusive AniMe Matrix™ LED Display.

• Socket LGA1700 for 12th Gen Intel® Core™, Pentium® Gold and Celeron® Processors
• Intelligent Control: ASUS-exclusive tools including AI Overclocking, AI Cooling, AI Networking and Two-Way AI Noise-Cancelation for easy configuration
• Robust Power Solution: 24+1 teamed power stages rated for 105 A, ProCool II power connectors, MicroFine alloy chokes and premium metallic capacitors
• Optimized Thermal Design: Cold forged heatsink, enlarged VRM heatsinks plus integrated aluminium I/O cover, high-conductivity thermal pad, penta M.2 heatsinks and dual with embedded backplates and ROG Water-Cooling Zone
• High Performance Networking: Onboard Wi-Fi 6E, Marvell® Action 10Gb, Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet, and ASUS LANGuard
• Fastest Gaming Connectivity: PCIe® 5.0, Gen 5 M.2 slots, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 front-panel connector with Thunderbolt™ 4 support, rear triple USB Type-C® ports
• Industry Leading Immersive Audio: ROG SupremeFX ALC4082 codec with ESS® ES9018Q2C DAC for high-fidelity audio
• Unmatched Personalization: AniMe Matrix™ LED display, 2” LiveDash OLED, ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including one RGB header and three addressable Gen 2 RGB headers
• DIY Friendly Design: Pre-mounted I/O shield, PCIe slot Q-release, V-Latch switch, BIOS FlashBack™, Q-Code, FlexKey, Q-Connector, M.2 Q-Latch, SafeSlot, ROG Glavis and ROG graphics card holder
• Renowned Software: Bundled 1-year AIDA64 Extreme subscription and intuitive UEFI BIOS dashboard with integrated MemTest86

Intelligent Motherboard

Intelligent software solutions help ensure that your system performs at its best. The latest ASUS AI-powered enhancements span four pillars of performance, including overclocking, cooling, networking, and onboard audio, making advanced tweaks and optimization accessible to new recruits and savvy PC DIY veterans alike.

AI Overlocking

Tuning is now faster and smarter than ever before. ASUS AI Overlocking profiles the CPU and Cooling to the predict the optimal configuration and push each system to its limits.

AI Cooling

Balance the thermals and acoustics of any build with a single click. A Proprietary ASUS algorithm reduces unnecessary system noise by monitoring CPU temperature and dynamically adjusting fans to optimal speeds.

AI Networking

GameFirst VI optimizes networking performance by allocating bandwidth in real time based on application usage scenarios and corresponding learning algorithms.

Two-Way AI Noise Cancellation

This utility leverages a massive deep-learning database to reduce over 500 million types of background noise from incoming or outgoing audio, helping ensure crystal-clear communication in games or calls.

Performance

ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme is the kind of motherboard that uses stock clock speeds merely as a reference point. With its piles of teamed power stages working alongside high-grade capacitors and chokes, you get performance that can take high-powered processors like a 12th Gen Intel Alder Lake CPU and leave all competition in the dust.

Power Solution - Teamed Power Architecture

Modern CPU architectures up the ante for motherboard power design by transitioning from deep power saving modes to full load almost instantaneously. The latest ROG VRM architecture rises to the challenge by utilizing teamed power stages to rapidly swing current, while maintaining exemplary thermal.

A Brief History

ASUS became the first manufacturer to implement phase doublers when we shipped the A8N32-SLI Deluxe back in 2005. The board’s VRM was lauded for elegantly overcoming the power handling capabilities of components that were available at the time while also reducing voltage ripple. Those benefits lead to phase doublers becoming universally accepted in the industry, and they are still used for similar purposes today.

A Shift in CPU Demands

Today’s CPUs pack more cores than their predecessors, and the latest instruction sets allow them to crunch computationally dense workloads at an incredible pace. As an added bonus, these processors also consume less power at idle and can transition between loads states much more quickly. These improvements necessitated a re-evaluation of power design priorities, because phase doublers add a propagation delay that hampers transient response.

While doublers help extend the number of effective phases, they do so at the cost of a processing delay.

Bucking the Trend

The latest integrated power components can handle higher currents than the devices of yesteryear, making it possible to implement a simple circuit topology that isn’t hamstrung by the processing lag of phase doublers. That’s why the ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme utilizes teamed power stages to deliver higher burst current per phase, while maintaining the thermal performance of phase-doubled designs.

The teamed architecture allows two power stages to work in tandem to provide more power to the CPU.

Thermal Performance

Each VRM component serves a specific purpose. PWM controllers control the circuit, and the power stages do the heavy lifting from an electrical and thermal standpoint. That's why ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme utilizes 20 power stages. The high-end power stages feature a low RDSON to reduce switching and conduction losses, helping to improve overall thermal headroom.

The MOSFETs within the power stages generate the most heat as they are responsible for voltage conversion and delivery to the CPU from the 12-volt EPS connector.

High-Quality Components

• Dual 8 Pin ProCool II Power Connectors - Two ProCool connectors ensure a snug and reliable connection to the EPS 12V power lines
• 24+1 Power Stages - The VRM features 24+1 power stages, each rated to handle 105 amps each for the Vcore and two 100-APm power stages for the secondary voltage rails
• MicroFine Alloy Chokes - Each power stage is accomplished by a high-permeability alloy-core choke rated to handle 45 amps
• Premium Metallic Capacitors - Input and output filtering is provided by solid-power capacitors rated to last thousands of hours at high operating temperatures

ROG True Voltician

For truly advanced performance optimization, ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme includes ROG True Voltician, a miniature oscilloscope connected to a USB header displays waveforms for a CPU’s Vcore, VCCIN, and System Agent rails. It can also be used to monitor a video card or power supply, and users can even run the True Voltician software on one PC while they get readings from another.

Memory

DDR5 Overclocking Strength

Comprehensive memory tuning options are the cornerstone of ROG motherboards. For DDR5, the Maximus Z690 lineup breaks performance limits by providing a stacked suite of overclocking parameters for not only high-speed kits, but even entry-level memory modules that have a locked power management IC (PMIC).

ASUS Enhanced Memory Profile (AEMP) is an exclusive firmware feature for PMIC-restricted memory modules. AEMP automatically detects the memory chips on your kit and then presents optimized frequency, timing and voltage profiles that you can effortlessly apply to unleash performance.

• A dedicated circuit on the motherboard safely circumvents DDR5 memory PMIC restrictions, allowing you to step past the default 1.1-volt limit and push frequency and timings to the max.
• Ordinarily, a restricted PMIC that has been unlocked requires the system to be fully power-cycled each time memory voltage is adjusted. ROG motherboards leverage onboard hardware and firmware to cleverly work around this irksome limitation, enabling voltage adjustments to be applied through the same soft system-reset process employed for previous generations of DDR memory.

Cooling

ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme features unparalleled flexibility for either air or liquid cooling, thanks to a diverse array of heavyweight heat dissipation that keeps power delivery, M.2 drives and onboard components running cool under load, regardless of the available airflow.

Heatsinks - Cooler by Design

• VRM heatsink - A VRM heatsink is placed on the MOSFETs and chokes, and the embedded heatpipe connects to the aluminium I/O cover
• Aluminium, I/O cover - An aluminium I/O cover is connected to the primary heatsink via an embedded heatpipe, increasing mass and surface area for dissipation
• Cold-forged heatsink - The heatsink cover is crafted from pure aluminium to efficiently cool the two onboard M.2 drives
• Solid steel backplate - The steel, electro-galvanized, cold-rolled coil construction strengthens Maximus Z690 Extreme to prevent bending, and is finished in motherboard-matching black
• High-Conductivity Thermal Pad - A high-quality thermal pad improves overall heat transfer from the system by bridging the heat generated by the power stages to the heatsink
• M.2 Backplates - Dual M.2 slots feature back-plate blocks that ensure high-performance drives deliver peak performance even when airflow is restricted
• Chipset Heatsink - A dedicated chipset heatsink draws heat away to maintain optimum operating temperatures
  

Headers

Cooler by Design

ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme features comprehensive cooling options that are configurable via Fan Xpert 4 or the UEFI BIOS.

• Multiple temperature sources - Each header can be set to monitor and react to three user-configurable thermal sensors for workload-based cooling, and all settings can be easily managed by Fan Xpert 4 or via the UEFI
• 4-pin PWM/DC fan headers and ASUS Hydranode - Every onboard header auto-detects any PWM or DC fan, with two chassis fan headers offering ASUS HYDRANODE support
• Bundled ROG fan controller - A bundled fan controller card includes six additional DC and PWM fan headers, plus two thermal-probe headers

ROG Water-Cooling Zone

Dual water-temperature headers and a flow-rate header feed information straight into the AI Suite utility, allowing you to track coolant temperatures and the flow rate of the entire loop.

• Water pump+ - A dedicated header can supply over 3 amps to a high-performance PWM or DC water pumps
• Water in/out - A dedicated header enables monitoring of temperatures at the input/output points of any component
• Water flow - A dedicated header enables constant monitoring of flow rate throughout the entire loop

ROG Fan Controller

The ROG Fan Controller offers an additional six headers that can be controlled via FanXpert 4. The card features two temperature-sensor headers, along with two thermistors that can be attached to various components. There are also six ARGB headers to illuminate ARGB fans.

Connectivity

ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme features the latest and greatest in connectivity, including the fastest GPU and storage device transfer speeds with PCIe® 5.0, the smoothest online gameplay with WiFi 6E and 10 Gb Ethernet, a host of rapid-fire file transfers with Thunderbolt™ 4.

Networking

WiFi 6E

Onboard WiFi 6E technology takes advantage of the newly available radio spectrum in the 6 GHz band, providing up to three times the bandwidth of the 5 GHz band and up to seven 160 MHz bands to deliver ultrafast wireless networking speeds along with improved capacity and better performance in dense wireless environments.

• WiFi 6E Antenna - The antenna has two built-in transmitters and receivers to enable faster transmission speeds, and it supports the 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz bands.
• Adjustable design - Four-way positioning enables better signal reception
• Magnetic base - A powerful magnetic base secures the antenna on the top or side of the PC case

Marvell® Action 10 Gbps Ethernet

Designed to meet the demanding requirements of power users and content creators, 10 Gbps onboard Ethernet provides a new level of home networking. With up to 10 times the bandwidth of standard gigabit Ethernet, you'll enjoy streaming uncompressed 4K UHD videos and system backups and file transfers that are faster than ever before.

Intel® 2.5 Gb Ethernet

Onboard 2.5 Gb Ethernet gives your wired connection a boost, with up to a 2.5X improvement over standard Ethernet connections for faster file transfers, smoother lag-free gaming and high-res video streaming.

USB Ports

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C Front-Panel Connector with Quick Charge 4+

Quick Charge 4+ technology can rapidly charge devices at up to 60W with a PCIe power supply cable plugged into the nearby 6-pin connector.

Two Onboard Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C® Ports

Each port delivers up to 40 Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth for the latest high-speed devices and drives. Thunderbolt 4 also supports up to two external 4K displays and extends PCIe bandwidth to up to 32 Gbps.

Storage

Three Onboard M.2 Slots

ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme is features three onboard M2 slots, with one offering support for the latest PCIe 5.0 SSDs.

ROG DIMM.2

The ROG DIMM.2 module is an innovative expansion card that allows two M.2 drives to be connected via a DDR4 interface. You can then add a metal heatsink, helping to control thermals for maximum performance while elevating aesthetics.

Audio

SupremeFX

ROG SupremeFX audio technology delivers an exceptional 113 dB signal-to-noise ratio on the line-in connection to provide best-ever recording quality. There's also a low-dropout regulator for clean power delivery to the SupremeFX ALC4082 codec, and an ESS® 9018Q2C integrated DAC.

• Audio line shielding - Blocks electromagnetic interference from the motherboard or add-ons to provide cleaner audio
• ESS® SABRE 9018Q2C - The ESS® SABRE 9018Q2C integrated DAC amplifier is capable of providing -115 dB total harmonic distortion (THD+N) for playback that conveys all the subtlety and nuances of the audio track. In addition, the 121 dB dynamic range (DNR) provides an extremely low noise-floor, further accentuating dynamics and punch.
• ALC 4082 Codec - The ALC4082 codec uses USB instead of the conventional high-definition audio (HDA) interface and improves playback audio resolution from 192 to 384 kHz
• Switching MOSFETs - A unique design allows the codec's impedance-sensing function to be ported with either the front or rear headphone outputs
• Premium capacitors - High-quality integrated components help produce warm, natural-sounding audio with exceptional clarity

ROG Clavis - Unlock a Premium Audio Experience

The pocket-sized ROG Clavis USB digital-to-analogue converter delivers a host of features to give any compatible headset a big upgrade. Its ESS 9281 QUAD DAC™ with a built-in amplifier and Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) rendering technology treats you to hi-fi-grad audio, while AI noise-cancelling technology enhances headset microphones for crystal-clear voice communication.

Optimization

ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme features best-in-class automatic and interactive performance optimization, including the TurboV Processing Unit, digitally controlled voltage regulators, Fan Xpert 4 and core-specific application assignment.

5-Way Optimization

Level Up Performance

The dashboard-style control panel of AI Suite 3 lets you fine-tune almost every aspect of your ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme system with ease. Get the best balance between performance, cooling, stability, and efficiency via one simple and intuitive interface.

TPU - CPU Performance Boost

The TurboV Processing Unit (TPU) is an intelligent onboard micro-controller that provides an array of system-tuning features, including the ability to fine-tune voltages, monitor system stats and adjust overclocking parameters.

EPU - All-Round Energy Efficiency

With the Energy Processing Unit (EPU) you] enjoy system wide power savings. The EPU automatically optimizes power consumption and maximizes savings with Away mode.

Fan Xpert - Flexible Cooling Controls for Air or Liquid

Enjoy comprehensive control over fans, water pumps and all-in-one (AI0) coolers via either Fan Expert 4 or the ASUS UEFI. Whether you're cooling with air or water, Auto-Tuning mode intelligently configures all parameters with a single click. There's also an Extreme Quiet mode, which reduces all fan speeds to below the default minimum — keeping your system whisper-quiet when performing light tasks.

Precise Digital Power Controls

The Digi+ voltage-regular module (VRM) delivers real-time control over voltage droop, switching frequency and power-efficiency settings, allowing you to fine-tune CPU voltage regulation for ultimate stability and performance.

Turbo Core App

Intel processors feature per-core tuning, end the ASUS Turbo app makes use of this feature by letting you assign applications to specific processor cores, prioritizing computing power where its needed most.

UEFI BIOS

The renowned ROG UEFI (BIOS) provides everything you need to configure, tweak, and tune your rig. It offers intelligently simplified options for newcomers to PC DIY, as well as more comprehensive features for seasoned veterans.

Advanced Mode

When you're ready for a deeper dive, delve into the UEFI's Advanced Mode and take complete control. This mode enables full control over every aspect of the motherboard, and a built-in search function helps you quickly find the setting you need.

• MemTest86 - Diagnose faulty RAM and memory problems that can lead to crashes or data issues. For added convenience, MemTest86 has been pre-installed into ROG UEFI (BIOS). Run the test to pinpoint memory issues with just one click, without the need for any USB stick or going into the OS. The memory report will also be stored in the BIOS archives for reference.
• My Favourites - Quickly locate tuning options and add preferred tools to your favourites list
• EZ Flash 3 - Flash the latest BIOS via the internet from within the BIOS
• S.M.A.R.T - Check your storage device self-motivation, Analysis, and reporting technology (S.M.A.R.T) logs to gauge reliability or to identify potential failures
• GPU Post - Automatically detect select ASUS graphics cards to view detailed information
• Secure Erase - Restore your SSDs and NVMe storage to factory settings
• Last Modified Log - Track the last change and save preferred profiles to a USB drive
• SATA Port Renaming - Rename SATA ports for easy identification
• ASUS User Profile - Port configuration settings between different BIOS versions or share them with friends
• Q-Fan Control - Configure the fan's operating speed manually or use pre-configured Standard, Silent, Turbo or Full Speed modes. By default, system fans will automatically switch to full speed if the temperature reaches 75°C

EZ Mode

Designed to simplify setup, EZ Mode presents vital settings and states on a single page. With guided wizards, drag-and-drop functionality, and one-slick application of important settings, your rig will be up and running in no time.

• Intuitive Graphical fan controls - Fine-tune individual fans simply by dragging a curve with the mouse
• Storage Information - View SATA port details for easy device recognition
• Fast and easy clock adjustment - Use the mouse to quickly change time and date settings
• Aura on/off mode (Stealth) - Easily enable or disable Aura RGB lighting or every onboard LED for a more subdued aesthetic

Differential Sensing - Accurate Voltage Monitoring

Conventional motherboards use single-ended sensing circuits that are susceptible to noise and have to tap voltage rails from a location that isn’t ideal for accurate monitoring. These issues lead to a large disparity between the voltage fed to components and the values reported to software. Maximus Z690 Extreme features a differential-sensing circuit that rejects noise and takes readings directly from the CPU and the end point of major voltage rails. This simplifies overclocking and tuning by allowing you to track voltages more accurately.

Personalization

In addition to Aura Sync RGB customization, the ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme’s VRMs and I/O cover are graced with a new ASUS-exclusive design known as the AniMe Matrix Display, while a 2-inch OLED LiveDash can show live system information or user-customizable graphics.

AniMe Matrix™ LED Display

This innovative display features an RGB grid of mini LEDs that can be programmed to show off style with custom lighting designs, unique animations and live audio visualizations. Plus, distinctive soundwave lighting effects can even flash to the sound of a person’s voice.

• Default animation
• Text animation
• Loop animation

Aura Sync - Grow Your Gaming World

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

• Static
• Breathing
• Strobing
• Rainbow
• Colour cycle
• Starry night
• Music effect
• Smart
• Adaptive colour
• Dark

LiveDash OLED

The ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme includes LiveDash, a built-in 2-inch OLED panel that shows useful information and features customizable graphics. During the power-on, self-test (POST) phase, the OLED shows key stats in simple language using traditional POST codes. In normal operation, the panel can be programmed to show CPU frequency, device temperatures, fan speeds or water-cooling information. You can also personalize the default OLED GIF with a preferred image or animation.

• Hardware Monitor
• Formula Exclusive
• BIOS Update
• Customization Content

Gaming Audio

Sonic Studio III

Sonic Studio supports HRTF-based (head-related transfer function*) virtual surround for headsets, casting an immersive aural landscape that draws you deeper into the action. The intuitive Sonic Studio interface also offers a range of EQ options and one-click presets, allowing you to tailor acoustics to suit personal preferences or the characteristics of your headset.

*A head-related transfer function is an audio algorithm derived from sound data recorded through a dummy head. Test tones are played from a spherical grid around the dummy head to obtain subtle changes in sounds that come from different directions. The results are combined into an algorithm that allows Sonic Studio's virtual surround to process sound true to life.

• Sonic Studio Link - Easily apply Sonic Studio effects on all playback devices. Simply press the Sonic Studio Link button to enjoy the effect on any playback device
• App-Specific Profiles - Apply customized audio settings to different applications, so everything you do is perfectly tuned to the way you want to listen
• Sonic studio virtual mixer - Combine audio output from selected apps with audio from the microphone input and stream the compiled mix

DTS : Sound Unbound

The ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme includes a pre-loaded DTS® Sound Unbound™ app that envelops you in audio as never before, conjuring whole new levels of immersion for extraordinary gaming and entertainment experiences. By exploiting Windows Sonic spatial technology, DTS Sound Unbound delivers audio in a virtual 3D space — putting you right in the middle of the soundscape, where you can sense the location and direction of every gunshot, footstep or other sound in your virtual environment.

• Stereo Sound
• Surround Sound
• Spatial Sound

Armoury Crate

Armoury Crate is a software utility designed to give you centralized control of supported gaming products, making it easy to tune the look and feel of your system. From a single intuitive interface, Armoury Crate helps you customize RGB lighting and effects for compatible devices and synchronize them with Aura Sync to create a unified lighting scheme across your system. In addition, Armoury Crate’s Fan Xpert4 tool provides comprehensive control over fans, water pumps and all-in-one (AIO) coolers.

You can also use Armoury Crate to download drivers, software and user manuals, register products, and tap into a special news feed that connects you to the global ASUS gaming community.

• Aura Sync
• Fan Control
• Device Configuration
• Driver & Manual Download
• Gaming Highlight
• Account Management

AIDA64 Extreme

The ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme includes a one-year AIDA64 Extreme subscription. This industry-leading system information tool provides detailed information about installed hardware and software, and it also provides benchmarks for measuring performance of the entire system or individual components. AIDA64 Extreme includes a monitoring and diagnostics feature to detect and prevent hardware issues. All vital system sensors can be tracked in real time, allowing voltage readings, fan speeds, and temperature information to be viewed on the desktop, sent to dedicated displays, or the OLED panels of ROG AIO liquid coolers*.

• ROG x AIDA64 Extreme
• Hardware Monitor Display

Graphics Card Holder

Featuring a magnetic base, adjustable slider and hinge, the ROG Graphics Card Holder banishes sag and provides support where it’s needed most.