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ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero — LGA1700 · Z790
ASUS

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero

LGA1700 · Z790

90
/ 100
From $629
VS
ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero wins by 5
Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite — AM5 · X870
Gigabyte

Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite

AM5 · X870

85
/ 100
From $279
Specdex verdict

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero lands at 90 and Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite at 85. That puts ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero if…

  • ✓PCIe 5.0 support
  • ✓Current-gen networking
  • ✓Modern I/O

Pick Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite if…

  • ✓PCIe 5.0 support
  • ✓Current-gen networking
  • ✓Modern I/O
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

VRM quality

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero

Compared on the VRM quality sub-score

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero leads on vrm (90 vs 85).

Features

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero

Compared on the features sub-score

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero leads on features (88 vs 83).

BIOS

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero

Compared on the BIOS quality sub-score

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero leads on bios (86 vs 81).

Value for money

Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite more score per dollar ($279 vs $629).

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero 90
vs
85 Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite

Score breakdown

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero
90
vrm 90
features 88
bios 86
value 84
Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite
85
vrm 85
features 83
bios 81
value 84

Specs side-by-side

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero versus Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite — full spec comparison
Spec ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite
Socket
LGA1700
AM5
Chipset
Z790
X870

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero

Pros
  • +PCIe 5.0 support
  • +Current-gen networking
  • +Modern I/O
Cons
  • −Firmware updates on launch
  • −DDR5 required
  • −Pricing varies week to week

Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite

Pros
  • +PCIe 5.0 support
  • +Current-gen networking
  • +Modern I/O
Cons
  • −Firmware updates on launch
  • −DDR5 required
  • −Pricing varies week to week

FAQ: ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero vs Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite

Which is better, ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero or Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite? +

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero scores 90 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero worth the price? +

At $629, ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in vrm.

Is Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite worth the price? +

At $279, Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite delivers a Specdex score of 85 — strongest in vrm.

Does ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero or Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for VRM quality, ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero or Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite? +

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero — leads on vrm (90 vs 85). Compared on the VRM quality sub-score.

Which is better for features, ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero or Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite? +

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero — leads on features (88 vs 83). Compared on the features sub-score.