ASUS
ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero
LGA1700 · Z790
90
/ 100
From $629
VS
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon wins by 1
MSI
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon
LGA1851 · Z890
91
/ 100
From $529
Specdex verdict
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero lands at 90 and MSI MPG Z890 Carbon at 91. That puts MSI MPG Z890 Carbon ahead by 1 points — a narrow 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 MSI MPG Z890 Carbon if…
- ✓PCIe 5.0 support
- ✓Current-gen networking
- ✓Modern I/O
ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero 90
vs 91 MSI MPG Z890 Carbon
Score breakdown
ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero
90 vrm 90
features 88
bios 86
value 84
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon
91 vrm 91
features 89
bios 87
value 84
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero | MSI MPG Z890 Carbon |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1700 | LGA1851 |
| Chipset | Z790 | Z890 |
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
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon
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 MSI MPG Z890 Carbon
Which is better, ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero or MSI MPG Z890 Carbon? +
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon scores 91 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. 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 MSI MPG Z890 Carbon worth the price? +
At $529, MSI MPG Z890 Carbon delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in vrm.
Does ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero or MSI MPG Z890 Carbon 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.