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ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero — LGA1700 · Z790
ASUS

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero

LGA1700 · Z790

90
/ 100
From $629
VS
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon wins by 1
MSI MPG Z890 Carbon — LGA1851 · Z890
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
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Winner by scenario

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

VRM quality

Tie

Compared on the VRM quality sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Features

Tie

Compared on the features sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

BIOS

Tie

Compared on the BIOS quality sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Value for money

MSI MPG Z890 Carbon

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

MSI MPG Z890 Carbon more score per dollar ($529 vs $629).

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

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero versus MSI MPG Z890 Carbon — full spec comparison
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.

Which is the better value, ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero or MSI MPG Z890 Carbon? +

MSI MPG Z890 Carbon — more score per dollar ($529 vs $629). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.