Three new Z790 motherboards from ROG, ProArt, and TUF Gaming burst onto the scene

Intel’s latest 13^th Gen Core processors have arrived. Ranging from the top-end Core i9-13900K to the mainstream Core i5-13600K, these overclocking-ready chips stand ready to take gamers, creators, and PC enthusiasts of all kinds to the next level. We’ve already announced a wide range of Z790 motherboards for these new CPUs—click here to check out our full Z790 motherboard lineup—but now we’re ready to share details on three additional options.

First up is the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex. The ultimate option for memory overclocking enthusiasts, this motherboard boasts a cutting-edge feature set. For creative professionals of all kinds, we offer the ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi. This motherboard offers a premium connectivity selection and bespoke style, and it’s fully ready for next-gen graphics cards and ultra-fast PCIe 5.0 storage. Finally, we’re bolstering our TUF Gaming lineup with the TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi, which brings DDR5 support to the family.

We’re also scheduling a livestream on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube with in-depth information on our full Z790 lineup—including an introduction of these three new models. Click here to check it out. Additionally, we’ll have a special stream on 10/21 with live overclocking demos, insights on AI Overclocking, DDR5, and XMP, and much more.

Ascend to new heights with the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex

Overclockers know that our Apex motherboards are primed and ready for record-breaking memory performance. The ROG Maximus Z790 Apex continues that tradition with its two DIMM slots ready to overclock your DDR5 RAM up to 8000MT/s. To make sure that you have all the tools you need for testing and monitoring your memory, we include 1-year subscriptions for AIDA64 Extreme and Memtest86+.

The ROG Maximus Z790 Apex is already proving its mettle as an overclocking powerhouse—it’s earned 14 world records and 13 global first place records. Overclocker Elmor used the Apex to take an Intel CPU up to 8,812.85MHz, shattering a record achieved with an AMD CPU and held since 2012. Using an Intel Core i9-13900K CPU, overclocker lupin_no_musume was able to achieve a new DDR5 memory overclocking frequency record of 5564.8MHz , which translates to 11,130MT/s. That’s nearly 2.3x faster than baseline JEDEC DDR5 RAM speeds. And safedisk set new records in both Cinebench R23 and SuperPi 32M, achieving 56722 points and 3 minutes, 4.054 seconds respectively.

Perhaps you don’t have a liquid nitrogen pot in your shopping cart for your next build, but the Apex’s proven overclocking performance will help ensure that you can run your high-end CPU and memory kit at fast, stable speeds.

This motherboard’s robust power solution provides a high-end platform for exceptional performance. Raw power enters the board through 8+8 ProCool II power connectors. The solid pins in these connectors offer better contact with PSU plugs, improved heat dissipation, and better reliability over common hardware. 24+0 teamed power stages rated for 105A deliver stable power to your CPU, and enlarged VRM heatsinks keep the circuitry cool under pressure.

For those using a liquid cooling loop to keep temperatures low, the ROG Water Cooling Zone puts you in command. ROG Water-Cooling Zone’s dual water-temperature headers and flow-rate header feed information straight into ROG’s intuitive Fan Xpert 4 utility, letting you stay on top of the heat and stay cool in every game.

ASUS-exclusive intelligent controls make it easy for you to optimize your experience. AI Overclocking fine-tunes your CPU for high-end performance with just a couple clicks. It uses dedicated onboard microcontrollers to track temperatures and frequency telemetry, and then passes that data through an advanced algorithm coded by experts to overclock your system. AI Cooling II monitors your CPU and uses the data from its stress test to calculate the lowest fan speed required to effectively cool your system—while keeping noise levels low.

Looking for a platform that’ll give you access to the fastest components of today and tomorrow? The ROG Maximus Z790 Apex offers a pair of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots ready for next-gen graphics cards. A PCIe Slot Q-Release button makes it a breeze releasing a graphics card from the slot. Through the included PCIe 5.0 M.2 card, you can install a blazing-fast PCIe 5.0 SSD. You’ll find two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, both with dual M.2 heatsinks with embedded backplates, and you can install two more M.2 SSDs through the DIMM.2 add-in card. Our M.2 Q-Latch system lets you install drives without worrying that you might lose a tiny M.2 screw.

High-end connectivity rounds out the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex’s feature set. Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet and WiFi 6E give you fast wired and wireless networking. You’ll find an ultrafast USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C® port on the rear I/O panel, and a header to connect another with Quick Charge 4+ (up to 60W) on the front panel of your case.

The ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi calls to creators

Building a content creation machine ready to harness a 13^th Gen Intel CPU? Look no further than the ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi. With a sophisticated style rooted in clean lines, graceful angles, and precise symmetry—and a cutting-edge feature set—this is the motherboard you’re looking for.

For those with creative workflows that scale with high-end memory kits, the ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi accelerates projects with the massive bandwidth, lightning-quick speeds, and exceptional power efficiency offered by next-generation DDR5 RAM. With data rates 50% faster than previous-generation DDR4 memory, DDR5 unleashes a new tier of performance, and this motherboard offers a host of hardware and firmware optimizations that enable users to overclock capable kits to the absolute limit.

With PCIe 5.0 connectivity, the ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi gives you access to the fastest next-gen graphics cards. This motherboard boasts not just one, but two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots. They can operate in an x8/x8 configuration so that you can take full advantage of a pair of graphics cards. Four onboard M.2 slots let you set up a speedy storage array.

You’ll also find a comprehensive selection of high-speed ports ready to connect your full creative workstation. A versatile pair of Thunderbolt™ 4 USB Type-C® ports on the rear panel give you many options for connecting peripherals and displays. Flexible front-panel connectivity is essential for many workflows, so the ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi offers a front panel USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 connector with support for Quick Charge 4+ (up to 60W). Make sure to pair this motherboard with a case featuring a front-panel USB Type-C port so that you can have convenient access to 60W charging.*

High-end networking options keep you productive. With a compatible router, this motherboard’s WiFi 6E radio lets you tap the freshly-opened 6GHz spectrum in select regions for truly unhindered wireless connections. Intel 2.5G Ethernet provides rock-solid and reliable wired networking, while a Marvell AQtion 10G Ethernet port opens up even more options, such as connecting to blazing-fast network-attached storage.

Jump into the fray with the TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi

With a TUF Gaming motherboard, you know that you’re getting essential gaming features, battle-hardened reliability, and an understated aesthetic that fits in a wide range of builds. We’re bolstering our TUF Gaming Z790 lineup with a higher-end option offering DDR5 support: the TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi.

This board is ready for action with the latest 13th Gen Intel Core CPUs with an upgraded power solution. It boasts 8+8 ProCool II power connectors, and its 16+1 DrMOS power stages—up from the 14+1 arrangement in our TUF Gaming Z690 family—augment the VRM’s ability to deliver stable power while staying cool under pressure.

We’re also taking steps to streamline your building and upgrading experience. The TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi features our PCIe Slot Q-Release button, which makes it easy to remove your graphics card, even if it’s a high-performance option with a thick cooling solution and a hefty backplate. AEMP II makes it easy to optimize your DDR5 RAM for exceptional performance—just a couple clicks in BIOS to enable the memory profile, and you’ll have stable RAM speeds up to 37.5% faster than baseline DDR5 specs.*

A PCIe 5.0 x16 slot lets you access the fastest graphics cards of today and tomorrow. Four onboard PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots make it easy to set up a large and speedy gaming library. Networking comes courtesy of an Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet controller, and an Intel WiFi 6E radio lets you connect to a compatible router over the wide-open 6GHz band in select regions. A suite of USB ports, including a speedy USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port on the rear I/O panel, lets you connect all your favorite gaming peripherals.

Looking to complement your TUF Gaming motherboard with an array of components and peripherals with the same aesthetic? The TUF GAMING Alliance is a collaboration between ASUS and trusted PC component brands to ensure compatibility across a wide range of parts, such as PC cases, power supplies, CPU coolers, memory kits and more. With new partnerships and components being added regularly, the TUF Gaming Alliance will continue to grow even stronger.

Complete your build with ASUS PC DIY components

As a company, we built our reputation on the quality and performance of our motherboard lineup. But our product portfolio includes just about everything that you’d need to build a complete PC—from graphics cards to cases, from case fans to AIO liquid coolers, from power supplies to graphics card holders. And that’s before you consider our complete lineup of displays, peripherals, and wireless networking products. To build a PC with a cohesive, unified aesthetic, a PC that offers the legendary quality of our motherboards in every component, complement your ASUS Z790 motherboard with an array of parts from our other product families.

Gamers and creators will be looking for a graphics card for their new Intel 13^th Gen build, and we’ve got a large selection of options at the ready. Whether you need a cutting-edge graphics card with one of the best GPUs offered by our partners at AMD and NVIDIA, or whether you’re looking for an affordable entry-level model, we have what you’re looking for. Click here to learn all about the latest GeForce RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 graphics cards from ROG Strix and TUF gaming—or click here to learn more about all our different graphics card families.

Looking for a little help getting started with your first build—or perhaps some inspiration for how you’ll design your next PC? Head on over to our PC DIY portal for insider info on our latest products, videos breaking down the process of building a PC, and recommended builds that make it easy to put together a complete shopping list. Assembling a PC is easier than you might think, and we’re happy to help you get started.

*For 60W charging, a 6-pin PCIe power cable must be connected to the motherboard.

** The result may vary by the capability of CPUs and memory modules. Our results derived from a test with Intel RAPTORLAKE 13900K and SK HYNIX DDR5-4800 UDIMM n-ECC HMCG78MEBUA081N 16GBX2. Please ensure all memory modules are from a single validated kit. Do not combine DIMMs from multiple kits—even if they are the same make and model. Mixing and matching DIMMs can result in failure to boot and compatibility cannot be guaranteed. Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimal compatibility, we recommend that you install memory modules of the same version or date code (D/C) from the same vendor. Check with the retailer to get the correct memory modules.