Intel Z890 Motherboard Mega Guide (2025) — ASUS, ASRock, GIGABYTE & MSI

ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Apex — the two-DIMM margin monster

Apex exists so DDR5 tuning feels predictable. With one DIMM per channel, trace length/stubs are minimized, eye margins widen, and training goes from temperamental to repeatable—even as ambient temps swing. If your fun is tightening secondaries and pushing 8200–9000+ MT/s, Apex is the right foundation.

Outside memory antics, Apex behaves like a competent flagship: PEG at Gen5 x16, CPU-Gen5 M.2 for OS/cache, and a healthy PCH Gen4 spread for scratch/projects—all under legitimate fin plates. TB4 on the rear, Wi-Fi 7, sensible front 20Gbps, and bench-friendly switches (safe-boot/retry, LN2/slow-mode headers) save time even at ambient. VRM fin stacks keep transients clean; you can run a softer LLC and still hold clocks during mixed AVX/light loads.

Spec snapshot

1. 1. • ATX, flagship SPS VRM w/ fin stacks, bench controls
      • 2× DDR5 (1DPC) with AEMP III / DIMM Flex / NitroPath
      • PCIe 5.0 x16 PEG; CPU-Gen5 x4 M.2; multi-Gen4 M.2
      • TB4 rear, Wi-Fi 7, rich I/O

Official page: ROG Maximus Z890 Apex