ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced that new ROG Maximus Z890 Apex motherboards have been used to achieve 5 world records, 19 global first-place records and 31 first-place records. In the hands of some of the world’s premier professional overclockers, the Maximus Z890 Apex has coaxed dazzling performance out of the latest Intel® Core™ Ultra processor (Series 2) lineup and the latest high-performance memory kits.

Veterans of the overclocking scene will not be surprised to learn that these records were achieved with an Apex motherboard on the bench. This series has an undeniable pedigree. Since the very first model, ASUS has designed Apex motherboards for the singular purpose of helping the world’s most talented overclockers shatter barriers on their way to new records.

The ROG Maximus Z890 Apex takes the series to new heights with a sizeable 22+1+2+2 power solution ready to take Intel Arrow Lake processors to the stratosphere. But the true strength of the Apex is in its memory layout. In order to fully optimize copper trace pathways to the integrated memory controller, the Apex features two DIMM slots instead of four, sacrificing raw capacity to enable record-breaking frequencies.

The outstanding records
The innovative layout of the ROG Maximus Z890 Apex is proving itself on the overclocking battlefield. The memory frequency achieved by BenchMarc deserves special recognition. Using the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 285K and the ROG Maximus Z890 Apex, BenchMarc was able to push a memory kit all the way to 12,066MT/s for a new world record.

Famed overclocker Elmor took an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 285K to dizzying heights with the ROG Maximus Z890 Apex. Using an innovative overclocking setup, Elmor pushed this CPU to 7488.8MHz. The overclocking was conducted with liquid helium using the AI LN2 pot, a project by 3D Systems, Diabatix, ElmorLabs, and SkatterBencher. This LN2 pot was designed with generative AI technology from Diabatix that allowed the team to rapidly explore a stunning range ofa design alternatives. The output of the Gen AI process was unlike anything else on the market, and it required the cutting-edge 3D printing tech of 3D Systems to bring to life; but the results speak for themselves. List of records is available at https://press.asus.com/news/press-releases/rog-maximus-z890-apex-record-...

When two is greater than four
While most users will not be clamping a liquid nitrogen pot to their new Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2), there are some lessons that PC enthusiasts can learn from these professional overclockers when it comes to extracting the most performance out of their new system.

One important insight concerns memory gear modes. In the past, a processor’s memory controller operated at a frequency equal to memory speed. We call this 1:1 ratio Gear 1. But as DDR4 modules were developed with increasingly higher frequencies, a new approach was needed to enable the higher memory-module data rates. That is when Gear 2 was introduced―a mode in which the processor memory controller operates at half the memory speed. This approach enhances compatibility and provides greater potential for pushing data rates to higher levels.

Today’s DDR5 memory kits are so fast that Gear 1 is no longer an option. With the latest Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2), users have the choice between Gear 2 and Gear 4. Gear 4 operates the CPU memory controller at a quarter of the memory clock speed, and it is the default setting for most Z890 motherboards, thanks to its excellent compatibility.

However, Gear 4 comes with a tradeoff in the form of higher memory latency. In this regard, Gear 2 is demonstrably better, and that is especially true in the 6400-9000MHz frequency range. For example, the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 285K and DDR5-8000 have 18.8% lower latency when switched from Gear 4 to Gear 2, according to AIDA64.

Switching to Gear 2 instead of Gear 4 can even allow a memory kit to perform above its specifications. At DDR5-9000 with Gear 2, an extremely fast CUDIMM kit with the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 285K recorded faster memory read speeds and 12.48% lower latency than with DDR5-9600 and Gear 4.

The latency difference between Gear 2 and Gear 4 is not just visible in synthetic benchmarks—users will notice it in games, too. Internal testing of Far Cry 6 and Cyberpunk 2077 with a two-DIMM memory kit delivered an fps increase of up to 8.9% at 1080p when switching from Gear 2 to Gear 4.

Accordingly, ASUS has selected Gear 2 as the default setting for ASUS Z890 motherboards. This means that users will not have to tinker with their memory settings to enjoy the advantages of Gear 2.

Exciting advancements in the world of DDR5 ― like new clock-unbuffered DIMM (CUDIMM) memory modules ― have created considerable speculation among enthusiasts. Impressive memory performance is becoming possible even for users who are not resorting to exotic cooling methods. With the ROG Maximus Z890 Apex, this group of overclockers was able to achieve DDR5-10266 at a CAS latency of 46.

However, users are not limited to the ROG Maximus Z890 Apex motherboard when it comes to next-level memory performance. The ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme, ROG Maximus Z890 Hero and ROG Strix Z890-E Gaming WiFi all feature NitroPath DRAM technology. This cutting-edge redesign of the DRAM slot improves signal quality, increasing DRAM overclocking performance by up to 400 MT/s, depending on factors like memory speed, module and system configuration. With these motherboards, users can enjoy premium memory speeds along with the capacity upgrade options available with their four DIMM slots.

Users of select ROG motherboards will also have an easy time optimizing the latest CUDIMM memory kits. ASUS Z890 motherboards include ASUS Enhanced Memory Profile III (AEMP III). This advanced firmware feature empowers users to achieve unparalleled memory performance with cutting-edge CUDIMM memory. Through a two-phase comprehensive tuning process, AEMP III first optimizes the clock driver and then the memory frequency. This results in the best balance between performance and stability, even at cutting-edge speeds of DDR5-8000 or higheri.

Not just for professional overclockers
ASUS Z890 motherboards offer a wealth of advantages above and beyond robust support for CPU and memory overclocking. With a wide range of options across the ROG, TUF Gaming, ProArt and Prime motherboard families, users are sure to find an option that fits their style, performance needs and budget.