The ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero is an ATX motherboard designed for Intel 13th Gen CPUs with an LGA 1700 socket. It features a robust 20 + 1 power stage design for superior power delivery and thermal performance, making it ideal for overclocking and demanding workloads. The board supports DDR5 memory, offering extensive tuning options with ASUS Enhanced Memory Profile (AEMP) II for optimized performance, even with mixed or non-XMP kits. Cooling is a major focus, with substantial VRM and M.2 heatsinks, high-conductivity thermal pads, and multiple headers for precise control of both air and liquid cooling systems. Connectivity is future-proof, including PCIe 5.0 support for the latest graphics cards and SSDs, two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports offering up to 40 Gbps bandwidth, a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C front-panel connector with 60W Quick Charge 4+, WiFi 6E for enhanced wireless performance, and 2.5 Gbps Ethernet for low-latency networking. High-fidelity audio is provided by ROG SupremeFX technology with an ALC4082 codec and an ESS ES9218 QUAD DAC for exceptional sound quality. The motherboard also includes intelligent optimization features like AI Cooling II for thermal and acoustic balancing, Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation for clear communication, and AI Networking for optimized game traffic.