We are once again talking about reaching 3000Mhz frequencies using generic memory with 100 % stability at a reasonable 1.5v . Sure enough the timings aren ’ t great but the performance gains are massive and this is far superior to the 2600MHz limit on the Z170 motherboards with the same kit . The great thing about this is that it makes all your older DDR4 kits relevant today , but not necessarily because it allows those who can only afford DDR4 2133MHz memory to reach much higher frequencies . The selling price of this motherboard would more often than not preclude those who are only able to buy 2133MHz memory in the first place . As such , while the APEX does away with many of the game centric features found on other ROG and STRIX boards , it has distilled the best features of all overclocking boards to date into a simple and straight forward product that is at present without any meaningful competition .
There are a number of neat ideas implemented on this motherboard that are worthwhile , it is just that in the face of how overwhelmingly good it is at overclocking , they don ’ t seem that important . For one , consider the
X-shape PCB . It has no value whatsoever outside of being aesthetically pleasing , much like the LEDs under the board . It could all be used in some creative ways and of course , the AURA software for controlling the LEDs would be key in making it all come together just right . Getting your machine to look just the way you like couldn ’ t be easier , and this is true for the APEX and other Z270 ROG boards from ASUS .
In the next issue , we will be looking at more LN2 overclocking with the APEX motherboard , but for now all one can say is that , the ROG team has outdone themselves by producing a motherboard that is not only going to be hard for the competition to match , but one that just may be near impossible for them to improve upon in the next generation of products . It isn ’ t an easy thing hitting the ground running , but the APEX has done just that with very few overt UEFI issues . The MAXIMUS IX APEX offers staggering overclocking potential , peerless overclocking features and best of all is incredibly easy to get to grips with . There ’ s simply nothing to dislike or anything worthwhile to complain about here . At the time of writing the price was stated as just under
$ 290 and at that price you should definitely make this your next motherboard purchase . It ’ s an instant classic and one we should all own . It ’ s just brilliant !
Summary
For this generation , it ’ s not going to get better than the APEX for overclocking . The motherboard is mastered and there ’ s no faulting it in any one discipline . For gamers , you may want to consider the HERO or other models if you want all the fancy ‘ GAMING ’ features . For overclocking and extracting the best from your system however , there ’ s simply no other choice to be made . This is about as good as any motherboard has ever been in history . It ’ s incredibly good , better than one could ever have hoped for .
Would you buy it ?
Yes , without question .
[ The Overclocker ]
Issue 40 | 2017 The OverClocker 33