Asus Maximus XI Hero really that bad?

[darkkterror]

So, I feel like I might have made a mistake.  Or maybe I'm worrying too much about it.  I'm not sure.

 

Anyway, I'm doing a new build with an i9 9900k.  I purchased an Asus ROG Maximus XI Hero motherboard from Newegg to go with it.  I admit I might have succumbed to a little bit of Asus fanboyism here.  I bought the board without a second thought as I have had many Asus boards in the past and they always worked out great for me.  I didn't really consider other options at the time.  I saw the Maximus XI Hero and just bought it.

 

It was after I received the Maximus XI that I stumbled upon some videos from the likes of Gamer's Nexus and Hardware Unboxed about the VRM setup on this board and others.  It apparently only has a 4-phase VRM (a "fat" 4-phase but just a 4-phase) compared to other similarly priced boards with 8 or even 12 phases (like the Aorus Master).  Now, it seems like everywhere I look, people aren't recommending the Maximus XI due to this VRM design.

I do want to overclock the 9900k.  It is going under a custom water cooling loop and I definitely want to get at LEAST 5Ghz all-core and (hoping I got a good chip) maybe 5.1-5.2GHz all core.

 

My worry now, after hearing the discussions around the current line up of Z390 boards, is that maybe the Maximus XI won't be able to handle that with only a 4-phase VRM?  Or maybe I'm just over stressing this point.

Does anyone have any feedback or opinions on this?  Is the Maximus XI still decent and it's just that other boards are better (for less money) or what?

[Jurrunio]

Maximus 11 Hero can handle the 9900k no problem, but it's value comes from going LN2 which other boards don't do as well. In a liquid cooled system, it won't be outperforming its competition which cost anywhere from $50-100 less.

[Ebony Falcon]

My maximus hero x runs my 8700k solid at 5,45ghz for benching no sweat 

I assume it’s same vrms as the xi so I’d say it’s ok especially if u just want basic 5/5.2 ish oc

[Firewrath9]

With a custom loop, and 1.35-1.4v, you can prob push 5.3-5.4ghz, that will really stress the VRMs, and I would suggest getting a gigabyte one, but if you have good case airflow, you should be fine, also consider getting a vrm/full cover waterblock.

[Princess Luna]

The XI really is awful compared Asus past boards, the Gigabyte Aorus Master is the best now.

[xg32]

1 hour ago, Ebony Falcon said:

My maximus hero x runs my 8700k solid at 5,45ghz for benching no sweat 

I assume it’s same vrms as the xi so I’d say it’s ok especially if u just want basic 5/5.2 ish oc

the xi is downgraded from the x (they saved about 5bucks from the vrm and the controller)

 

2 hours ago, darkkterror said:

So, I feel like I might have made a mistake.  Or maybe I'm worrying too much about it.  I'm not sure.

 

Anyway, I'm doing a new build with an i9 9900k.  I purchased an Asus ROG Maximus XI Hero motherboard from Newegg to go with it.  I admit I might have succumbed to a little bit of Asus fanboyism here.  I bought the board without a second thought as I have had many Asus boards in the past and they always worked out great for me.  I didn't really consider other options at the time.  I saw the Maximus XI Hero and just bought it.

 

It was after I received the Maximus XI that I stumbled upon some videos from the likes of Gamer's Nexus and Hardware Unboxed about the VRM setup on this board and others.  It apparently only has a 4-phase VRM (a "fat" 4-phase but just a 4-phase) compared to other similarly priced boards with 8 or even 12 phases (like the Aorus Master).  Now, it seems like everywhere I look, people aren't recommending the Maximus XI due to this VRM design.

I do want to overclock the 9900k.  It is going under a custom water cooling loop and I definitely want to get at LEAST 5Ghz all-core and (hoping I got a good chip) maybe 5.1-5.2GHz all core.

 

My worry now, after hearing the discussions around the current line up of Z390 boards, is that maybe the Maximus XI won't be able to handle that with only a 4-phase VRM?  Or maybe I'm just over stressing this point.

Does anyone have any feedback or opinions on this?  Is the Maximus XI still decent and it's just that other boards are better (for less money) or what?

 

the z390 hero xi is a below average board even for 200dollars, for 300dollars...just go with the master. My taichi VRM sits at 50idle and 70C load, from the temp results on hardware unboxed, i'd guess the XI hero would be looking at 80-90C on load inside a case with decent airflow, and the caps are rated at 10k hours (roughly a year) at 100-105C (this is from older motherboards), so there's a decent chance the vrm will die in 2 years on the hero xi at continuous loads. 

 

In plain terms, the hero XI is bad even for 200dollars. The taichi is meh, and the master's just insanely good.

 

Asus downgraded their motherboard from z370 to z390 (lol) and they cut so many corners on their 27inch 4k monitor while i was doing my research it was laughable, let's hope they didnt cheap out on their strix cards also. I'd stay away from asus til they get their shit together, and i've used asus stuff on every build before coffee lake.

 

[Ebony Falcon]

2 hours ago, xg32 said:

the xi is downgraded from the x (they saved about 5bucks from the vrm and the controller)

 

 

the z390 hero xi is a below average board even for 200dollars, for 300dollars...just go with the master. My taichi VRM sits at 50idle and 70C load, from the temp results on hardware unboxed, i'd guess the XI hero would be looking at 80-90C on load inside a case with decent airflow, and the caps are rated at 10k hours (roughly a year) at 100-105C (this is from older motherboards), so there's a decent chance the vrm will die in 2 years on the hero xi at continuous loads. 

 

In plain terms, the hero XI is bad even for 200dollars. The taichi is meh, and the master's just insanely good.

 

Asus downgraded their motherboard from z370 to z390 (lol) and they cut so many corners on their 27inch 4k monitor while i was doing my research it was laughable, let's hope they didnt cheap out on their strix cards also. I'd stay away from asus til they get their shit together, and i've used asus stuff on every build before coffee lake.

 

Rtx strix cards look pretty decent to be fair bro the oc modle is 1890 out the box

[xg32]

3 hours ago, Ebony Falcon said:

Rtx strix cards look pretty decent to be fair bro the oc modle is 1890 out the box

yap havent seen anything bad about the cards yet at least, 20 series looks good.

[mxk]

Honestly, If you can find a way to sell the board and get a hold of a taichi ultimate, or aorus master, consider doing that. The XI downgraded which is weird to me, but whatever Asus. If you keep the board it won't explode or anything, it'll just be a little warmer and might not perform as well as the gigabyte or asrock board.