MAXimus ix Apex
Back to where ROG began
The new ROG Maximus IX Apex delivers bold design and unparalleled power, hearkening back to the origins of the brand. With an optimized layout and radical aesthetics, the Apex is engineered to smash performance boundaries and to look good while doing it. That makes it the perfect motherboard for overclocking addicts who push their system to the limits, or for enthusiasts who want to build a showcase gaming rig!
**The CES Innovation Awards are based upon descriptive materials submitted to the judges. CTA did not verify the accuracy of any submission or of any claims made and did not test the item to which the award was given.
Performance Enthusiast
Gaming Enthusiast
Style Enthusiast
- ClrCMOS BIOS Flashback
- 1 x PS/2 mouse port 1 x PS/2 keyboard port
- 1 x HDMI 1.4b 1 x DisplayPort1.2
- 8 x USB 3.0 ports (2 @ mid-board)
- Intel I219-V
LANGuard
USB 3.1
Type-A + Type-C
- 5 x Gold-plated audio jacks 1 x S/PDIF optical out
- Multi-GPU SLI / CFX support
3 x PCIe 3.0 x16 SafeSlots (CPU)
2 x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots (PCH)
1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot (PCH)
- Illuminated customizable nameplate
- SupremeFX 1220A CODEC
· Impedance sense for front and rear
· 120dB SNR stereo playback output
· 113dB SNR recording input
- Full Speed Fan headers
- 2 x AURA 4-pin RGB headers
- Overclocking Features
· Q-Code
· Multicolored Q-LED
· LN2 mode
· Condensation detect LEDs
· Slow mode switch
· Pause switch
· RSVD (CBB switch)
· ReTry button
· Safe Boot button
· MemOK! button
· ProbeIt
· PCIe slot switch
· DRAM jumpers
-
3D-printing mount
- Intel LGA1151 for 7th & 6th gen processors
- DIMM.2 socket
· 1 x M.2 2230~22110 (PCIe 3.0 x4 + SATA)
· 1 x M.2 2230~22110 (PCIe 3.0 x4)
- DDR4 4266MHz+ (OC)
· 2 DIMM Dual Channel
· XMP support
· SafeDIMM slots
- 4 x SATA 6G ports
-
Intel Z270 chipset ROG LOGO RGB LED
- W_IN/OUT, W_Flow headers
- 6 x USB 2.0 ports (6 @ mid-board)
- X-shaped PCB
Redefining the limits
Maximus IX Apex is a motherboard built for serious performance. The ROG R&D team redefined boundaries with the Apex design — elevating its overclocking potential to dizzying heights. Manufactured using some of the industry's highest-quality components, the Apex features a convention-breaking two-slot memory design on EATX to enable a highly optimized trace layout that reduces crosstalk and improves signal integrity. The Apex has already surpassed performance peaks by setting multiple world records to achieve global first places, breaking several long-standing records in the process. Among these record-breaking performances is the best Intel© Core™ CPU-frequency since the X58 platform-based motherboards, with a single-core, single-thread frequency of 7.383GHz, and 7.328MHz at four cores and eight threads. The new board has also set a reference base-clock (BCLK) record at 584MHz, and a memory frequency surpassing 5GHz in single channel — turning in a breathtaking 5041MHz! In total, Maximus IX Apex has secured 8 WRs and 18 GFPs.
*All world records and global first places were verified on January 25, 2017, and are recorded at HWBOT.org.
BCLK
584 Mhz
8
World
Records
18
Global
First Places
Overclocker's Toolkit
12 hardware-level controls
Maximus IX Apex includes an overclocker's toolkit with a dozen hardware-level controls to aid your overclocking experience. The motherboard's Dual BIOS allows you to experiment with different firmware versions and provides a path for recovery in case one becomes corrupt, and the onboard switch allows you to easily change between the first and second BIOS. The overclocker's toolkit also includes a Pause switch to halt the system, DRAM jumpers for quick memory configuration, and four PCIe switches for quick slot toggling. Other tools include Safe Boot and ReTry buttons, an LN2 jumper to aid POST at sub-zero temperatures, and a Slow mode switch. Combined, they're quick and easy time-savers designed to help you break more records!
- 1
QLED
Four LEDs to show the current boot status.
- 2
LN2 mode jumper
Jumper to enable special options and functions for liquid-nitrogen (LN2) overclocking.
- 3
Slow mode switch*
Instantly reduces the CPU ratio to 8X to bypass finicky benchmark passages.
- 4
Pause switch*
Activate to pause the system and fine-tune OC parameters mid-benchmark.
- 5
RSVD Switch (CBB Switch)*
Helps the system boot under extreme temperatures (? -120°C).
- 6
PCIe switches
Four switches to independently enable or disable any of the four x16-length PCIe slots, for easy debugging.
- 7
DRAM jumpers
Two jumpers to enable or disable either of the DIMM channels.
- 8
ReTry button
One press instantly initiates a hard reset.
- 9
Safe Boot Button
Instantly reset the PC and boot directly into a safe mode.
- 10
ProbeIt
Check the voltage via integrated measurement points.
- 11
MemOK!
Instantly retune memory settings for a guaranteed boot.
- 12
BIOS switch (for Dual BIOS)
Switch quickly and easily between BIOS one and two.
*Slow mode, Pause and RSVD switches require that LN2 mode is enabled 
Condensation detection
Specialized circuitry allows Maximus IX Apex to detect when condensation occurs on the back of the board. Divided into three distinct sections — CPU, DRAM and PCIe — the feature provides a useful warning when an area may be at risk of short-circuiting.
-
CPU LED
Flashes when condensation is detected near the CPU.
-
DRAM LED
Flashes when condensation is detected near the DRAM.
-
PCIE LED
Flashes when condensation is detected near the PCIe.
best gaming performance
Bar-raising memory overclocking
ROG engineers adopted a two-slot memory design on an EATX motherboard, enabling a highly optimized layout for memory trace paths to minimize noise and improve signal integrity while allowing DDR4 overclocking to 4266MHz and beyond. ROG also works with all the major DDR4 memory vendors to ensure the best compatibility and real-world performance. But don't take our word for it — see what Corsair and G.Skill have to say about Apex's overclocking credentials!
The ROG team has raised the bar once again on memory overclocking with its latest 7th Gen Intel Core motherboard. Maximus IX Apex has enabled Corsair to showcase our Vengeance RGB DDR4 8GBx2 kit running at an impressive 4266MHz speed at CES 2017.
Thi La – Chief Operating Officer
—— Corsair
Over the years, G.Skill has always worked closely with ASUS and ROG to develop the highest-performance products for every new platform generation. With the extreme memory-overclocking capability of the ROG Maximus IX Apex motherboard, we are able to develop the fastest DDR4 16GB 8GBx2 memory kit up to 4266MHz with rock-solid reliability — and extreme performance for the 7th Gen Intel Core processors. Tequila Huang — Corporate Vice President
—— G.Skill
ASUS Pro Clock technology with Extreme Engine Digi+
The dedicated base-clock (BCLK) generator designed for 7th Generation Intel© processors is what allowed Apex to set an overclocked BCLK frequency record of 584MHz*. This custom solution works in tandem with the ASUS TurboV Processing Unit (TPU) to enhance voltage and base-clock overclocking control — providing an exciting new way to boost performance to extreme heights. And, of course, Maximus IX Apex includes Extreme Engine Digi+ — ROG's revered digital power controller. With Texas Instruments NexFET™ MOSFETs, and with MicroFine alloy chokes, the Digi+ PWM controller with 10K black metallic capacitors and Extreme Engine Digi+ technology always delivers consistently stable power.
