Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme Glacial Motherboard – EATX, DDR5, PCIe 5.0, WiFi 6E, Thunderbolt 4, EK Ultrablock Cooling

Designed for elite PC builders, the Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme Glacial motherboard stands as a masterclass in engineering for custom liquid-cooled gaming systems. Built on the Intel Z690 chipset and supporting Intel's 14th, 13th, and 12th Gen Core processors, this EATX board delivers performance, cooling, and customization features that meet the demands of the most high-end setups. With DDR5 memory support up to 192GB, dual PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, and five M.2 slots for ultra-fast storage, even the most bandwidth-hungry tasks are easily handled. The integrated EK Ultrablock ensures advanced thermal management across the VRMs, chipset, and M.2 drives, making this board a centerpiece for any liquid-cooled build.

Engineered with premium components and robust power delivery, the 24+1 teamed power stages rated for 105A are supported by ProCool II connectors, alloy chokes, and premium capacitors. Gamers and content creators benefit from high-speed networking options, including onboard 10Gb and 2.5Gb Ethernet, as well as WiFi 6E. USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 and Thunderbolt 4 ports ensure ultra-fast file transfers and peripheral connectivity. Meanwhile, personalization options like AniMe Matrix™ LED, Aura Sync RGB, and LiveDash OLED allow users to craft a truly one-of-a-kind build, both in looks and performance.

Key Features:

Advanced Cooling Integration:
The EK® Ultrablock monoblock spans the CPU, VRM, and chipset zones, offering liquid-cooled precision engineered thermal control. Dual embedded backplates, high-conductivity thermal pads, and penta M.2 heatsinks enhance passive and active cooling for sustained overclocking.

Extreme Performance and Power Delivery:
A 24+1 teamed power stage architecture rated at 105A ensures clean and consistent power delivery to support the latest Intel Core processors. ASUS Digi+ VRM, MicroFine alloy chokes, and premium 10K black metallic capacitors work in unison for voltage accuracy and thermal stability.

Next-Gen Memory and Expansion:
DDR5 memory support up to 6400+ MHz (OC) with OptiMem III improves signal integrity and stability for demanding multitasking. PCIe 5.0 slots enable double bandwidth for GPUs and storage. Five M.2 slots, including Gen 5 and Gen 4 types, offer maximum flexibility for NVMe SSD arrays.

Premium Connectivity:
Dual Thunderbolt™ 4, rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C®, and a USB front-panel connector with Quick Charge 4+ provide elite transfer and charging speeds. Intel WiFi 6E and Marvell 10Gb LAN enable ultra-low latency and high-speed networking for competitive and streaming scenarios.

DIY-Optimized Design:
The board features a pre-mounted I/O shield, M.2 Q-Latch, BIOS FlashBack™, Q-Code, and a host of buttons and jumpers (FlexKey, ReTry, Safe Boot) to assist with installation, debugging, and configuration. An included ROG graphics card holder and fan controller further streamline setup.

Immersive Audio and Visuals:
ROG SupremeFX ALC4082 with ESS SABRE9018Q2C DAC delivers studio-grade audio clarity. The LiveDash OLED and AniMe Matrix™ LED allow custom animations and system monitoring visuals directly on the motherboard, synchronized with ASUS Aura Sync lighting.

Full Specifications:

Model: ROG MAXIMUS Z690 EXTREME GLACIAL
CPU Support: Intel® LGA1700 socket for 14th, 13th, and 12th Gen Intel® Core™, Pentium® Gold, and Celeron® Processors
Chipset: Intel® Z690
Memory: 4 x DIMM, up to 192GB DDR5 6400+(OC), Dual Channel, OptiMem III, Intel XMP support
Expansion:

• 2 x PCIe 5.0 x16 (x16 or x8/x8)

• 1 x PCIe 3.0 x1
  Multi-GPU: NVIDIA 2-Way SLI®
  Storage:

• 5 x M.2 (PCIe 5.0/4.0/SATA modes)

• 6 x SATA 6Gb/s
  LAN:

• 1 x Intel® 2.5Gb

• 1 x Marvell® 10Gb
  Wireless: Intel® WiFi 6E
  USB:

• Rear: 10 ports (Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A)

• Front: 10 ports (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, Thunderbolt 4, headers)
  Audio: ROG SupremeFX 7.1, ALC4082, ESS SABRE9018Q2C, DTS® Sound Unbound
  Back I/O: Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, HDMI, Ethernet, Wi-Fi antenna, BIOS/CMOS buttons, S/PDIF, audio jacks
  Internal I/O:

• 5 x M.2 (includes DIMM.2 support)

• 6 x SATA

• Multiple fan/water pump headers

• AURA RGB headers

• USB headers

• Diagnostic and OC buttons
  Special Features:

• AniMe Matrix™, LiveDash OLED

• SafeSlot, SafeDIMM, Pre-mounted I/O shield

• ASUS Q-Design (Q-Code, Q-LED, Q-Slot, etc.)

• Extreme OC kit (FlexKey, Slow Mode, LN2, etc.)

• Dual BIOS, USB with drivers

• ASUS HYDRANODE, Front USB QC 4+ (60W support with 6-pin GPU connector)
  Software Suite: Armoury Crate, AIDA64 Extreme (1 year), Sonic Studio III, AI Suite 3, GameFirst VI, MyASUS, WinRAR
  BIOS: UEFI AMI BIOS, Dual 256Mb Flash ROM
  Accessories: Monoblock, ROG Fan Controller, ROG DIMM.2, DAC, keychain, stickers, cables, screwdriver, thank-you card
  Form Factor: Extended ATX (30.5cm x 27.7cm)

Conclusion:
The Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme Glacial motherboard has been engineered for uncompromised performance, modular expandability, and custom-loop thermal control. Ideal for enthusiasts building high-end systems around Intel’s latest CPUs, this board serves as the foundation for powerful gaming rigs and creative workstations alike. Equipped with cutting-edge connectivity, superior overclocking potential, immersive audio, and a wide array of personalization tools, it enables peak performance under the most demanding conditions.