ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero M.2 Slots Full Guide

The ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero M.2 slots redefine storage speed in 2026 gaming rigs, boasting five PCIe 5.0/4.0 slots for NVMe SSDs hitting 14GB/s in RAID. This Z790 flagship supports Intel 14th-gen CPUs with robust cooling and SupremeFX audio.

Step-by-step coverage of slot configs, upgrades, BIOS tweaks, and compatibility ensures your build dominates 4K gaming and content creation.

Detailed M.2 Slot Breakdown

ROG engineers optimized for max throughput.

  • 1. M.2_1: PCIe 5.0 x4 (CPU direct).
  • 2. M.2_2: PCIe 5.0 x4 (CPU).
  • 3. M.2_3: PCIe 4.0 x4 (chipset).
  • 4. M.2_4: PCIe 4.0 x4.
  • 5. M.2_5: PCIe 4.0 x4 + heatsinks.

Compatible High-Speed SSDs

Gen5 drives unlock full potential.

  • 1. Crucial T705: 14,500MB/s.
  • 2. Corsair MP700: Extreme cooling.
  • 3. Samsung 990 Evo Plus.
  • 4. RAID 0 configs for 28GB/s.

Installation Steps for M.2 Slots

Tool-less design simplifies upgrades.

  • 1. Enter BIOS, enable PCIe mode.
  • 2. Remove heatsink, insert SSD.
  • 3. Secure Q-Latch.
  • 4. Reapply thermal pad.
  • 5. Boot, format NVMe.

BIOS Optimization for Storage

Tune for lowest latency.

  • 1. Update to 2026 BIOS version.
  • 2. Enable Resizable BAR.
  • 3. Set M.2 to Auto/Gen5.
  • 4. Configure RAID in RST.
  • 5. Test with AS SSD benchmark.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Quick fixes for detection problems.

  • 1. Check CPU lane allocation.
  • 2. Update chipset drivers.
  • 3. Verify heatsink contact.
  • 4. Disable Secure Boot if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many M.2 slots on Z790 Hero?

Five: Two PCIe 5.0, three PCIe 4.0, all NVMe-ready.

Does it support PCIe Gen5 SSDs?

Yes, M.2_1 and M.2_2 fully support Gen5 x4 speeds.

Max RAID capacity?

Up to 64TB+ with 8TB drives in RAID 0.

Are heatsinks included?

Yes, premium aluminum stacks with thermal pads.

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