Asus Z390 Maximus XI Motherboards

You're welcome Shawn.
These are for the Z370 & Z390 boards, that's why I said it might add confusion in the chipset thread.

Good.

New version of Intel Management Engine Interface Consumer Driver (MEI) has just been released :

- Intel Management Engine Interface Consumer Driver (Drivers Only) - Last version [04/04/2019] :
----Drivers : 1914.12.0.1256 WHQL

--------Install/Update process : Right click on "heci.inf" > Install
---------------------------------------------Wait for the message "The operation completed successfully" or for restart request


[DRIVERS] Intel Chipset/Ethernet/MEI/SATA (Z170/Z270/X299/Z370/Z390) - Page 12
Attachment 233039

Now if they will just update the download page at ASUS.

Brink said:

Now if they will just update the download page at ASUS.

They do with software real quick, but the drivers seem to lag....
if at all

But if you go to the forums, ROG still has the best driver support of all OEMs in my book.

I'm thinking about getting the Hero later in the year but I'm worried about the performance of it as I've heard that they skimped on the mosfets. I've had VIII Hero Alpha for 2 years and have been pleased with it. Would like to get another Asus motherboard.

swarfega said:

I'm thinking about getting the Hero later in the year but I'm worried about the performance of it as I've heard that they skimped on the mosfets. I've had VIII Hero Alpha for 2 years and have been pleased with it. Would like to get another Asus motherboard.

If you are getting a 9900K the Maximus X Hero is the better choice, as it has better VRMs
Click the CPU-Z validation in my signature

Here is a comparison chart from Pugetsystems, to help you decide if you need the additional stuff that Z390 offers(I don't).
Also in the ROG forums you can get the latest ME firmware updates, and drivers, as sometimes the product support page hangs behind.
Z370 vs Z390 Specifications

Chipset	Z370	Z390
Launch	October 2017	October 2018
USB 3.1 (10Gbps) Ports	0	6
USB 3.0 (5Gbps) Ports	10	10
Maximum Total USB Ports	14	14
SATA III (6Gbps) Ports	6	6
PCI-Express 3.0 Lanes	24	24
Memory Channels	2 (Dual)	2 (Dual)
Maximum Memory Capacity	64GB	64GB*
Optane Support	Yes	Yes
Integrated WiFi 802.11ac	No	Yes
Intel Smart Sound	Yes	Yes
DMI Version	3.0	3.0
Intel ME Firmware Version	11	12
*64GB was the maximum at launch, using 4 x 16GB memory modules, but shortly afterward 32GB modules were announced - and Intel indicated that a future BIOS update for Z390 boards will enable support for 128GB totals

Intel Z370 vs Z390 Chipset Comparison

Thanks Cliff. But I think I want a z390 motherboard, so may look at another make.

swarfega said:

Thanks Cliff. But I think I want a z390 motherboard, so may look at another make.

Ok

I was looking at the Z390 AORUS XTREME for quite a while: Z390 AORUS XTREME (rev. 1.0) | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global
This board has EVERYTHING except a PLX chip to give it more PCIe lanes(most boards don't these days)

But they just don't update their drivers & ME firmware on the product support page to the latest, and I looked through their forums and nothing there either.
So in the end I decided against it, if they are not going to take the time to support a new product.
And the new VRMs on the ASUS Z390 ROG & TUF boards suck too, so I decided to stay with my Maximus X, as I have newer drivers and the very latest ME firmware.

Yea it should be a crime not to support your own products. NZXT are the same with their motherboard. So I refuse to support them.

I could go with the formula I guess.