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One scarcely needs to introduce the ROG brand from Asus. Since 2006, Asus ROG motherboards have consistently performed well, and the company has the highest rate of devoted repeat customers. However, high-end hardware comes with high-end costs, and the ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO Motherboard is a highly costly board. Priced at $699 / £649 / AU$1,189, it is absurdly expensive compared to a few generations before.

Why does it cost so much? There are several causes. Partly to blame are the effects of the epidemic, worldwide inflation, and the strength of the US currency; however, the requirement for premium PCBs is equally important. A high level of construction is required for the boards due to PCIe 5.0 signaling requirements. The days of $300 flagship boards appear to be long gone.

The ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO Motherboard offers all Zen 4 has to offer if you’re planning to build a new Ryzen 7000 system, including two PCIe 5.0 M.2 sockets and PCIe 5.0 slots. The Hero boasts an upgraded design with better aesthetics, and because high-end boards have generally gotten more luxurious, it still looks the part of a high-end motherboard.

The Hero comes equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, a flagship-class audio solution with integrated DAC, two USB 4 (40 Gbps) ports (12 total back IO USB), and a 2.5 GbE port in addition to the standard upgrades. Overall, given its high $699.99 price, this motherboard is visually appealing and packed with functions.

ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO Motherboard Appearance & Overview

In addition to the motherboard, Asus packs a ton of components inside the package to help you set up your system without having to make a second trip to the store. The AIC for an extra PCIe 5.0 x4 slot (on top of the two on the board itself) is of key importance. The remaining components, which consist of USB sticks with drivers, Wi-Fi antennas, SATA, and RGB connections, are conventional.

The Crosshair VIII Hero provides a fantastic visual improvement for the ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO Motherboard. The rear IO cover now has a larger RGB element—the only RGB element—as well as the Crosshair branding in chrome. The VRM heatsinks appear larger and have greater surface area with large mitered holes carved out. The top M.2 socket receives a significant cooling boost to accommodate the PCIe 5.0 SSDs we’ll soon be seeing, while the bottom part of the board extends the heatsinks out to the audio area.

The design of the board is reminiscent of the ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO Motherboard, but it is an improved model with improvements that reduce the distracting dot-matrix illumination found on Intel boards. All things considered, this is a really attractive alternative that blends in with the case and looks like the high-end component it is.

We can see the RGB element more clearly if we start with the upper half. Here, the design appears on top of the screen as RGBs glow through it. The dot-matrix design was mostly abandoned by Asus in favor of an upgraded style that features the Hero and ROG logos. Although it won’t completely cover your case, the illumination is still strong enough to highlight other interior features.

Two 8-pin EPS power connectors (one required) are located above the VRM heatsinks and supply power to the processor. The massive VRM heatsinks that surround them have big cutouts to boost surface area and enhance cooling performance. Furthermore, a heatpipe connects the two VRM heatsinks, sharing the load between them. They had no trouble keeping the power delivery components cool when stress-testing our Ryzen 9 7950X CPU, as you’ll see later in our tests.

Four single-side locking, unreinforced DRAM slots with capacities of up to 128GB and speeds up to DDR5-6600(OC) are located to the right of the socket area. Though it’s not a huge concern, considering some noticeably less costly boards (Aorus Master and Taichi) feature reinforced DRAM slots, I would like to see them here as well.

The first three of the eight 4-pin fan/pump headers are located directly above the DRAM slots. All fans are PWM and DC device compatible, and Q-Fan is used to control the fans on the CPU and chassis. By default, the W_PUMP+ and AIO_PUMP operate at maximum speed. While the W_pump+ header supports 3A/36W, the output on the headers vary from 1A/12W (CPU/Chassis and AIO_PUMP headers). The motherboard has more than enough connections and power to support your cooling system.

ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO Motherboard General Information

CPU Socket	**VGA resolution support depends on the processors’ or
Chipset	AMD X670
Memory	WiFi 6E 6GHz regulations may vary between countries,
	Dual Channel Memory Architecture
	Supports AMD® Extended Profiles for Overclocking (EXPO™)
	OptiMem II
Graphics	1 x HDMI® port*
	2 x USB4® ports support USB Type-C® display outputs
	*Supports 4K@60Hz as specified in HDMI 2.1.
	VGA resolution support depends on the processors’ or
	graphic cards’ resolution.
Expansion Slots	AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Desktop Processors:
	2 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slots (supports x16 or x8/x8 mode(s)
	AMD X670 Chipset:
	1 x PCIe 4.0 x1 slots
	When the PCIe 5.0 M.2 card is installed on the
	PCIEX16_2 slot, PCIEX16_1 will run x8 only.
Storage	Total supports 5 x M.2 slots and 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
	AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Desktop Processors:
	M.2_1 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 5.0 x4 mode)
	M.2_2 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 5.0 x4 mode)
	PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot (Key M) via PCIe 5.0 M.2 card, type
	2242/2260/2280/22110 (supports PCIe 5.0 x4 mode)
	AMD X670 Chipset:
	M.2_3 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 )
	M.2_4 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 )
	6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
	AMD RAID Xpert2 Technology supports both NVMe RAID 0/1/10 and SATA RAID 0/1/10.
	VGA resolution support depends on the processors’ or
Ethernet	1 x Intel® 2.5Gb Ethernet
	ASUS LANGuard
Wireless & Bluetooth	Wi-Fi 6E
	2×2 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
	Supports 2.4/5/6GHz frequency band
	Bluetooth v5.3
	WiFi 6E 6GHz regulatory may vary between countries,
	and function will be ready in Windows 11 or later.
	The Bluetooth version may vary, please refer to the
	Wi-Fi module manufacturer’s website for the latest specifications.

ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO Motherboard Conclusion

Ultimately, we appreciate the features of the new ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO Motherboard, but the $699.99 asking price is too much to pay. There’s really much incentive to spend that much more on a motherboard unless you absolutely require USB4 ports, three PCIe 5.0 M.2 sockets (with add-in cards), and 10 GbE, which the Hero lacks.

Although the Hero and Ace are both excellent motherboards, I think the Hero’s design and the Asus BIOS are more appealing than the Ace, which is still a nice-looking board. However, that’s just my personal view. It will differ for you.

Pros:

1. Support for Latest AMD Ryzen Processors: The AM5 socket and AMD X670 chipset ensure compatibility with the latest AMD Ryzen desktop processors, offering high performance and future-proofing.
2. High-Speed DDR5 Memory Support: The motherboard supports DDR5 memory with high-speed data rates and large capacities, providing excellent memory performance for demanding tasks and gaming.
3. Multiple PCIe Slots: The inclusion of multiple PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0 slots allows for flexible GPU configurations and expansion options, catering to enthusiasts and gamers with varied needs.
4. Storage Options: With support for multiple M.2 slots and SATA ports, the motherboard offers ample storage expansion capabilities, accommodating fast NVMe SSDs and traditional SATA drives.
5. Networking Features: The inclusion of Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6E ensures high-speed wired and wireless network connectivity, ideal for gaming, streaming, and other network-intensive tasks.
6. USB Connectivity: The motherboard provides a comprehensive array of USB ports, including USB4 and USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports, offering high-speed data transfer and compatibility with a wide range of peripherals.
7. SupremeFX Audio: The ROG SupremeFX 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC delivers high-quality audio output, enhancing the gaming and multimedia experience.
8. Advanced Cooling Solutions: The motherboard features various fan headers, heatsinks, and thermal solutions, ensuring effective heat dissipation and system stability even under heavy loads.
9. Aura Sync RGB Lighting: With Aura Sync compatibility, users can customize RGB lighting effects and synchronize them with other compatible components for a visually stunning setup.
10. ROG Exclusive Software: Exclusive software features such as GameFirst VI, Sonic Studio III, Sonic Radar III, and Aura Sync provide additional functionality and customization options for an enhanced user experience.

Cons:

1. High Price: The premium features and specifications of the motherboard may result in a higher price point, potentially making it less accessible to budget-conscious users.
2. Complexity: The extensive list of features and options may be overwhelming for novice users, requiring some time and effort to fully utilize and configure the motherboard.
3. Potential Overkill: Some users may find that the motherboard’s advanced features exceed their requirements, leading to paying for features they won’t fully utilize.
4. Size Consideration: The ATX form factor may not fit into smaller PC cases, limiting compatibility and requiring users to ensure proper case compatibility before purchase.
5. BIOS Update Requirement: Depending on the CPU and memory configuration, users may need to update the BIOS to ensure compatibility and optimal performance, which could be inconvenient for some users.
6. Limited Availability: The motherboard may initially have limited availability, especially during the initial launch period, potentially leading to longer waiting times for interested buyers.
7. Power Delivery Concerns: While the motherboard likely features robust power delivery solutions, some users may express concerns about power delivery efficiency and stability, especially when overclocking high-end components.
8. Software Optimization: While the included software features offer additional functionality, users may encounter bugs, stability issues, or compatibility issues with certain applications, requiring updates or patches for optimal performance.
9. Support and Warranty: While ASUS typically offers good support and warranty coverage, some users may encounter issues with customer service or RMA processes, depending on their region or individual experiences.
10. Compatibility Considerations: Users should verify compatibility with their existing components, such as CPU coolers, memory modules, and graphics cards, to ensure proper fit and functionality with the motherboard.