The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z890 HERO and the Gigabyte X870E AORUS MASTER are tied in overall objective performance, as both motherboards secure three individual specification wins with eight categories resulting in a draw. The most impactful advantage for the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z890 HERO is its storage capacity, which features 25% more M.2 slots. Conversely, the Gigabyte X870E AORUS MASTER provides a significant expansion benefit, offering 50% more PCIe x16 slots than its competitor.

Users prioritizing high-density storage configurations should select the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z890 HERO to take advantage of its superior M.2 slot count. Those who require extensive expansion capabilities for multiple add-in cards should choose the Gigabyte X870E AORUS MASTER for its increased number of PCIe x16 slots. Because both boards offer identical performance across the majority of measured specifications, the final decision depends entirely on whether your build requires more internal storage or additional expansion slots.