ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero with SODIMM memory
ASUS made a strange motherboard that was never released.
ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero, Source: @wnxod
Many prototypes never see the light of the day. Prototyping enables companies to explore new ideas and test hardware before market release. The ROG Maximus XIII Hero motherboard displayed below appears to have never been officially released or made available for sale. Nevertheless, it seems someone has managed to obtain it.
Do not mistake the socket cover labeling it as a TUF Gaming board. It is a high-end ROG Maximus from a previous generation. The Maximus III series was built around the Intel LGA-1200 socket, designed for 10th Gen Core “Comet Lake” and 11th Gen Core “Rocket Lake” chips. This socket had a short lifespan of only two years before being succeeded by the LGA-1700 socket with Alder Lake.
ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero, Source: @wnxod
According to the photos shared by @wnxod, the board features four DDR4 SODIMM slots. Additionally, it lacks PCIe and audio area heatsinks, instead displaying a prototype code of TEM14280. However, the I/O heatsink appears identical to the retail product. From the appearance of the board, it is evident that it was never released or completed for retail sales.
Further photographs show the board booting with the Kingston Fury logo, suggesting that it could be a prototype board for testing within Kingston. It’s common knowledge that motherboard companies work closely with memory makers to ensure full compatibility of their platforms before launch. What is unclear is why the laptop SODIMM form factor was even considered. Nevertheless, the board was shown working with the Core i5-10600K processor at a DDR4 frequency of 2133 MHz and 1.2 volts.
ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero, Source: @wnxod
It’s unclear whether we’re looking at enthusiasts tinkering with a prototype or if these images come from ASUS labs. However, it’s worth noting that there is an IKEA pegboard and an ASUS power supply beneath the motherboard in the images, indicating that the source of these images likely has close relations with ASUS.
Source: @ wnxod