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ASUS Maximus VII Impact Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£190
  • Avg. price in US: ~$180
  • CPU socket: LGA 1150
  • Chipset: Intel Z97
  • Form factor: Mini-ITX

ASUS Maximus VII Impact review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

4.9

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

4.7

Technical Score

10.0%

6.5

User score

Poor
4.7

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

2.2

Memory

16.0%

6.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

4.4

Storage

15.0%

6.8

Network

13.0%

3.0

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.3

Expansion

8.0%

5.2

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.1

Audio

Poor
6.5

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

7.4

User reviews

30.0%

4.4

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.9
(45)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.7
(66)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Good
  • 3.7
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    5.2

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    3.3

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    3.4

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • asus-maximus-vii-impact
asus-maximus-vii-impact

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Asus Maximus VII Impact is a premium Mini-ITX motherboard featuring the Intel Z97 chipset and LGA 1150 socket, supporting 4th and 5th Generation Intel Core processors. It is defined by its innovative vertical daughterboard design, including the Impact Power II 8+2 phase digital VRM for ATX-class overclocking and the SupremeFX Impact II dedicated audio card. Key technical specifications include support for up to 16GB of DDR3-3300 (OC) memory, a PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, and the mPCIe Combo IV card which provides dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and a 32Gb/s M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 slot. Its main pros are its exceptional power delivery, high-end integrated audio, and dense feature set that rivals full-sized boards. However, notable cons include its high price point, limited expansion due to the Mini-ITX form factor, and potential clearance issues with large CPU coolers or the cramped PCIe latch area.

Technical Specifications of ASUS Maximus VII Impact

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

2.2

Memory

16.0%

6.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

4.4

Storage

15.0%

6.8

Network

13.0%

3.0

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.3

Expansion

8.0%

5.2

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.1

Audio

4.7
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a technical score of 4.73 points, which is lower than that of 84.9% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

7.4

User reviews

30.0%

4.4

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.9
(45)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.7
(66)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

6.5
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a user score of 6.49 points, which is lower than that of 88.1% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
4.4
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a popularity of 4.4 points, which is higher than 51.7% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

4.9

Overall score

40.0%

9.5

Price

6.3
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.3 points, which is lower than 85.5% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

Asus
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

LGA 1150
ASUS Maximus VII Impact uses the LGA 1150 CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 90.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.6% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

Intel Z97
ASUS Maximus VII Impact uses the Intel Z97 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 78% of motherboards and equal to that of 2% of motherboards.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

Mini-ITX
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has the Mini-ITX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 84.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 7.3% of motherboards.
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DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR3
ASUS Maximus VII Impact uses DDR3 memory, which is older than that of 86.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 13.4% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

2
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 2 Memory slots, which is fewer than 78.6% of motherboards and equal to 21.4% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

16 GB
ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports up to 16 GB of memory, which is less than 98.2% of motherboards and equal to 1.6% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

3,300 MT/s
ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports memory speeds up to 3300 MT/s, which is lower than that of 62.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.5% of motherboards.
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N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

1
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 1 M.2 sockets, which is fewer than 69.2% of motherboards and equal to 19.1% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

1x PCIe 3.0 x4
ASUS Maximus VII Impact offers 1x PCIe 3.0x4 for M.2 slot interfaces, which is slower than that of 72.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.2% of motherboards.
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

4
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 4 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 5.6% of motherboards and equal to 46.3% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

no
ASUS Maximus VII Impact does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
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N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

1
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 40.6% of motherboards and equal to 26.7% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

?
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
x8/x8, x4/x4/x4/x4.
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Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

8
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 8 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 40.3% of motherboards and equal to 30.7% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

12
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 12 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 72.4% of motherboards and equal to 16.6% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

0
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 0 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.6% of motherboards and equal to 35.4% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

0
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 0 USB-C ports (including headers), which is fewer than 69.6% of motherboards and equal to 30.4% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
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LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

1 Gbps
ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.1% of motherboards.
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel I218-V
ASUS Maximus VII Impact uses the Intel I218-V LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 60.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.7% of motherboards.
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

1
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 1 RJ45 ports, which is equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.9% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), which is newer than that of 49.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.7% of motherboards.
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Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek ALC1150
ASUS Maximus VII Impact uses the Realtek ALC1150 audio codec, which is more advanced than that of 52.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 9.3% of motherboards.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
ASUS Maximus VII Impact offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

110 dB
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has an audio SNR of 110 dB, which is lower than that of 55.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 5.7% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

yes
ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
supports up to 600Ω.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

3
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 3 3.5mm audio jacks, which is fewer than 50.3% of motherboards and equal to 38.2% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

8
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 8 VRM phases, which is fewer than 71.9% of motherboards and equal to 6.3% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

1
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 1 CPU power connectors, which is equal to 54.5% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

4
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has 4 fan headers, which is fewer than 64.3% of motherboards and equal to 12.3% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a pump header. 23.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

1 A
ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports up to 1 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 58.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 15.9% of motherboards.
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ASUS Maximus VII Impact vs the average motherboard

  • Includes POST code display
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
    What it is: Shows whether the board includes a diagnostic POST code readout for boot troubleshooting.
    When it matters: When you troubleshoot boot issues and want clearer error information.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
    When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
    What it is: A rear I/O button used to clear BIOS or CMOS settings quickly.
    When it matters: When you overclock or troubleshoot and want an easier reset method.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes built-in Bluetooth for wireless peripherals and accessories.
    When it matters: When you want to connect wireless peripherals without an adapter.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • 135 mm shorter
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact is shorter than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
    What it is: The physical height of the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you check case fit or compare board size.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact is shorter than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.170 mm vs 305 mm
  • Includes onboard power button
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a built-in power button on the PCB itself.
    When it matters: When you test or troubleshoot the board outside a case.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a built-in reset button on the PCB itself.
    When it matters: When you test or troubleshoot the board outside a case.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • Broader Windows support
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has broader Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
    What it is: The Windows versions officially supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to know whether your planned Windows version is supported.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has broader Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10
  • Includes POST code display
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • Broader Windows support
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has broader Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
  • Includes onboard power button
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • 135 mm shorter
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact is shorter than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
  • 74 mm narrower
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact is narrower than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.

Total
Platform & Features
Ports & USB
Network
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z97 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • Older CPU socket
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has older CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,150 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Not ready for Windows 11
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact is not ready for Windows 11, while the average motherboard is. 77.1% of motherboards are ready for Windows 11.
  • No debug LED indicators
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.8% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
  • 7 years older release date
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact is older than the average motherboard (2,014 vs 2,021). The average motherboard was released in 2,021.
  • 87.5% less maximum memory capacity
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (16 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 28.3% lower maximum RAM speed
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (3,300 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 33.1% lower overclocked RAM speed
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (3,300 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
  • No NVMe RAID support
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • No multi-GPU support
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
    Single PCIe x16 slot only.
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 3 fewer total USB connections
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (12 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • Older HDMI version
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has older HDMI version than the average motherboard (1.4 vs 2.1). The average motherboard supports HDMI 2.1.
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
  • Older Bluetooth version
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (4 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
  • 2 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • 5 dB lower audio SNR
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (110 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (8 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 1 fewer fan headers
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (4 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • 1 A lower pump header current limit
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a lower pump header current than the average motherboard (1 A vs 2 A). The average motherboard provides pump header current of 2 A.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z97 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z97 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel Z97 vs Intel B860
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 2.5GbE

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
    What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.1x PCIe 3.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • 87.5% less maximum memory capacity
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (16 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
    When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=128 GB

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (16 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.16 GB vs 128 GB
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
    What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=4

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.2 vs 4
  • No NVMe RAID support
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
    What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
    When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
    When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: DDR5

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR3 vs DDR4
  • 1 fewer M.2 sockets
    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3

    ASUS Maximus VII Impact has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.1 vs 2
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
3.9
45 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.7
66 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about ASUS Maximus VII Impact?

  • Exceptional overclocking performance for its size, rivaling full-sized ATX boards
  • Premium power delivery (8+2 phase) via a unique vertical daughterboard design
  • High-quality SupremeFX Impact II dedicated audio card provides superior sound
  • Feature-rich mPCIe Combo IV card including 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and M.2 support
  • Excellent UEFI BIOS with extensive options for enthusiasts and gamers
  • Compact Mini-ITX form factor without compromising on high-end ROG features

What customers dislike about ASUS Maximus VII Impact?

  • Premium price point, often cited as one of the most expensive Z97 ITX boards
  • Cramped layout can lead to clearance issues with certain large CPU coolers
  • Difficult access to certain connectors (like SATA or PCIe locks) due to the dense component layout
  • Limited memory expansion with only two DIMM slots (maximum 16GB RAM)
  • Some users reported quality control issues or the need for multiple RMAs in specific cases

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