ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX is an ATX board on the Intel Z490 chipset for 10th Gen Core processors using Socket 1200, with two DDR4 slots up to 64GB. Power comes from Infineon TDA21472 power stages and dual 8-pin CPU connectors. It adds Intel I225-V 2.5Gb Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6 AX201, Bluetooth 5.1, a ROG DIMM.2 module and one M.2 slot.
Product released: May 1, 2020
Latest firmware version
Version 3401, released August 19, 2026
Last checked for updates: Oct 31, 2026 10:58 UTC
What's new in version 3401
1. Update Intel IPU 2026.1 microcode
2. Update Intel ME to 14.1.79.2540
3. Enhance system security
“Before BIOS update, please download Intel ME update tool from ASUS support site, and update ME firmware to Version 14.1.79.2540 to ensure optimized system settings.”
Before running the USB BIOS Flashback tool, please rename the BIOS file (M12A.CAP) using BIOSRenamer.
LatestUpdate has tracked 17 versions of ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX firmware, released between May 14, 2020 and August 19, 2026.
Version 3401 - August 19, 2026: 1. Update Intel IPU 2026.1 microcode 2. Update Intel ME to 14.1.79.2540 3. Enhance system security “Before BIOS update, please download Intel ME update tool fr…
Version 3302 - March 24, 2026: 1.Enhance overall system security. 2.Update the microcode to M02A0671_00000064. “Before BIOS update, please download Intel ME update tool from ASUS support sit…
Version 3201 - January 6, 2025: 1. Updated Minimum CRB patch for Intel IPU 2024.3 2. Updated ASUS Secure Boot variables for system stability. 3. Updated Microcode for IPU OOB 2024.1 to addres…
Version 3001 - May 28, 2024: 1. This update includes the patch for the LogoFAIL vulnerabilities. 2. Improve system stability. “Before BIOS update, please download Intel ME update tool from…
Version 2801 - December 1, 2023: Improve system performance and security. “Before BIOS update, please download Intel ME update tool from ASUS support site, and update ME firmware to Version 14…
Version 2701 - March 21, 2023: 1. Improve system stability “Before BIOS update, please download Intel ME update tool from ASUS support site, and update ME firmware to Version 14.1.53.1649V1.…
Version 2601 - June 10, 2022: 1. Improve system performance 2. Improve DRAM compatibility Before running the USB BIOS Flashback tool, please rename the BIOS file (M12A.CAP) using BIOSRename…
Version 2403 - December 23, 2021: 1. improve system performance and compatibility 2. improve system stability 3. improve DRAM compatibility Before running the USB BIOS Flashback tool, please re…
Version 2301 - August 3, 2021: Support Windows 11 by default, no settings changes required in the UEFI BIOS. Before running the USB BIOS Flashback tool, please rename the BIOS file (M12A.CAP…
Version 2201 - July 8, 2021: Before running the USB BIOS Flashback tool, please rename the BIOS file (M12A.CAP) using BIOSRenamer.
Version 2103 - April 28, 2021: -The latest UEFI BIOS updates enable Intel ABT for 11th Gen Intel Core i9-11900K and i9-11900KF processors. Before running the USB BIOS Flashback tool, please…
Version 1003 - December 23, 2020: 1. Add a Re-Size BAR Support option to enhance GPU performance 2. Improve system performance Before running the USB BIOS Flashback tool, please rename the BIOS…
Version 0901 - November 18, 2020: 1. Update Intel Microcode for supporting Intel Cyro cooler 2. Improve system performance 3. Update AURA Firmware Before running the USB BIOS Flashback tool, pl…
Version 0804 - November 18, 2020: 1.Update ME firmware to 14.0.45 2.Improve system stability and performance 3.Improve DRAM compatibility 4.Improve Intel thunderbolt device compatibility. Befor…
Version 0707 - August 28, 2020: 1.Improve system performance 2.Update Intel Microcode 3.Improve AI Overclocking function for new CPU Before running the USB BIOS Flashback tool, please rename…
Version 0607 - June 11, 2020: 1.Improve system performance and stability 2.Improve compatibility with the Intel H10 Optane Module 3.Enhance AI Cooling mechanism Before running the USB BIOS…
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX is an ATX board on the Intel Z490 chipset for 10th Gen Core processors using Socket 1200, with two DDR4 slots up to 64GB. Power comes from Infineon TDA21472 power stages and dual 8-pin CPU connectors. It adds Intel I225-V 2.5Gb Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6 AX201, Bluetooth 5.1, a ROG DIMM.2 module and one M.2 slot. It was originally released on May 1, 2020.
What is the latest firmware version of ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX?
The latest firmware version of ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX is 3401. It was released on August 19, 2026.
What changed in ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX firmware version 3401?
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX firmware version 3401 includes the following changes: 1. Update Intel IPU 2026.1 microcode
2. Update Intel ME to 14.1.79.2540
3. Enhance system security
“Before BIOS update, please download Intel ME update tool from ASUS support site, and update ME firmware to Version 14.1.79.2540 to ensure optimized system settings.”
Before running the USB BIOS Flashback tool, please rename the BIOS file (M12A.CAP) using BIOSRenamer.
Where can I download the latest ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX firmware?
Details and download instructions for the latest ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX firmware (version 3401) are on ASUS's official release page: https://rog.asus.com/motherboards/rog-maximus/rog-maximus-xii-apex-model/helpdesk_bios/
How often does ASUS release firmware updates for ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX?
We have tracked 17 firmware versions of ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX. Based on historical patterns, updates are released approximately every 241 days.
When is the next ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX firmware update expected?
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX was recently updated. Based on this product's update history, the next firmware update is expected between October 28, 2026 and March 25, 2027.
Is ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX still receiving firmware updates?
Yes, ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII APEX received a firmware update within the last 3 months. The most recent version is 3401.