Let $Z_i:=x_i$ and $M:=M_n:=\|x\|_\infty=\max_1^n|Z_i|$. By rescaling, without loss of generality $\sigma=1$. So, for real $u>0$ $$P(M^2>u)=P(M>\sqrt u)=1-P(\max_1^n|Z_i|\le\sqrt u)=1-P(|Z_1|\le\sqrt u)^n =1-(1-2G(\sqrt u))^n=1-e^{-ng(u)}, $$ where $$G(x):=P(Z_1>x)\sim\frac1{x\sqrt{2\pi}}e^{-x^2/2} $$ as $x\to\infty$ and $$g(u):=-\ln(1-2G(\sqrt u))\sim2G(\sqrt u)\sim\frac2{\sqrt{2\pi u}}e^{-u/2} =e^{-u/(2+o(1))} $$ as $u\to\infty$. Also, $g(u)$ decreases from $\infty$ to $0$ as $u$ increases from $0$ to $\infty$. So, for each natural $n\ge3$ there are unique positive real numbers $u_n$ and $v_n$ such that $$ng(u_n)=\ln n,\quad ng(v_n)=1. $$ Clearly, $0<u_n<v_n<\infty$. Also, $$\frac{\ln n}n=g(u_n)=e^{-u_n/(2+o(1))}\quad\text{and}\quad \frac{\ln n}n=e^{-(1+o(1))\ln n}, $$ whence $$u_n\sim2\ln n\quad\text{and, similarly,}\quad v_n\sim2\ln n. $$ Next, $$EM^2=\int_0^\infty P(M^2>u)\,du=\int_0^\infty (1-e^{-ng(u)})\,du=I_1+I_2+I_3, $$ where $$I_1:=\int_0^{u_n}(1-e^{-ng(u)})\,du,\quad I_2:=\int_{u_n}^{v_n}(1-e^{-ng(u)})\,du,\quad I_3:=\int_{v_n}^\infty (1-e^{-ng(u)})\,du. $$ If $0<u<u_n$, then $0<e^{-ng(u)}<e^{-ng(u_n)}=1/n$. So, $$I_1\sim u_n.$$ Next, $$I_2\le v_n-u_n=o(u_n), $$ $$I_3<\int_{v_n}^\infty ng(u)\,du\sim \int_{v_n}^\infty n\frac2{\sqrt{2\pi u}}e^{-u/2}\,du \sim 2n\frac2{\sqrt{2\pi v_n}}e^{-v_n/2} \sim 2ng(v_n)=2=o(u_n). $$ We conclude that, for $\sigma=1$, $$E\|x\|_\infty^2=EM^2\sim u_n\sim2\ln n. $$ So, for any real $\sigma>0$, $$E\|x\|_\infty^2\sim2\sigma^2\ln n. $$