Top Motherboards

Asus ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II – Evaluation 2023


In keeping with Asus, its ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II motherboard serves Z790 refresh prospects a stability of “fashion, efficiency, cooling, and connectivity.” The board options black and silver styling that is solely barely modified from the unique Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi, however steps up its sport with native 14th Gen Intel and Wi-Fi 7 assist, 5 M.2 sockets, elevated reminiscence speeds, a strong energy resolution, and a DIY-friendly design—in addition to AI Overclocking and AI Cooling II options from Asus. It isn’t cheap at $359.99, however it’s a tempting platform within the midrange class.


Board Design, CPU, and Reminiscence

The ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II contains a black multilayer PCB with silver heatsinks and shrouds overlaying the new spots. The left VRM heatsink is adorned with a frosted ROG image lit from under by RGB LEDs. The VRM heatsink is massive and heavy and retains the facility supply bits working inside spec. Total, it is an attractive-looking board, solely reasonably flashy however no duller than its direct rivals. Whereas the RGB implementation might not make your chassis the focal point, it does brighten issues as much as showcase the contrasting fashion of the board inside.

The motherboard helps Intel’s twelfth, thirteenth, and 14th Technology LGA1700 processors together with the flagship Core i9-14900K and KS. The 16 70A MOSFETs and different processor assist gear dealt with our CPU with no points throughout testing. The heatsinks stored the facility resolution working nicely inside spec even when overclocking, although they do are likely to get heat after sustained heavy CPU use.

(Credit score: Joe Shields)

Asus lists reminiscence assist for the board as much as DDR5-8000+ (OC), a rise of 200MHz greater than the unique. That is nicely past what most customers purchase, as a result of it is nicely previous the candy spot for efficiency versus value, however even probably the most hardcore customers will probably be happy in the event that they stick with the QVL listing for assured compatibility. Like most Z790 boards, this Strix helps non-binary reminiscence (24/48GB modules) with a ceiling of 192GB—lots even for energy customers.

(Credit score: Joe Shields)

We examined the motherboard utilizing our DDR5-6000 and DDR5-7200 kits, each of which labored with out a hitch by merely enabling the XMP profiles. We additionally tried a not too long ago acquired DDR5-8000 equipment not discovered on the QVL listing, however it did not work. In truth, solely two manufacturers (and 10 kits whole) work, and solely with a 14th Gen processor and its higher reminiscence assist.


Format and Inner Connectors

Beginning within the high nook, two of the primary gadgets you spy are the twin ProCool II 8-pin EPS energy connectors (one required) for powering the CPU. Surrounding these energy leads are the massive VRM heatsinks to chill the facility bits under. As talked about, the one and solely built-in RGB aspect is on high of the left VRM heatsink; the ROG image offers a shiny sufficient glow with out taking up the chassis or turning your room right into a rave.

Above the highest VRM heatsink and subsequent to the EPS connectors are the primary three of eight 4-pin fan headers. All headers output as much as 1A/12W, sufficient to deal with most configurations. Be certain to not overload these headers, which may completely injury the board. The 2 CPU fan headers robotically detect if connected units are PWM- or DC-based, however you may must manually choose the sort for the opposite headers. The BIOS, Asus Armoury Crate, or Fan Skilled 4 applications management these units.

Shifting proper, we run into 4 unreinforced DRAM slots with a single locking mechanism on high. Previous them alongside the suitable edge is likely one of the DIY options, the Q-LED array that detects issues through the POST course of. Beneath are the primary RGB headers—the primary of three 3-pin ARGB headers and the only real 4-pin RGB header. The Aura Sync software program in Armoury Crate manages these units.

(Credit score: Joe Shields)

Persevering with down the sting, we encounter the 24-pin ATX connector for board energy, the front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) Sort-C connector, and a 19-pin front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) header. Additionally right here is one other DIY characteristic, the Q-Launch, which conveniently unlocks the first graphics-card slot with the press of a button moderately than making you press the latch down between the video card and M.2 heatsink.


Audio, Growth, Storage, and Rear I/O

The principally uncovered audio part is at backside left of the board. Hidden below a Faraday cage with Supreme FX branding is a high-quality, current-gen Realtek ALC4080 codec. Whereas it is just able to 5.1 encompass sound (moderately than 7.1), most customers will discover this audio resolution greater than acceptable.

The center of the board homes three PCI Categorical slots and all 5 M.2 sockets. The highest, strengthened PCIe socket connects by the CPU and is the one PCIe 5.0 x16-capable slot. The underside two slots join by the chipset and run as much as PCIe 4.0 x16 (the full-length slot) and PCIe 3.0 x1 (the small slot). Multi-GPU assist is not talked about within the specs, however the board has enough bandwidth to assist AMD CrossFire.

(Credit score: Joe Shields)

Hiding amongst all of the heatsinks between and across the PCI Categorical slots are 5 M.2 sockets. All 5 are PCI Categorical 4.0 x4 (64Gbps), so builders on the lookout for a PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket must look elsewhere. One of many sockets, M.2_5, helps SATA-based M.2 modules for added flexibility. As a value-add, all 5 sockets use the M.2 Q-Latch that Asus developed, so you do not have to fiddle with tiny M.2 screws.

Shifting previous the chipset to the suitable edge, we discover 4 SATA ports. Each SATA and M.2 storage assist RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 modes for redundancy or extra pace, relying on the mode you select. Briefly, the motherboard supplies loads of storage choices, although I would have favored to see a PCI Categorical 5.0-capable M.2 socket, since rival boards on this worth vary have one.

Alongside the underside fringe of the board are a number of headers together with extra USB 2.0 ports and fan headers, front-panel audio, a COM port, ARGB headers, a Thunderbolt AIC header, a 2-pin temperature header, a clear-CMOS jumper, and eventually the front-panel header.

(Credit score: Joe Shields)

The rear I/O consists of a preinstalled backplate with black labels on a white background and ROG branding. From left to proper, we see HDMI and DisplayPort video outputs surrounding the clear-CMOS and BIOS-flashback buttons. Subsequent are a number of USB ports together with two Sort-C (one 10Gbps, the opposite 20Gbps) and no fewer than 10 extra Sort-A ports: two 10Gbps, 4 5Gbps, and 4 USB 2.0 ports. Subsequent to them is the Wi-Fi 7 connection that makes use of a quick-attaching Q-Antenna, in addition to 2.5Gbps Ethernet and the two-plug-plus-SPDIF audio stack—nothing out of the odd to report right here.


UEFI BIOS and Utilities

The ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II makes use of the identical BIOS and background as its predecessor, with the Republic of Players darkish grey and crimson colour scheme we have seen earlier than. Its white and yellow textual content makes issues straightforward to learn. You begin in EZ Mode, which shares high-level system data together with CPU temperature and core voltage, DRAM standing, fan profiles with entry to the Q-Fan performance, and even an EZ System Tuning button to tweak your system with the flip of a change. Nonetheless, because the Z790 chipset permits overclocking, you may get extra out of the system if you happen to overclock manually.

(Credit score: Asus)

The superior portion of the BIOS presents a regular configuration with main headings throughout the highest together with My Favorites (customizable by the consumer), Principal, AI Tweaker, Superior, Monitor, Boot, Instruments, and Exit. All of the power-user performance is discovered on this way more complete mode.

(Credit score: Asus)

The AI Tweaker part comprises all of the choices for tweaking and overclocking your system. Right here you may alter voltages, RAM speeds and timings, and overclocking choices for the CPU. Whereas the facility supply choices aren’t encyclopedic, they are not paltry both. Your CPU temperatures and cooling will probably be a limiting issue earlier than the motherboard is.

(Credit score: Asus)

Contained in the Superior part are a number of subheadings the place you may tweak the CPU, chipset, USB, audio, and community performance.

(Credit score: Asus)

The monitoring part shows detailed information about temperatures, fan speeds, voltage, and the Q-Fan configuration to regulate your fan profiles. Lastly, Asus included canned profiles and the flexibility to create and save customized fan curves, which is all we will ask from a BIOS.

Asus has logically laid out its BIOS, making it legible and straightforward to navigate, and the Z790 model supplies a full array of tweaks together with these to overclock RAM and the processor. The corporate’s BIOS is often my favourite amongst main motherboard makers as every little thing is straightforward to learn and choices are straightforward to search out. Our model (1220) was rock-stable throughout our testing.

On the software program facet, Armoury Crate by Asus homes a slew of performance, together with system tweaking and monitoring and management over RGB lighting and followers. The appliance matches the ROG theme and is straightforward to work with. The primary screenshot under reveals the touchdown web page, all of the {hardware} it could possibly management on our take a look at system, and the capabilities (akin to fan management and RGB) under.

(Credit score: Asus)

Fan Skilled 4 is the Armoury Crate module that controls all of the followers and water pumps related to the 4-pin headers. You possibly can select from 4 presets or customise every header together with your customized curve(s).

(Credit score: Asus)

The Aura Sync part controls the RGB lighting. It consists of a number of preset modes (static, respiratory, colour cycle, rainbow, comet, glowing yo-yo, starry evening, flash and sprint, and strobing) which you may as well tweak individually.

(Credit score: Asus)

This whole software program suite from Asus supplies a Home windows-based resolution to regulate absolutely anything you may within the BIOS. If you wish to overclock, the AI Suite 3 software program offers you probably the most management over the processor.

(Credit score: Asus)

Lastly, you may obtain your board’s drivers, utilities, and assist paperwork within the Instruments part. It is a handy one-stop store for every little thing downloadable.

Total, we just like the Armoury Crate software program and what it supplies, although its a number of modules generally really feel a bit clunky to navigate. I would prefer to see the capabilities in AI Suite 3 mixed for a correct single software program resolution.


Verdict: A Reducing-Edge Gaming Refresh

The Asus ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II is a midrange gaming motherboard that offers Intel desktop builders a well-rounded set of options at an affordable worth. The refresh board is provided with succesful energy supply for the most recent processors, scads of rear USB ports (together with two USB-C ports, one 20Gbps), 5 M.2 sockets, an up-to-date audio codec, and styling that ought to slot in with loads of construct themes. Efficiency was respectable throughout and barely above common in gaming. Briefly, it is a succesful replace, although if you happen to do not thoughts flashing your BIOS yow will discover cheaper choices among the many authentic Z790 boards.

(Credit score: Joe Shields)

At $359.99, the Gaming Wi-Fi II sits squarely in a crowded midrange phase. ASRock’s new Z790 Nova Wi-Fi is the least costly competitor at $329.99 however notably features a PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket, as do the MSI MPG Z790 Edge Ti Max and the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Professional X ($389.99 every). All have 5 M.2 sockets, succesful energy supply, and efficient audio, so your alternative principally comes down to cost and appears, although DDR5 maniacs will discover the Gigabyte lists the very best assist at DDR5-8266+ (OC). If built-in Wi-Fi 7 is extra essential to you than a PCIe 5.0 SSD socket, the Asus is a first-class alternative.



Source link