Professional’s Score
Professionals
- Newest and Biggest Intel 13th Gen with DDR5 and PCIE Gen 5
- Beneficiant I/O, M.2 slots, USB Ports, and Community Connectivity
- Inventive and purposeful design (Nice VRM, Q-Launch, and so on)
Cons
- Solely 4 SATA Ports, and No USB 4, Not meant for a workstation use
- Intel 13th Gen is probably going the final CPU Improve earlier than a brand new socket
Our Verdict
The Asus ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming Wifi is a extremely stable next-gen motherboard. It comes loaded with the entire finest efficiency options wanted with any pointless extras. Asus builds their ROG line with avid gamers in thoughts and this board is not any exception—PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5 included. It strikes an excellent stability between high-end design and powerful efficiency options for an inexpensive worth.
With the introduction of Intel’s Thirteenth-generation Raptor Lake, we’ve acquired some new motherboards to savor. Among the most finger-lickin’-good choices have come from the Asus ROG Strix lineups of the previous—packing nice options for the worth.
Will the brand new Z790 era sustain the pattern and entice you to indulge? Right now we’re wanting on the Asus ROG Strix Z790-E. We’ll go over the options, design, and efficiency. For its $499 MSRP, ought to this be on the highest of your listing when you’re upgrading to Intel’s Thirteenth-gen? Let’s discover out!
Asus ROG Strix Z790-E: The Specs
The Asus ROG Strix Z790-E has historically been an incredible entry level into the higher-end motherboard area. ROG, or “Republic of Avid gamers,” branding tends to suggest fashions with extra options and gamer-focused niceties on the design facet.
Let’s have a look at the fundamental specs, after which we’ll talk about which ought to matter probably the most in real-world use circumstances. Coming in a barely smaller field than a few of the different ROG motherboards, such because the ROG Hero, it nonetheless contains some good equipment: Wi-Fi antenna, ROG stickers, ROG keychain, and different miscellaneous gadgets equivalent to cable ties.
Excellent news: Each Intel’s Twelfth- and Thirteenth-gen CPUs will work, alongside together with your earlier CPU coolers of the LGA 1200/1151 selection.
The specs beneath actually cater to the gamer market—some content material creators could have to step as much as the Hero line in the event that they want quicker I/O or extra SATA ports.
- ATX type issue
- Assist for each Intel Twelfth- and Thirteenth-gen CPUs
- Twin 18+1 Digital VRM with 90 amps
- DDR5 RAM
- PCIe Gen 5 16x slot
- 5 M.2 slots, (1x PCIe Gen 5 and 4x PCIe Gen 4)
- HDMI and DisplayPort out
- 12 USB ports on again, Together with a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gb/s
- Intel Wi-Fi 6E
- Intel 2.5GbE LAN
- RGB Aura Sync header
- 4 SATA 6Gb/s ports
- 8 PWM fan headers
- BIOS Flashback and Clear CMOS
- Onboard energy button
- Audio: ROG SupremeFX with ALC4080 Codec
- Backwards suitable CPU-cooler mounting
- MSRP $499
Asus ROG Strix Z790-E: Options
Thiago Trevisan
The hearty spec listing above factors to the Strix giving avid gamers precisely what they want—and fewer of what they don’t. This board is optimized for gaming in its DNA.
PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5 are each right here, which may simply sustain with in the present day’s PCIe Gen 4 GPUs, together with the mighty Nvidia RTX 4090. The brand new Z790 chipset has stronger DDR5 RAM assist in comparison with Z690, plus quicker most speeds, too.
You’ll be able to set up as many as 5 M.2 drives right here—and one among them may even be PCIe Gen 5. Whilst you’ll solely get 4 SATA ports, this no-frills strategy is precisely what avid gamers will possible make extra use of.
USB ports are plentiful, together with a single ultra-fast 20Gb/s 3.2 Gen 2×2. You gained’t get Thunderbolt 4 or the quicker USB 4 40Gb/s on the again, however Thunderbolt 4 remains to be accessible as a header on the motherboard.
Thiago Trevisan
Audio connectivity is competent, with the ROG SupremeFX ALC4080 Codec.
Avid gamers wish to construct and tinker, and the Strix-E delivers these goodies on the options facet too. Clear CMOS for when your overlock goes awry? It’s right here. Must do a BIOS flashback? Yep! Plus, we love the onboard begin button for these instances when your construct isn’t fairly prepared but. To high it off, a helpful post-code readout can be included within the high proper for diagnostics.
Thiago Trevisan
There are many “high quality of life” options right here that avid gamers will take pleasure in, too. Do you want swapping out M.2 drives or GPUs typically? Asus has their Q-release and Q-latch methods, making these beforehand arduous duties a lot simpler. (I’ve misplaced extra M.2 screws than I can depend.)
Asus ROG Strix Z790-E: Design
Thiago Trevisan
The $499 MSRP ROG Strix-E hits the design cues in exactly the best way avid gamers will admire. Sturdy construct high quality, plus distinctive touches—primarily within the clear left cowl, make this a profitable mixture.
Enticing M.2 armor additionally covers the PCIe space of the motherboard, with fascinating particulars in every single place the attention can see. To maintain the associated fee affordable, the board doesn’t have a beefy backplate such as you’d discover on the ROG Hero, however you’ll by no means see that anyway. What it does have is a great deal of eye sweet and inventive graphical touches adorned throughout the entrance design—making it a proud addition to your gaming construct.
Thiago Trevisan
The Q-Code show is each purposeful and aesthetically fascinating—it signifies that this gaming motherboard means enterprise!
The encircling higher VRM space is beefy and contains a few of the aforementioned quirky design components that the Strix is commonly identified to have.
Asus ROG Strix Z790-E: Efficiency and BIOS
18+1 energy phases is loads even for the mighty Intel Core-i9 13900K. These new CPUs are pushing out larger energy and warmth than ever earlier than, so that is definitely an space that should be a precedence on a gaming motherboard.
DDR5 RAM additionally has a extra strong implementation over its Z690 predecessor, dual-channel reminiscence able to overclocking to 7800. The earlier Z690 Strix-E sometimes went to 6400, a pleasant enhance! Whilst you might not be overclocking your RAM that top, Z790 does provide basic DDR5 enhancements beneath the radar that can make for higher optimization and stability, particularly throughout greater than two sticks of RAM. (Z690 sometimes favored two sticks of RAM just for most efficiency.)
The Asus BIOS and software program suite are again, and so they’ve been optimized over earlier generations. On the software program facet, Armory Crate is superb and a jack-of-all-trades. You’ll be able to set fan profiles, get driver updates, and play with Aura Sync RGB settings. That is nice to have beneath one unified piece of software program.
On the BIOS facet, the identical easy-to-use UEFI BIOS that Asus is well-regarded for, is right here. Simply set reminiscence profiles, fan curves, and a great deal of CPU-tweaking choices when you’d wish to tinker. Computerized overclocking can be right here, which may have various outcomes primarily based in your cooling resolution.
Thiago Trevisan
Must you purchase the Asus ROG Strix Z790-E?
The Asus ROG Strix Z790-E actually hits residence for individuals who need one of the best efficiency, however don’t want extraneous options. It has mighty CPU taming VRMs, and a delightfully playful design that enhances the gamer aesthetic.
The $499 MSRP is definitely greater than justified with the superior included “tech upgrades:” You can be on the “next-gen” practice right here with PCIe Gen 5, DDR5, and assist for the newest Intel CPUs.
The Strix-E hits the best stability of “excessive finish” whereas nonetheless packing nice options for the greenback. These customers who want extra options will likely be higher served by motherboards such because the Asus ROG Z790 Hero, which supply Thunderbolt 4 (and different options which may be enticing to content material creators, too.)
Avid gamers will discover nirvana proper round this stage, nonetheless—with all of the goodies that you really want for an incredible gaming PC construct, with out the surplus that you just gained’t use. Plus, it seems to be very cool, too!