Asus Prime Z790 A WiFi Motherboard : A Detailed Review
The Asus Prime Z790 A WiFi motherboard is undoubtedly a pillar of the Asus line, renowned for its reliability and versatility. After dominating the market for nearly a decade, the Prime A series continues to promise solid performance for both gaming and work. Let's dive into the details of this iconic model.
Table of Contents
Asus Prime Performance and Capabilities
The LGA 1700 CPU socket is compatible with 12th and 13th generation Intel Core processors, paving the way for PCIe 5.0 . On the power side, the VRM is identical to last year's, with a 1020 amp configuration distributed across eight parallel phases dedicated to the CPU. This is more than enough to overclock any compatible processor stably and sustainably. The thick, corrugated VRM blocks ensure efficient heat dissipation, with temperatures hovering around 50-55 degrees Celsius under heavy load, ensuring the longevity of the board.
As for memory, the Asus Prime Z790 A WiFi motherboard supports up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM in dual-channel configuration, with an impressive overclocking frequency of 7GHz . This is 1000MHz more than the previous model, a notable advantage for memory-intensive tasks like content creation.
For storage, the card offers four PCIe 4.0-compatible M.2 slots , offering transfer speeds of up to 64 gigabits per second each. They are all equipped with heat shields to prevent throttling. One regret, however, is the absence of an M.2 connector enabled by PCIe 5.0, which would be a major asset for fully exploiting the bandwidth of this standard. Nostalgics will appreciate the four SATA ports.
| Product Information – Asus Prime Z790-A WiFi | |
|---|---|
| Brand | ASUS |
| Model name | PRIME Z790-A WIFI |
| Model number | 90MB1CS0-M0EAY0 |
| International article code (EAN) | 04711081939320 |
| ASIN | B0BH954689 |
| Amazon Rankings | #2,750 in Computers, #54 in Motherboards |
| Average customer reviews | 4.4 / 5 stars (889 reviews) |
| Guarantee | 2 years |
| Features & Specifications | |
| Processor socket | LGA 1700 |
| Chipset | Intel Z790 |
| RAM memory type | DDR5 (2133 MHz) |
| Maximum RAM memory | 128 GB |
| RAM slots | 4 |
| Max storage supported | 64 GB |
| SATA ports | 4 (SATA 3) |
| USB 2.0 ports | 12 |
| Total USB ports | 8 |
| Ethernet ports | 1 |
| PCIe ports | 4 |
| GPU interface | PCI Express |
| Power connector | 24 pins |
| Platform | Windows |
| Processor Compatibility | |
| Intel Core i9-13900K/F, i7-13700K/F, i5-13600K/13600, i5-13400/F, i3-13100/F, i9-12900K/F, i7-12700K/F, i5-12600K/12600, i5-12400/F, i3-12100/F | |
| Dimensions & Weight | |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 24.4 x 24.4 x 5 cm |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
| Box contents | Body Camera (probably a listing error) |
Connectivity and expansion ports
The board has five PCIe slots , including a 16x PCIe 5.0 slot (closest to the CPU, metal-reinforced, ideal for your graphics card) and a 16x PCIe 4.0 slot. While PCIe 5.0 for GPUs is still ahead of its time, the bandwidth is ready for the future. A nice detail is the improved GPU slot release mechanism, which is more robust and intuitive.
The rear I/O panel is well-stocked, with an integrated I/O plate. There are DisplayPort and HDMI outputs for integrated graphics, several USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (including a 20 Gbps Type-C), and a dual-band Wi-Fi 6E for fast and stable wireless connectivity. The Realtek 1220S 8-channel provides a rich sound experience and studio-quality recording capabilities, a plus for streamers and content creators. However, it's a shame that the rear I/O panel is almost identical to the previous model's, with the exception of Wi-Fi 6E.
Chipset and additional features
The Z790 chipset itself isn't revolutionary, but it maintains a low power consumption of 6 watts, ensuring cool operation. The front panel connectors are standard: two USB Gen 2 ports, one USB Gen 3 port at 5 Gbps, and one Type-C port at 10 Gbps. Cooling-wise, the board offers seven PWM fan connectors, including a water pump connector, enough to handle most configurations.
For troubleshooting, the Prime Z790-A WiFi motherboard is well-equipped with a debugger showing the boot stages, a power button for quick tests, and a Clear CMOS (albeit oddly placed on the back).
The strengths and weaknesses of the Asus Prime Z790 A WiFi motherboard
The Asus Prime Z790 A WiFi motherboard has a solid set of specifications, but it's not without its drawbacks. Its highlights include an impressive thermal design with robust VRMs that maintain low temperatures even under heavy load, ensuring excellent stability and durability for overclocking 12th and 13th generation Intel processors. DDR5 support up to 7 GHz is a definite plus for memory-intensive tasks, and its four M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots with heat shields offer fast storage solutions. The addition of dual-band Wi-Fi 6E and the quality of the Realtek audio codec are also notable.
However, this motherboard does suffer from some weak points . The main criticism is its near-identical resemblance to its predecessor, the Z690-A, both in terms of design and many USB and storage features. This stagnation, combined with a slight price increase, makes the upgrade less attractive and raises questions about the value for money compared to last year's model, especially since it lacks an M.2 connector that fully benefits from PCIe 5.0 lanes.
Solid VRM and efficient cooling: ideal for overclocking.
Processor Compatibility: Supports Intel 12th and 13th Generation.
DDR5 support: up to 7000 MHz.
Fast Storage: 4 M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots with heatsinks.
Wireless Connectivity: Built-in Wi-Fi 6E, dual-band.
Careful audio: quality Realtek chip.
Little evolution: few changes compared to the Z690-A.
Unchanged connectivity: USB connectivity and storage identical to the previous generation.
Price increase: without any real addition justifying the increase.
Missing next-gen storage: no native PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Asus Prime Z790 A WIFI Alternatives
In the Z790 motherboard segment, the Asus Prime Z790-A WiFi motherboard faces stiff competition from other major manufacturers, each offering models with similar or slightly different specifications to meet specific needs. Among the most notable alternatives are motherboards from MSI, Gigabyte, and ASRock.
At MSI , models like the MSI Z790 GAMING PLUS WIFI or the MSI MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI are often cited as direct competitors. These cards generally offer similar connectivity (Wi-Fi 6E or even Wi-Fi 7 for the "MAX" models), robust VRMs suitable for overclocking, and a comparable number of M.2 PCIe 4.0 ports. Their designs are often focused on gamer aesthetics, with varied RGB options and efficient cooling solutions.
Gigabyte also offers solid alternatives such as the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX or the Gigabyte Z790 EAGLE AX . These boards are often praised for their value for money, offering comprehensive features, including Wi-Fi 6E, powerful VRMs, and plenty of USB ports. The AORUS series often stands out for its more aggressive aesthetics and gaming-focused features, while the EAGLE series may be aimed at a more general audience.
Finally, ASRock offers interesting options like the ASRock Z790 NOVA WIFI Asro Z790 PG Sonic Z790 motherboard . ASRock is often recognized for offering innovative features or very competitive price-performance ratios, sometimes even including a dedicated M.2 PCIe 5.0 port for storage (which the Prime Z790-A WiFi lacks). Their designs can range from the most understated to the most eccentric.
Each of these brands has its own design philosophies and associated management software (such as Dragon Center/MSI Center at MSI or Gigabyte Control Center at Gigabyte), which can influence the user's final choice based on personal preferences and their existing component ecosystem.
Our final verdict
Priced at around 260 euros , the Asus Prime Z790-A WiFi motherboard is slightly more expensive than its predecessor, the Z690-A. The question is: does it justify this price difference? The improvements are minimal, or even non-existent in some aspects. If you already own a Prime Z690-A motherboard , an upgrade is not necessary. However, if you are looking for a new, robust, powerful and durable motherboard for a mid-range PC, the Prime Z690-A motherboard , which has recently dropped in price, might be a wiser alternative. The Asus Prime Z790-A WiFi motherboard is still an excellent board, but its predecessor offers better value for money.
Do you have further questions about the Asus Prime Z790-A WiFi motherboard or would you like to explore other models?
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