Starting in the left corner, we see the required 8-pin EPS connector just above the heatpipe connecting the two VRM heatsinks. The left VRM bank has three slots cut out at the top to help get fresh air over the tiny fan hidden below. The fan makes noise when under heavy loads by default, but you can adjust the BIOS to mitigate that potential concern. Nonetheless, DDR5 has some benefits, such as lower power consumption (1.1V compared to DDR4’s 1.2V) and on-die ECC support, which was traditionally seen in server-grade DDR4 RAM. DDR5 also allows for higher density per module, with a theoretical maximum support of 256 GB (compared to DDR4’s 64 GB). This could lead to consumer-grade CPUs supporting up to 256 GB (or potentially even more) of DDR5 RAM in the future. The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Wi-Fi, on the other hand, ditches the RGB lighting but instead makes a solid case for a mid-range motherboard with DDR5 support. It's an outstanding value for the money, too, so if you're not fussed about fancy lighting, it's a great choice. High-Performance Networking: On-board Intel Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard You want PCIe 5.0 x4 support: Although PCIe 5.0 x16 modes and a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot come alongside the motherboard, I think PCIe 5.0 M.2 x4 support would have been appreciated instead of PCIe 4.0 x4. What Makes It The Best High-End Z790 Motherboard?

The board also shines in the looks department (literally) with tasteful lighting and an industrial aesthetic. It’s definitely an eye-catcher! So overall, a highly recommended motherboard! Overall, the MSI MPG Z790 WiFi Gaming is a true powerhouse with its high-quality VRM structure and elaborate cooling solutions. Not only that, but the plethora of USB and storage options also make the board stand out from the competition. Because of these factors and many more, we have crowned the MSI MPG Z790 WiFi Gaming as the Best Overall Z790 Motherboard. Performance: 10/10 It also comes with decent connectivity options, including four SATA ports, several USB ports (up to 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds), built-in Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and 2.5GbE LAN. Overall, the Asus TUF Gaming Z790-Plus Wi-Fi D4 offers excellent price-to-performance, and we highly recommend building with this one. Rights Granted by the Entrant: By entering this content (e.g., photo, video, text, etc.), You understand and agree that the Sponsor and anyone acting on behalf of the Sponsor or its respective licensees, successors, and assigns, shall have the right, where permitted by law, to print, publish, broadcast, distribute, and use in any media now known or hereafter developed, in perpetuity and throughout the World, without limitation, your entry, name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness, image, statements about the Campaign, and biographical information for news, publicity, information, trade, advertising, public relations, and promotional purposes without any further compensation, notice, review, or consent. By entering this content, you represent and warrant that your entry is an original work of authorship, and does not violate any third party’s proprietary or intellectual property rights. If your entry infringes upon the intellectual property right of another, you will be disqualified at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. If the content of your entry is claimed to constitute infringement of any proprietary or intellectual proprietary rights of any third party, you shall, at your sole expense, defend or settle against such claims. You shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless ROG from and against any suit, proceeding, claims, liability, loss, damage, costs or expense, which ROG may incur, suffer, or be required to pay arising out of such infringement or suspected infringement of any third party’s right. The N7 Z790 allows for a great look without sacrificing the build experience with an integrated rear I/O and optimally placed headers.

The Overclockers Difference

Robust Power Solution: 10 + 1 power solution rated for 105A per stage with ProCool II power connectors, high-quality alloy chokes, and durable capacitors to support multi-core processors You want more expansion slots:Of course, the Z790-I does have limited potential for future expansion due to its compact frame. What Makes It The Best Mini-ITX Z790 Motherboard?

For the money, this is an exceptionally well-rounded motherboard. It offers a decent set of features and a clean industrial aesthetic that will go well with any build. Also, it comes with a DDR4 option, if that’s something you’d like. If you want a well-rounded motherboard that doesn’t break the bank, the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX makes a ton of sense for your latest 13th-Gen Intel CPU. It features 4x DIMM DDR5 slots rated for a maximum capacity of 128GB and speeds of 7600MT/s. There’s one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for the GPU, 2x M.2 slots running at PCIe 4.0 speeds, six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, plenty of USB ports and headers (up to USB 3.2 Gen 2×2), 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. DDR5 support is here, and you’re able to use some mighty fast kits, surpassing even what AMD currently offers on AM5. You’ll be limited to only 64GB of RAM and two separate slots, however. This is due to the board’s diminutive size. We figure that’s more than fine for a gaming build, and technically two RAM slots often offer more stability and performance compared to four.Expansion slots: Expansion slots allow additional hardware components to be installed on the motherboard, such as graphics cards, sound cards, and network cards. Expansion slots are typically located on the bottom or right edge of the motherboard. The ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus Wi-Fi D4 is one of the best Z790 motherboards with DDR4 support. It covers all the basics well, with a capable power delivery setup, PCIe 5.0 for graphics cards, and four high-speed M.2 slots. It supports Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gb Ethernet, which are both fast enough for gaming and streaming. In addition, eight USB ports, including a 20Gbps USB-C port, provide enough connectivity options for your desk and gaming accessories. Features and Connectivity: It is clear that network capabilities have not gone unattended, with the Z790 AORUS Master offering a 10G Marvell ethernet port along with WiFi 6E. I found the selection of USB ports on the rear I/O quite decent; however, a Thunderbolt port would have been a nice addition. Buy It If: Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master SFF Innovations: ROG Strix Hive moves OC controls and connectivity to the desktop while allowing for a larger audio solution, and the ROG FPS-II Card vertically mounts USB and SATA ports for a better building experience Most ASUS Z790 motherboards have onboard Thunderbolt™ 4 ports or a header to provide up to 40 Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth for the latest superspeed devices and drives.

The ROG STRIX Z790-I Gaming Wi-Fi motherboard cuts down on size, not features. You get 2x DIMM slots with support for a maximum of 64GB DDR5 memory up to 7600MHz, a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for your graphics card, one M.2 slot with PCIe Gen 5 speeds, another M.2 with PCIe Gen 4 speeds, 2x SATA ports, and 2x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports for dual bidirectional fast data transfer. Oh, and there’s Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 built right into the board, with support for 2.5GbE LAN. Expansion Slots/Connectivity: Some Z790 Motherboards may offer multiple PCI-e 5.0×16 slots. At the same time, some miniature motherboards will only provide a solitary PCI-e 4th Gen (x16) slot. Moreover, you should have an estimated idea of how many and which type of USB ports you’d like to utilize since a few of the Cheapest Z790 Motherboards will cut down on comparatively faster USB connections to drive prices down.

DIY-FRIENDLY FEATURES

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System): The BIOS is a firmware program that is stored on a chip on the motherboard. It is responsible for booting up the computer and initializing the hardware. The BIOS also provides a user interface for configuring the system settings.