Board Design, CPU, and Memory
The Asus ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II features a black multi-layer circuit board with silver heat sinks and a cover that conceal hot spots. The left-side power heat sink is adorned with the polished ROG logo illuminated from below by RGB lights. The power sink is large and heavy, keeping the power delivery components within specifications. Overall, it’s an attractive board, not overly flashy but not more boring than its direct competitors. While the RGB implementation may not make your case the center of attention, it brightens up things to showcase the contrasting style of the internal board.
The board supports Intel LGA1700 processors from the 12th, 13th, and 14th generations, including the flagship Core i9-14900K and KS. Sixteen 70A MOSFETs and other power delivery components worked seamlessly with our CPU during testing. The heat sinks kept the power solution running well within specifications even while overclocking, although they tend to heat up after intensive CPU use.
Asus offers memory support for the board up to DDR5-8000+ (OC), which is a 200 MHz increase over the original. This far exceeds what most users purchase, as it significantly surpasses the optimal point of performance versus cost, but even the most extreme users will be satisfied if they adhere to the QVL list for compatibility. Like most Z790 boards, this Strix board supports non-binary memory (24/48 GB modules) with a ceiling of 192 GB – enough even for power users.
We tested the board using DDR5-6000 and DDR5-7200 kits, both of which worked flawlessly by enabling XMP profiles. We also tried a recently acquired DDR5-8000 kit that wasn’t listed on the QVL, but it did not work. In fact, only two brands (and a total of 10 kits) work, and only with the 14th-gen processor and its better memory support.
Board Design and Internal Connectors
Starting from the top corner, you can see the first two components, which are the dual ProCool II 8-pin EPS power connectors (only one is required) for powering the CPU. These power connectors are surrounded by large VRM heatsinks cooling the power components below. As mentioned, the only integrated RGB element is on the top of the left VRM heatsink; the ROG logo gives off enough glow without dominating the case or turning your room into a dance party.
Above the top VRM heatsink and next to the EPS connectors, there are three of the eight four-pin fan connectors. All connectors provide up to 1A / 12W, which is sufficient to handle most configurations. Be sure not to overload these connectors, which could cause permanent damage to the board. The CPU header’s fan connectors automatically detect if the attached devices are PWM or DC-based, but you’ll need to manually select the type for other connectors. The motherboard firmware, Asus Armoury Crate software, or Fan Expert 4 software controls these devices.
On the right side, we find four unenhanced memory slots with a single locking mechanism at the top. Next along the right edge is one of the DIY features, a Q-LED array that detects issues during the POST process. Below are the first RGB connectors – the first three 3-pin ARGB connectors and the only 4-pin connector. The Aura Sync software in Armoury Crate manages these devices.
With
On the edge, we encounter the 24-pin ATX power connector for the motherboard, a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) Type-C front connector, and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) front connector with 19 pins. There’s also another DIY feature, the Q-Release, which opens the primary graphics card slot at the push of a button instead of forcing you to press the lock between the video card and the M.2 cooler.
Audio, Expansion, Storage, and Rear Ports
The most exposed audio section is located at the bottom left of the board. Under the Faraday cage marked with Supreme FX, there is a high-quality audio codec from the latest generation, the Realtek ALC4080. Although it only supports 5.1 surround sound (instead of 7.1), most users will find this audio solution more than acceptable.
The middle section of the board features three PCI Express slots and all five M.2 sockets. The upper socket reinforced by PCIe is connected to the processor and is the only socket capable of PCIe 5.0 x16. The lower sockets connect to the chipset and operate at PCIe 4.0 x16 (the full-length slot) and PCIe 3.0 x1 (the small slot). Multi-GPU support is not mentioned in the specifications, but the board has enough bandwidth to support AMD CrossFire.
All M.2 sockets are concealed between and around the PCI Express slots by heatsinks. All five sockets are PCI Express 4.0 x4 (64 Gb/s), so builders looking for a PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket should look elsewhere. One of the sockets, M.2_5, supports SATA-based M.2 modules for added flexibility. As an added benefit, all five sockets use the M.2 Q-Latch developed by Asus, so you don’t have to deal with the small M.2 screws.
Moving from the chipset to the right edge, we find four SATA ports. Both SATA and M.2 storage support RAID modes 0, 1, 5, and 10 for redundancy or additional speed, depending on the mode you choose. Overall, the motherboard offers plenty of storage options, although I would have liked to see a PCIe 5.0-capable M.2 socket in this price range, as competing boards in this price category have one.
Along the bottom edge of the board, there are several connectors including additional USB 2.0 ports, fan connectors, front audio, ARGB ports, a Thunderbolt AIC connector, a two-pin temperature connector, a clear-CMOS button, and finally, a front panel connector.
Input/Output Interface and Software
The rear input/output interface consists of a pre-installed backplate with black labels on a white background and the ROG logo. From left to right, we see HDMI and DisplayPort video ports surrounding the clear-CMOS and BIOS-flashback buttons. Next to these, there are several USB ports including two Type-C ports (one 10Gbps and the other 20Gbps) and no fewer than 10 Type-A ports: two 10Gbps, four 5Gbps, and four USB 2.0 ports. Beside them is a Wi-Fi 7 connection using an easy-to-install Q-Antenna, as well as 2.5Gbps Ethernet and a dual-jack audio stack plus SPDIF – nothing unusual to report here.
The Asus ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II uses the same BIOS and layout as its predecessor, with a dark gray and red look aimed at the Republican gaming audience we’ve seen before. The white and yellow text makes for easy reading. It starts in EZ mode, which shares high-level system information including the CPU temperature and voltage, DRAM status, and fan profiles with access to the Q-Fan function, plus an EZ system tuning button to tweak your setup at the push of a button. However, as the Z790 chipset allows overclocking, you’ll get better performance from the system if you manually overclock.
The advanced part of the BIOS has a standard layout with main headers at the top, including my favorites (which can be customized by the user), main, AI Tweaker, advanced, monitoring, boot, tools, and exit. All user power functions are found in this much more comprehensive mode.
The AI Tweaker section contains all the options for tweaking and overclocking your system. Here you can adjust voltage, memory speeds, timings, and CPU overclocking options. While the power delivery options are not extensive, they are also not negligible. Thermal and cooling limits for the processor will be before the motherboard.
The advanced section has several subheadings where you can adjust the CPU, chipset, USB, audio, and network functions.
The monitoring section displays detailed data about temperatures, fan speeds, voltages, and Q-Fan configuration to adjust your fan profiles. Finally, Asus has included preset profiles and the ability to create and save custom fan curves, which is all we can ask from a BIOS.
Asus has organized the BIOS logically, making it readable and easy to navigate, and the Z790 version offers a full range of adjustments including those related to memory and CPU overclocking. The company’s BIOS is usually my favorite among leading motherboard manufacturers as everything is easy to read and options are easy to find. Our version (1220) was perfectly stable during testing.
On the software side, Asus’s Armoury Crate has a wide range of functionalities, including system tuning, monitoring, and RGB lighting and fan control. The app matches the ROG theme and is user-friendly. The first thumbnail below shows the homepage, and all devices that can be controlled on our test system, with functions (like fan and RGB control) below.
Fan Expert 4 is the Armoury Crate module that controls all fans and water pumps connected to four-pin connectors. You can choose from four presets or customize each connector with a custom curve.
The Aura Sync section controls RGB lighting. It includes several preset modes (static, breathing, color cycle, rainbow, strobe, glowing yoyo, bright night, and bright flashing) which you can also adjust individually.
This complete software suite from Asus provides a Windows-based solution for controlling anything you can do in BIOS. If you want to overclock, AI Suite 3 gives you the most control over the CPU.
Finally, you can download drivers, tools, and support documents for your motherboard in the tools section. It’s a convenient one-stop shop for everything that can be downloaded.
Overall, we like Armoury Crate and what it offers, although its multiple modules sometimes seem a bit clunky to navigate. I would like to see the functionalities in AI Suite 3 combined into one cohesive software solution.
Conclusion: Advanced Gaming Motherboard Upgrade
The Asus ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II is a mid-range gaming motherboard that provides Intel desktop builds with a variety of features at a reasonable price. The updated board features robust power delivery for the latest processors, a large number of rear USB ports (including two USB-C ports, one 20 Gbps), five M.2 sockets, an updated audio codec, and a design that fits many build aesthetics. Performance was good across the board and slightly above average in gaming. In short, it’s a capable upgrade, although if you don’t mind flashing your BIOS, you can find cheaper options among original Z790 boards.
Priced at
$359.99, the Gaming Wi-Fi II explicitly falls into the crowded mid-range category. The new ASRock Z790 Nova Wi-Fi motherboard is the cheaper competitor at $329.99 and notably includes an M.2 PCIe 5.0 socket, alongside the MSI MPG Z790 Edge Ti Max and the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Pro X (both priced at $389.99). All of them feature five M.2 sockets, robust power delivery, and efficient audio, so your choice primarily depends on price and aesthetics, although DDR5 enthusiasts will find the highest support from Gigabyte at DDR5-8266+ (OC). If integrated Wi-Fi 7 is more important to you than an SSD PCIe 5.0 socket, Asus is a top-tier option.
Specifications of the Asus ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II
- aRGB connectors: 3
- Chipset: Intel Z790
- CPU socket: Intel LGA 1700
- Ethernet ports: 1
- Form factor: ATX
- M.2 slots: 5
- Max memory speed: 8000
- Max supported memory: 192
- Memory type: DDR5
- Audio channels: 5.1
- DIMM slots: 4
- Integrated audio chip: Realtek ALC4080
- Integrated video output for IGP (back panel): DisplayPort
- Integrated video output for IGP (back panel): HDMI
- Integrated wireless: 802.11be
- PCI Express x1 slots: 1
- PCI Express x16 slots: 2
- S/PDIF output
- SATA connectors: 4
- USB 2.0 ports on board (back panel): 4
- USB 2.0 ports supported via header: 4
- USB 3.0 or 3.1 or 3.2 ports on board (back panel): 10
- USB 3.0 or 3.1 or 3.2 ports supported via header: 3
- USB Type-C connector
Summary: High-end Gaming Motherboard Update
The Asus ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II is a mid-range gaming motherboard that offers a variety of features for Intel desktop builds at a reasonable price. The updated board features robust power delivery for the latest processors, a large number of rear USB ports (including two USB-C ports, one at 20 Gbps), five M.2 sockets, an updated audio codec, and a design that fits many build aesthetics. Performance was good across the board and slightly above average in gaming. In short, it’s a capable update, although if you don’t mind flashing your BIOS, you can find cheaper options among the original Z790 boards.
At $359.99, the Gaming Wi-Fi II explicitly falls into the crowded mid-range category. The new ASRock Z790 Nova Wi-Fi motherboard is the cheaper competitor at $329.99 and notably includes an M.2 PCIe 5.0 socket, alongside the MSI MPG Z790 Edge Ti Max and the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Pro X (both priced at $389.99). All of them feature five M.2 sockets, robust power delivery, and efficient audio, so your choice primarily depends on price and aesthetics, although DDR5 enthusiasts will find the highest support from Gigabyte at DDR5-8266+ (OC). If integrated Wi-Fi 7 is more important to you than an SSD PCIe 5.0 socket, Asus is a top-tier option.
Source: https://me.pcmag.com/en/motherboards/20867/asus-rog-strix-z790-a-gaming-wi-fi-ii
Leave a Reply