ASUS Prime Z790-A WiFi 6E Motherboard: features, specs and who it suits

The ASUS Prime Z790-A WiFi 6E is an ATX motherboard for Intel's LGA 1700 socket. It is the board that everything else in a desktop PC plugs into, and ASUS aims it at everyday users and DIY builders who want room to tune performance through software and firmware.

Socket, chipset and memory

The LGA 1700 socket is made for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Intel Core processors, which is why the Z790 chipset matters: it decides which ports, lanes and tuning options the board can offer. ASUS lists support for Windows 11 and for DDR5 memory. DDR5 modules are not physically or electrically interchangeable with DDR4, so a board like this needs DDR5 sticks. Newer processor generations may need a firmware update first, so check ASUS's support page for the BIOS version a given chip requires.

Power delivery and cooling

ASUS describes a 16+1 DrMOS power design, along with ProCool sockets, alloy chokes and durable capacitors. In general, more power stages share the electrical load across more components, which helps a board deliver steady voltage to the processor under heavy work. It matters most with high-end chips and with overclocking.

For cooling, the board has a large VRM heatsink, an M.2 heatsink and a backplate with Q-Latch, plus hybrid fan headers and the Fan Xpert 4 tool for managing fan curves. ASUS also lists AI overclocking, AI cooling II and two-way AI noise cancellation, which are software-assisted tuning and noise-reduction features.

Storage and expansion

There are four M.2 slots for NVMe solid-state drives, and the listing includes PCIe 5.0 support. PCIe 5.0 doubles the per-lane bandwidth of PCIe 4.0, which is mainly relevant to the newest graphics cards and the latest high-speed SSDs. Drives from earlier generations also work in these slots at their own speeds. The Q-Latch design lets you secure an M.2 drive without a tiny screw.

Connectivity

Built-in networking includes Wi-Fi 6E and Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet. Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6 GHz band, which can mean less congestion if your router supports it. USB options include a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port, a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C connector and a Thunderbolt 4 header. A header is a connection on the board, so Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 ports also depend on the case and any add-in card you use. The listing also mentions DisplayPort output for processors with integrated graphics.

Looks and who it suits

The board has a black and white finish with an iridescent metallic nameplate and PCB cover, which suits a light-toned or showcase build. Beyond looks, it fits people building a new Intel desktop who want current memory and storage standards, plenty of M.2 capacity and tuning tools that don't require deep expertise.

What to check before you buy

• Processor: confirm your exact Intel chip is supported and whether it needs a BIOS update.
• Memory: it takes DDR5 only; check the module speeds ASUS lists as supported.
• Case size: it is a full ATX board, so the case must support ATX.
• Front-panel ports: a case with a USB Type-C cable is needed to use the front Type-C connector.
• Graphics output: the board's video ports only work with a processor that has integrated graphics.
• What's in the box: check the contents list for cables, antenna and M.2 hardware.

The short version

• ATX motherboard for LGA 1700 Intel Core processors (12th to 14th Gen).
• 16+1 DrMOS power design with VRM and M.2 heatsinks.
• DDR5 memory, PCIe 5.0 and four M.2 slots.
• Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5 Gb Ethernet and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C, with a Thunderbolt 4 header.
• Black and white finish with an iridescent nameplate.

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