ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 motherboard: specs and who it suits

The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 is an ATX motherboard for Intel's LGA1700 socket, in a white and silver colour scheme. The "D4" in the name matters: it takes DDR4 memory, not DDR5. That makes it a fit for builders who want a modern Intel platform while keeping, or buying, DDR4 modules.

Socket and processor support

The board uses the LGA1700 socket and, according to ASUS, is ready for 13th Gen Intel Core processors and 12th Gen Core, Pentium Gold and Celeron processors. The listing title also mentions 14th Gen support. Older boards sometimes need a BIOS update before a newer processor will start. This board includes a BIOS FlashBack button, which lets you update the firmware from a USB drive without a processor installed.

Power delivery and cooling

ASUS describes a 16+1 power solution, rated for 70A per stage, with dual ProCool II power connectors, alloy chokes and durable capacitors. The power stages (the VRM) convert the supply voltage to what the processor needs, and a stronger design generally helps multi-core chips keep steady clocks under load. Large heatsinks with an integrated I/O cover and high-conductivity thermal pads keep those components cool.

Storage and expansion

There are four M.2 slots, all PCIe 4.0 according to the listing: one with a heatsink and backplate, and three with heatsinks. M.2 slots take compact NVMe solid-state drives. The main graphics slot is a PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlot, a reinforced slot meant to hold heavy graphics cards more securely. PCIe 5.0 doubles the bandwidth of PCIe 4.0, though most current graphics cards do not yet need the full speed.

Ports and networking

Connectivity includes:

• A rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port (20Gbps) and a front-panel connector with Power Delivery 3.0 up to 30W
• USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 1 ports
• HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 for processors with integrated graphics
• Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) on board
• Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard

Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6GHz band, which can be less crowded than 2.4 and 5GHz where your router supports it.

Builder-friendly features

ASUS highlights several tool-saving details: PCIe Slot Q-Release, an M.2 Q-Latch, a pre-mounted I/O shield, Q-LED diagnostic lights, a BIOS FlashBack button and LED, and a Clear CMOS button. ASUS also lists AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, AI Networking and Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation as automated tuning tools. The board includes a 60-day AIDA64 Extreme trial and a UEFI BIOS with integrated MemTest86 for checking memory.

Size

It is a full ATX board, about 13.3 x 10.9 inches (roughly 34 x 28 cm), and weighs 4.6 lb with its heatsinks.

Who it suits

It suits people building or upgrading a gaming or workstation PC on Intel's LGA1700 platform, particularly those with DDR4 memory, and those who want a white-themed build. If you plan to use DDR5, you need a different board.

What to check before you buy

• Memory type: this board takes DDR4 only; DDR5 modules will not fit.
• Processor and BIOS: confirm your chip is on ASUS's supported list and whether a BIOS update is needed.
• Case: ATX needs a case that supports the form factor.
• Cooler: check that your CPU cooler supports the LGA1700 mounting holes.
• Drives and cards: count the M.2 drives and expansion cards you want.
• Manual: follow it for installation and for the power connectors.

The short version

• ATX board for LGA1700 Intel processors, with DDR4 memory support.
• 16+1 power stages rated at 70A each, with large VRM heatsinks.
• Four PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots and a PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlot.
• Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5Gb Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C, HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4.
• BIOS FlashBack, Q-Release, Q-Latch and other build-friendly features.

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