ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II Motherboard: features and specs

The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II is an ATX motherboard for Intel's LGA 1700 socket, aimed at gaming and enthusiast PC builds. ASUS lists support for 14th, 13th and 12th Gen Intel Core processors, along with DDR5 memory, PCIe 5.0 and Wi-Fi 7. Here is what the main specs mean for a build.

Socket and power design

LGA 1700 is the socket used by Intel's 12th, 13th and 14th Gen desktop chips. The listing describes a 16+1+2 power solution, with each stage rated for 70A, plus dual ProCool II power connectors, alloy chokes and durable capacitors. The voltage regulator module (VRM) converts the supply to the low, steady voltage the processor needs. More stages, and higher current capacity per stage, generally give the board more headroom for multi-core processors under sustained load.

Cooling the VRM

ASUS says the VRM has large heatsinks with an integrated I/O cover, high-conductivity thermal pads and an L-shaped heatpipe linking them. The idea is to spread heat across a larger area, which helps the power circuitry stay within its limits during long sessions.

Storage: five M.2 slots

The listing mentions five M.2 slots, all PCIe 4.0: one with a heatsink and backplate, and four more with heatsinks. For most users this is a lot of room, since many builds use only one or two drives. Heatsinks matter because fast SSDs can slow themselves down when they get hot.

PCIe 5.0 x16 and graphics

The main graphics slot is PCIe 5.0 x16, which ASUS calls a SafeSlot. The brand says SafeSlot is reinforced to handle heavy graphics cards. PCIe 5.0 offers twice the bandwidth of 4.0, though current graphics cards may not use all of it.

Connectivity

The rear I/O includes USB at 20Gbps, 10Gbps and 5Gbps, plus HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 for processors with integrated graphics. A front-panel USB connector supports PD 3.0 up to 30W, which allows fast charging of a phone from a compatible case port. Wi-Fi 7 is a newer wireless standard; you'll need a Wi-Fi 7 router to take full advantage of it.

Appearance

ASUS describes a monochrome finish, an iridescent ROG logo and Aura lighting.

What to check before you buy

• Processor: confirm your CPU is LGA 1700, and check whether a BIOS update is needed for your generation.
• Memory: this board uses DDR5, not DDR4.
• Case: ATX needs a compatible case and a power supply with the right connectors.
• Storage: count your SSDs against the five M.2 slots.
• Ports: check that the USB, HDMI and DisplayPort layout matches your devices.
• Cooler: verify your CPU cooler fits LGA 1700.
• Model name: the listing's description text refers to the Z790-F; confirm you have the Z790-A model.

The short version

• ATX LGA 1700 board for Intel 12th, 13th and 14th Gen.
• 16+1+2 power stages rated at 70A each, with large VRM heatsinks.
• DDR5, PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlot and five PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots.
• Wi-Fi 7, USB up to 20Gbps and a front-panel connector with PD 3.0 up to 30W.
• Check CPU, memory and case compatibility first.

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