ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi Motherboard: features, specs and who it suits

The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi is an ATX motherboard for Intel's LGA 1700 socket. It is built for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Intel Core processors and brings DDR5 memory, PCIe 5.0, WiFi 6E, 2.5 Gb Ethernet and Thunderbolt 4 together on one board. ASUS gives it a monochrome finish and Aura lighting with an iridescent ROG logo.

Socket and processor support

The LGA 1700 socket takes 12th and 13th Gen Intel Core processors, according to the feature list, and the listing title and description add 14th Gen. Some processor generations may need a BIOS update, so check ASUS's support list for your exact chip before buying.

Power design

ASUS lists 18+1 power stages rated at 90A, a ProCool II power connector, alloy chokes and durable capacitors. Power stages smooth the supply to the processor, and a larger number of strong stages generally gives a stable supply for multi-core chips under heavy load. ASUS says the design is meant for powerful 14th, 13th and 12th Gen processors.

Cooling

The thermal design includes a VRM heatsink, a fanless heatsink for the chipset (PCH), a double-sided M.2 heatsink, hybrid fan headers and the Fan Xpert 4 utility. Fan headers that accept both three-pin and four-pin fans are common, and Fan Xpert is software for setting fan curves. The M.2 heatsink matters because fast SSDs can throttle when they get hot.

Memory, storage and expansion

The board supports DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0. The listing mentions five M.2 slots, including one PCIe 5.0 M.2, so a build can use several SSDs. PCIe 5.0 doubles the per-lane bandwidth of PCIe 4.0, which suits the newest graphics cards and the fastest storage, though many current parts don't need all of it. A front-panel USB 3.2 port is listed, so check that your case has a matching front connector.

Networking and AI features

Onboard connectivity includes WiFi 6E and Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard, plus Thunderbolt 4. WiFi 6E adds the 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi 6, which needs a compatible router. The "AI" label covers AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, AI Networking (GameFirst VI) and AI noise cancellation. ASUS presents these as automatic tuning and software features.

Size and Windows

The listing gives dimensions of 3.0 x 13.5 x 10.7 inches, which includes packaging, and an ATX form factor. The board is described as ready for Windows 11 out of the box.

Who it suits

It suits builders putting together a gaming or creative PC around a 12th–14th Gen Intel processor who want DDR5, plenty of M.2 storage and fast built-in networking.

What to check before you buy

• Processor: check that your exact Intel chip is supported and whether it needs a BIOS update.
• Memory: this is a DDR5 board, so DDR4 modules will not fit.
• Case: confirm ATX support and a front-panel USB 3.2 connector, if you want to use the front port.
• Storage: count the M.2 drives you want and read the manual on lane sharing.
• Cooling: check that your cooler fits the LGA 1700 socket mounting.
• Network: you need a WiFi 6E router for the 6 GHz band.
• Power supply: check connectors against the manual.

The short version

• An LGA 1700 ATX motherboard for Intel 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors.
• 18+1 power stages rated 90A, with a ProCool II connector.
• DDR5, PCIe 5.0, five M.2 slots, Thunderbolt 4, WiFi 6E and 2.5 Gb Ethernet.
• Heatsinks on the VRM, chipset and M.2 slots, with Fan Xpert 4 and Aura lighting.
• Check CPU support, BIOS and DDR5 before building.

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