ASUS ROG Strix Z890-A Gaming WiFi Motherboard: features, specs and who it suits

The ASUS ROG Strix Z890-A Gaming WiFi is an ATX motherboard for Intel's LGA 1851 socket, designed for Core Ultra (Series 2) processors. It uses DDR5 memory and adds Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4 and five M.2 slots. It is a foundation for a desktop gaming or high-performance PC.

Socket, chipset and the AI features

The board uses the Intel Z890 chipset and the LGA 1851 socket. A socket is physical, so only processors made for LGA 1851 will fit. ASUS pitches the board as ready for "AI PCs" and lists NPU Boost, ASUS AI Advisor, AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II and AI Networking II. In general, these are software and firmware tools that automate tuning, fan control or network prioritisation, and they can be left at defaults if you prefer.

Power delivery and cooling

The power design is listed as 16(90A) + 2(90A) + 1(90A) + 2(80A) stages, with ProCool II power connectors, alloy chokes and metallic capacitors. Power stages smooth and deliver current to the processor. More stages with higher current capacity typically help keep voltage steady under heavy loads, which matters for overclocking.

For heat, there are large heatsinks with an integrated I/O cover, thermal pads and an L-shaped heatpipe linking them. Overall temperatures still depend on your processor cooler and case airflow.

Storage: five M.2 slots

The board has one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot and four PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, each with its own cooling. PCIe 5.0 SSDs are typically capable of roughly double the maximum speed of PCIe 4.0 drives, but only suit workloads that benefit from it. Several slots make it easy to add drives over time without opening up a SATA cable layout.

Ports and networking

Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports, a rear USB 10Gbps Type-C port with up to 30W Power Delivery and USB Wattage Watcher, and five more USB 10Gbps ports. Video can come through HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4, which work with processors that have integrated graphics. The main graphics slot is a PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlot, ready for next-generation graphics cards.

For networking, there is Intel Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with the ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna and Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet. Wi-Fi 7 needs a compatible router to reach its full speeds.

Building made easier

ASUS adds several tool-free features: PCIe Slot Q-Release Slim, M.2 Q-Latch, M.2 Q-Release, M.2 Q-Slide, a Q-Antenna and a pre-mounted I/O shield. Diagnostic and utility items include BIOS Q-Dashboard, Q-LED, a FlexKey button, a Start button, a BIOS FlashBack button and a Clear CMOS button. FlashBack lets you update the BIOS without a processor installed, which is useful when a new CPU needs newer firmware.

Who it suits

It suits enthusiasts building a new Intel desktop who want plenty of storage, fast networking and good power delivery.

What to check before you buy

• Processor: Confirm your CPU uses LGA 1851.
• Memory: The board uses DDR5, so older DDR4 kits will not fit. Check ASUS's supported memory list.
• Case and cooler: It is a full ATX board, so confirm case compatibility.
• Graphics and storage: Make sure your GPU and SSDs suit the PCIe slots.
• Network: Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5 Gb Ethernet need matching routers and cabling.
• Updates: Check the BIOS version if you are fitting a newer CPU.

The short version

• Intel Z890, LGA 1851, ATX board for Core Ultra (Series 2) processors.
• DDR5, one PCIe 5.0 and four PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots.
• Wi-Fi 7, 2.5 Gb Ethernet, two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
• 16+2+1+2 power stages and large heatsinks.
• Tool-free features and BIOS FlashBack.

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