Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Latest and Greatest Intel 13th Gen with DDR5 and PCIE Gen 5
- Generous I/O, M.2 slots, USB Ports, and Network Connectivity
- Creative and purposeful design (Great VRM, Q-Release, and so on)
Cons
- Only 4 SATA Ports, and No USB 4, Not meant for a workstation use
- Intel 13th Gen is probably going the final CPU Upgrade earlier than a brand new socket
Our Verdict
The Asus ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming Wifi is a very strong next-gen motherboard. It comes loaded with the entire finest efficiency options wanted with any pointless extras. Asus builds their ROG line with avid gamers in thoughts and this board is not any exception—PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5 included. It strikes a very good steadiness between high-end design and robust efficiency options for an affordable worth.
Price When Reviewed
499.99
Best Prices Today: Asus ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming Wifi
$499.99
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With the introduction of Intel’s 13th-generation Raptor Lake, we’ve obtained some new motherboards to savor. Some of probably the most finger-lickin’-good choices have come from the Asus ROG Strix lineups of the previous—packing nice options for the value.
Will the brand new Z790 technology sustain the pattern and entice you to indulge? Today we’re wanting on the Asus ROG Strix Z790-E. We’ll go over the options, design, and efficiency. For its $499 MSRP, ought to this be on the highest of your listing in the event you’re upgrading to Intel’s 13th-gen? Let’s discover out!
Asus ROG Strix Z790-E: The Specs
The Asus ROG Strix Z790-E has historically been an awesome entry level into the higher-end motherboard house. ROG, or “Republic of Gamers,” branding tends to indicate fashions with extra options and gamer-focused niceties on the design facet.
Let’s have a look at the fundamental specs, after which we’ll talk about which ought to matter probably the most in real-world use instances. Coming in a barely smaller field than a few of the different ROG motherboards, such because the ROG Hero, it nonetheless consists of some good equipment: Wi-Fi antenna, ROG stickers, ROG keychain, and different miscellaneous gadgets resembling cable ties.
Good information: Both Intel’s 12th- and 13th-gen CPUs will work, alongside together with your earlier CPU coolers of the LGA 1200/1151 selection.
The specs beneath actually cater to the gamer market—some content material creators might have to step as much as the Hero line in the event that they want sooner I/O or extra SATA ports.
- ATX kind issue
- Support for each Intel 12th- and 13th-gen CPUs
- Twin 18+1 Digital VRM with 90 amps
- DDR5 RAM
- PCIe Gen 5 16x slot
- Five M.2 slots, (1x PCIe Gen 5 and 4x PCIe Gen 4)
- HDMI and DisplayPort out
- 12 USB ports on again, Including a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gb/s
- Intel Wi-Fi 6E
- Intel 2.5GbE LAN
- RGB Aura Sync header
- 4 SATA 6Gb/s ports
- 8 PWM fan headers
- BIOS Flashback and Clear CMOS
- Onboard energy button
- Audio: ROG SupremeFX with ALC4080 Codec
- Backwards appropriate CPU-cooler mounting
- MSRP $499
Asus ROG Strix Z790-E: Features
Thiago Trevisan
The hearty spec listing above factors to the Strix giving avid gamers precisely what they want—and fewer of what they don’t. This board is optimized for gaming in its DNA.
PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5 are each right here, which may simply sustain with in the present day’s PCIe Gen 4 GPUs, together with the mighty Nvidia RTX 4090. The new Z790 chipset has stronger DDR5 RAM help in comparison with Z690, plus sooner most speeds, too.
You can set up as many as 5 M.2 drives right here—and one in all them may even be PCIe Gen 5. While you’ll solely get 4 SATA ports, this no-frills method is strictly what avid gamers will possible make extra use of.
USB ports are plentiful, together with a single ultra-fast 20Gb/s 3.2 Gen 2×2. You gained’t get Thunderbolt 4 or the sooner USB 4 40Gb/s on the again, however Thunderbolt 4 remains to be out there as a header on the motherboard.
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Audio connectivity is competent, with the ROG SupremeFX ALC4080 Codec.
Gamers wish to construct and tinker, and the Strix-E delivers these goodies on the options facet too. Clear CMOS for when your overlock goes awry? It’s right here. Need to do a BIOS flashback? Yep! Plus, we love the onboard begin button for these occasions when your construct isn’t fairly prepared but. To high it off, a helpful post-code readout can also be included within the high proper for diagnostics.
A enjoyable additional is the “Start” button positioned on the highest proper of the motherboard.
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There are loads of “quality of life” options right here that avid gamers will get pleasure from, too. Do you want swapping out M.2 drives or GPUs usually? Asus has their Q-release and Q-latch programs, making these beforehand arduous duties a lot simpler. (I’ve misplaced extra M.2 screws than I can depend.)
Asus ROG Strix Z790-E: Design
The modern design of the Asus ROG Strix Z790-E was made for rigs with viewing home windows.
Thiago Trevisan
The $499 MSRP ROG Strix-E hits the design cues in exactly the best way avid gamers will respect. Robust construct high quality, plus distinctive touches—primarily within the clear left cowl, make this a successful mixture.
Attractive M.2 armor additionally covers the PCIe space of the motherboard, with fascinating particulars all over the place the attention can see. To preserve the associated fee cheap, the board doesn’t have a beefy backplate such as you’d discover on the ROG Hero, however you’ll by no means see that anyway. What it does have is a great deal of eye sweet and artistic graphical touches adorned throughout the entrance design—making it a proud addition to your gaming construct.
The Asus ROG Strix Z790-E skips the beefy backplate, however you most likely gained’t discover in any case.
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The Q-Code show is each purposeful and aesthetically fascinating—it signifies that this gaming motherboard means enterprise!
The surrounding higher VRM space is beefy and consists of a few of the aforementioned quirky design components that the Strix is commonly identified to have.
Asus ROG Strix Z790-E: Performance and BIOS
18+1 energy levels is lots even for the mighty Intel Core-i9 13900Ok. These new CPUs are pushing out larger energy and warmth than ever earlier than, so that is actually an space that should be a precedence on a gaming motherboard.
DDR5 RAM additionally has a extra strong implementation over its Z690 predecessor, dual-channel reminiscence able to overclocking to 7800. The earlier Z690 Strix-E sometimes went to 6400, a pleasant enhance! While you will not be overclocking your RAM that top, Z790 does provide basic DDR5 enhancements beneath the radar that may make for higher optimization and stability, particularly throughout greater than two sticks of RAM. (Z690 sometimes favored two sticks of RAM just for most efficiency.)
The Asus BIOS and software program suite are again, and so they’ve been optimized over earlier generations. On the software program facet, Armory Crate is superb and a jack-of-all-trades. You can set fan profiles, get driver updates, and play with Aura Sync RGB settings. This is nice to have beneath one unified piece of software program.
On the BIOS facet, the identical easy-to-use UEFI BIOS that Asus is well-regarded for, is right here. Easily set reminiscence profiles, fan curves, and a great deal of CPU-tweaking choices in the event you’d wish to tinker. Automatic overclocking can also be right here, which may have various outcomes based mostly in your cooling resolution.
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Should you purchase the Asus ROG Strix Z790-E?
The Asus ROG Strix Z790-E actually hits residence for individuals who need the most effective efficiency, however don’t want extraneous options. It has mighty CPU taming VRMs, and a delightfully playful design that enhances the gamer aesthetic.
The $499 MSRP is actually greater than justified with the superior included “tech upgrades:” You will likely be on the “next-gen” prepare right here with PCIe Gen 5, DDR5, and help for the most recent Intel CPUs.
The Strix-E hits the best steadiness of “high end” whereas nonetheless packing nice options for the greenback. Those customers who want extra options will likely be higher served by motherboards such because the Asus ROG Z790 Hero, which provide Thunderbolt 4 (and different options that could be enticing to content material creators, too.)
Gamers will discover nirvana proper round this degree, nevertheless—with all of the goodies that you really want for an awesome gaming PC construct, with out the surplus that you simply gained’t use. Plus, it appears very cool, too!