Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi review: A Mini-ITX board for enthusiasts

Price When Reviewed

$469

Best Prices Today: Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi

$449.99

Mini-ITX, or small form-factor, has been all the fad the previous couple of years in PC builds. Who doesn’t wish to pack a ridiculous quantity of energy in a small PC case? One might even argue that a part of the attraction is the problem of maximizing efficiency inside these constraints. Plus, these motherboards are so rattling cute! 

If that feels like your cup of tea, you’ll be considering what the Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi brings to the desk. Featuring assist for Intel’s 13th-generation CPUs, it gives a stepped-up stage of “mini” efficiency. It suggestions the scales on pricing, too—however in return you get a wealthy function set and enthusiast-grade chops. 

We’ll have a look at this motherboard’s options, design, and efficiency. Mini-ITX has just a few drawbacks that don’t have an effect on bigger ATX boards, however does this unit make up for that with its beneficiant choices? Let’s discover out!

Further studying: See our roundup of the best gaming motherboards to find out about competing merchandise.

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What are the Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi specs?

• Mini-ITX type issue (170x170mm or 6.7×6.7 inches)
• Supports Intel 12th- and 13th-gen CPUs
• 10+1 Power Stage with 105 amp
• DDR5 RAM, twin channel as much as 2 DIMM (as much as 64GB)
• 2x onboard M.2 slots (1x PCIe Gen 5 and 1x PCIe Gen 4)
• 1x PCIe 16x slot (PCIe Gen 5)
• HDMI port
• 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports (helps DisplayPort) 
• 7x extra rear USB ports 
• Intel 2.5GbE LAN 
• Wi-Fi 6E with Bluetooth 5.3
• Aura Sync header for RGB
• 2 SATA 6Gb/s ports 
• 3 PWM fan headers 
• Clear CMOS 
• Preinstalled I/O protect 
• ROG Strix Hive audio exterior system
• ROG High Definition ALC4050 codec
• ROG FPS II Card
• MSRP $469

The Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi carries with it an MSRP of $469. This is encroaching on high-end ATX motherboard territory, so it ought to pack a punch for its measurement. You can’t count on to get the identical quantity of I/O or PCIe slots as with the larger brethren, however there are many options you do get. In different phrases, you’re going to pay a premium to have so many options squeezed right into a small design. But this board gives the whole lot you’ll want for a monster (err, Mini-monster) gaming PC construct! 

Starting with the unboxing, you’ll uncover a wealthy treasure-trove of bundled equipment. You’ll get the usual SATA cables, NVMe trinkets, and even ROG-branded swag. 

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What you don’t often see with any motherboard is a bundled exterior sound system/USB combo. The ROG Strix Hive makes an attempt to resolve the small form-factor area concern by providing performance outdoors of the case. It has the whole lot from an audio codec to a quantity enter dial, and even further USB. It even consists of some nifty diagnostic options. We applaud this effort to supply add-on performance whereas leaving the board free to maximise efficiency options. The system pairs nicely with this fanatic motherboard. 

Going additional, you additionally get a “ROG FPS II” card. This plugs in on to the motherboard, and extends its capabilities to incorporate two SATA ports, and a group of headers. Another sensible method to preserve the primary motherboard targeted on offering very important efficiency, and augmented by such add-on components. 

What CPUs are supported?

The Z790 chipset means that you can use each Intel 12th- and 13th-generation, providing you with flexibility in your CPU. This explicit motherboard is a mini-enthusiast powerhouse, so there’s a great probability you wish to pair it with a door-busting Intel i7 or i9 such because the 13900Okay. Even the mighty 13900KS with its 6Ghz speeds ought to do tremendous right here in case your cooling answer can sustain. 

Does it assist DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5?

DDR5 assist is right here, and also you’re ready to make use of some mighty quick kits, surpassing even what AMD at present gives on AM5. You’ll be restricted to solely 64GB of RAM and two separate slots, nevertheless. This is because of the board’s diminutive measurement. We determine that’s greater than tremendous for a gaming construct, and technically two RAM slots typically provide extra stability and efficiency in comparison with 4. 

How about PCIe Gen 5? Does a small motherboard like this imply you’re not totally coated right here? Not in any respect! Being Z790, you’re given a PCIe Gen 5 16x slot—just one because of the area constraints. That’s in your GPU, which may have greater than sufficient headroom for even future releases in comparison with PCIe Gen 4. 

Storage assist

The NVMe slot can also be PCIe Gen 5. In this regard, the motherboard stands out from the various others that cap the NVMe slots at PCIe Gen 4 even when the board helps Gen 5. This can be a nice-to-have function going ahead as extra PCIe Gen 5 NVMe drives are launched, letting you are taking full benefit of the 13th-gen Z790 platform with all the bells and whistles.  

You may also have a second onboard NVMe slot, however this one is PCIe Gen 4. Given that the majority drives barely saturate even this, you’ll be forward of the sport right here. 

As talked about, the ROG FPS II card options two SATA ports, which whereas modest in comparison with ATX choices, ought to match the wants of small builds. 

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USB ports

Continuing with the stunning stage of options, you’re getting 9 complete rear USB ports. That alone is nearly as good, if not higher than, many ATX motherboards. 

Adding to that’s one other enthusiast-grade function—two of these ports are Thunderbolt 4. With super-speedy 40Gb/s, Thunderbolt is arguably some of the versatile I/O choices. You can use it to attach shows because it helps video over DisplayPort, or join a gamut of obtainable Thunderbolt peripherals and storage drives. Of course, you continue to have an ordinary HDMI-out as nicely in case your CPU helps the iGPU performance. 

Networking

WiFi 6E and Intel 2.5GbE LAN are each right here together with Bluetooth 5.3. That’s about as totally featured as they arrive—save for some 10GbE LAN hyper-enthusiast motherboards.   

Audio

Audio is nice, particularly contemplating the included Strix Hive exterior unit. This offers you nice connections which might be at arm’s size as an alternative of solely within the rear I/O of the motherboard. The useful quantity wheel allows you to rapidly modify audio ranges even when you’re in the midst of a gaming session. 

Other options of word

It’s at all times commendable to see an built-in I/O protect on a motherboard, so kudos. You additionally get Asus’ suite of “Q-Design” options that embody Q-DIMM, Q-Release for straightforward GPU entry, and Q-Latch for M.2 screwless installs.

Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi design

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The Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi will impress proper off the bat. Its small measurement already attracts consideration. When you begin to have a look at how detailed the design is right here, it’s spectacular how the compact measurement has been maximized. It’s unhappy that this magnificence will seemingly be buried inside a smaller, cramped Mini-ITX case that has minimal, if any, window area. 

Every iota of the board’s floor sports activities purposeful and aesthetically pleasing touches. Starting within the I/O protect space, you’re introduced with Strix branding in a monochromatic theme. To intensify that, you may have a really tasteful “pop of color” with some elegant RGB design that just about appears to mirror off of the completely different surfaces. The PCIe slot space continues in the identical vein, with purposeful M.2 armor trying dapper. 

If you want extra RGB, you’re ready so as to add it by means of the Aura Sync 3-pin or 4-pin headers. This exterior performance add-on, whereas not as helpful because the neat Strix Hive and FPS II playing cards, remains to be good to have. While small form-factor circumstances don’t provide the identical alternatives for RGB goodness as bigger circumstances, you’re nonetheless more likely to want the headers to energy issues like CPU and GPU water blocks, and even RGB followers. 

You’re additionally getting nice quality-of-life design inclusions—with the M.2 Q-Latch, GPU Q-Release, and so forth. These make the construct and upkeep expertise second to none. It’s much more essential in small form-factor builds, the place entry might be a lot tighter for inside modifications afterward. 

Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi efficiency, software program, and BIOS 

The Asus ROG Strix Z790-i Gaming WiFi has a 10+1 VRM Power Stage with 105 amps. That means it might probably handily care for even the mighty Intel i9 13900KS, in case your CPU cooling answer is as much as the duty. You won’t be getting the identical theoretical stage of VRM cooling as with some ATX motherboards just like the Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Hero. But in follow, this board gives top-notch CPU efficiency in a small form-factor, and comes very near many bigger fanatic motherboards. 

The motherboard will preserve cool with its imposing VRM answer. Your greater problem can be correctly cooling among the i9 CPUs in a small enclosure, as a lot of them favor 360mm AIO liquid coolers, which may solely be a “custom fit” in most small PC circumstances. 

To add to your quick CPU, you’ll have the ability to reap the benefits of the quick efficiency of DDR5 RAM, with a superb reminiscence controller onboard. 

PCIe Gen 5 is for the GPU 16x slot, and for the NVMe M.2 slot. Hyper-fast Gen 5 drives are simply hitting the market, which means this small motherboard can be among the many tiniest to wield such speeds. While you’ll even be tremendous with the second Gen 4 onboard slot, it’s good to know that this premium motherboard takes benefit of what the platform has to supply. You’ll cool these drives with the M.2 stacked armor cowl and thermal pads. 

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Since that is an enthusiast-grade motherboard, you’ll discover the BIOS is a good expertise. The Asus BIOS continues to be the most effective within the business, with clear navigation and loads of tinker-points so that you can meddle with. 

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BIOS updates might be achieved through the BIOS itself, making it pretty easy. It’s additionally full of “AI,” or computerized overclocking instruments for the CPU, and the standard XMP profiles. The AI overclocking instruments may even get a learn on the cooling efficiency of your CPU cooler and modify the optimum overclock accordingly. 

Users be cautious, nevertheless: It’s at all times greatest to know precisely what your settings are doing, and diligently monitor CPU temperatures for abnormalities. Even “AI” instruments, nearly as good as they’ve develop into, can nonetheless typically fall in need of setting the whole lot ideally. For everybody else, you possibly can simply depart it on “Auto” and it’ll do the remaining. 

If you’d favor to stay to Windows for many different duties after setting the fundamental XMP settings, you may have the Asus Armoury Crate software program. 

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Motherboard software program has been way more secure and feature-rich the previous couple of generations, and this one is not any exception. It has a bevy of feature-rich choices to interact with. Some of them embody “Fan Xpert” for fan profiles, “Aura Sync” for RGB customization, and even driver updates. 

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The brute drive efficiency of the motherboard is roofed, how about I/O speeds? Thunderbolt 4, a rarity on any motherboard is right here with two slots. This is a good boon for customers who want peripherals linked or simply super-fast storage. 40Gb/s is quick—actually the quickest you may get in the intervening time for USB stage transfers. 

Are there drawbacks for efficiency? While Asus has achieved a stellar job packing in as a lot as doable, it’s nonetheless a small form-factor unit. This has inherent bodily limitations, all whereas nonetheless commanding a premium value. You’ll discover beefier VRMs and extra DDR5 slots, for instance, on comparable ATX motherboards. 

If you’re keen to reside with just a few small compromises, the efficiency provided right here is completely top-shelf with little or no draw back.  

Is the Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi price it?

So you’ve fallen in love with small form-factor builds, and wish to construct the very best system that you may? Lucky for you – the Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi is one of the best, most totally featured Mini-ITX motherboard you should buy. 

It gives a dizzying array of options similar to Thunderbolt 4, PCIe Gen 5 NVMe slot, and funky extras such because the Strix Hive exterior card. It additionally gives nice efficiency by way of VRMs and DDR5 for its measurement, permitting you to pair it with an i9 CPU. 

It’s dear at $469, nevertheless. Even although it’s technically one of the best, there are some customers who can do with a much less feature-rich Mini-ITX motherboard and avoid wasting bucks. For instance, not everybody wants Thunderbolt 4, or the blistering efficiency of an i9 CPU. (The Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi could be one such instance of a $219 MSRP different for individuals who don’t must overclock or have these further options.) 

If you need one of the best cash should buy within the Mini-ITX realm, the Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi is a wonderful alternative.