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The ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-I Gaming WiFi is the top contender for the Best Mini-ITX Z790 Motherboard thanks to its top-notch performance, with clever space-saving VRM heatsink architecture and the fastest DDR5 memory specification, which makes it a top priority for users looking for a Mini-ITX Z790 motherboard. Performance: 8.5/10 The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Wi-Fi, on the other hand, ditches the RGB lighting but instead makes a solid case for a mid-range motherboard with DDR5 support. It's an outstanding value for the money, too, so if you're not fussed about fancy lighting, it's a great choice. The board features 2x PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and 1x Hyper M.2 slot that supports PCIe Gen 5 SSDs; something most other Z790 motherboards don’t offer. You also get DDR5 support, Wi-Fi 6E, two Thunderbolt 4 ports (support up to 40Gbps bi-directional data transfer), and more than enough I/O internally and on the rear. You want an excellent VRM design: My testing shows that the 19+1+1 phase VRM, along with the improved thermal features of this board, make it stand out among its competitors. Don’t Buy It If:
Immersive Gaming Audio: ALC4050 with ESS ® SABRE 9260Q DAC, along with DTS ® Sound Unbound and Sonic Studio III You want an exceptional feature set: The ROG Maximus Z790 HERO has support for 2 PCIe 5.0 x16 slots parallel to a PCIe 5.0 M.2 card slot, a feat that even most high-end motherboards fail to achieve. Don’t Buy It If: It also comes with decent connectivity options, including four SATA ports, several USB ports (up to 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds), built-in Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and 2.5GbE LAN. Overall, the Asus TUF Gaming Z790-Plus Wi-Fi D4 offers excellent price-to-performance, and we highly recommend building with this one. Expansion slots: Expansion slots allow additional hardware components to be installed on the motherboard, such as graphics cards, sound cards, and network cards. Expansion slots are typically located on the bottom or right edge of the motherboard.
Mini-ITX with three M.2 sockets and 40 Gbps ports for under $350.
The ROG Maximus Z790 Hero from ASUS might not be cheap, but it's certainly the best Z790 motherboard to build your Raptor-Lake-based system around. This board has everything you need to forge the ultimate gaming PC, from capable 20-phase, 90A VRMs that can push the new Intel Core i9-13900K to its limits to a full PCIe 5.0 design and DDR5 memory support. The NVMe slot is also PCIe Gen 5. In this regard, the motherboard stands out from the many others that cap the NVMe slots at PCIe Gen 4 even if the board supports Gen 5. This will be a nice-to-have feature going forward as more PCIe Gen 5 NVMe drives are released, letting you take full advantage of the 13th-gen Z790 platform with all of the bells and whistles. High-Performance Networking: On-board Intel Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard Port configuration settings between different BIOS versions or share them with friends. Q-Fan Control
SFF Innovations: ROG Strix Hive moves OC controls and connectivity to the desktop while allowing for a larger audio solution, and the ROG FPS-II Card vertically mounts USB and SATA ports for a better building experience The N7 Z790 allows for a great look without sacrificing the build experience with an integrated rear I/O and optimally placed headers. WARNING: Be sure to confirm case compatibility before buying a mini-ITX motherboard. Buy It If: ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-I Gaming WiFi Prizes are without warranty and subject to availability. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice. The specifics of the prize shall be solely determined by the Sponsor. Each individual can only be selected as a winner for once.
However, Z790 motherboards are the best choice since they support faster DDR5 RAM speeds, have more high-speed USB ports, and are compatible with Raptor Lake CPUs without any extra tinkering. Q: What Motherboard Do You Need for 13th-Generation Intel Processors?
If you're on a budget, a board like the GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX will be a great companion for your 13th Gen CPU. While it doesn't cost nearly as much as some other Z790 boards, you still get DDR5 support, Wi-Fi 6E, and a stunning RGB design.Features and Connectivity:There are 3x Hyper Gen 4×4 M.2 slots wired to the chipset, providing a speed of 64 Gb/s and 8x SATA III connectors that transfer data with a speed of up to 6 Gb/s. As the name suggests, the board comes with a Killer E3100G LAN port, but I would have liked to see the inclusion of WiFi connectivity as well.
PRO TIP: Gigabyte’s RGB Fusion software can be used to configure the RGB lighting of the Z790 AORUS Master. The board also shines in the looks department (literally) with tasteful lighting and an industrial aesthetic. It’s definitely an eye-catcher! So overall, a highly recommended motherboard! Nonetheless, DDR5 has some benefits, such as lower power consumption (1.1V compared to DDR4’s 1.2V) and on-die ECC support, which was traditionally seen in server-grade DDR4 RAM. DDR5 also allows for higher density per module, with a theoretical maximum support of 256 GB (compared to DDR4’s 64 GB). This could lead to consumer-grade CPUs supporting up to 256 GB (or potentially even more) of DDR5 RAM in the future.
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