The newest Z790 refresh board now we have in for overview is the ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi. It is part of ASRock’s Phantom Gaming lineup. It is an reasonably priced choice that comes with out of the field assist for Intel’s 14th Gen processors, although in fact it helps twelfth and thirteenth Gen processors as effectively.
Some will say these newest Z790 motherboards are the identical as their predecessors with a brand new coat of paint. There’s a case to be made for that viewpoint, however not everybody upgrades yearly. In case you’re upgrading from a system that is a number of years outdated, then Z790 refresh fashions have a whole lot of enchantment. They embody the newest connectivity options, electrical refinements and assist for quick reminiscence for starters. And though many Z790 refresh boards have taken yet one more step up in value, some boards just like the ASRock Z790 Riptide nonetheless handle to supply an entire lot to your cash.
At simply $250, The Z790 Riptide WiFi has options that make some costlier boards look fairly common as compared. It contains WiFi 7, assist for DDR5-8000+ reminiscence, 5 M.2 slots and eight SATA ports. Add to that PCIe 5.0 SSD assist and you have got a superb core characteristic set.
The Z790 Riptide WiFi is a transparent step ahead over its Z790 Riptide predecessor. Because the identify suggests, the latter would not embody WiFi in any respect. The brand new mannequin options quicker reminiscence assist, an improved VRM, a refined audio part, and curiously, an rear-mounted embedded DisplayPort connector appropriate to be used with ASRock’s 13.3-inch aspect panel equipment.
The Z790 Riptide WiFi incorporates a easy all black aesthetic with a little bit splash of metallic blue and purple above the rear I/O. There is a strip of RGB LEDs beneath the underside most M.2 heatsink which may be very vivid in case you look instantly at them. On high of that you just get three ARGB headers plus one other RGB header that helps 36W strips. There are seven fan headers, so it is a cooling and RGB pleasant choice.
ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi overview and specs
Spec clever, there’s quite a bit to cowl. The 4 reminiscence slots assist speeds of 8000MHz+. Twin rank modules are supported at 6800MHz+ whereas a full 192GB complement of 4 twin rank modules can run as much as 5600MHz+. That claims quite a bit in regards to the improved reminiscence controllers of 14th Gen processors and {the electrical} tweaks of Z790 refresh boards that are actually higher capable of deal with giant quantities of high-density reminiscence.
ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi specs
Socket: Intel LGA 1700
CPU compatibility: Intel twelfth, thirteenth & 14th Gen desktop processors
Type issue: ATX
Reminiscence assist: DDR5-8000(OC), as much as 192GB
Storage: 5x M.2, 8x SATA
USB: Up 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 7x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 6x USB 2.0
Show: 1x eDP 1.4, 1x DP 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.1
Networking: Killer E3100G 2.5G LAN, WiFi 7
Audio: Realtek ALC1220
Worth: $250 / £TBD / AU$TBD
Storage-wise, the Z790 Riptide WiFi places some boards at twice the value to disgrace. It options a minimum of 5 M.2 slots. The first slot helps PCIe 5.0 SSDs and it comes with a fairly excessive floor space heatsink that is hooked up through a easy screwless mechanism. That is changing into an more and more widespread characteristic, and a welcome one at that. The opposite 4 slots all assist PCIe 4.0 drives and all slots are lined by screw-in heatsinks.
Inexpensive boards with 5 slots are unusual sufficient, however once you add to that eight SATA ports you’ve got obtained a motherboard with greatest at school storage potential. There aren’t many boards at any value that assist that many drives.
A normal ATX board solely has some a lot space, so with 5 M.2 slots, the PCIe slot complement is considerably restricted consequently. The first x16 slot helps PCIe 5.0 playing cards. There is a secondary bodily PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (x4 electrically) and a PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. The secondary slots are effectively positioned, and will not be impeded by a triple slot graphics card.
The VRM is a robust one for a board at this value. It is a 16+1+1 part design with 90a phases, which suggests it’s going to deal with any LGA 1700 processor you care to call. The heatsinks are comparatively chunky, however they don’t seem to be related through a heatpipe, and I discovered them to get sizzling to the contact. Not alarmingly so, however you will positively want an excellent quantity of airflow in case you plan to frequently thrash a Core i9 14900K or 13900K. That is a mix that most likely is just not going to be too widespread with a $250 board, so I’ve no actual complaints.
The rear I/O has a good sufficient complement of ports. Although I want to see a 20Gbps USB port, I am unable to actually complain at this value. There’s a 20Gbps case header, so that every one however makes up for it. The rear USB complement is made up of two Sort-A 10Gbps ports and 5 5Gbps ports, certainly one of which is a Sort-C. There are additionally two USB 2.0 ports. ASRock refers to 2 of the 5Gbps ports as Lightning Gaming ports. It says they’re related to 2 completely different controllers with the goal of minimizing mouse and keyboard latency. Sounds good. I suppose.
The Z790 Riptide WiFi comes with a DP 1.4 port and HDMI 2.1 port. That is along with the aforementioned eDP connector which helps 1080p at 60Hz.
Ethernet duties are offered by a Killer E3100G 2.5G controller. That is changing into a rarer sight on trendy motherboards as producers have a tendency to make use of Intel branded i225 and i226 variants for two.5G networking . The star of the networking present is the inclusion of WiFi 7. I would not have criticized ASRock if it went for a 6E controller at this value, so the inclusion of WiFi 7 may be very welcome certainly.
Audio duties are dealt with by a Realtek ALC1220 codec. It is a welcome improve over the ALC897 of its non WiFi predecessor. ASRock has added separate PCB layers for every stereo channel and there is impedance sensing for several types of headphones. Nahimic software program is included.
ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi efficiency
System Efficiency
Gaming Efficiency
ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi evaluation
The Z790 Riptide WiFi, when examined with a 14900K carried out adequately. I did be aware that the bus velocity ran at round 99.75MHz. In concept that’d lose you 0.25% of efficiency. Not that it issues.
The identical normal conclusions apply to all Z790 refresh boards. After years of expertise, BIOS engineers are very aware of the underlying microcode of LGA 1700 processors and motherboards. Like-for-like techniques are nearly completely differentiated by small efficiency variations.
Check rig
CPU: Intel Core i9 14900K
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Version
RAM: 2x 16GB G.Ability Trident Z5 DDR5-6000 C36
Storage: 2TB Seagate FireCuda 530
Cooling: Cooler Grasp PL360 Flux 360mm AIO
PSU: Corsair AX1000
The ASRock did notably effectively within the 3DMark storage take a look at. Although not the final work in SSD testing, the 2 runs had been each quicker than every other refresh board I’ve examined up to now. That is a cherry on high for the Z790 Riptide WiFi’s class main storage potential.
In relation to gaming efficiency, the motherboard makes little distinction in comparison with the CPU and notably GPU. The Z790 Riptide WiFi will not have any downside on the coronary heart of a gaming system, even with a 14900K and RTX 4090, so long as you will have good case airflow to maintain the VRM cool with that sort of combo.
Armed with a set of G.Ability Trident Z DDR5-7200, I used to be capable of hit DDR5-8000 however could not get 8200Mhz steady. It is potential my equipment is just not able to reaching these speeds. I will not know till I pay money for a DDR5-8000 equipment, which I’ll get my grubby mitts on quickly. Typically, the board did every part I requested of it. Boot occasions had been good—notably in comparison with AM5 techniques, and I’ve at all times appreciated the sub-menu format of ASRock’s BIOS.
ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi verdict
Purchase if…
✅You need assist for lot of storage. The Z790 Riptide WiFi contains 5 M.2 slots and eight SATA ports, making certainly one of only a few LGA 1700 boards at any value to supply that a lot storage potential.
✅ You are seeking to stretch your price range. The Riptide’s core characteristic set is superb for $250. Its affordability means that you can allocate extra money in direction of a greater CPU or GPU.
Do not buy if…
❌ You have already got a Z690 or Z790 board. In case you’ve already obtained a earlier technology LGA 1700 board, you are most likely higher off updating its BIOS and going 14th Gen with that.
The newest technology Z790 motherboards start at across the $190 to $200 mark, however these with WiFi 7 start at in regards to the ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi’s $250 value. That alone would earn a praise, however once you add to that 5 M.2, certainly one of which has PCIe 5.0 assist, eight SATA ports, a VRM that is a step above that of entry stage boards, entrance 20Gbps USB and DDR5–8000+ assist and all of a sudden an entire lot of costlier motherboards look overpriced.
Positive, if you need 10GB LAN, a elaborate OLED display, an M.2 add-in card, or a gazillion amp VRM for ln2 overclocking then you definately’ll need to pay extra, however for these of you in search of a strong, mature and have packed price range choice, I discover it exhausting to look previous the ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi.
Wouldn’t it be good to have a rear 20Gbps USB port? Positive it might. Having VRM heatsinks with a little bit extra beef could be good too, however you may’t have every part on the $250 value level. Admittedly, you will not be capable of drop a next-gen processor in, however that is true of all LGA 1700 boards.
However one or two shortcomings aren’t even that. They’re wishlist gadgets. Ultimately, the ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi would not miss a beat. It is a class main LGA 1700 motherboard with an unbeatable set of options for the cash. I’ve no issues giving it an Editor’s Alternative award.