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The most recent Z790 refresh board now we have in for evaluate is the ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi. It is part of ASRock’s Phantom Gaming lineup. It is an reasonably priced possibility 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.
At simply $250, the Z790 Riptide WiFi has options that make some dearer boards look fairly common compared.
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 just a few years previous, then Z790 refresh fashions have plenty 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 a complete lot in your cash.
At simply $250, The Z790 Riptide WiFi has options that make some dearer boards look fairly common compared. It consists of 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 a wonderful core function set.
The Z790 Riptide WiFi is a transparent step ahead over its Z790 Riptide predecessor. Because the identify suggests, the latter does not embody WiFi in any respect. The brand new mannequin options sooner 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 facet panel package.
The Z790 Riptide WiFi contains a easy all black aesthetic with slightly splash of metallic blue and purple above the rear I/O. There is a strip of RGB LEDs underneath the underside most M.2 heatsink which could be very shiny for those who look instantly at them. On prime of that you simply 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 possibility.
ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi overview and specs
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Spec smart, 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 at the moment are 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 worth 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 connected through a easy screwless mechanism. That is turning into an more and more widespread function, 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 while you add to that eight SATA ports you’ve got bought a motherboard with finest at school storage potential. There aren’t many boards at any value that assist that many drives.
A typical ATX board solely has some a lot space, so with 5 M.2 slots, the PCIe slot complement is considerably restricted because of this. 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 scorching to the contact. Not alarmingly so, however you may undoubtedly want a great quantity of airflow for those who plan to frequently thrash a Core i9 14900K or 13900K. That is a mix that in all probability shouldn’t be going to be too widespread with a $250 board, so I’ve no actual complaints.
The rear I/O has an honest sufficient complement of ports. Although I wish to see a 20Gbps USB port, I can not 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, considered 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 intention of minimizing mouse and keyboard latency. Sounds good. I assume.
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 turning into a rarer sight on fashionable 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 could 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
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Gaming Efficiency
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ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi evaluation
The Z790 Riptide WiFi, when examined with a 14900K carried out adequately. I did observe that the bus pace ran at round 99.75MHz. In idea that’d lose you 0.25% of efficiency. Not that it issues.
The identical common conclusions apply to all Z790 refresh boards. After years of expertise, BIOS engineers are very acquainted with the underlying microcode of LGA 1700 processors and motherboards. Like-for-like techniques are nearly solely differentiated by small efficiency variations.
Check rig
CPU: Intel Core i9 14900K
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Version
RAM: 2x 16GB G.Talent 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 check. Although not the final work in SSD testing, the 2 runs had been each sooner than another refresh board I’ve examined thus far. That is a cherry on prime for the Z790 Riptide WiFi’s class main storage potential.
In terms of gaming efficiency, the motherboard makes little distinction in comparison with the CPU and notably GPU. The Z790 Riptide WiFi will not have any drawback on the coronary heart of a gaming system, even with a 14900K and RTX 4090, so long as you may have good case airflow to maintain the VRM cool with that type of combo.
Armed with a set of G.Talent Trident Z DDR5-7200, I used to be capable of hit DDR5-8000 however could not get 8200Mhz steady. It is potential my package shouldn’t be able to reaching these speeds. I will not know till I pay money for a DDR5-8000 package, which I’ll get my grubby mitts on quickly. Typically, the board did the whole lot 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 structure of ASRock’s BIOS.
ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi verdict
Purchase if…
✅You need assist for lot of storage. The Z790 Riptide WiFi consists of 5 M.2 slots and eight SATA ports, making considered one of only a few LGA 1700 boards at any value to offer that a lot storage potential.
✅ You are trying to stretch your price range. The Riptide’s core function set is superb for $250. Its affordability lets you allocate more cash 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 bought a earlier era LGA 1700 board, you are in all probability higher off updating its BIOS and going 14th Gen with that.
The most recent era 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 while you add to that 5 M.2, considered one of which has PCIe 5.0 assist, eight SATA ports, a VRM that is a step above that of entry degree boards, entrance 20Gbps USB and DDR5–8000+ assist and out of the blue a complete lot of dearer motherboards look overpriced.
Positive, if you need 10GB LAN, a elaborate OLED display screen, an M.2 add-in card, or a gazillion amp VRM for ln2 overclocking you then’ll must pay extra, however for these of you searching for a stable, mature and have packed price range possibility, I discover it laborious to look previous the ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi.
In the long run, the ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi does not miss a beat. It is a class main LGA 1700 motherboard with an unbeatable set of options for the cash
Would it not be good to have a rear 20Gbps USB port? Positive it might. Having VRM heatsinks with slightly extra beef could be good too, however you’ll be able to’t have the whole lot 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 usually are not even that. They’re wishlist objects. In the long run, the ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi does 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 Selection award.
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