The newest 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 choice that comes with out of the field assist for Intel’s 14th Gen processors, although after all it helps twelfth and thirteenth Gen processors as properly.
At simply $250, the Z790 Riptide WiFi has options that make some costlier boards look fairly common as 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. Should you’re upgrading from a system that is a number of years outdated, then Z790 refresh fashions have a number of attraction. They embrace 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 worth, some boards just like the ASRock Z790 Riptide nonetheless handle to supply an entire lot in 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 wonderful core function set.
The Z790 Riptide WiFi is a transparent step ahead over its Z790 Riptide predecessor. Because the title suggests, the latter would not embrace 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 includes a easy all black aesthetic with a bit of 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 shiny if you happen to look straight 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 choice.
ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi overview and specs
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Spec sensible, there’s lots 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 lots concerning 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
Value: $250 / £TBD / AU$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 by way of a easy screwless mechanism. That is turning into an more and more frequent function, and a welcome one at that. The opposite 4 slots all assist PCIe 4.0 drives and all slots are coated 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 finest in school storage potential. There aren’t many boards at any worth that assist that many drives.
A regular 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 properly positioned, and will not be impeded by a triple slot graphics card.
The VRM is a robust one for a board at this worth. It is a 16+1+1 section design with 90a levels, which suggests it’ll deal with any LGA 1700 processor you care to call. The heatsinks are comparatively chunky, however they don’t seem to be related by way of a heatpipe, and I discovered them to get scorching to the contact. Not alarmingly so, however you may positively want quantity of airflow if you happen to plan to usually thrash a Core i9 14900K or 13900K. That is a mix that in all probability just isn’t going to be too frequent with a $250 board, so I’ve no actual complaints.
The rear I/O has a good sufficient complement of ports. Although I wish to see a 20Gbps USB port, I can not actually complain at this worth. There’s a 20Gbps case header, so that each 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 goal 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 worth, 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
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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 be aware that the bus pace ran at round 99.75MHz. In concept 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 accustomed to the underlying microcode of LGA 1700 processors and motherboards. Like-for-like programs 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.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 properly within the 3DMark storage check. Although not the final work in SSD testing, the 2 runs had been each quicker than some other refresh board I’ve examined to this point. That is a cherry on prime for the Z790 Riptide WiFi’s class main storage potential.
With regards to 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 form 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 attainable my equipment just isn’t 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. Generally, the board did every thing I requested of it. Boot occasions had been good—notably in comparison with AM5 programs, and I’ve all the time favored 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 contains 5 M.2 slots and eight SATA ports, making considered one of only a few LGA 1700 boards at any worth to supply that a lot storage potential.
✅ You are seeking to stretch your funds. The Riptide’s core function set is great for $250. Its affordability permits you to allocate more cash in the direction of a greater CPU or GPU.
Do not buy if…
❌ You have already got a Z690 or Z790 board. Should you’ve already obtained a earlier technology LGA 1700 board, you are in all probability 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 concerning the ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi’s $250 worth. That alone would earn a praise, however once 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 immediately an entire lot of costlier motherboards look overpriced.
Certain, if you’d like 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 on the lookout for a stable, mature and have packed funds choice, I discover it onerous to look previous the ASRock Z790 Riptide WiFi.
In the long run, 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
Would it not be good to have a rear 20Gbps USB port? Certain it might. Having VRM heatsinks with a bit of extra beef could be good too, however you may’t have every thing on the $250 worth level. Admittedly, you will not be capable to drop a next-gen processor in, however that is true of all LGA 1700 boards.
However one or two shortcomings are usually not even that. They’re wishlist gadgets. In the long run, 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 Selection award.
