Published: October 17, 2023 | Source: ASUS | Author: Tom Logan

ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi II Review

Conclusion

Whenever there is a new processor on the market, in this case the Intel 14th Gen CPUs, we have to make a decision about which motherboard we’ll use to initially test them. After all, we want a motherboard that will be reliable enough to ensure we’re making the most of the processor. However, we also don’t want our baseline to be a Â£1000 motherboard because everything else would pale in comparison. You need a model in the upper midrange, but still not premium. For years the ASUS Prime models filled that role. With the new Z790 ones though we opted for the model reviewed here, the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi II.

This was partly because we know how popular the Strix range is. It is also because the only Strix Z790 we’d reviewed up to now was the Z790-A DDR4 one. The chance to test a full DDR5 Z790-E Strix was irresistable.

Certainly if you cast your eye across the specifications it’s clear that this is everything one would hope to find on such a high-selling brand such as the ASUS ROG Strix one. Support for 8000 MHz DDR5. One Gen 5 M.2 slot alongside four Gen 4 M.2s ensure that you’ve got a huge amount of storage potential at the very highest speeds. Like all the refreshed Z790 motherboards we’ve showed you over the past couple of days it has the new Intel WiFi 7. It’s worth noting we’ve seen a WiFi 7 that claimed 320 MHz for 5.8 Gbps, but the Strix here is listed as 160 MHz @ 2.4 Gbps. Still seriously fast but worth bearing in mind if ultra-fast wireless is a must have for you. USB ports are found in abundance on the Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi though, with the rear having 1 USB 20G Type C and 1 10G Type C, along with 9 USB 10G Type-A. The front panel USB isn’t left short-changed either with 1 20G Type-C and 4 5G Type-A connectors. Even with a really modern case you’ll struggle to fill all those. ASUS have also given the Strix three USB 2.0 front panel headers, perhaps in acknowledgement of how at the very least one of them will be taken up by your AIO RGB controls. All of that is without mentioning the Thunderbolt header found at the bottom edge of the PCB.

As you have seen from our testing the Intel Core i9-14900K is a seriously warm processor, so the Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi coming equipped with 8 total fan headers, including an AIO Pump header, ensures that you can fill your case with plenty of cool air whilst also getting rid of the hard-worked hot air quickly too. With a power stage consisting of 18 110A stages, you’ll certainly be able to run your new 14th Gen processor hard on the Strix. Those of you who like controlling your lighting will be pleased to note that ASUS have upgraded their AURA Sync lighting from 2 RGB and 2 ARGB, to 1 RGB/3 ARGB. Sweet.

Performance across the Z790 motherboards we’ve reviewed so far is almost entirely inseparable, with all four of them spitting out scores that are incredibly close. The Strix II did have the lowest memory latency and best Cinebench scores though, which might be a consideration depending up your requirements.

With the huge connectivity options and strong power delivery of the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi II allied to their revised, and we think prettier, looks, it wins our OC3D Performance Award.