NZXT N7 Z490 Motherboard Review

Up Close Continued

Moving further around there are four SATA ports, fewer than any other Z490 that comes to mind, and a single Type-A USB front panel header.

  

At the bottom right as well as the eternally fiddly front panel connectors we have onboard power and reset buttons so you can test your build without needing to plug it fully into your chassis.

  

You can never have too many fan connectors nor USB 2.0 headers, and that is an ethos that the designers have taken fully on board.

  

At the bottom left we have two more standard RGB headers in both regular and addressable forms, as well as the front panel audio.

  

We can’t remember seeing a VRM heatsink that was quite such a monoblock. Normally heatsinks have fins and grooves, but the N7 is just a set of angles and even the holes in the white covering aren’t actually holes.

  

Around the back there are a handful of USB ports in both Type-A and a single Type-C, along with the LAN connector, WiFi antenna and Audio jacks. Those of you who run integrated graphics will be pleased to see an HDMI port too.

  

Lastly if you want to install your M.2 NVME drives there are two generous spaces beneath the shroud of which you can make use.