Price When Reviewed

$469.99

Best Prices Today: Asus ProArt Z790 Creator WiFi

The motherboard market is commonly focused at avid gamers, with flashy RGB components and overclocking prowess. While lots of these boards have strong options for all customers, typically content material creators want some particular consideration. 

As if on cue, right here comes the artsy Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi. No Times Square gentle present right here—however you’ll get sufficient artistic options to make even Picasso envious. His motherboard doubtless didn’t even have Thunderbolt 4 or 10GbE LAN! 

Together with a easy, understated look, there’s heaps to digest right here for the under-$500 worth. We’ll break down the specs and options, efficiency attributes, and design. If you’re a creator that wants a sure set of options, this may very well be the selection over all of the gamer-centric motherboards in the marketplace. Let’s discover out!

Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi: Features and specs

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• ATX type issue 
• Support Intel Twelfth- and Thirteenth-generation CPUs 
• 16+1 Teamed Power Stages with 70 amps per stage
• DDR5 RAM, twin channel as much as 4 DIMMs (as much as 128GB)
• 4x onboard M.2 slots with Q-Latch (PCIe Gen 4)
• 2x PCIe 16x slot with Q-Release (PCIe Gen 5 8x/8x) 
• Dual DisplayPort inputs and HDMI 2.1
• 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports
• 8x USB ports on again (together with Thunderbolt 4)
• 10GbE and a couple of.5GbE LAN
• Wi-Fi 6E 
• RGB headers for Aura Sync
• 8 SATA 6Gb/s ports 
• 8 PWM fan headers 
• BIOS Flashback 
• Pre-installed I/O defend 
• Realtek S1220A audio codec
• MSRP $469.99

The Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi is available in at an MSRP of $469, placing it squarely inside midrange pricing. While motherboard costs have gone up, the options you’re getting on this may actually make it a implausible worth. Forgoing the gaming aesthetics is a pleasant trade-off for the added performance on the Z790-Creator WiFi. Let’s go over essentially the most important options and what to know: 

CPU alternative: You’ll get a variety of CPU selections on this ATX motherboard with assist for each Intel’s Twelfth and Thirteenth technology. That’s excellent news. Budget-friendly selections like a 13600K or the highly effective Intel i9 13900K might be nice right here. 

DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5: Next-generation DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5 are additionally right here, providing you with all the advantages of the next-gen Z790 platform. DDR5 RAM has nice speeds that many workstation-class functions can benefit from, and with lately lowering pricing, it’s an excellent future-proof choice to have. If you’re planning on doing 4 DIMMs for giant quantities of RAM, fastidiously test the QVC listing to be sure you gained’t face compatibility points as DDR5 can nonetheless be a bit choosy. Otherwise, you’ll be capable of snap in as much as 128GB of RAM goodness! 

Also there are double 16x PCIe Gen 5 slots, with the Q-Release button—an superior addition for simply popping in/out GPUs. This is vital for content material creators who have to energy their one GPU—and even two GPUs. (Yes, that’s a factor for workstations!) You’ll be capable of put in an add-in PCIe card within the Gen 5 slot, too. You’ll get 8x/8x speeds should you populate each, which must be sufficient for many use circumstances. 

Storage: Content creators love storage, and also you’ll have that in abundance right here. If the eight SATA ports are too “legacy” to your liking, you’ll be happy to know of the 4 onboard NVMe slots. These are PCIe Gen 4, however that’s greater than sufficient pace for many fashionable drives. (PCIe Gen 5 drives are nonetheless not right here to saturate these ports.) 

Many AMD X670E motherboards do supply PCIe Gen 5 NVMe slots, however as of proper now, that’s not wanted—so don’t fret while you see PCIe Gen 4. 

USB ports: Content creators completely want USB ports—the sooner, the higher. Starting with Thunderbolt 4 (appropriate with USB4), you’ll get two of these ports right here. At 40Gb/s, that is amazingly quick for file transfers. Adding to that, Thunderbolt has a big eco-system of peripherals reminiscent of exterior enclosures, laborious drives, and even display-out for displays. These are all extremely beneficial for creators. 

Standard USB ports are additionally ample right here, six on the rear along with the 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports. 

You can use the Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports for shows, and also you’ll get an HDMI 2.1 port, as effectively—one other nice bonus.

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Networking: Continuing with the spectacular options, 10GbE and a couple of.5GbE networking are current right here. This is a rarity on gaming motherboards, as solely the most costly ones present 10GbE—and even much less with a second ethernet choice. This is the place you possibly can see great worth for these content material creators who want 10GbE for NAS backups and different high-usage networking—like sharing drives in an enhancing studio for instance. 

Wi-Fi 6E can be included, rounding out an ideal complement of networking choices that could be a implausible inclusion for the worth.

Audio: Audio is competent right here as effectively, with sufficient inputs on the rear for many informal use circumstances. (Five jacks, to be exact!) You’ll get a great Realtek S1220a codec inside what Asus calls “Crystal Sound 3”—plus good construct high quality on these elements. Of course, skilled audio customers will nonetheless need to use exterior or add-in higher-grade audio elements.

Other fascinating options: Quality-of-life options are right here too. Q-Latch for M.2 drives, and Q-Release for the PCIe GPU slots, each of which make for simpler entry for these elements. An built-in I/O defend additionally improves the construct expertise. 

BIOS Flashback and Q-LED make diagnosing points simpler, although customers of this motherboard are much less prone to manually overclock. (But you continue to can!) 

The unboxing expertise is straightforward however supplies the required equipment it’s worthwhile to get going. SATA cables, show adapter cables, the standard. 

Overall, the board affords a strong characteristic set that tremendously advantages content material creators and workstation customers.

Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi: Design

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The Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi doesn’t have any flashy RGB, however you continue to do get Aura Sync RGB headers. It does have loads of “class” and a extremely distinctive design. With an exquisite subdued shade scheme, and a few minor gold accents operating all through, it seems to be purposeful.

Unique points of the design embrace the clear I/O defend enclosure and lower-right “ProArt” branding. Both look nice, however do understand that this motherboard feels much less “robust” within the palms than one thing like an Asus ROG Hero for instance. Those “gamer” motherboards sometimes really feel so much heavier as a result of “armor” and different aesthetic/cooling items. Build high quality remains to be nice right here, nevertheless—however we will see some price financial savings had been wanted to incorporate the strong characteristic set. (And that’s nice—we’d fairly see the options!)

The design can be purposeful, with M.2 drive slots sporting cooling thermal pads beneath. Design improvements such because the Q-Latch and Q-Release are additionally implausible, offering an excellent ease-of-use when including M.2 drives and PCIe playing cards.

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The rear of the built-in I/O defend (one other nice design bonus!) is clearly labeled and matches the remainder of the motherboard aesthetic. The again is normal, as anticipated—you’d have to move over to ROG or higher-end gaming motherboards to discover a extra armored backplate.

Overall, the minimalist shade tones are nonetheless very fascinating while you zoom in and take a more in-depth look. No want for RGB results right here; however nonetheless elegant-looking in any construct.

Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi: Performance, software program, and BIOS

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The Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi just isn’t marketed as an overclocking monster. With 16+1 twin energy phases, it would deal with even the mighty Intel i9 13900K with ease—and overclock, too. 

The remainder of the Intel Twelfth- and Thirteenth-gen household can even match proper in, with competent VRM heatsinks and good-quality PCB. 

DDR5 assist provides you entry to the newest pace enhancements over DDR4. With costs getting higher, it’s beginning to be a really interesting choice. Workstation customers who can make the most of quick RAM might be blissful, and solely these needing greater than 128GB will want higher-end platforms like Xeon or Threadripper.

The efficiency chops don’t cease there, with PCIe Gen 5 and Gen 4 all through. While the 2 PCIe 16x slots are each Gen 5, the third one is Gen 4. You’ll additionally get Gen 4 efficiency out of the 4 onboard NVMe slots—which is greater than sufficient as Gen 5 just isn’t quiet right here but. 

Speed continues the place it issues: 40Gb/s twin Thunderbolt 4 ports are the head of present switch/USB expertise. This will make content material creators very blissful who depend on quick switch charges and the flexibility of Thunderbolt.  

The 10GbE is a number of the quickest networking you’ll discover anyplace, and it accompanies a 2.5GbE secondary port. This sort of efficiency is precisely what workstation customers demand, and right here it’s obtainable in spades. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are additionally a number of the quickest requirements presently obtainable.

While you might not want gaming-level overclocking, the Asus BIOS is great and provides you tons of choices. You can manually tinker along with your unlocked Intel CPU, and even play with the DDR5 RAM. Easy to make use of and intuitive, it’s an fanatic favourite. Sure, it’s not a ROG Extreme motherboard, but it surely has the fundamentals to get you rolling. 

If you don’t intend to tinker, the minimal wanted is simply to set the XMP profile to your RAM. You may also set Ai automated overclocking within the BIOS should you want to squeeze some extra efficiency out of your CPU. Keep in thoughts this can be adaptive and rely in your cooling answer—these newer higher-end Intel CPUs such because the 13900K can run sizzling! 

Leaving the BIOS, you’ll nonetheless get some good system integration on the software program facet with the Asus ProArt Creator Hub. Like Asus Armory Crate on the gaming facet, this software program will mean you can customise fan profiles, monitor {hardware}, and tons of different choices.

Should you purchase the Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi?

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The $469 MSRP is focused at content material creators making this a extremely enticing choice. In a sea of gaming-centric motherboards with choices some customers could not want, it’s refreshing to see a fine-tuned motherboard that has a bevy of extremely helpful specs. 

You may also sport on it fairly effectively, too. It has the identical DDR5 and assist for the quickest Intel gaming CPUs that the perfect gaming motherboards supply. You’ll simply have somewhat bit much less onboard RGB! 

Thunderbolt 4 has tons of pace and utility, and also you’ll solely discover it on the most costly gaming motherboards. Likewise with 10GbE networking—these two choices will attraction to the content material creators for certain. You’d want an “extreme” stage gaming motherboard simply to have these choices at a a lot larger worth! 

The different included options are additionally extremely helpful—along with the latest-generation DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5 expertise, it’s obtained a beneficiant 4 NVMe slots, and loads of SATA ports. 

You could even have some avid gamers who assume this can be a nice purchase—and we’d agree—with tons of performance in-built for the worth. Content creators will in fact be very happy, and have the instruments wanted to create!