The ASRock Phantom Gaming Z790 Nova WiFi motherboard is designed as an ATX form factor platform, incorporating the Intel Z790 chipset with support for the LGA 1700 socket, compatible with Intel's 12th to 14th generation processors. Focusing on the motherboard's storage capabilities, it integrates six M.2 slots designed for NVMe drives, accommodating 2260 and 2280 form factors. The primary M.2 slot offers PCIe 5.0 interface with maximum bandwidths up to 128 Gb/s, while the second slot provides PCIe 4.0 connectivity with up to 64 Gb/s bandwidth, directly routed through the CPU lanes. An additional three M.2 slots are available through the chipset's PCIe lanes, with one supporting both SATA III and PCIe 4.0 modes. The inclusion of four SATA III ports complements the NVMe slots, with all interfaces supporting various RAID configurations for enhanced storage flexibility. Notably, the activation of the M.2_1 slot adjusts the PCIe1 slot to operate at x8 mode.
For expansion, the motherboard offers two PCIe x16 slots, with one featuring PCIe 5.0 x16 and the other at PCIe 4.0 x16 configured to x4 mode, alongside a single PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. A vertical Key-E slot is also available, purposed for a type-2230 WiFi 7/BT 5.4 module with MU-MIMO capability, further augmenting connectivity options.
The structural integrity of the motherboard is fortified with a metal backplate to counteract bending. The primary PCIe 5.0 slot is constructed with Surface Mount Technology (SMT), 15μ gold contacts for reliable signal integrity, and is reinforced to support the weight of heavy graphics cards, further aided by an included support bracket.
Audio is managed by a Realtek ALC4082 codec, with dedicated PCB layers for left and right audio channels to ensure sound clarity. Networking is provided via a 2.5Gigabit Killer 3100 LAN and an integrated 802.11be 2x2 WiFi 7+ BT 5.0 module. The motherboard's rear I/O panel includes a comprehensive array of USB ports, featuring nine USB Type-A connectors across different specifications and a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port.
Other technical specifications include a TPM header, Thunderbolt AIC support, multiple temperature sensor headers, RGB and addressable RGB headers, and onboard switches for system management and troubleshooting. Power delivery to the CPU is facilitated through dual 8-pin connectors and a 24-pin main power connector, ready to handle the demands of overclocking and memory profiles like Intel XMP and AMD EXPO.
The ASRock Phantom Gaming Z790 Nova WiFi motherboard is currently priced at $299.99
