ASRock Z790I Lightning WiFi

ASRock’s B760i and Z790i Lightning WiFi M-ITX Review – Sisters Supporting LGA1700’s Last Hurrah – Part 1

ASRock B760i and Z790i Lightning WiFi M-ITX Review

Key Points:

• Platforms: LGA1700, supports 12th gen Alder Lake, 13th gen Raptor Lake, 14th gen Raptor Lake Refresh.
• Upcoming Change: LGA1851 launching soon, potentially ending LGA1700.
• New Branding: Future CPUs may adopt "Core Ultra" branding, e.g., "Core Ultra 285K".
• Current Market: Last wave of LGA1700 motherboards.
• ASRock Models: B760i and Z790i Lightning WiFi M-ITX.

Context:

• Support Lists: Extensive CPU support lists for 700 chipset boards.
• Industry Trends: Frequent rebranding by Intel, AMD, NVIDIA.

Splave uses ASRock's new Z790I Lightning WiFi motherboard to set multiple overclocking world records

ASRock Z790I Lightning WiFi and B760I Lightning WiFi Motherboards

Overview:

• Models: Phantom Gaming Z790I Lightning WiFi, B760I Lightning WiFi.
• Form Factor: Mini ITX.
• CPU Support: Optimized for Intel 14th Gen Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs.

Z790I Lightning WiFi:

• Power Design: 14+1+1 phases, Smart Power Stages.
• PCB: 8-layer with 2-ounce copper inner layers.
• Cooling: VRM heatsink, heatpipe, rear I/O fan.
• Aesthetics: Matte-black, no onboard RGB.
• Connectivity: PCIe Gen 5 x16, two PCIe Gen 4x4 M.2, Wi-Fi 6E.
• Rear I/O: 4 USB 3.2 Gen1, 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, 7.1 audio, 2.5Gb Ethernet, DisplayPort, HDMI.
• Achievements: Used by Splave to set multiple overclocking records.

B760I Lightning WiFi:

• Differences: Lacks Z790 chipset; no CPU overclocking.
• Features: Supports memory overclocking.
• Price: $200 MSRP.
• Recognition: Best Motherboard at CES 2024.

Achievements by Splave:

• Records: World records in Geekbench (single/multi-core), Cinebench 2003, and GPUPI with Z790I and i9-14900KS.

Keywords: ASRock, Z790I, B760I, overclocking, Mini ITX, Intel 14th Gen, Raptor Lake Refresh, Splave, world records.

ASRock’s B760i and Z790i Lightning WiFi M-ITX Review – Sisters Supporting LGA1700’s Last Hurrah – Part 1 – SFF.Network

ASRock B760i and Z790i Lightning WiFi M-ITX Review – Part 1 Overview

Introduction

• This review covers ASRock’s B760i and Z790i Lightning WiFi M-ITX motherboards, designed for Intel’s LGA1700 platform, which supports 12th, 13th, and the minor refresh of 14th generation Intel CPUs.
• With Intel's LGA1851 "Arrow Lake" processors expected soon, these motherboards represent some of the last designs for the LGA1700 socket.

Speculative Branding Change

• Intel’s upcoming processors may rebrand under the “Core Ultra” series, possibly replacing the "Core ix" nomenclature.

Motherboard Specifications Comparison

• Both motherboards are nearly identical in specifications, with differences primarily in chipset and VRM components.
• Price: B760i at $184.99 and Z790i at $279.99.
• Form Factor: Both are Mini-ITX, with 8-layer PCBs.
• Socket & CPU Support: Both support 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen Intel Core processors.
• Memory: Dual-channel DDR5, with a maximum capacity of 96GB and speeds up to 8600+ MHz (OC).
• Graphics: Support for Intel Xe Graphics, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 1.4.
• Audio: Both feature 7.1 channel HD audio with Realtek ALC897 codec.
• Network: 2.5 Gigabit LAN and Wi-Fi 6E support.
• Expansion Slots: Both have PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and M.2 slots.
• Storage: Both support multiple M.2 and SATA3 connectors.
• USB Ports: Identical configurations for USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 ports.

Unboxing and Physical Features

• Both motherboards come in similar packaging with essential accessories including WiFi antennas, SATA cables, and a thermistor cable.
• Layout is typical for M-ITX boards, with significant heatsink coverage due to power-hungry CPUs and SSDs.
• Both boards feature a heavy design with extensive cooling solutions, including active VRM cooling for the Z790i.

Detailed Examination

• The boards appear nearly identical with few physical differences aside from chipset and some VRM components.
• VRM Cooling: Active cooling for the Z790i indicates a focus on handling higher power requirements.
• Heatsinks: Large heatsinks present potential challenges for smaller coolers.
• Backside Features: Integrated rear I/O shield and hidden M.2 slot with heatsinks for cooling.
• Connectivity: Comprehensive rear I/O with multiple USB ports, LAN, audio jacks, and display outputs.

Next Steps

• The second part of the review will focus on the performance differences between the two boards, including detailed testing and benchmarks.

Conclusion

• The ASRock B760i and Z790i Lightning WiFi M-ITX motherboards offer robust features for the LGA1700 platform, with the main differences being the chipset and enhanced VRM cooling on the Z790i. The upcoming performance analysis will determine how these differences impact real-world usage.

ASRock Z790I Lightning WiFi review

ASRock Z790I Lightning WiFi Review

• Form Factor: Mini-ITX
• Socket: LGA 1700
• CPU Compatibility: Intel 12th, 13th, 14th Gen
• Memory Support: DDR5-8600+ (up to 96GB)
• Storage: 2x M.2 (PCIe Gen 4), 3x SATA
• USB Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 7x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 2x USB 2.0
• Networking: Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5G LAN, WiFi 6E
• Audio: Realtek ALC897
• Price: $279

Highlights:

• Excellent VRM (14+1+1 phase, 105a stages) for high power CPUs.
• Support for very fast DDR5 memory.
• Limited rear I/O (6 USB ports, no 20GB/s port).
• Good performance in 3DMark storage test.
• Strong cooling solution with heatpipes and embedded fan.

Pros:

• Affordable compared to competitors.
• Capable of handling any LGA 1700 CPU.
• Excellent memory overclocking support.

Cons:

• Average USB support.
• Basic audio solution.
• No WiFi 7 or Gen 5 SSD support.

Verdict: Great value for power users; fewer features than pricier ITX boards. Consider the B760I variant for a cheaper, similar option.