Review of the ASUS Z790-PRO WIFI and the Core i7 14700K Processor
In our review we will look at the ASUS Z790-PRO WIFI motherboard and Core i7 14700K processor. We will examine the main characteristics and capabilities of this motherboard, and also test performance in several popular games.
| APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS |
This subsection of our review highlights the main aspects of the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 APEX, such as appearance and hardware configuration.
| APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS |
Part of the TUF Gaming series, the ASUS Z790-PRO WIFI motherboard is positioned as a mid-range option in the Z790 product line from ASUS. Its packaging features a black and silver color scheme with yellow accents, reflecting the TUF Gaming design.
The board comes with various accessories: WIFI Q-Antenna, SATA III cables, a set of screws and racks for M.2 drives, rubber gaskets for M.2 drives, a quick user manual, a disk with drivers, a TUF Gaming reliability certificate, an advertising leaflet ASUS WebStorage and TUF Gaming stickers.
The design of the board is made in black, gray and silver colors with yellow elements, corresponding to the gaming and military aesthetics of the TUF Gaming brand. It features an integrated I/O shield housing with decorative lettering and an "ULTIMATE FORCE" embossed rubber insert. The board also includes RGB accents, including an illuminated "TUF" logo, and multiple RGB headers.
The motherboard is equipped with 16+1+1 power stages, each rated at 60A, and supports up to 192GB of DDR5 RAM, reaching 7800+ MHz when overclocked.
For front panel USB connectivity, it includes a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type C connector with Power Delivery 3.0 support and up to 30W fast charging, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A connector, and two USB 2.0 connectors.
The Z790-PRO WIFI board has one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot with ASUS SafeSlot and Q-Release features for easy removal of graphics cards, as well as additional PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 slots.
It offers two SATA III ports and supports four M.2 drives, with the fourth slot compatible with both NVMe and SATA M.2 drives.
For audio, the board uses the Realtek S1220A audio codec, and for Internet connectivity it includes an Intel I226-V controller for 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, as well as an Intel AX211 module for WIFI 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. The board also has seven fan headers and several headers for RGB lighting.
| UEFI |
The UEFI BIOS of the ASUS Z790-PRO WIFI board is a comprehensive system adapted to the TUF product line. It uses a standard ASUS implementation, including EZ Mode and Advanced Mode. EZ Mode makes it easier to access key features and settings, including system time, interface language, and key system settings.
This mode also allows you to configure features such as AURA, ResizeBAR, fan profiles, XMP and RAID. In addition, in EZ Mode you can activate the automatic AI Optimized overclocking mode.
At the same time, Advanced Mode opens up access to more complex and detailed settings. This mode provides the ability to adjust all available parameters, which is especially valuable for experienced users and enthusiasts. The My Favorites tab gives you quick access to frequently used settings, making optimization easier.
The key element in Advanced Mode is the AI Tweaker tab, which provides complete overclocking tools, including voltage adjustment and integrated graphics settings. This feature allows you to get maximum system performance, especially when using Intel "K" processors.
ASUS also offers innovative features in its firmware. For example, the ability to assign additional functions to the F3 and F4 keys during POST. This may include calling the EZ Flash 3 Utility to update the BIOS or select a boot device such as PXE, HDD, USB, or DVD.
In general, the UEFI BIOS of the ASUS Z790-PRO WIFI board is aimed at a wide range of users, from beginners to professionals. It provides ease and convenience of setup for beginners, as well as deep and powerful tools for advanced users looking to maximize the performance of their systems.
| Armory Crate |
ASUS Armory Crate is a comprehensive computer system management solution especially suitable for use with ASUS motherboards, including the Z790-PRO WIFI. This program provides centralized access to various functions and settings, making the system management process convenient and intuitive. It allows users to customize the device's RGB lighting, including the ability to sync with other devices that support ASUS Aura Sync.
Additionally, Armory Crate provides useful information about the status of system components such as temperature, fan speed, and CPU load, allowing users to effectively monitor and control their computer's performance. The program also offers tools for updating drivers and software, making it easier to keep your system up to date.
Particularly important is the integration of Armory Crate with ASUS motherboards such as the Z790-PRO WIFI. This provides deep compatibility and the ability to fine-tune various aspects of the board, including cooling, audio settings and network functions. Users are given enhanced options to fine-tune their systems, which is especially valuable for gamers and enthusiasts looking to get the most out of their hardware.
Overall, ASUS Armory Crate is a powerful tool for optimizing and managing your computer systems, offering a wide range of features that make your computer experience more convenient, efficient and personalized.
| Armory Crate |
The Intel Core i7-14700K processor is a high-performance desktop processor released in October 2023. It is part of the Core i7 line and uses the Raptor Lake Refresh architecture with an LGA-1700 socket. This processor has the following characteristics:
- Number of Cores and Threads : The processor has 20 cores and supports up to 28 threads thanks to Intel Hyper-Threading Technology. This ensures high performance for multitasking and intensive computing.
- Base and maximum frequency : The base frequency of the processor is 3400 MHz, but thanks to Turbo Boost technology it can reach up to 5600 MHz. This provides improved performance in demanding applications and games.
- L3 cache size : The processor has a shared 33 MB L3 cache, which helps improve data processing and improve overall performance.
- Thermal Power (TDP) : The processor's TDP is 125 W, with a maximum increase to 253 W. This indicates high energy efficiency and potential for cooling during overclocking.
- Transistor Size : The processor process technology is 10 nm, which provides high efficiency and performance with comparatively low power consumption.
When tested on the ASUS Z790-PRO WIFI motherboard, the Intel Core i7-14700K showed the following results:
- In the Cinebench R23 test, the processor achieved 2108 points in single-threaded mode and 32376 points in multi-threaded mode, indicating its strong performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks.
- In the CPU-Z test, the results were 876 points in single-threaded mode and 14,684 points in multi-threaded mode, confirming the processor's efficiency in various computing scenarios.
These specs and testing results demonstrate that the Intel Core i7-14700K is a powerful solution for the most demanding users and is ideal for use on a high-end motherboard such as the ASUS Z790-PRO WIF.
| TEST PART |
| Test configuration | |
| Test benches |
ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO Kingston XS2000 Portable SSD 1 TB - the optimal solution for testing different configurations |
| Multimedia equipment |
Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 power supply Cooling system: DeepCool LS720 WH Housing: DeepCool CH510 WH |
| Software configuration |
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| operating system | Windows 10 21H2/ Windows 11(Alder Lake) |
| Graphics driver |
Nvidia GeForce/ION Driver Release 546.17 WHQL |
| Monitoring programs |
MSI Afterburner |
| Assassin's Creed Mirage |
Testing took place at maximum quality settings.
| Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 |
Testing took place at maximum quality settings.
| Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty |
Testing took place at maximum quality settings and with ray tracing (without path tracing).
| Flashback 2 |
Testing took place at maximum quality settings.
| Starfield |
Testing took place at maximum quality settings.
| The Invincible |
Testing took place at maximum quality settings.
| The Last of Us Part I |
Testing took place at maximum quality settings.
| Total War PHARAOH |
Testing took place at maximum quality settings.
| CONCLUSION |
To sum up the review of the ASUS Z790-PRO WIFI motherboard, it can be noted that this motherboard is a high-quality solution with many features and capabilities designed for a variety of user needs, from gamers to professionals and enthusiasts.
Key characteristics and features of the board:
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Design and Construction : The board follows TUF Gaming's gaming and military design, offering a rugged and reliable design. It combines black and gray color with yellow accents and is equipped with an efficient cooling system, including a passively cooled chipset and heatsinks for the M.2 slots.
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Performance and Compatibility : ASUS Z790-PRO WIFI supports the latest Intel processors, including Core i7-14700K, delivering high performance with 16+1+1 power phases and DDR5 memory support. The motherboard delivers excellent benchmark results, proving its ability to handle intensive tasks and games.
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Expandability and Storage : The board offers extensive expansion options, including multiple PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 slots for graphics cards and other devices, as well as extensive storage options with support for multiple M.2 and SATA ports.
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Network Capabilities and Audio : Equipped with 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet from Intel and Wi-Fi 6E support, providing fast and stable Internet access. The high-quality Realtek S1220A audio codec guarantees excellent sound both in games and when listening to media.
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UEFI BIOS and Software : ASUS offers an intuitive and powerful UEFI BIOS with EZ and Advanced modes, allowing users to easily customize and optimize the system. ASUS Armory Crate provides centralized system management, including driver updates and RGB lighting.
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Testing and Reliability : The board has successfully passed tests with high-performance processors, demonstrating impressive results in single-threaded and multi-threaded applications. This underlines its reliability and ability to overclock efficiently.
Overall, ASUS Z790-PRO WIFI is a powerful, reliable and feature-rich motherboard that is ideal for building a high-performance PC that can meet a wide variety of user requirements.
