Opt for the Z790 MOBO brand for superior quality and performance.
Opt for the Z790 MOBO brand for superior quality and performance.
For MOBO I tend to pick ASUS or Gigabyte. My first pick was the ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-F GAMING WIFI, but it felt too pricey. So I began searching for better options. The Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX (rev. 1.0) looks like a solid alternative, around 40% less expensive locally. I also explored other brands—MSI and ASRock both offer Z790 models. Generally, ASRock is the most budget-friendly, though I’m not sure if they deliver quality. Should I continue with ASUS or Gigabyte, or consider more affordable choices? Here’s what I’m planning: Intel Core i5-13600K or i5-13600KF G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory, paired with the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3080 V2 OC Edition 10GB. This build is mainly for gaming and occasional drone editing. I plan to overclock it after about two years. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, feel free to share.
To cut costs, Z690 boards are often the best choice. The main downsides are marginally slower PCIe lanes compared to the chipset (Gen 4 lanes on Z790 become Gen 3 on Z690), fewer USB ports, a less robust memory setup, and you’ll need to flash the BIOS before use. These issues become noticeable only with top-tier boards; most users won’t mind. The extra USB port is usually manageable via an add-in card. Memory performance matters more when handling large amounts of RAM or speeds above 6000MT/s—high-end Z690 boards reach around 6200-6400MT/s, while entry-level models cap near 6000MT/s. BIOS flashback is straightforward, so I don’t see much concern.
MSI’s Z690 lineup offers good value; the Z690-A Pro stands out as a solid, affordable option. Other brands like Carbon, Unify (especially the -X revision for its impressive 1DPC memory), and Tomahawk are also decent. Strix boards work, but lack BIOS flashback support, making them less convenient.
ASUS boards are acceptable, though non-Strix models often miss BIOS flashback features, which can be a hassle with high-end specs. Gigabyte’s offerings are decent, but their Z690 chips have weak memory support—best avoided if possible. ASRock models have limited information and generally underperform in BIOS tuning, especially on Intel platforms.
If you must choose a Z790 board, the Elite AX is a solid pick. ASRock has produced quality boards before (like the B550), but their low-end offerings are inconsistent, particularly with BIOS setup. The Z790-A Pro is worth considering if you’re open to higher prices, though it’s pricier than the Elite AX.
Keep in mind that unless you’re certain about a Z790, the Z690 lineup remains the most economical and reliable option.
Generally speaking, most Z690 boards perform better than their Z790 versions outside memory-related benefits. The Z690 Carbon, for example, offers more features such as x8/x8 support, which allows more usable M.2 slots and supports multiple high-speed PCIe cards. There are exceptions like XOC boards (Unify-X, Tachyon) that generally outperform most Z790 boards in terms of features and speed, except when they become more common replacements for Z790. The Z790 Taichi is a direct upgrade from the Z690 Taichi, though the latter was quite unusual. You don’t have to blame yourself if you choose Z790 over Z690; just note that you might find a higher-end Z690 board at a similar price if memory support isn’t essential. Unless you specifically need memory support (which also comes with a cost), last-gen Z690 boards could offer better value. Edited November 25, 2022 by RONOTHAN## Forgot some details