F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop The differences between Z690 and Z790 are minimal, mainly in dimensions and some minor performance tweaks.

The differences between Z690 and Z790 are minimal, mainly in dimensions and some minor performance tweaks.

The differences between Z690 and Z790 are minimal, mainly in dimensions and some minor performance tweaks.

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iHarleyQuinn_
Member
79
03-17-2022, 07:54 AM
#1
I plan to purchase the i9-13900ks once they come out to swap my 9900k. I considered getting the Z790 EVGA Dark Kingpin board, but only found a cheap Z690 Asus Maximus Extreme deal under $400 that no one else opened. What difference would switching to the Z690 platform make? Will it really impact gaming performance? Thanks!
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iHarleyQuinn_
03-17-2022, 07:54 AM #1

I plan to purchase the i9-13900ks once they come out to swap my 9900k. I considered getting the Z790 EVGA Dark Kingpin board, but only found a cheap Z690 Asus Maximus Extreme deal under $400 that no one else opened. What difference would switching to the Z690 platform make? Will it really impact gaming performance? Thanks!

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Zoaxh
Member
147
03-24-2022, 01:23 AM
#2
For DDR5, you should consider the processor selection carefully. The Z790 is suitable for higher speeds, but the variations are minor. I recommend going with the Z690 board.
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Zoaxh
03-24-2022, 01:23 AM #2

For DDR5, you should consider the processor selection carefully. The Z790 is suitable for higher speeds, but the variations are minor. I recommend going with the Z690 board.

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TVtrollll69
Junior Member
38
03-24-2022, 01:44 AM
#3
I've secured an excellent offer on four units of g.skill Trident Neo Z5 6400mhz CL 34, commonly used in z690 racks.
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TVtrollll69
03-24-2022, 01:44 AM #3

I've secured an excellent offer on four units of g.skill Trident Neo Z5 6400mhz CL 34, commonly used in z690 racks.

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nuclearmaso
Member
54
03-24-2022, 02:38 AM
#4
It seems to be additional PCI-E lanes on the Z790 chipset mainly. There doesn’t appear to be a noticeable impact on gaming performance compared to other versions. Just note that the Z790 supports higher DDR5 OC speeds. Be aware that Z690 boards require a BIOS update before using 13th generation processors. I wasn’t aware of this when I bought a 13900K with a Z690 board, but good news—my board had a BIOS flash option. Ideally, choose a board with a BIOS flash feature unless you’re risking the wrong version is installed.
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nuclearmaso
03-24-2022, 02:38 AM #4

It seems to be additional PCI-E lanes on the Z790 chipset mainly. There doesn’t appear to be a noticeable impact on gaming performance compared to other versions. Just note that the Z790 supports higher DDR5 OC speeds. Be aware that Z690 boards require a BIOS update before using 13th generation processors. I wasn’t aware of this when I bought a 13900K with a Z690 board, but good news—my board had a BIOS flash option. Ideally, choose a board with a BIOS flash feature unless you’re risking the wrong version is installed.

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Kropo999
Member
77
03-24-2022, 07:54 PM
#5
Use a USB drive with the BIOS update file and connect it to your PC. Then follow the on-screen instructions to flash the BIOS settings.
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Kropo999
03-24-2022, 07:54 PM #5

Use a USB drive with the BIOS update file and connect it to your PC. Then follow the on-screen instructions to flash the BIOS settings.

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zFebio
Junior Member
8
03-25-2022, 05:05 PM
#6
Link the MBOO (empty) to the 24 and 8 pin connectors, insert a USB stick with the BIOS file into the marked USB port on the back, then press the flash/flashback button to install. Detailed steps follow in your manual—may need to rename files if required. This method works without a CPU, but watch closely; power loss during installation can damage the board. Source: I tried this yesterday on an MSI Z690 Force board with a 13900k chipset. It wasn’t too tough, just pay attention!
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zFebio
03-25-2022, 05:05 PM #6

Link the MBOO (empty) to the 24 and 8 pin connectors, insert a USB stick with the BIOS file into the marked USB port on the back, then press the flash/flashback button to install. Detailed steps follow in your manual—may need to rename files if required. This method works without a CPU, but watch closely; power loss during installation can damage the board. Source: I tried this yesterday on an MSI Z690 Force board with a 13900k chipset. It wasn’t too tough, just pay attention!

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Sussu
Senior Member
708
03-27-2022, 01:38 PM
#7
Four sticks at 6400 watts sound impressive. If you already own them, it makes sense to upgrade to the Z790 for better performance. Going with Z790 would likely let you run at full speed more efficiently.
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Sussu
03-27-2022, 01:38 PM #7

Four sticks at 6400 watts sound impressive. If you already own them, it makes sense to upgrade to the Z790 for better performance. Going with Z790 would likely let you run at full speed more efficiently.

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skugry
Junior Member
15
03-27-2022, 07:30 PM
#8
I noticed similar structures using these components, so it seems likely they work well.
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skugry
03-27-2022, 07:30 PM #8

I noticed similar structures using these components, so it seems likely they work well.

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hunchmuffin6
Member
209
03-28-2022, 03:19 AM
#9
Based on what I've observed, reaching full speed with four sticks isn't always straightforward. Even with two sticks and a 4-slot board, I haven't managed to achieve it. Of course, my board is more affordable and only has 12,700k RAM, but this could be misleading. It's possible that choosing a cheaper option might limit your performance potential.
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hunchmuffin6
03-28-2022, 03:19 AM #9

Based on what I've observed, reaching full speed with four sticks isn't always straightforward. Even with two sticks and a 4-slot board, I haven't managed to achieve it. Of course, my board is more affordable and only has 12,700k RAM, but this could be misleading. It's possible that choosing a cheaper option might limit your performance potential.