Asus ProArt Z790 Creator WiFi: A motherboard for the artist in you

Value When Reviewed

$469.99

Greatest Costs At present: Asus ProArt Z790 Creator WiFi

The motherboard market is usually focused at avid gamers, with flashy RGB components and overclocking prowess. Whereas lots of these boards have sturdy options for all customers, typically content material creators want some particular consideration. 

As if on cue, right here comes the artsy Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi. No Instances Sq. gentle present right here—however you’ll get sufficient artistic options to make even Picasso envious. His motherboard possible didn’t even have Thunderbolt 4 or 10GbE LAN! 

Along with a easy, understated look, there’s heaps to digest right here for the under-$500 value. We’ll break down the specs and options, efficiency attributes, and design. In the event you’re a creator that wants a sure set of options, this could possibly be the selection over all of the gamer-centric motherboards available on the market. Let’s discover out!

Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi: Options and specs

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• ATX type issue 
• Help Intel Twelfth- and Thirteenth-generation CPUs 
• 16+1 Teamed Energy Phases with 70 amps per stage
• DDR5 RAM, twin channel as much as 4 DIMMs (as much as 128GB)
• 4x onboard M.2 slots with Q-Latch (PCIe Gen 4)
• 2x PCIe 16x slot with Q-Launch (PCIe Gen 5 8x/8x) 
• Twin DisplayPort inputs and HDMI 2.1
• 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports
• 8x USB ports on again (together with Thunderbolt 4)
• 10GbE and a couple of.5GbE LAN
• Wi-Fi 6E 
• RGB headers for Aura Sync
• 8 SATA 6Gb/s ports 
• 8 PWM fan headers 
• BIOS Flashback 
• Pre-installed I/O protect 
• Realtek S1220A audio codec
• MSRP $469.99

The Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi is available in at an MSRP of $469, placing it squarely inside midrange pricing. Whereas motherboard costs have gone up, the options you’re getting on this can definitely make it a implausible worth. Forgoing the gaming aesthetics is a pleasant trade-off for the added performance on the Z790-Creator WiFi. Let’s go over probably the most important options and what to know: 

CPU selection: You’ll get a variety of CPU selections on this ATX motherboard with assist for each Intel’s Twelfth and Thirteenth era. That’s excellent news. Funds-friendly selections like a 13600K or the highly effective Intel i9 13900K will probably be nice right here. 

DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5: Subsequent-generation DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5 are additionally right here, providing you with all the advantages of the next-gen Z790 platform. DDR5 RAM has nice speeds that many workstation-class functions can reap the benefits of, and with not too long ago lowering pricing, it’s an ideal future-proof choice to have. In the event you’re planning on doing 4 DIMMs for giant quantities of RAM, fastidiously verify the QVC checklist to ensure you gained’t face compatibility points as DDR5 can nonetheless be a bit choosy. In any other case, you’ll have the ability to snap in as much as 128GB of RAM goodness! 

Additionally there are double 16x PCIe Gen 5 slots, with the Q-Launch button—an superior addition for simply popping in/out GPUs. That is essential for content material creators who have to energy their one GPU—and even two GPUs. (Sure, that’s a factor for workstations!) You’ll have the ability to put in an add-in PCIe card within the Gen 5 slot, too. You’ll get 8x/8x speeds for those who populate each, which needs to be sufficient for many use circumstances. 

Storage: Content material creators love storage, and also you’ll have that in abundance right here. If the eight SATA ports are too “legacy” in your liking, you’ll be happy to know of the 4 onboard NVMe slots. These are PCIe Gen 4, however that’s greater than sufficient pace for many fashionable drives. (PCIe Gen 5 drives are nonetheless not right here to saturate these ports.) 

Many AMD X670E motherboards do provide PCIe Gen 5 NVMe slots, however as of proper now, that’s not wanted—so don’t fret while you see PCIe Gen 4. 

USB ports: Content material creators completely want USB ports—the quicker, the higher. Beginning with Thunderbolt 4 (appropriate with USB4), you’ll get two of these ports right here. At 40Gb/s, that is amazingly quick for file transfers. Including to that, Thunderbolt has a big eco-system of peripherals corresponding to exterior enclosures, arduous drives, and even display-out for screens. These are all extremely useful for creators. 

Customary USB ports are additionally plentiful right here, six on the rear along with the 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports. 

You should use the Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports for shows, and also you’ll get an HDMI 2.1 port, as properly—one other nice bonus.

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Networking: Persevering with with the spectacular options, 10GbE and a couple of.5GbE networking are current right here. It is a rarity on gaming motherboards, as solely the most costly ones present 10GbE—and even much less with a second ethernet possibility. That is the place you may see great worth for these content material creators who want 10GbE for NAS backups and different high-usage networking—like sharing drives in an enhancing studio for instance. 

Wi-Fi 6E can be included, rounding out an ideal complement of networking choices that could be a implausible inclusion for the value.

Audio: Audio is competent right here as properly, with sufficient inputs on the rear for many informal use circumstances. (5 jacks, to be exact!) You’ll get a very good Realtek S1220a codec inside what Asus calls “Crystal Sound 3”—plus good construct high quality on these parts. After all, skilled audio customers will nonetheless wish to use exterior or add-in higher-grade audio parts.

Different attention-grabbing options: High quality-of-life options are right here too. Q-Latch for M.2 drives, and Q-Launch for the PCIe GPU slots, each of which make for simpler entry for these parts. An built-in I/O protect additionally improves the construct expertise. 

BIOS Flashback and Q-LED make diagnosing points simpler, although customers of this motherboard are much less prone to manually overclock. (However you continue to can!) 

The unboxing expertise is straightforward however supplies the mandatory equipment it’s essential get going. SATA cables, show adapter cables, the standard. 

Total, the board affords a strong characteristic set that enormously advantages content material creators and workstation customers.

Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi: Design

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The Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi doesn’t have any flashy RGB, however you continue to do get Aura Sync RGB headers. It does have loads of “class” and a very distinctive design. With a beautiful subdued shade scheme, and a few minor gold accents working all through, it appears purposeful.

Distinctive elements of the design embody the clear I/O protect enclosure and lower-right “ProArt” branding. Each look nice, however do needless to say this motherboard feels much less “sturdy” within the fingers than one thing like an Asus ROG Hero for instance. These “gamer” motherboards usually really feel rather a lot heavier as a result of “armor” and different aesthetic/cooling items. Construct high quality continues to be nice right here, nonetheless—however we will see some price financial savings had been wanted to incorporate the sturdy characteristic set. (And that’s nice—we’d quite see the options!)

The design can be purposeful, with M.2 drive slots sporting cooling thermal pads beneath. Design improvements such because the Q-Latch and Q-Launch are additionally implausible, offering an ideal ease-of-use when including M.2 drives and PCIe playing cards.

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The rear of the built-in I/O protect (one other nice design bonus!) is clearly labeled and matches the remainder of the motherboard aesthetic. The again is customary, as anticipated—you’d have to go over to ROG or higher-end gaming motherboards to discover a extra armored backplate.

Total, the minimalist shade tones are nonetheless very attention-grabbing while you zoom in and take a more in-depth look. No want for RGB results right here; however nonetheless elegant-looking in any construct.

Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi: Efficiency, software program, and BIOS

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The Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi is just not marketed as an overclocking monster. With 16+1 twin energy levels, it would deal with even the mighty Intel i9 13900K with ease—and overclock, too. 

The remainder of the Intel Twelfth- and Thirteenth-gen household may even match proper in, with competent VRM heatsinks and good-quality PCB. 

DDR5 assist offers you entry to the newest pace enhancements over DDR4. With costs getting higher, it’s beginning to be a really interesting possibility. Workstation customers who can make the most of quick RAM will probably be completely satisfied, and solely these needing greater than 128GB will want higher-end platforms like Xeon or Threadripper.

The efficiency chops don’t cease there, with PCIe Gen 5 and Gen 4 all through. Whereas the 2 PCIe 16x slots are each Gen 5, the third one is Gen 4. You’ll additionally get Gen 4 efficiency out of the 4 onboard NVMe slots—which is greater than sufficient as Gen 5 is just not quiet right here but. 

Pace continues the place it issues: 40Gb/s twin Thunderbolt 4 ports are the head of present switch/USB expertise. This can make content material creators very completely satisfied who depend on quick switch charges and the flexibility of Thunderbolt.  

The 10GbE is a number of the quickest networking you’ll discover anyplace, and it accompanies a 2.5GbE secondary port. Such a efficiency is precisely what workstation customers demand, and right here it’s out there in spades. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are additionally a number of the quickest requirements at present out there.

Whilst you could not want gaming-level overclocking, the Asus BIOS is great and provides you tons of choices. You possibly can manually tinker along with your unlocked Intel CPU, and even play with the DDR5 RAM. Straightforward to make use of and intuitive, it’s an fanatic favourite. Certain, it’s not a ROG Excessive motherboard, but it surely has the fundamentals to get you rolling. 

In the event you don’t intend to tinker, the minimal wanted is simply to set the XMP profile in your RAM. You can even set Ai automated overclocking within the BIOS for those who want to squeeze some extra efficiency out of your CPU. Bear in mind this can be adaptive and rely in your cooling resolution—these newer higher-end Intel CPUs such because the 13900K can run sizzling! 

Leaving the BIOS, you’ll nonetheless get some good system integration on the software program facet with the Asus ProArt Creator Hub. Like Asus Armory Crate on the gaming facet, this software program will mean you can customise fan profiles, monitor {hardware}, and tons of different choices.

Must you purchase the Asus ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi?

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The $469 MSRP is focused at content material creators making this a extremely engaging possibility. In a sea of gaming-centric motherboards with choices some customers could not want, it’s refreshing to see a fine-tuned motherboard that has a bevy of extremely helpful specs. 

You can even sport on it fairly properly, too. It has the identical DDR5 and assist for the quickest Intel gaming CPUs that the most effective gaming motherboards provide. You’ll simply have slightly bit much less onboard RGB! 

Thunderbolt 4 has tons of pace and utility, and also you’ll solely discover it on the most costly gaming motherboards. Likewise with 10GbE networking—these two choices will enchantment to the content material creators for positive. You’d want an “excessive” degree gaming motherboard simply to have these choices at a a lot larger value! 

The opposite included options are additionally extremely helpful—along with the latest-generation DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5 expertise, it’s obtained a beneficiant 4 NVMe slots, and loads of SATA ports. 

You could even have some avid gamers who suppose this can be a nice purchase—and we’d agree—with tons of performance inbuilt for the value. Content material creators will in fact be more than happy, and have the instruments wanted to create!