• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

EVGA Launches The Z390 DARK Motherboard, Built to Deliver The Ultimate in Performance

crazyeyesreaper

Not a Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 25, 2009
Messages
9,817 (1.71/day)
Location
04578
System Name Old reliable
Processor Intel 8700K @ 4.8 GHz
Motherboard MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
Cooling Custom Water
Memory 32 GB Crucial Ballistix 3666 MHz
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 3080 10GB Suprim X
Storage 3x SSDs 2x HDDs
Display(s) ASUS VG27AQL1A x2 2560x1440 8bit IPS
Case Thermaltake Core P3 TG
Audio Device(s) Samson Meteor Mic / Generic 2.1 / KRK KNS 6400 headset
Power Supply Zalman EBT-1000
Mouse Mionix NAOS 7000
Keyboard Mionix
"The EVGA Z390 DARK is a 3rd generation model built exclusively for ultimate performance with improved and upgraded component selections, VRM, NVMe I/O, and PCB layout, compared to the flagship X299 DARK."- Illya "TiN" Tsemenko

The power of the DARK side of EVGA's Z390 motherboards is now available! After setting the bar with the X299 DARK, EVGA went back to work to design the next generation of motherboards designed exclusively for the world's top overclockers... or those looking to become one of the world's top overclockers. No effort was spared to improve the power design, layout, or features of the Z390 DARK.



The Z390 DARK is the first motherboard to feature both the 24-pin power connector alongside both 8-pin CPU power connectors as right-angle connectors on the side of the board. Not only does the layout give the DARK a stunning look but the layout also provides a very friendly design for cable-management enthusiasts. This revolutionary design features:

  • The CPU Socket is turned 90-degrees, which allows the memory to run parallel to the top of the chassis
  • The entire VRM is cooled with a large passive heatsink.
  • This design allows for chassis airflow to pass unimpeded over the top of the power connectors, across the cpu and memory, and through the rear-panel heatsink.

The DARK comes fully equipped with useful LEDS of all types...for monitoring system and component status, and displaying temperatures and voltages. Additional must-have features include:

  • USB BIOS Flash Without a CPU - The dedicated internal USB port on the motherboard allows you to update your motherboard BIOS even if you don't have a CPU or cannot boot into the motherboard BIOS.
  • Multi-Function POST Indicator - Fully configurable in BIOS, these LEDs can be configured to show temperatures, voltages or cycle both in real-time.
  • Right Angle Headers - 24-pin power, both 8-pin CPU power, Fan, Probe-It, and USB 3.1 Gen1 headers - Hand-crafted design to provide clean system assembly without cable clutter.
  • Visual Guide / Bench Table - Every EVGA Z390 Dark is packed with a printed PCB showing components, LEDs, PCIe lane breakdowns, and other helpful information. More importantly, this PCB with included standoffs doubles as an open-air testing or benching station, providing clearance for heaters, condensation isolation, and storage devices.
  • PCIe / DIMM Status LEDs - PCIe / DIMM status LEDs allow for easy system assembly and troubleshooting at a glance.

The EVGA Z390 DARK is finally here to convince you to give yourself to the DARK side of the EVGA Motherboard lineup. Go on, the DARK is waiting.

Specification
  • Chipset: Intel Z390
  • Socket: Intel Socket LGA1151, 8th and 9th Gen Intel Core i3/i5/i7/i9 Coffee Lake-S Processors
  • Form Factor: E-ATX
  • SLI: 2-Way SLI
  • Memory: 2 DIMM Dual-Channel (up to 32GB) DDR4 4600MHz+
  • Display Outputs: 1x mDP
  • USB: 4x USB 2.0 (4 Ports from 2 Internal Headers)
  • USB 3.1 (Rear I/O): 4x USB3.1 Gen2 Type-A, USB3.1 Gen2 (From ASM3142) 1x Type-A/1x Type-C, 2x USB3.1 Gen1
  • USB 3.1 (Internal Header): 1x USB3.1 Gen2 Type-C, 2x USB3.1 Gen1 (2 from Internal Header) with USB Power Delivery Support
  • SATA: 6 Native SATA 6.0Gbps Ports / 2 ASMedia SATA 6.0Gbps Ports
  • M.2 Key-M: 2x 110mm Slots (Up to 32Gb/s) / M.2 Key-E 1x 32mm Slot
  • U.2: 1x U.2 PCIe NVMe port
  • Ethernet: 2x Intel Gigabit NIC
  • Audio: Creative Sound Core3D Quad-Core Audio Processor
  • Fan Headers: 8 (2 CPU PWM, 6 PWM/DC)

Key Features
  • Highly-Efficient 17 Phase Digital VRM
  • Intel Optane Memory Ready
  • New Integrated EVGA Wireless Module with Intel Dual-band WiFi / BT5.0 with external antenna
  • Reinforced PCIe slots
  • EVGA's Latest GUI BIOS Featuring OC Robot and In-BIOS Stress Testing
  • SafeBoot button to reset the motherboard and go into the BIOS with last known good settings without clearing CMOS
  • Slow Mode switch locks CPU multiplier to lowest possible setting to allow users to switch between max OC and low speeds in real-time.
  • SPI flashing via USB allows you to flash your BIOS without a CPU
  • Onboard Temperature and Voltage Monitoring
  • Onboard Clear CMOS, Power and Reset Buttons
  • Triple BIOS Support
  • EVGA E-LEET X Tuning Support
Now Available!

View at TechPowerUp Main Site
 
Joined
Aug 21, 2013
Messages
1,942 (0.47/day)
Could have included the price and link where to buy in the press release at least.
499$ @ https://www.evga.com/products/product.aspx?pn=131-CS-E399-KR

IMO it's pretty well tought out except for few glaring issues. First is the M.2 placement right below/under graphics cards. Not the best place to put M.2 drives in terms of heat.
Second is that the I/O shield is not integrated and comes separate.
 
Joined
Mar 14, 2014
Messages
1,431 (0.36/day)
Processor 11900K
Motherboard ASRock Z590 OC Formula
Cooling Noctua NH-D15 using 2x140mm 3000RPM industrial Noctuas
Memory G. Skill Trident Z 2x16GB 3600MHz
Video Card(s) eVGA RTX 3090 FTW3
Storage 2TB Crucial P5 Plus
Display(s) 1st: LG GR83Q-B 1440p 27in 240Hz / 2nd: Lenovo y27g 1080p 27in 144Hz
Case Lian Li Lancool MESH II RGB (I removed the RGB)
Audio Device(s) AKG Q701's w/ O2+ODAC (Sounds a little bright)
Power Supply Seasonic Prime 850 TX
Mouse Glorious Model D
Keyboard Glorious MMK2 65% Lynx MX switches
Software Win10 Pro
I don't really see that $500 price sticking. That's what the X299 board is MSRP but they have it down to $250 on the main site and $300 at Microcenter.
 
Joined
Aug 1, 2017
Messages
60 (0.02/day)
Processor FX-8350 @4.6
Motherboard MSI 970A Gaming
Cooling Deepcool Gammaxx 400
Memory 8GB DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) RX-570 4GB
Storage 120GB SSD + 2x 1TB Barracuda's
Display(s) Asus 24" 1080p
Case Custom vintage wooden crate
Audio Device(s) Neewer N700 mic + Edifier 2.1 speakers + Steelseries Siberia V2
Power Supply Cooler Master V650
Mouse Logitech G402
Keyboard Corsair K70 w/ MX-reds
Software Windows 10
Only 2 memory DIMMs? Odd for a premium motherboard...
 
Joined
Feb 18, 2013
Messages
2,186 (0.50/day)
Location
Deez Nutz, bozo!
System Name Rainbow Puke Machine :D
Processor Intel Core i5-11400 (MCE enabled, PL removed)
Motherboard ASUS STRIX B560-G GAMING WIFI mATX
Cooling Corsair H60i RGB PRO XT AIO + HD120 RGB (x3) + SP120 RGB PRO (x3) + Commander PRO
Memory Corsair Vengeance RGB RT 2 x 8GB 3200MHz DDR4 C16
Video Card(s) Zotac RTX2060 Twin Fan 6GB GDDR6 (Stock)
Storage Corsair MP600 PRO 1TB M.2 PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD
Display(s) LG 29WK600-W Ultrawide 1080p IPS Monitor (primary display)
Case Corsair iCUE 220T RGB Airflow (White) w/Lighting Node CORE + Lighting Node PRO RGB LED Strips (x4).
Audio Device(s) ASUS ROG Supreme FX S1220A w/ Savitech SV3H712 AMP + Sonic Studio 3 suite
Power Supply Corsair RM750x 80 Plus Gold Fully Modular
Mouse Corsair M65 RGB FPS Gaming (White)
Keyboard Corsair K60 PRO RGB Mechanical w/ Cherry VIOLA Switches
Software Windows 11 Professional x64 (Update 23H2)
this board is made exclusively for OCing, so seeing it have only 2 DIMM slots is nothing new. ASUS ROG's own lineup of OCing board also have 2 RAM slots.
 
Joined
Aug 1, 2017
Messages
60 (0.02/day)
Processor FX-8350 @4.6
Motherboard MSI 970A Gaming
Cooling Deepcool Gammaxx 400
Memory 8GB DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) RX-570 4GB
Storage 120GB SSD + 2x 1TB Barracuda's
Display(s) Asus 24" 1080p
Case Custom vintage wooden crate
Audio Device(s) Neewer N700 mic + Edifier 2.1 speakers + Steelseries Siberia V2
Power Supply Cooler Master V650
Mouse Logitech G402
Keyboard Corsair K70 w/ MX-reds
Software Windows 10
Not really, as the MB with 2 slots are usually better for OC the RAM (like Asus Apex or now even Gene XI)
this board is made exclusively for OCing, so seeing it have only 2 DIMM slots is nothing new. ASUS ROG's own lineup of OCing board also have 2 RAM slots.

Ah, I didn't know that. Makes sense. Learn something new everyday. ;)
 
Joined
Feb 18, 2013
Messages
2,186 (0.50/day)
Location
Deez Nutz, bozo!
System Name Rainbow Puke Machine :D
Processor Intel Core i5-11400 (MCE enabled, PL removed)
Motherboard ASUS STRIX B560-G GAMING WIFI mATX
Cooling Corsair H60i RGB PRO XT AIO + HD120 RGB (x3) + SP120 RGB PRO (x3) + Commander PRO
Memory Corsair Vengeance RGB RT 2 x 8GB 3200MHz DDR4 C16
Video Card(s) Zotac RTX2060 Twin Fan 6GB GDDR6 (Stock)
Storage Corsair MP600 PRO 1TB M.2 PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD
Display(s) LG 29WK600-W Ultrawide 1080p IPS Monitor (primary display)
Case Corsair iCUE 220T RGB Airflow (White) w/Lighting Node CORE + Lighting Node PRO RGB LED Strips (x4).
Audio Device(s) ASUS ROG Supreme FX S1220A w/ Savitech SV3H712 AMP + Sonic Studio 3 suite
Power Supply Corsair RM750x 80 Plus Gold Fully Modular
Mouse Corsair M65 RGB FPS Gaming (White)
Keyboard Corsair K60 PRO RGB Mechanical w/ Cherry VIOLA Switches
Software Windows 11 Professional x64 (Update 23H2)
yep. I too was like "huh??" when I saw OC-ready boards that has 2 DIMM slots... coz it was weird since it uses ATX or E-ATX size... then I realized it's completely normal to see such boards to have so little DIMM slots. XD
 
Joined
Jul 10, 2018
Messages
253 (0.11/day)
I find it hard to see how this motherboard is better than the X299 Dark. It has less lanes and less RAM slots. Sure a USB-C header is nice but other than that its sub-par compared to the X299
 
Joined
Aug 21, 2013
Messages
1,942 (0.47/day)
I find it hard to see how this motherboard is better than the X299 Dark. It has less lanes and less RAM slots. Sure a USB-C header is nice but other than that its sub-par compared to the X299
The same can be said for every Z390 motherboard when compared to X299. These are platform differences you listed. Nothing EVGA can do about that.
 
Top