ASRock Unveils Z790I & B760I Lightning WiFi Motherboards with DDR5-8600 Support for Extreme Overdrive Power

[TheLostSwede]

ASRock proudly announces its new Z790I Lightning WiFi and B760I Lightning WiFi Mini-ITX motherboards. Equipped with a robust 14+1+1 power phase design and an optimized memory layout, these motherboards fully unleash the powerful performance of Intel Core 14th Gen K-series processors. Offering top-tier memory overclocking capabilities for supporting DDR5 8600+ memory modules, they present an excellent choice for gamers and mini-PC enthusiasts seeking the ultimate overclocking performance. The Z790I Lightning WiFi has achieved four overclocking world records on HWBOT.org with the Intel Core i9-14900KS processor. Additionally, the B760I Lightning WiFi received the "Best Motherboard" award at CES 2024 from Tom's Hardware, emphasizing its exceptional design and overclocking capabilities.

ASRock Z790I Lightning WiFi and B760I Lightning WiFi motherboards feature a 14+1+1 Phase 110 A SPS Dr.MOS VRM, outperforming competing ITX offerings. ASRock has custom-designed a composite cooling solution for these boards, including enlarged aluminium heatsinks, heat-pipe, and a MOS fan, delivering robust cooling performance to enhance overclocking capabilities. This superior cooling ensures the processors perform at their peak.




The Z790I Lightning WiFi fully unleashes the powerful performance of the latest Intel Core i9-14900KS, achieving a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of up to 43,064 pts.



The Z790I Lightning WiFi leads with DDR5-8600 memory support, enhancing memory overclocking performance significantly.



Both the Z790I Lightning WiFi and B760I Lightning WiFi motherboards utilize server-grade low-loss 8-layer 2oz copper PCBs and optimized DDR5 memory designs, pioneering support for 8600 MHz memory for unparalleled overclocking support. Each board features one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, two Hyper M.2 slots, Phantom Gaming 2.5GbE LAN, 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E, and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A/Type-C ports, offering an abundance of high-speed connectivity options.

The B760I Lightning WiFi received the "Best Motherboard" award at CES 2024 from Tom's Hardware, emphasizing its exceptional design and overclocking capabilities.

The robust VRM specifications and optimized memory design fully unleash the overclocking potential. The global professional overclocker Splave used the Z790I Lightning WiFi with the Intel Core i9-14900KS for LN2 extreme overclocking, setting four World Records and eight Global 1st Place records, as well as numerous i9-14900KS 1st Place achievements on HWBOT.org, successfully pushing the overclocking performance of the Mini-ITX motherboard to new heights.

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[Onasi]

Mentions of the KS are a bit odd. I don’t think many would chomp at the bit to run that thing in a SFX system. Not impossible for sure, just seems like unnecessary hassle. I guess you can use an ITX board in a full-tower to take advantage of shorter traces for OC, but again, uh, why?
Overall a cool board though, just a bit late in the generation cycle I think. Gen 15 is on a new socket, isn’t it? So a dead end platform.

 

[P4-630]

It's just too small for my case.....

 

[JasBC]

Will the first option on the first tab on the first page of these boards UEFI:s be broken and unvalidated like on some other ASRock-boards?

 

[Woomack]

Good luck with 8600 RAM. Most CPUs can't handle RAM at 8200, not to mention 8600. Recently, I tested the 14900K, which couldn't even run stable with RAM at 7200. This is probably why ASRock used the cherry-picked 14600K for stability test screenshots and the 14900KS only passed Cinebench, which doesn't require full RAM stability. I also know that most memory manufacturers have problems with CPUs that can make 8200+ in their internal tests.

 

[aktpu]

Good luck with 8600 RAM. Most CPUs can't handle RAM at 8200, not to mention 8600. Recently, I tested the 14900K, which couldn't even run stable with RAM at 7200. This is probably why ASRock used the cherry-picked 14600K for stability test screenshots and the 14900KS only passed Cinebench, which doesn't require full RAM stability. I also know that most memory manufacturers have problems with CPUs that can make 8200+ in their internal tests.

Well, did you use these boards?

 

[Woomack]

Well, did you use these boards?

As I said, it's not a problem with motherboards. There are plenty of other motherboards that can handle 8600+, but it's probably the first one from ASRock that can handle it, as others were giving up around 7600-8200. Most motherboard manufacturers won't guarantee high frequencies, over 8000, and simply putting 8000+ in the specs saves problems with eventual RMAs.
I don't need another Z790 motherboard when the next-gen will be available in a few months. My ASUS APEX runs at 9000+, but I couldn't find a CPU that would pass extended stability tests above 8400.
Yesterday, there was a press release from V-Color with the same screenshots. I know they have problems finding CPUs for their internal tests that can make 8200+. Who would show results on 14600K if 14900K/KS could make the same? I'm using 14700K for my tests and reviews because of the same problem with a good enough IMC in 14900K that could pass stability tests at 8200. It's really random. After over 20 CPUs, I just wait for the next-gen.