ASRock Intel Z890 Motherboard Series Pictured—OC Formula, Taichi, PG Nova, Steel Legend

[btarunr]

ASRock has a pretty comprehensive lineup of upcoming Socket LGA1851 motherboards based on the top Intel Z890 chipset, which the company will launch alongside the new Intel Core Ultra 2-series "Arrow Lake-S" desktop processors later this month. The company's Z890 lineup has been leaked to the web by VideoCardz. The lineup covers nearly every brand extension by ASRock, addressing a wide category of PC users, from the entry level that just wants an office desktop to harness the CPU power of the new processors, to the two distinct classes of the enthusiast segment—one which overclocks, and the other that needs every possible premium I/O from this platform, with the bulk of the lineup targeting gaming PC builders across price-segments.

At the very top are ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF and the ASRock Z890 Taichi. The Taichi OCF is the spiritual successor to the OC Formula series by ASRock targeting professional overclockers. It has the strongest possible CPU VRM solution from the company, the largest selection of overclocker-friendly features, and a 1 DIMM per channel (1DPC) memory configuration, for the highest possible memory overclocks. The Taichi OCF has most if not all of the I/O goodies ASRock has to offer. For this, you'll have to seek out the regular ASRock Z890 Taichi, with its four DDR5 memory slots, nearly the same overclocking feature-set as the Taichi OCF, but some added toys, such as Thunderbolt 4. The Z890 Taichi Lite is an interesting product—it has nearly all features that place it into the high-end segment, such as that 8-layer PCB, a strong CPU VRM, and premium onboard audio, among others; but skips on the bulk of the dramatic flair of the Z890 Taichi.



We now enter the meat of ASRock's lineup, with the Phantom Gaming (PG) series, targeting gaming PC builds. There's plenty of meat on the bone for overclockers, although the main audience is still PC gamers. The four products in the series are differentiated by connectivity features, CPU VRM phases, and other minor bits, such as the quality of the onboard audio CODEC, the WLAN card, etc. At the very top is the ASRock Z890 Phantom Gaming Nova, followed by the ASRock Z890 Phantom Gaming Riptide WiFi, and lastly the ASRock Z890 Phantom Gaming Lightning WiFi. The company's only premium Mini-ITX form-factor motherboard is the ASRock Z890I Phantom Gaming Nova.



There are two distinct mid-range segment motherboard models from ASRock. The Z890 Steel Legend WiFi comes with a white PCB solder-mask, silver/white heatsinks all around, and a feature-set that roughly resembles that of the Z890 PG Lightning WiFi. The Steel Legend line of motherboards would fall into the same category as ASUS TUF Gaming Plus, or the MSI MAG Tomahawk. The ASRock Z890 LiveMixer WiFi is a mid-range motherboard, with a slightly premium onboard audio solution.



At the tail-end of the lineup are the ASRock PRO series. These are for office desktops or small businesses. Leading the pack is the ASRock Z890 PRO RS WiFi/non-WiFi, and its white PCB variant; followed by the ASRock Z890 PRO A. There are curiously no Micro-ATX Z890 chipset motherboards from ASRock at all.



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[RootinTootinPootin]

OC Formula (if it sells from where I am at..lmao)

 

[Dristun]

CAMM2 version not coming after all?

 

[TheLostSwede]

CAMM2 version not coming after all?

Was that somehow expected to launch this year? There's still MSI I guess, they seem to be the one motherboard maker that is the keenest in CAMM2 so far.
From what I've been told, there's little industry interest in moving to CAMM2 on desktop, at least for now.

 

[Dristun]

Was that somehow expected to launch this year? There's still MSI I guess, they seem to be the one motherboard maker that is the keenest in CAMM2 so far.
From what I've been told, there's little industry interest in moving to CAMM2 on desktop, at least for now.

I have no idea to be honest, just thought that was going to be pushed as "premium enthusiast" option judging by prototypes at the expos being from the most expensive lines. Taichi OCF had a CAMM2 variant from ASRock iirc. I'm still curious if it's actually of any benefit performance-wise, at least for those chasing extra % at the very top.

 

[freeagent]

Too bad they made it the Taichi OCF.. right at the top of the stack.

But that is the cheapo in me talking.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I have no idea to be honest, just thought that was going to be pushed as "premium enthusiast" option judging by prototypes at the expos being from the most expensive lines. Taichi OCF had a CAMM2 variant from ASRock iirc. I'm still curious if it's actually of any benefit performance-wise, at least for those chasing extra % at the very top.

From what I've been told, the big benefit right now, is cooling, at it's much easier to cool than a pair of DIMMs and that in turn could result in higher clock speeds, but so far, there only appears to be a limited amount of boards that are being used for testing and nothing that's ready to go on sale straight away. Note that the source in question doesn't work for a motherboard manufacturer, but rather a DRAM module maker.

 

[Gucky]

If I got Intel, I'd go with that Asrock ITX board so far.

 

[TheLostSwede]

If I got Intel, I'd go with that Asrock ITX board so far.

Because it's fast, mysterious and unbeatable?

 

[ymdhis]

Because it's fast, mysterious and unbeatable?

I thought because it is overpriced, missing features, and breaks easy (disclaimer: I have an asrock board).

 

[TheLostSwede]

I thought because it is overpriced, missing features, and breaks easy (disclaimer: I have an asrock board).

I was simply reading the text on the heatsink.

 

[ir_cow]

So we are going to have Unify-X, Tacyhon, Apex and Taichi OFC to pick from for overclocking! This is a first in a long time that the 4 are competing again.

 

[Bobaganoosh]

So we are going to have Unify-X, Tacyhon, Apex and Taichi OFC to pick from for overclocking! This is a first in a long time that the 4 are competing again.

Just missing EVGA there

 

[nomdeplume]

There are curiously no Micro-ATX Z890 chipset motherboards from ASRock at all.

Ah, but the solitary tarted up CSM option from Asus really set hearts and wallets aflutter.

Fully expect yet another round of sparse back panels and even leaner specs when mATX boards start trickling out many months from now. Eventually to be followed by "... II" versions nearing a reasonable product arriving 6 months before the socket is dead. I assure you the contrast with Asian market offerings is like night and day. Not just that there are any either.

 

[Minus Infinity]

Who still OC's. I thought most people undervolt and try to reduce the insane power usage. These MB's are ludicrous. Top tier X870E have up to 24 VRM's @ 110A each. 2640Amps for a cpu that at most needs what 400A. This would be okay for 64 core TR but so overkill for desktop and why the boards just keep getting more expensive.

 

[ir_cow]

Just missing EVGA there

Nah, EVGA is RIP. they aren't coming back with the loss of all the talent.

 

[Bobaganoosh]

Nah, EVGA is RIP. they aren't coming back with the loss of all the talent.

Yeah I'm fully aware.

 

[chrcoluk]

Wow that steel legend looks really heavily nerfed compared to Z690. Dont think I am changing platform any time soon, looks grim in both Intel and AMD land now.

Sill a heavy focus on o/c which seems all but dead, makes you wonder how much extra i/o, bridge chips etc. they could put on if they cut back on over built VRM expenditure.

 

[lexluthermiester]

CAMM2 version not coming after all?

No. Not everyone agrees that CAMM2 is a good way forward.

From what I've been told, there's little industry interest in moving to CAMM2 on desktop, at least for now.

Many don't think it's a good idea at all.

 

[dj-electric]

For those who wonder why we are getting plus and minus buttons on boards all of a sudden - stay tuned, something really cool is getting integrated.

 

[lexluthermiester]

For those who wonder why we are getting plus and minus buttons on boards all of a sudden - stay tuned, something really cool is getting integrated.

Real-time clock or multiplier controls? Seems the most likely option.

 

[RootinTootinPootin]

CAMM2 version not coming after all?

somebody from HWBOT said the max OC for CAMM2 is just 7800MT's, also the newer boards recommend the use of CKDimms (one's with the clock driver module) and are able to reach 10000MT's easy peasy..




hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllddddddddddddddddddd iiiiiiittttt!!

before anyone bashes me and tells me who'd use that much and AMD just uses 6000MT's, Intel's IMC is miles ahead than AMD's, it scales and you can feel and benefit from it (given primary upto tertiary and even the ODT's are calibrated)..

Too bad they made it the Taichi OCF.. right at the top of the stack.

But that is the cheapo in me talking.

Taichi boards are rather "premium" and too far from their PG and ordinary boards..I'd say they are almost the higher end ROG boards in quality.