ASUS's R&D team are again bringing the very best to the AM4 socket. Including a massive 18+2 VRM design, Thunderbolt 4, 10Gb LAN, and loads of goodies on the side, If you are looking to find out more about one of the most feature-rich X570 motherboards on the market today, It's all covered in this review.
Intel's B660 budget-oriented chipset has arrived and brings with it more choices for that new Alder Lake build. The MSI MAG B660M Mortar WiFi comes with DDR4 support, WiFi 6, PCIe 4.0, and M.2 Gen4 sockets to round out the features. At $190, it's considerably more affordable than available Z690 options.
MSI and EKWB have teamed up to bring the well-received MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi to the next level. Featuring an EK-Quantum Matrix7 monoblock, we will get up close and personal to find out what the MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X has to offer.
Gigabyte is packing heat with the Z690 Aorus Master. This motherboard is designed for Intel's 12th Gen Core and boasts a massive 20-phase VRM using 105 A power stages. Built for connectivity, the Z690 Aorus Master has features like PCIe 5.0, DDR5, Wi-Fi 6E, 10 GbE LAN, and five M.2 sockets to round out the experience!
MSI brings the MPG Carbon line to the Intel Z690 chipset with Gen5 PCIe slots and DDR5 support. Along with debuting new features on the LGA1700 socket, this motherboard has dual 8-pin EPS, reinforced Steel Armor PCIe slots, five M.2 sockets, Mythic Lighting, and Wi-Fi 6E.
Intel's 1700 socket is ready to party! ASUS brings the motherboard, so we are all set. The ROG Maximus Z690 Hero sports an assortment of new features along with PCIe Gen5 and DDR5 support, five M.2 sockets, Thunderbolt 4, and a powerful VRM design with 90 A power stages. ASUS has really thought of everything.
We compare all the new Intel Z690 chipset based motherboards for Intel's 12th Gen Alder Lake processors, so you can get an overview of which boards are worthy of your consideration and which can be skipped no matter if looking for something basic or a flagship model.
ASRock brings the PG Riptide series to B550 with an affordable solution for APUs and PC gamers on a budget. It comes with 2.5 Gb/s LAN from Killer Networking and RGB and PCIe Gen4 support. This motherboard has a lot of the same features as the X570-based Riptide, so let's see if it can hit all the marks!
The new ASRock X570S PG Riptide takes the X570 chipset to a whole new level. Gone is the controversial fan that creates unnecessary noise. The Riptide is an affordable motherboard with 2.5 Gb/s LAN from Killer Networking, RGB support, and all the necessities to get started!
Top-tier VRM design, Thunderbolt, 10G LAN, and even a massive monoblock—the ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Extreme Glacial leaves nothing in reserve. ASUS also includes everything but the kitchen sink in the box. This motherboard is the pinnacle of ASUS motherboard design, so let's see just how far it can go!
Featuring Thunderbolt 4, dual 2.5 Gbps LAN, and a formidable VRM design, the ASUS ProArt B550-CREATOR targets productivity and power users. With a sleek and modern black and gold theme and no built in RGB, the B550-CREATOR focuses on superior performance and connectivity in a no-nonsense package.
The Gigabyte Z590 AORUS Pro AX promises high-end performance at a mainstream price. Featuring a direct 13-phase VRM with top of the line power stages, four M.2 slots with double-sided heatsinks, and Gigabyte’s signature AORUS styling, the Z590 AORUS Pro AX is an extremely compelling option for Rocket Lake.
The latest ITX offering from ASRock’s popular Phantom Gaming line, the Z590 Phantom Gaming-ITX/TB4 is here! Featuring a powerful VRM solution with 10 phases and top of the line power stages, along with the Phantom Gaming ITX’s signature Thunderbolt support, the ASRock Z590 Phantom Gaming-ITX/TB4 promises to be a worthy successor, so let’s put it to the test!
The latest entry in ASUS's popular TUF Gaming family is the ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi. Featuring a huge VRM heatsink, 16 power stages, and more sensible colors, the ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi promises compelling performance at an attainable price.
The Vision line from Gigabyte targets content creators with a focus on connectivity, performance, and durability. Well-featured and targeted squarely at the mainstream with a sub-US$300 price point, the Vision G could be an attractive option for those looking for something a little different.
The OC Formula line from ASRock returns with the Z590 OC Formula! Featuring a powerful 16-phase VRM utilizing top-tier 90 A power stages along with a 12-layer PCB and even an OLED display, the Z590 OC Formula is a dedicated overclocking monster.
The ASUS ROG STRIX Z590-I Gaming WiFi is a premium ITX platform featuring a powerful VRM with top of the line power stages, Thunderbolt 4, and a unique design that allows both M.2 slots to be located on the front of the board. Let's see what the ROG STRIX Z590-I Gaming WiFi has to offer!
Featuring a massive VRM with top of the line power stages, over 20 phases, and even dual BIOS, the BIOSTAR Z590 Valkyrie promises chart-topping speed and overclocking. Paired with a unique black and gold aesthetic, the Z590 Valkyrie could be a compelling choice for those seeking top-tier 11th Gen Intel overclocking.
The Phantom Gaming Velocita from ASRock targets the gamer market with Killer Networking for both wired and wireless connectivity and a dependable 14-phase VRM. Thanks to the integrated low-noise fan, VRM temperatures reached only 50°C, so no problem at all, even with a power-hungry Core i9-11900K.
The ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero has premium looks, premium features, a powerful VRM, Thunderbolt 4, four M.2 slots with double-sided heatsinks, dual 2.5 Gb/s LAN, and WiFi 6E. The Maximus XIII Hero could be a compelling candidate for any high-end 11th Gen Intel build.
Like its Z490 predecessor, the Gigabyte Z590I AORUS Ultra comes with a lot of hardware packed into a small form factor. Among its features are 2.5 Gb/s Ethernet, WiFi 6, dual M.2 slots, and top-tier 90 A power stages. Let's dig in to see how Gigabyte has improved an already excellent design!
Intel's 11th Generation Core Processors are here, and with them a whole host of new motherboards. The Gigabyte Z590 AORUS Master boasts a massive VRM with 90 A power stages, dual BIOS, and even 10 Gb/s LAN. Let's see how the new Gigabyte Z590 AORUS Master performs!
The ASRock Z590 Steel Legend WiFi 6E aims to be a durable and dependable platform for the mainstream market. With a solid feature set at its core and a reasonable price tag, the Z590 Steel Legend WiFi 6E is a compelling package.
MSI aims to continue their legacy of excellent performance and overclocking with the new Z590 line-up. Targeting the top end of the mainstream stack, the MSI MEG Z590 ACE features a robust VRM design, four M.2 slots, Thunderbolt 4, and a plethora of overclocking features. Has the MSI MEG Z590 ACE hit its target?
Developed in partnership with and distributed by EKWB, the MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X features a monoblock for CPU and VRM cooling. As the successor to the award-winning MSI MPG Z490 Carbon EK X, the MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X has a lot of expectations to live up to. Will it prove worthy?
