Introduction

After Computex and E3, there is no denying that the eye of the community has shifted on to the team in red. With all the hype and buildup around the new Ryzen processors and the X570 chipset, it can be easy to forget who still reigns supreme in enthusiast gaming. ASRock hasn't forgotten. Along with some stunning new products within the X570 ecosystem, ASRock has also brought an update to the Z390 family with the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 7.

ASRock introduced the Phantom Gaming line last year as a more aggressively styled alternative to their existing Taichi product lines. The Phantom Gaming family covers a broad range of components, from motherboards all the way to cases. In the motherboard space, the first iteration of Phantom Gaming shared a lot of design and parts with the award-winning Taichi boards. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, ASRock wisely invested in an updated look that better differentiates the two product stacks. The ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 7 is the first to market with these updates.

Now, there are two key things that set the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 7 apart. Firstly, while it supports the addition of an M.2 WiFi adapter, it does not ship with one installed. Secondly, the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 7 takes the modern Phantom Gaming style to a new level with an updated aesthetic that includes such luxuries as better RGB illumination and an integrated rear I/O shield. The ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 7 maintains the draws of the Phantom Gaming line with 2.5 G LAN support and rock solid power delivery for maximum overclocking potential.

So, can the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 7 stand up to it's bigger and older brother? Is the new outfit worth a price premium? Let's get to the bench and find out.

Specifications