The ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X is an excellent new flagship for ASRock's lineup, featuring some killer good looks and topnotch build quality. The addition of an integrated rear I/O shield is a welcome and maybe even overdue feature. Not only is it one less thing for people to worry about (and it does not matter how many computers you have built, there is always a risk of forgetting to install the shield before putting everything else together), but it also shows an attention to detail and determined adherence to the theme of the board. The RGB implementation shows similar attention to detail. While the two zones over the I/O shield and the chipset are standard fare for boards at this point, the execution is sleek and modern. Additionally, there are three RGB LED headers for expansion, including one addressable RGB header.

As for performance, memory stability was pretty good; It is nice to see that ASRock is still prioritizing performance and compatibility with their boards. CPU overclocking went well but failed to match the best overclock I have seen on this 9900K, falling 100 MHz short. ASRock has plenty of tweaking built into these boards to keep even the most avid enthusiasts occupied, including a properly overbuilt VRM capable of a maximum output of 600 A. In my testing, no amount of abuse could bring the Vcore VRM anywhere near its thermal limits, even with no airflow.

ASRock has a history of providing premium LAN connectivity at a relatively low price point, and it is good to see the brand expand that with this new Phantom Gaming 2.5 Gigabit LAN offering. Not only that, but the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X is one of the first products to the market with support for the new WiFi 6 standard, which is a significant step forward over previous generations of WiFi. While WiFi 6 access points are rare for the moment, it will not be long before the newest iteration is a benchmark standard for high-end boards.

The ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X comes in at US$329.99, which is a fair bit of coin for a Z390 board. It is more than US$130 more than the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 7, which shares many of the same features. Premium inclusions like the large metal backplate, monolithic M.2 heatsink, and extra VRM phases do add up, but I think a very large part of the cost increase stems from the inclusion of WiFi 6. The new technology is neither common nor cheap, and not necessarily a feature everyone needs.

If you are an avid gamer or content creator who relies on WiFi some or all of the time, spending the extra cash on the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X may very well prove to be a good long-term investment. The stunning aesthetic and premium features certainly don't hurt either.