The ASRock Z390 Taichi is a solid and stable platform for the new 9000 series from Intel. In most benchmarks, it traded blows with a board that is more than twice the price, and it looks great to boot. Small changes, like moving the M.2 heatsink from the top slot to the bottom one in order to position it for better airflow (and better aesthetics) lead to an overall improvement on an already rock-solid, time-tested template. The cog and gear theme is interesting still, and provides interesting lines and curves to the board without overshadowing the other components. ASRock's BIOS is detailed and easy to navigate, and their software is concise and not over bloated.

Memory stability was another strong point I was specifically hoping to see with this board as the Taichi products of generations past have traditionally had excellent memory support. Despite some early troubles, mostly due to ~ahem~ user error, The ASRock Z390 Taichi proved to be an excellent performer in this department. Another positive note that may go unnoticed if not mentioned is that ASRock has been hard at work releasing updated BIOS revisions in the week leading up to release, and I think that says a lot about how dedicated they are to the stability of their products. While other products may have more glamour and excitement, the ASRock Z390 Taichi has calm competence and calculated functionality, and for many, if not most, that is a far more important quality in a machine they will likely use every day.

It is, of course, not all sunshine and rainbows. The USB Type-C port, which is USB 3.1 Gen2, performed very poorly relative to the other USB tests. Most of the storage benchmark results were, in fact, pretty middle of the road. In real-world usage, this is just a nitpick, but it does matter, and I hope ASRock is forthcoming with improvements. My overall experience with the ASRock Z390 Taichi was quite good, especially at stock settings. While there are certainly cheaper options available, I think the Taichi is an excellent choice for mainstream consumers looking to upgrade to the new 9th Gen from Intel.