Introduction

With the release of Intel's 12th Gen Core processors comes a new socket. This LGA 1700 socket is supported by the Z690 chipset, which also holds the privilege of being the first consumer product to offer both PCIe Gen 5.0 and DDR5 connectivity. ASRock has unleashed a wave of Z690 based motherboards to cover the needs of every type of consumer. From the flagship AQUA OC to ASRock's budget-orientated Steel Legend series, there is a motherboard that will be satisfactory.

Besides offering native PCIe 5.0 support, the Intel LGA 1700 platform has been given a connection speed boost with a change to the PCH. The DMI 4.0 interface at 16 GT/s is a doubling over DMI 3.0 on the previous LGA 1200 socket. This increased bandwidth not only allows for native USB 3.2 2x2 connectivity, but plenty of storage options as well. AMD also plans to release its own take on DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 with its upcoming AM5 socket to offer customers an alternative when it comes time to retire the old computer. For now though, the only option for the newest technology on the market for consumers is with Intel.


In today's review, we will be looking at the Z690 PG Velocita. This motherboard is priced to directly compete with the ASUS Z690 ROG Strix, Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Master, and MSI Z690 MEG Unify, which all offer different configurations for every user. ASRock has a wide range of AMD and Intel motherboards with the Phantom Gaming (PG) line both in the entry and mid-range sectors featuring a dedicated VRM design with seventeen 60 A power stages using an active cooling solution.

As expected, the Z690 PG Velocita also includes DDR5 and PCIe 5.0-ready solutions for those looking for the newest technology. ASRock has also added a M.2 Gen5 4x socket for when these next-gen NVMe drives reach the market in late 2022, which is not commonly found on Z690-based motherboards. To round out the experience, the ASRock Z690 PG Velocita also offers great connectivity with the newest WiFi 6E technology and 2.5G LAN for those who need to transfer data quickly. There is a lot to cover in this review, so let's take a closer look at what the ASRock Z690 PG Velocita has to offer.

Specifications