Asus launches three Z790 motherboards designed for 14th-generation Core
At this year’s Cologne International Game Show, ASUS unveiled three motherboards meticulously crafted for Intel’s impending 14th-generation Core processors. This ensemble includes the flagship ROG Maximus Z790 DARK HERO, the revamped raptor-esque ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II, and the rugged TUF Gaming Z790-Pro WiFi, all-embracing the ATX form factor.
With Intel refraining from launching a new chipset for this year’s 14th generation Core, these newly-introduced motherboards are refined iterations of the preceding Z790, seamlessly compatible with both 12th and 13th generation cores. Among them, ROG Maximus Z790 DARK HERO is the flagship model of ASUS, and its specifications are also directly full, with its specifications maxed out: a formidable 20+1 phase power delivery, quartet of DDR5 memory slots, a singular PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot complemented by four PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, dual Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C interfaces, all crowned by the avant-garde Wi-Fi 7 wireless adapter.
Comparative to their predecessors, these three motherboards, besides exhibiting distinct aesthetic shifts and slot reconfigurations, now sport the Wi-Fi 7 wireless card in the ROG Maximus Z790 DARK HERO and ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II. They employ Intel’s Gale Peak 2 “BE200” and the Killer 1750X, further enhanced with Bluetooth 5.4 compatibility. Moreover, ASUS has embellished the trio’s front-facing USB Type-C ports with support for USB PD 3.0 and Quick Charge 4+.
According to ASUS, all three Z790 motherboards are graced with the prowess of REMP II, AI Cooling II, and AI Overclocking capabilities. These functionalities empower enthusiasts to effortlessly attain CPU and DDR5 memory overclocking while maintaining motherboard thermal equilibrium via the AI Cooling II feature. Notably, the TUF GAMING Z790-PRO WIFI emerges as the series’ pioneer to incorporate ASUS’s AI Overclocking capability, a feature historically absent in prior TUF series boards.
It’s anticipated that these novel Z790 motherboards will be launched synchronously with Intel’s 14th-generation desktop processors next month. As of now, ASUS remains reticent regarding the pricing of these motherboards.
