ASRock Z790 Phantom Gaming NOVA Motherboard Overview – A Properly-Priced Excessive-Finish Board

ASRock Z790 Phantom Gaming NOVA
2023
Kind
Motherboard
Value
$329.99 US
ASRock has been updating its Z790 motherboard lineup with a spread of contemporary new choices. We not too long ago coated the Z790 Taichi LITE which gives the identical Taichi specs at a lower cost level, together with all of the goodies you’d anticipate from a top-end motherboard and now the corporate has launched its model new Phantom Gaming flagship, the Z790 PG Nova, which goals to excel as a high-end motherboard with a very good worth proposition.
The Phantom Gaming NOVA is provided with all the most recent options that you just’d anticipate from a 2023 motherboard equivalent to WIFI 7, 14th Gen CPU help, and the gaming aesthetics that the PG model is understood for. So with out additional ado, let’s examine what the Nova can do and what it has to supply for the gaming lots.
The Intel LGA 1700 Platform
Intel’s Raptor Lake-S desktop CPUs function help on LGA 1700 socket which can be utilized by the Alder Lake CPUs. The Raptor Lake-S CPUs launched alongside the 700-series motherboards. You may anticipate all of the top-notch specs from the Z790 motherboards with the very best overclocking & fine-tuning capabilities.
One other fascinating factor to speak concerning the Z790 PCH is its course of node and dimensions. The Z790 PCH is predicated on the 14nm node and measures at 98mm2 which is barely bigger than the Z590 PCH featured on LGA 1200 socket motherboards.
Intel Desktop Platform Chipset Comparability
Chipset Identify | Meteor Lake-S (MTL-S) PCH / 800 Collection (Z890) | Raptor Lake-S (RPL-S) PCH / 700 Collection (Z790) | Alder Lake-S (ADL-S) PCH / 600 Collection (Z690) | Rocket Lake-S (RKL-S) PCH / 500 Collection (Z590) | Comet Lake-S (CML-S) PCH / 400 Collection (Z490) | Espresso Lake S (CNL-H) PCH / 300 Collection (Z390/H370, B360, Q370, H310) | Espresso Lake S (KBL-R) PCH / Z370 Platform |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Course of Node | TBD | 14nm | 14nm | 14nm | 14nm | 14nm | 22nm |
Processor | 22, 14 (TBD) | 24,16C,12C,10C,6C,4C (TBD) | 16C,12C,10C,6C,4C (Full company/shopper SKU stack at launch) | 8C, 6C (Full company/shopper SKU stack at launch) | 10C, 8C, 6C, 4C, 2C (Full company/shopper SKU stack at launch) | 8C, 6C, 4C, 2C (Full company/shopper SKU stack at launch) | 8C, 6C, 4C (6 Shopper SKUs at Launch) |
Reminiscence | Up To DDR5-5600+(Native) | Up To DDR5-5600 (Native) Up To DDR4-3200 (Native)? |
Up To DDR5-4800 (Native) Up To DDR4-3200 (Native) |
Up To DDR4-3200 (Native) | Up To DDR4-2933 (Native) | Up To DDR4-2666 (Native) | Up To DDR4-2666 (Native) |
Media, Show & Audio | eDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Show Capabilities | eDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Show Capabilities | eDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Show Capabilities | DP 1.2 & HDMI 2.0, HBR3 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) 12-bit AV1/HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Built-in Twin-Core Audio DSP With USB Audio offload SoundWire Digital Audio Interface |
DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Built-in Twin-Core Audio DSP SoundWire Digital Audio Interface |
DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Built-in Twin-Core Audio DSP SoundWire Digital Audio Interface |
DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Built-in Twin-Core Audio DSP |
I/O & Connectivity | TBD | Built-in USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20G) Built-in Intel Wi-fi-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ 7 BT CNVio) with Gig+ Built-in SDXC 4.0 Controller Thunderbolt 4.0 |
Built-in USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20G) Built-in Intel Wi-fi-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ 7 BT CNVio) with Gig+ Built-in SDXC 4.0 Controller Thunderbolt 4.0 |
Built-in USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20G) Built-in Intel Wi-fi-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ BT CNVi) Built-in SDXC 3.0 Controller Thunderbolt 4.0 (Maple Ridge) |
Built-in USB 3.2 Gen 2 Built-in Intel Wi-fi-AC (Wi-Fi / BT CNVi) Built-in SDXC 3.0 Controller Thunderbolt 3.0 (Titan Ridge) w/ DP 1.4 |
Built-in USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Built-in Intel Wi-fi-AC (Wi-Fi / BT CNVi) Built-in SDXC 3.0 Controller Thunderbolt 3.0 (Titan Ridge) w/ DP 1.4 |
Built-in USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Thunderbolt 3.0 (Alpine Ridge) |
Storage | PCIe 5.0 (CPU Lanes), 6x SATA 3.0 | Subsequent-Gen Intel Optane reminiscence PCIe 5.0 (CPU Lanes), 6x SATA 3.0 |
Subsequent-Gen Intel Optane reminiscence PCIe 5.0, 6x SATA 3.0 |
Subsequent-Gen Intel Optane reminiscence PCIe 4.0, 6x SATA 3.0 |
Subsequent-Gen Intel Optane reminiscence PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0 |
Subsequent Gen Intel Optane reminiscence PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0 |
Subsequent Gen Intel Optane reminiscence PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0 |
Max PCH PCIe Lanes | Up To 24 (Gen 4) TBD (Gen 3) |
Up To twenty (Gen 4) Up To eight (Gen 3) |
Up To 12 (Gen 4) Up To 16 (Gen 3) |
Up To 24 (Gen 3) | Up To 24 (Gen 3) | Up To 24 (Gen 3) | Up To 24 (Gen 3) |
Max CPU PCIe Lanes | Up To twenty (Gen 5) Up To 4 (Gen 4) |
Up To 16 (Gen 5) Up To 4 (Gen 4) |
Up To 16 (Gen 5) Up To 4 (Gen 4) |
Up To twenty (Gen 4) | Up To 16 (Gen 3) | Up To 16 (Gen 3) | Up To 16 (Gen 3) |
Max USB Ports | TBD | Up To five (USB 3.2 Gen 2×2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2×1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1×1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0) |
Up To 4 (USB 3.2 Gen 2×2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2×1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1×1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0) |
Up To three (USB 3.2 Gen 2×2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2×1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1×1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0) |
Up To 10 (USB 3.2) Up To 14 (USB 2.0) |
Up To 10 (USB 3.1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0) |
Up To 10 (USB 3.0) Up To 14 (USB 2.0) |
Safety | TBD | N/A | N/A | N/A | Intel SGX 1.0 | Intel SGX 1.0 | Intel SGX 1.0 |
Energy Administration | TBD | C10 & S0ix Help for Trendy Standby | C10 & S0ix Help for Trendy Standby | C10 & S0ix Help for Trendy Standby | C10 & S0ix Help for Trendy Standby | C10 & S0ix Help for Trendy Standby | C8 Help |
Launch | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
The LGA 1700 socket is right here now. The brand new socket provides extra pins to the socket and adjustments the size solely. The brand new LGA 1700 socket gives 500 extra pin connections to the CPU, permitting for extra communication channels with the board itself and accommodating electrical pin configurations which are required to help 14th, thirteenth & twelfth Gen CPUs.
In order for the socket particulars, Intel has gone with an asymmetrical design because the Alder Lake CPUs are now not square-shaped. The newest desktop CPUs will are available in a 37.5×45.0mm package deal and are supported by the ‘V0’ socket which we all know as LGA 1700.
The socket additionally adjustments the mounting positions to a 78x78mm grid moderately than a 75x75mm grid. The Z-height has additionally modified to six.529mm in comparison with 7.31mm on the earlier LGA 12**/115* sockets.
Cooler Compatibility With LGA 1700 Socket
To make their current coolers appropriate with Intel’s Raptor Lake & Alder Lake CPU lineup, many cooling manufacturers have launched LGA 1700 improve kits which function mounting {hardware} for the brand new socket. However the Intel Raptor Lake and the Alder Lake CPU platform aren’t simply that includes a model new mounting design however the CPU dimensions themselves have modified too.



The LGA 1700 (V0) socket not solely has an asymmetrical design but in addition comes with a decrease Z-stack top. Because of this correct mounting strain is required to make full contact with the Intel Alder Lake IHS. Sure cooler producers have already been utilizing bigger chilly plates for Ryzen and Threadripper CPUs to make correct contact with the IHS however these are principally higher-end and new cooling designs. Those that are nonetheless operating older AIOs with spherical chilly plates may have hassle sustaining the required strain distribution which may result in insufficient cooling efficiency.
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