The board features 2x PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and 1x Hyper M.2 slot that supports PCIe Gen 5 SSDs; something most other Z790 motherboards don’t offer. You also get DDR5 support, Wi-Fi 6E, two Thunderbolt 4 ports (support up to 40Gbps bi-directional data transfer), and more than enough I/O internally and on the rear. Nonetheless, DDR5 has some benefits, such as lower power consumption (1.1V compared to DDR4’s 1.2V) and on-die ECC support, which was traditionally seen in server-grade DDR4 RAM. DDR5 also allows for higher density per module, with a theoretical maximum support of 256 GB (compared to DDR4’s 64 GB). This could lead to consumer-grade CPUs supporting up to 256 GB (or potentially even more) of DDR5 RAM in the future.

Also, it will look great in your build! The board features a rough industrial aesthetic with slight yellow accents that give it a truly TUF look. The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk Wi-Fi, on the other hand, ditches the RGB lighting but instead makes a solid case for a mid-range motherboard with DDR5 support. It's an outstanding value for the money, too, so if you're not fussed about fancy lighting, it's a great choice.Configure the fan's operating speed manually or use pre-configured Standard, Silent, Turbo, or Full Speed modes. By default, system fans will automatically switch to full speed if the temperature reaches 75° C. Aura On/Off mode (Stealth) Entry Period: The Sweepstakes begins at on 06 November, 2023 at 12:00AM PST and ends at on 31 December, 2023 at 11:59PM PST (the "Entry Period"). Entries submitted before or after the Entry Period will not be eligible.

High-Performance Networking: On-board Intel Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard Features and Connectivity:There are 3x Hyper Gen 4×4 M.2 slots wired to the chipset, providing a speed of 64 Gb/s and 8x SATA III connectors that transfer data with a speed of up to 6 Gb/s. As the name suggests, the board comes with a Killer E3100G LAN port, but I would have liked to see the inclusion of WiFi connectivity as well. WARNING: Be sure to confirm case compatibility before buying a mini-ITX motherboard. Buy It If: ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-I Gaming WiFi Features and Connectivity: It is clear that network capabilities have not gone unattended, with the Z790 AORUS Master offering a 10G Marvell ethernet port along with WiFi 6E. I found the selection of USB ports on the rear I/O quite decent; however, a Thunderbolt port would have been a nice addition. Buy It If: Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master Port configuration settings between different BIOS versions or share them with friends. Q-Fan ControlDesign and Build Quality:At first glance, I found the design of the ROG Maximus Z790 HERO to be extremely impressive and in line with the traditional ASUS design ethos. I like the implementation of the RGB lighting on this board. The build quality is also quite admirable, thanks to the crafting materials used in the construction of the PCB. Abundant Connectivity: Two Thunderbolt ™ 4 ports, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C ® rear I/O port and front-panel connector, four additional USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 1 ports, PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlot, and HDMI ® 2.1 DDR5 support is here, and you’re able to use some mighty fast kits, surpassing even what AMD currently offers on AM5. You’ll be limited to only 64GB of RAM and two separate slots, however. This is due to the board’s diminutive size. We figure that’s more than fine for a gaming build, and technically two RAM slots often offer more stability and performance compared to four. Here, connectivity options are solid too. You get 2.5GbE LAN, onboard Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, six SATA connectors, Type-C ports (front and rear I/O), and multiple USB ports up to USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds. For the money, this is an exceptionally well-rounded motherboard. It offers a decent set of features and a clean industrial aesthetic that will go well with any build. Also, it comes with a DDR4 option, if that’s something you’d like.