The Intel Z690 Motherboard Overview (DDR5): Over 50+ New Models
by Gavin Bonshor on November 9, 2021 9:00 AM ESTASUS ROG Strix Z690-G Gaming WIFI (DDR5)
WIth smaller micro-ATX options being notedly limited on Z690, ASUS has announced one solitary model for those looking to build a system with a smaller footprint. The ASUS ROG Strix Z690-G Gaming WIFI, with the G reminiscent of the older ROG Maximus Gene models. The micro-ATX form factor is the best of both worlds when it comes to size, with more PCIe and memory than a mini-ITX model, but with enough size disparity from ATX to allow users to create something smaller. The ROG Strix Z690-G Gaming WIFI features a primarily black aesthetic, with Strix based graffiti stylings on the rear panel cover and chipset heatsink, with small elements of RGB LEDs illuminating the ROG logos.
Looking at PCIe support, the ROG Strix Z690-G Gaming WIFI includes one full-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, a second full-length slot electronically locked down to PCIe 4.0 x4, and a smaller PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. For memory, ASUS includes four memory slots with support for DDR5-6000 and a combined capacity of up to 128 GB. Focusing on storage, there's three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, with six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays.
On the rear panel is one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-C, two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. The board includes a solid networking array consisting of an Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller and an Intel Wi-Fi 6E CNVi, while onboard audio is powered by a SupremeFX ALC4080 HD audio codec and provides five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output. ASUS does include a BIOS Flashback button and a clear CMOS button, while users looking to use Intel's integrated graphics can use either the single HDMI or the DisplayPort video output.
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Duwelon - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
Asus' prices are completely bananas. If I build a new rig with Z690 it'll probably be my first non-Asus build in a very long time.Sivar - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
That caught my eye, too. I bought an Asus Hero-branded board for my current system last year at approximately $200 USD.I suspect Asus is shifting their marketspeak because the word "Maximus" (used for the z690 board but not mine) usually applies to their most expensive boards.
blppt - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
This. $2000 for a consumer grade motherboard? WTF are they smoking?Also, I'm pretty sure ASUS will be releasing some TUF Z690s at some point, probably at a lower price point than the primes. My experience with the TUF series has been very positive for the price.
DigitalFreak - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
They know they're not going to sell many of those. Those boards are either for LN2 e-peen competitions or people with more money than sense.Wrs - Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - link
TUF is historically just a bit more expensive than Prime. They already have a TUF DDR4 version - ordered the Wifi one for $290 the other day. If worried about price DDR5 is the first mistake.blppt - Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - link
The X570 TUF was cheaper than the X570 Prime when I went shopping for an AMD board.COtech - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
Subtitle - "Intel Z690 Chipset: Like Z590, But Now With Native PCIe 4.0"I think "But Now With Native PCIe 5.0" is intended.
gavbon - Thursday, November 18, 2021 - link
The Z690 chipset doesn't have PCIe 5.0, this comes from the CPU. The Z690 chipset does, however, now include PCIe 4.0 lanes, whereas Z590 did not.Someguyperson - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
I don't get the "DP IN" ports on the ASUS ProArt Z690 Creator WIFI. I see the author just wrote what was on the ASUS website, but that doesn't really explain anything. Are they passthrough to the Thunderbolt out ports? Is there a capture card built into this motherboard? I'm very confused by the labeling here.uwsalt - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
Those are passthrough to the Thunderbolt port. Add-in Thunderbolt cards work the same way. You slot in your discrete GPU, send the output from both DP ports to the Thunderbolt controller, and then use Thunderbolt to output to a Thunderbolt monitor or hub.