The Intel Z690 Motherboard Overview (DDR4): Over 30+ New Models
by Gavin Bonshor on November 24, 2021 2:00 PM ESTASRock Z690 Pro RS (DDR4)
The Pro RS series is a completely new model from ASRock which is debuting on Intel's Z690 platform. It is one of its simplest models in terms of aesthetics and features and targets users on a budget looking to make the most of Alder Lakes big P and little E cores. Focusing on the aesthetic, the ASRock Z690 Pro RS has a black and grey patterned PCB, with black heatsinks, and an RGB enabled chipset heatsink.
The ASRock Z690 Pro RS has three full-length slots, including one operating at PCIe 5.0 x16, one at PCIe 4.0 x4, and one at PCIe 3.0 x4, with one smaller PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. The Pro RS, the Steel Legend, and Extreme Z690 DDR4 models share pretty much the same feature set, with eight SATA ports, and three M.2 slots. The M.2 slot array includes two with support for PCIe 4.0 x4 drives, with one operating at PCIe 3.0 x4 with support for SATA too. For memory, there are four memory slots capable of supporting DDR4-5000, with a combined capacity of up to 128 GB.
The rear panel has no Type-C connectivity, but ASRock does include a front panel USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C header. In terms of what is on the rear panel, there are two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. ASRock includes a pair of video outputs for integrated graphics users including an HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 output, with a Realtek ALC897 HD audio codec powering three 3.5 mm audio jacks. Networking is handled by a single Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 GbE controller, while the Z690 Pro RS also includes a PS/2 combo port and a small BIOS Flashback button.
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DigitalFreak - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
The ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WIFI D4 has a header and BIOS support for a TB4 add-in card. That's probably the best you're going to get on a Z690 DDR4 board.tamilgun - Monday, January 10, 2022 - link
i love intel system ..very good speedy systemhttps://tamilguns.net/
DigitalFreak - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WIFI D4 (DDR4) - " On the memory front, there are four memory slots, with support for DDR5-6400 and a combined capacity of 128 GB."That's what happens when you copy / paste. :-)
meacupla - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
I wonder if mobo makers will bother with DDR4/5 combo mobos this time around.Oxford Guy - Thursday, November 25, 2021 - link
I recall reading here that it's not possible to have an Alder Lake board with support for both RAM types. That is re-affirmed here with this less clear wording:'Intel's Alder Lake and Z690 combined actually offer support for both DDR5 and DDR4 memory. This means that those motherboard vendors either have to build their motherboards for one or the other, so it's Z690 with DDR5 or Z690 with DDR4, and no in-between.'
TheinsanegamerN - Sunday, November 28, 2021 - link
That's no different from skylake with ddr3/4, or phenom with ddr3/2. You can have both slots on one motherboard, but can only use one at a time. So will they make a board with two slots for both?Oxford Guy - Thursday, December 2, 2021 - link
The article here said hybrid boards aren’t going to happen. Intel either doesn’t want them or there is some other reason. That is what I remember reading. It doesn’t appear to be the same situation vis-a-vis one or more previous platforms where hybrid boards were made.stayfrosty - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
The ASRock Z690M Phantom Gaming 4 does not do x8/x8 unfortunately :( If both x16 slots are used they can only do x16/x4And so my search continues for a x8/x8 capable z690 ddr4 board that's actually available to buy in Europe :/
Spoelie - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
It's curious that I can't find anywhere in the MSI documentation any confirmation that the MSI Pro Z690-A WIFI DDR4 actually includes WIFI 6E support rather than 6 -- just looking at the spec sheet would let one suspect it is only supporting 6 (only mentioning 2.4 & 5ghz bands, not 6)timecop1818 - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
Why would anyone give a fuck about Wi-Fi on a desktop board. I'm more angry that Asus decided to remove Intel lan on ddr4 boards in favor of realtek shit. I'm talking about prime/etc series not the gaudy gaymer shit.