The Intel Z690 Motherboard Overview (DDR4): Over 30+ New Models
by Gavin Bonshor on November 24, 2021 2:00 PM ESTASRock Z690 Steel Legend WIFI 6E & Z690 Steel Legend (DDR4)
Another key series in ASRock's stack returns, which targets more of the entry-level to mid-range with a 'lighter' aesthetic. The ASRock Z690 Steel Legend WIFI 6E (DDR4) and the Z690 Steel Legend (DDR4) is another segmented product range differentiating its models between DDR5 and DDR4 memory compatibility, with the Steel Legend currently only available with support for DDR4. The ASRock Steel Legend series blends a black and urban camouflage printed PCB, with white and silver heatsinks, including elements of RGB LED's within the rear panel cover, chipset heatsink, and the Steel Legend logo on the right-hand side of the board.
On the PCIe front, there's one full-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, one full-length PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, one full-length PCIe 3.0 x4 slot, and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. The Steel Legend models benefit from the full allocation of eight SATA ports from the Z690 chipset, while it also includes three M.2 slots, two with PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 support, and one with PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA support. In the top right-hand corner are four memory slots, with support for DDR4-5000 and a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB.
The ASRock Z690 Steel Legend WIFI 6E model includes a Wi-Fi 6E CNVI, while the regular Z690 Steel Legend does not. This is the only difference between both models, everything else is the same.
On the rear panel, both models include one USB 3.2 G2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, and four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports. For users looking for USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C support, ASRock includes one front panel header for this. Also on the rear panel is an HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 video output pairing, while wired networking is handled by a Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 GbE controller. For onboard audio, ASRock is using a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec which powers five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output, while a PS/2 combo port and BIOS Flashback button finish off a modest rear panel offering.
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ikjadoon - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
Gigabyte has done a better job this time around with mini-ITX DDR4. $290 for a very well-rounded board—shame HiCookie lied so blatantly in all their 8 GHz marketing.ASRock mini-ITX: people still use type-A ports. 5x ports only?!
Windows 11, DDR5 availability & perf-price, and hybrid quirks make ADL a much better 2022 purchase for me. DDR4 price-perf + availability are nice, but not enough to overcome Panos’ major missteps on his first (and hopefully last) Windows launch.
DigitalFreak - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
Why does anyone pay attention to these "extreme overclockers"? He hit (or didn't in this case) 8Ghz. Big deal. You can't actually do anything with the CPU at that speed aside from run an e-peen benchmark.ikjadoon - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
Nobody paid attention until.... Gigabyte plastered his faked validations all over their Z690 marketing material. Nobody cares what any "overclocker" does these days and that's why they got jobs with motherboard vendors: the only people that can still sell a motherboard for $$$ with exaggerated hardware.https://www.techradar.com/news/no-gigabyte-didnt-s...
0ldman79 - Tuesday, December 14, 2021 - link
5 ports is a bad idea but type-A?Yeah, like 99% of USB accessories use type-A. That is still the *primary* interface for USB devices.
StormyParis - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
That last page is very useful, thank you. Wish I had a table to sum up the info ;-pFordGT550 - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
I can't find the Z690 Aorus Pro DDR4 in stock anywhere.bug77 - Friday, November 26, 2021 - link
I don't think it's available yet. Notice there's no price listed for it either (yeah, I've got my eyes on the same board).HLuna52180 - Friday, November 26, 2021 - link
Agreed! This is the model mobo that I want. It best fits my needs yet it's currently only available in Australia. Hope they make it into the states. I have all the other parts on order or with me already to make my Alder Lake build. Frustrating!MatarM0 - Saturday, November 27, 2021 - link
i see it in stock but it seems like it cant run any memory with 1.42v or higher depending on what newegg reviewer said and some others in the internet so hopefully they can fix it and it will be a good dealmeacupla - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
I can understand mobo makers not wanting to allocate too many resources into the dead end DDR4 platform, but these lineups seem excessively weak to me.Like, really? there's not a single Z690 DDR4 mobo with thunderbolt?
And then with Z690 DDR5 mobos, there's way too much overlap in features and functionalities.