ASUS Z790-A WIFI ATX Motherboard Review: The White Knight for Your Next-Gen Intel Build?

There’s a unique thrill that comes with building a new PC from the ground up. It’s a journey of careful selection, where every component is a crucial piece of a larger, high-performance puzzle. At the heart of this entire endeavor lies the motherboard—the central nervous system that connects every part, dictating the ultimate potential and limitations of your machine. I’ve been down this road many times, and I know the anxiety that accompanies this choice. Select a board that’s too weak, and you’ll bottleneck a beastly processor. Skimp on features, and you’ll find yourself short on storage or connectivity options a year from now. The wrong choice doesn’t just hinder performance; it can turn the exciting build process into a nightmare of incompatibility and frustration, ultimately leaving you with a system that feels compromised before it even boots for the first time.

What to Consider Before Buying a Motherboard

A motherboard is more than just a circuit board; it’s a key solution for unlocking the full potential of your other components. It provides the power delivery necessary to push a high-end CPU to its limits, the high-speed data lanes for next-generation graphics cards and storage, and the comprehensive connectivity that modern computing demands. Its main benefit is creating a stable, feature-rich, and future-proof platform. It solves the fundamental problem of integrating disparate, high-performance parts into a single, cohesive system that can handle everything from AAA gaming and content creation to intensive data processing.

The ideal customer for a product like the ASUS Z790-A WIFI ATX Motherboard is a PC enthusiast, a serious gamer, or a creator who is building a new system around a 12th, 13th, or 14th generation Intel Core processor. This user values performance, wants to leverage the speed of DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0, and needs ample high-speed storage with multiple M.2 slots. They likely also care about aesthetics, aiming for a clean and modern build. Conversely, this board might not be suitable for those on a tight budget, as the Z790 chipset and its associated features command a premium. It’s also not for users committed to the AMD ecosystem, or for those building a small form factor PC, as its ATX size requires a standard mid-tower case or larger.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: This is an ATX form factor board, measuring 30.5cm x 24.4cm. You must ensure your case can accommodate it. Beyond just fitting the board, consider the clearance for large, modern graphics cards and tower-style CPU air coolers, which can interfere with RAM slots or VRM heatsinks on poorly designed boards.
• Capacity/Performance: The Z790 chipset is the star here, enabling CPU overclocking and providing extensive I/O. Key performance features include support for high-speed DDR5 RAM (up to 192GB), a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for next-gen GPUs, and four M.2 slots for blazing-fast NVMe SSDs. The 16+1 DrMOS power delivery system is crucial for stably powering high-end Intel CPUs.
• Materials & Durability: Look for quality components that ensure longevity and thermal performance. The ASUS Z790-A WIFI ATX Motherboard features large aluminum heatsinks over the VRMs, M.2 slots, and chipset. A multi-layered PCB and a reinforced primary PCIe slot (SafeSlot) add to the board’s physical robustness and electrical stability.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Builder-friendly features can save immense frustration. Things like ASUS’s M.2 Q-Latch system for tool-less drive installation, the Q-LED diagnostic lights for troubleshooting boot issues, and a well-organized UEFI BIOS are invaluable. For long-term maintenance, a feature like BIOS FlashBack allows you to update the BIOS without even having a CPU installed.

Keeping these factors in mind, the ASUS Z790-A WIFI ATX Motherboard stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications and current availability here.

While the ASUS Z790-A WIFI ATX Motherboard is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: A Blend of Style and Substance

Lifting the ASUS Z790-A WIFI ATX Motherboard from its box, the first thing we noticed was its surprising heft and striking aesthetic. In a market saturated with aggressive, all-black “gamer” designs, the Prime series’ silver-on-black-and-white theme is a breath of fresh air. The large, brushed-aluminum heatsinks covering the VRMs, chipset, and M.2 slots give it a premium, industrial look that’s perfect for a clean, white-themed build. The PCB itself is well-labeled, with all headers and ports logically placed, which is a blessing during the building process.

The build quality feels exceptional. The board exhibits no flex, and the reinforced PCIe slot inspires confidence that it will support even the heaviest next-generation graphics cards without sagging over time. In the box, we found the essentials: the WiFi 6E antenna, SATA cables, M.2 installation hardware, and documentation. This is where we must pause and note a significant trend in user feedback: a concerning number of buyers have reported receiving units that were clearly not new, with missing accessories or even physical damage. Our unit was pristine, but it’s a crucial point of caution for any potential buyer.

Deep Dive: Performance, Connectivity, and Build Experience

A motherboard’s true worth is only revealed under pressure. It’s about more than just looking good on a test bench; it’s about how it performs when you’re pushing a demanding workload, how easy it is to live with, and whether it has the features to grow with you. We put the ASUS Z790-A WIFI ATX Motherboard through its paces, focusing on the core pillars that define a great motherboard experience.

Power Delivery and Overclocking Headroom

The heart of any Z-series motherboard is its ability to handle overclocking, and that starts with the Voltage Regulator Module (VRM). ASUS equipped this board with a 16+1 DrMOS power stage design, rated for 60A each. In simple terms, this is a robust power delivery system designed to provide clean, stable voltage to the CPU, even under extreme load. We paired it with an Intel Core i7-13700K, a notoriously power-hungry chip, and were immediately impressed.

During our stress tests, the VRMs remained remarkably cool, thanks to the massive, multi-finned aluminum heatsinks. This thermal efficiency is not just for show; it’s critical for maintaining performance over long gaming sessions or during a heavy video render, preventing the thermal throttling that can cripple lesser boards. For those looking to push their hardware, the ASUS UEFI BIOS offers a wealth of options. The AI Overclocking feature provides a fantastic starting point for beginners, intelligently predicting optimal settings based on your specific CPU and cooling. For seasoned veterans, the manual controls are granular and exhaustive, allowing you to fine-tune every aspect of your system’s performance. Our experience aligns perfectly with users who described the board as “running like hell”—it’s fast, stable, and feels unshakable, providing the confidence needed to extract every last drop of performance from your processor.

Future-Proof Connectivity and Expansive Storage

One of the standout features of the ASUS Z790-A WIFI ATX Motherboard is its forward-looking I/O and storage configuration. The inclusion of a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot is a major win for future-proofing. While PCIe 5.0 graphics cards are not yet mainstream, having this slot ensures that when they do arrive, this board will be ready to take full advantage of their bandwidth. This is a board you can build on today and not worry about it becoming a bottleneck in two or three years.

Even more impactful for today’s builds is the generous storage layout. With four M.2 slots, you can build an incredibly fast, all-SSD system without a single SATA cable. We populated three of the slots with PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives, and the performance was staggering, with boot times and game loading screens practically vanishing. ASUS’s M.2 Q-Latch system is a small but brilliant quality-of-life feature, replacing the tiny, easy-to-lose M.2 screws with a simple plastic swivel lock. It makes drive installation and upgrades effortless. The networking suite is equally impressive. Intel’s 2.5 Gb Ethernet provides a fast, low-latency wired connection, while the onboard WiFi 6E opens up the less-congested 6GHz band for superior wireless performance, assuming you have a compatible router. Add to that a rear USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port capable of 20Gbps transfer speeds, and you have a connectivity hub that can handle anything you throw at it. You can see the full I/O layout and features on its product page.

The Build Experience: Aesthetics and User-Friendliness

Building a PC on this motherboard was a genuinely pleasant experience. The ATX layout is spacious and well-thought-out. Fan headers are plentiful and strategically placed around the board’s edges, making cable management clean and simple—a point of praise echoed by several users. The front panel connectors are clearly labeled, and the inclusion of Q-LED diagnostic lights is a godsend for troubleshooting. These four small LEDs (for CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot) light up during the power-on sequence and will stay lit on the component causing an issue, saving you hours of guesswork if the system fails to post.

Aesthetically, the board is a masterpiece for anyone tired of the monotonous black and red color schemes. The silver heatsinks catch the light beautifully inside a tempered glass case, and the subtle integrated RGB lighting on the I/O shroud adds a touch of customizable flair without being obnoxious. It syncs seamlessly with ASUS’s Aura Sync ecosystem, allowing you to coordinate lighting across all your compatible components. The ASUS UEFI BIOS continues to be one of the best in the industry. Its EZ Mode presents all the critical information on a single, easy-to-read screen, perfect for novices. A single keystroke switches to the Advanced Mode, unlocking the deep, granular control that overclockers and power users demand. It’s an interface that caters to all skill levels, making system setup and tuning an intuitive process rather than a chore.

What Other Users Are Saying

Sifting through feedback from fellow builders reveals a starkly divided experience. On one hand, there is a chorus of praise for the board’s performance and features when it works as intended. Users frequently describe it as a “very nice gaming motherboard” and celebrate its straightforward installation, with one German user noting, “Einbau und Inbetriebnahme problemlos. Läuft wie Sau” (Installation and commissioning without problems. Runs like hell). Many, like us, are captivated by its beautiful design and the effectiveness of its aluminum heatsinks.

However, it is impossible to ignore the significant and recurring theme of quality control and fulfillment issues. An alarming number of customers report receiving boards that were clearly not new. Complaints range from bent CPU socket pins, scratches, and missing protective caps to boards arriving with thermal paste residue and even cat hair from a previous owner’s system. One user stated, “I recently bought this but look at the Conditions!! Its already used with a lot of scratch, Silicon on CPU, BROKEN CPU PIN, and empty Box!!!!!!!” This indicates a serious problem, likely within the distribution and returns process rather than the manufacturing itself. While some have experienced long-term stability issues like black screens, the most prevalent negative feedback is overwhelmingly centered on receiving a defective or used product sold as new.

How Does the ASUS Z790-A WIFI ATX Motherboard Compare to the Alternatives?

No product exists in a vacuum. To understand its value, we need to compare the ASUS Z790-A WIFI ATX Motherboard to other options that might be on a builder’s radar, even if they serve different purposes.

1. ASUS Prime B760-PLUS D4 Motherboard

The ASUS Prime B760-PLUS D4 is the sensible, budget-conscious sibling in the Prime family. It shares the LGA 1700 socket, making it compatible with the same Intel processors, but it’s built on the B760 chipset. The key differences are the lack of CPU overclocking support and its use of DDR4 memory. While DDR4 is slightly slower than DDR5, it’s significantly cheaper, making this board an excellent choice for builders who want to pair a powerful non-K series Intel CPU (like an i5-13400 or i7-13700F) with more affordable RAM to maximize their budget for the graphics card. It still offers solid features like a PCIe 5.0 slot and three M.2 slots, but it’s a step down in overall platform capability and power delivery compared to the Z790-A.

2. ASUS Prime A520M-A II/CSM AM4 Motherboard

This board represents a completely different ecosystem. It’s designed for AMD’s older AM4 socket, supporting Ryzen 3000, 4000, and 5000 series processors. As a microATX board with the entry-level A520 chipset, it is aimed squarely at budget builds. It lacks features like PCIe 5.0 and has a much more basic power delivery system and I/O. Someone would choose this over the Z790-A purely for cost reasons and because they are building a value-oriented system around an AMD AM4 CPU like the Ryzen 5 5600. It is not a direct competitor in terms of performance or features but serves as a reminder of the value available on the well-established AM4 platform.

3. Raspberry Pi Pico W

Comparing a full-featured ATX motherboard to a Raspberry Pi Pico W is like comparing a freight train to a scooter; they are built for entirely different journeys. The Pico W is not a motherboard for a personal computer. It is a tiny microcontroller board with built-in WiFi, designed for electronics hobbyists, students, and developers. You would choose a Pico W to learn programming, build custom smart home gadgets, control robots, or for any number of DIY electronics projects. It’s an alternative in the broadest sense of “computing hardware,” appealing to a completely different user who is interested in creating from scratch, not assembling a high-performance PC.

The Final Verdict: A Powerful Contender with a Caveat

The ASUS Z790-A WIFI ATX Motherboard is, on paper and in our hands-on testing, a phenomenal piece of engineering. It delivers a potent combination of robust power delivery for high-end Intel CPUs, a forward-looking feature set with PCIe 5.0 and DDR5, and expansive connectivity options that will satisfy even the most demanding users. Its striking silver and white aesthetics make it a standout choice for builders who prioritize visual design alongside raw performance. For the enthusiast looking to build a powerful, stable, and stylish machine, this board checks almost every box.

However, the significant volume of user reports regarding receiving used or damaged units is a serious concern that cannot be overlooked. While the board itself is excellent, the risk of a frustrating out-of-box experience is higher than it should be. Our recommendation comes with a strong caveat: this board is a top-tier choice for your Intel build, *if* you receive a new, undamaged unit. We strongly advise buyers to purchase from a highly reputable vendor and to meticulously inspect the product upon arrival—especially the CPU socket for bent pins and the anti-static bag’s seal. If you’re willing to take that precaution, you will be rewarded with one of the best-performing and best-looking Z790 motherboards in its class.

If you’ve decided the ASUS Z790-A WIFI ATX Motherboard is the right fit for your build, you can check its current price and purchase it here.