Intel Z790

Intel Z790. It is a high-performance chipset from Intel designed for the LGA 1700 socket, serving as a refined update to the preceding Intel Z690 platform. Launched in October 2022 to coincide with the Raptor Lake microarchitecture, it provides a robust foundation for enthusiast PC builds, emphasizing enhanced connectivity and memory support. The platform maintains backward compatibility with the earlier Alder Lake processors while introducing subtle but meaningful improvements in I/O configuration and system tuning.

Overview

The platform was unveiled as part of the launch for the 13th Gen Intel Core series, codenamed Raptor Lake, at an event alongside other Intel 700 Series chipsets. It is manufactured using a mature process node and acts as the central Platform Controller Hub for coordinating communication between the CPU, RAM, and expansion devices. Key partnerships with ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, and ASRock ensured a wide array of motherboard designs reached the market simultaneously. The design philosophy focused on maximizing the potential of hybrid architecture and the increased core counts of Raptor Lake.

Features

Primary advancements include increased allocation of high-speed PCI Express lanes, with the chipset now providing up to twenty PCI Express 4.0 lanes, an increase from the eight on Intel Z690. This allows motherboard manufacturers to implement more M.2 slots for NVMe solid-state drives without compromising graphics card bandwidth. Support for both DDR5 and DDR4 memory standards remains, with official speeds for DDR5 now reaching up to 5600 MT/s via Intel XMP 3.0. Enhanced USB connectivity includes integrated support for USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) and discrete USB4 support through additional controllers from vendors like Thunderbolt 4.

Chipset differences

Compared directly to Intel Z690, the most notable change is the rebalancing of PCI Express lanes, sacrificing some PCI Express 3.0 lanes for a greater number of faster PCI Express 4.0 lanes. This provides better aggregate bandwidth for storage and networking devices. The SATA III port count remains at eight, and RAID functionality is identical. The Intel Management Engine firmware was updated for improved stability. Lower-tier chipsets in the Intel 700 Series, such as Intel B760 and Intel H770, offer fewer PCI Express lanes and lack full CPU overclocking capabilities, cementing its position as the flagship for enthusiasts.

Supported processors

Full compatibility is maintained for the entire LGA 1700 portfolio, including the 13th Gen Intel Core series (Raptor Lake) and the previous 12th Gen Intel Core series (Alder Lake). This includes desktop processors from the Intel Core i9 tier down to Intel Core i3, as well as Intel Pentium Gold and Intel Celeron entries. Support for the Intel Xeon W-2400 and Intel Xeon W-3400 workstation series is also present on specific WS motherboard models from partners like ASUS Pro WS. A UEFI firmware update is typically required for older motherboards to recognize newer Raptor Lake CPUs.

Motherboard implementations

Motherboard vendors leveraged the enhanced I/O to create diverse products, ranging from extreme overclocking-focused boards like the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Apex to feature-rich models like the MSI MEG Z790 Godlike. Common implementations include boards with five or more M.2 slots, premium audio codecs from Realtek or ESS Technology, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet or even 10 Gigabit Ethernet from Intel or Marvell. High-end models frequently incorporate Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless modules, with some featuring the Killer Networking suite for optimized gaming traffic.

Market positioning and reception

Upon release, it was widely reviewed by technology outlets such as Tom's Hardware, AnandTech, and Gamers Nexus as the logical choice for high-end builds using Raptor Lake, particularly the Intel Core i9-13900K. Critics praised the increased storage flexibility and robust power delivery designs but noted that the core experience was very similar to Intel Z690. Its main competitor remained AMD's X670 and X670E platforms for the Ryzen 7000 series based on the Zen 4 architecture. The platform successfully sustained Intel's presence in the enthusiast segment until the subsequent launch of Intel Z890 for the Arrow Lake generation. Category:Intel chipsets Category:Computer hardware Category:Motherboard