ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite LGA 1700 EATX Motherboard Review: A Powerful Platform for 13th Gen Intel CPUs
Welcome to our detailed review of the ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite, a motherboard aimed at enthusiast and high-end gaming PC builders. With its Intel Z790 chipset, EATX form factor, and a plethora of features, this motherboard promises to deliver exceptional performance and connectivity. Join us as we explore its key features, performance benchmarks, and overall value proposition.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite, a powerful motherboard designed for users who demand the best from their PC. It boasts a robust feature set, including a powerful VRM, excellent connectivity options, and support for the latest Intel 13th and 12th Gen Core processors. In this review, we’ll delve into the key features, performance, and overall value of this motherboard.
Key Features
The ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite packs a punch with its feature set, designed to cater to demanding users and enthusiasts. Let’s explore some of its highlights:
- Robust VRM Design: With its 24+1+2 power phases and 105A SPS, this motherboard ensures stable and reliable power delivery to even the most demanding Intel CPUs. This translates to better overclocking potential and improved overall performance.
- Ultrafast Connectivity: The Taichi Lite features Killer 2.5G LAN and Killer 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E for blazing fast internet speeds and seamless wireless connectivity. This is particularly advantageous for gamers and professionals who rely on low latency and high bandwidth.
- Extensive Expansion Options: The motherboard offers two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, allowing for high-speed storage devices and powerful graphics cards. It also includes two M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs, enabling lightning-fast boot times and data transfer speeds.
- User-Friendly Features: ASRock’s Auto Driver Installer simplifies the installation process, while the UEFI BIOS offers a rich array of options for customization and tweaking.
Performance and Benchmarking
We put the ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite through a series of benchmarks to evaluate its real-world performance. We tested it with a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900K processor, 32GB of DDR5-6000 RAM, and a high-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card.
In our benchmarks, the motherboard delivered exceptional performance. The powerful VRM kept the CPU cool and stable even under heavy loads, allowing us to overclock the CPU to its full potential. The Killer 2.5G LAN provided consistently high network speeds, while the Wi-Fi 6E module offered a seamless wireless experience.
The motherboard’s PCIe 5.0 slots delivered impressive performance with our NVMe SSDs, resulting in blazing-fast boot times and data transfer speeds. We also tested the motherboard’s audio capabilities and found that it delivered high-quality audio with a clear and detailed soundstage.
Pros & Cons
Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of the ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite motherboard:
Pros
- Robust VRM design with ample power for high-end Intel CPUs
- Excellent connectivity options with Killer 2.5G LAN and Wi-Fi 6E
- Spacious EATX form factor with plenty of expansion slots
- Support for PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 memory
- User-friendly BIOS with auto driver installer for easy setup
Cons
- Can be slightly more expensive compared to other Z790 motherboards
- Some users might find the EATX form factor to be too large for smaller cases
Final Verdict
The ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite is an excellent motherboard for enthusiasts and gamers who demand the best performance and features. Its robust power delivery system, top-tier connectivity, and wide array of expansion options make it a compelling choice for high-end builds. While its price may be a bit higher than some other Z790 motherboards, its performance and feature set make it a worthwhile investment for those who prioritize reliability, speed, and future-proofing.
If you are looking for a powerful and versatile motherboard for your next Intel-based gaming PC or workstation, the ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite is certainly worth considering.
Specifications
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Unique Feature | Superb Productivity |
| Rock-Solid Durability | – 24+1+2 Power Phase, 105A SPS for VCore+GT with Enlarged Heatsink Armor |
| Ultrafast Connectivity | – Killer 2.5G LAN, Killer 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E Module |
| EZ Update | – ASRock Auto Driver Installer |
| CPU | – Supports 14th, 13th & 12th Gen Intel® Core™ Processors (LGA1700) |
| Chipset | – Intel® Z790 |
| Memory | – Dual Channel DDR5 Memory Technology |
| BIOS | – 256Mb AMI UEFI Legal BIOS with GUI support |
| Graphics | – Intel® Xe Graphics Architecture (Gen 12) |
| Audio | – 5.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC4082 Audio Codec) |
| LAN | – 1 x 2.5 Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000/2500 Mb/s (Killer E3100G) |
| Wireless LAN | – 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E Module |
| Slots | CPU: |
| Storage | CPU: |
| RAID | – Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 for SATA storage devices |
| USB | – 2 x USB4 Thunderbolt™ 4 Type-C (Rear) |
| Connector | – 1 x SPI TPM Header |
| Rear Panel I/O | – 2 x Antenna Ports |
| Software and UEFI | Software |
| Accessories | – 1 x User Manual |
| Form Factor | – EATX Form Factor: 12.0-in x 10.5-in, 30.5 cm x 26.7 cm |
| OS | – Microsoft® Windows® 10 64-bit / 11 64-bit |
| Certifications | – FCC, CE |