If you intend to build a new computer using a 12th or 13th Gen Intel Core processor, there are two paths you can follow. You could get on the fast lane using the latest DDR5 memory or choose the slightly slower yet more affordable road where keeping your old DDR4 memory is still a choice. Fortunately, Alder Lake and Raptor Lake processors too can work with both DDR4 and DDR5. An interesting motherboard for those who want to use DDR4 is the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4. With a black-and-white design and a generous amount of features, it might be exactly what you were looking for. Would you like to know what to expect from the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4? Then read this review:
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The box of the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4
Besides the motherboard, the box includes two SATA 6Gb/s cables, an ASUS Wi-Fi moving antennas kit, a thermal pad for M.2 drives, some cable ties, an M.2 Q-Latch package, two M.2 rubber packages and one M.2 backplate rubber, a ROG key chain, a series of ROG Strix stickers, a thank you card, and the user manual.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4: What's inside the box
Unboxing the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 is exactly as I expected. The high-quality packaging and the generous bundle of accessories make you feel good about your acquisition.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 is based on the high-end Z790 chipset
In terms of design, the motherboard looks beautiful in my opinion, but it’s also a bit unexpected to see a ROG Strix painted in white and silver. Usually, ASUS’ ROG Strix lineup is black, and white was something reserved for the company’s Prime motherboards. Nonetheless, the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 looks great, and its elegance can attract many PC builders who love white or black & white designs.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 features a black & white design
The components of the motherboard appear to be of high quality. The M.2 slots are covered by large heatsinks, just like the chipset and VRM modules. Similarly, the input/output panel is protected by a large plate that features not only an RGB-lit Strix logo but also some discreet Pac-Man hints. 🙂
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 supports 13th Gen Intel Core CPUs
The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 has 16+1 power stages able to handle 70 amperes each. In other words, it can handle overclocking without any kind of issues. Above the VRMs, on the top-left corner of the motherboard, you’ll find two reinforced standard 8-pin (12 Volts) CPU power connectors.
The motherboard has large heatsinks on the VRM
The master 24-pin ATX power connector is located on the upper right side of the motherboard. Next to it, you get four DIMM slots that accept DDR4 memory modules. You can insert up to 128 GB of DDR4 RAM running at a maximum speed of 5333 MT/s (megatransfers per second) in dual channel mode.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 works with DDR4
Connected to the PCI Express lanes of the processor, the motherboard gives you:
The motherboard has a PCIe 5.0 x16 GPU port
To connect to the outer world, the motherboard includes an Intel 2.5 Gbps Ethernet chip and an Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210 chip. The wireless chip features 2x2 MIMO and is compatible with 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax standards on the 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz frequency bands. It also supports Bluetooth version 5.3. Sound is provided by an ASUS ROG SupremeFX 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC ALC4080 that supports playback in up to 32-Bit/384kHz.
The audio chip on the motherboard
On the I/O (input/output) panel, the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 hands you numerous ports. There’s a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port (Type-C), three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (two are Type-A, one is USB Type-C), four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (Type-A), two USB 2.0 ports (Type-A), a DisplayPort and an HDMI port, a Wi-Fi antenna module with two connectors, a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port, five audio jacks and an optical S/PDIF out port, a BIOS FlashBack button, and a Clear CMOS button.
The I/O panel of the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4
Furthermore, there are many internal I/O connectors available on the motherboard too. There are two CPU fan headers, an AIO pump header, and five PC case fan headers. If you like RGB lights, know that there are also three addressable Gen 2 headers plus an Aura RGB header. USB-wise, the motherboard comes with a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 connector (supports Type-C), a USB 3.2 Gen 1 header (supports two additional ports), and two USB 2.0 headers (that support four ports). Last but not least, you also have a Thunderbolt header.
The motherboard has a generous number of headers
If you want the complete list of specifications, head to the motherboard’s official webpage: ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 Tech Specs.
The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 shapes up as a high-end motherboard, even if it’s still using DDR4 instead of DDR5. The Z790 chipset is tip-top, and ASUS’ implementation on this board gives you all the modern features you’d expect: a PCIe 5.0 graphics port, four PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C, and WiFi 6E. If you’re a gamer and an Intel fan and intend to reuse your DDR4 memory, then this is a splendid motherboard to get.
Check the next page of this review to get a glimpse of what a test computer based on the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 motherboard and an Intel Core i9-13900K can do in benchmarks and games.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4: Benchmark results in CPU-Z
Similarly, the Core i9-13900K paired with the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 motherboard managed a sky-high score in Cinebench R23, a benchmark that measures the rendering speed in the software bearing the same name.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4: Benchmark result in Cinebench R23
In Blender, the Intel Core i9-13900K and ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 pair obtained an excellent score also, although not as impressive as what I’ve seen with an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X on an ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard (and DDR5).
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4: Benchmark result in Blender
The next benchmark I ran was PCMark 10, which evaluates the computer’s performance in standard workloads like web browsing, video conferencing, productivity tasks, and digital content creation. As you can see in the next screenshot, the computer using the Intel Core i9-13900K mounted on the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 motherboard is extremely powerful for regular day-by-day activities.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4: Benchmark result in PCMark 10
In JetStream 2, a benchmark for web browsing, using the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 motherboard, the Intel Core i9-13900K achieved, once again, one if not the highest score I’ve seen: 340 points!
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4: Benchmark result in JetStream 2
I continued with a couple of games. Take note of the fact that I used a resolution of 1080p and the lowest graphics quality in order to avoid potential bottlenecks from the ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3070 OC Edition graphics card.
In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, using the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 motherboard, I got an average of 274 frames per second. The motherboard was stable, and the processor could’ve surely rendered even more frames if the graphics card had been more powerful.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4: Benchmark result in Shadow of the Tomb Raider
I’ve seen the same thing in Metro Exodus, where the graphics card didn’t allow the CPU + motherboard to achieve their maximum potential. Still, the average framerate was good: 144 fps.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4: Benchmark result in Metro Exodus
In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the average framerate I recorded was 176 fps, an excellent one. Just like in the other two games, the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4-based computer was stable, and I didn’t encounter any issues running the game.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4: Benchmark result in Assassin's Creed Valhalla
While I can’t compare the motherboard with others, the benchmarks show that the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 is a reliable motherboard. It can handle with ease even the most powerful processor from Intel, the Core i9-13900K, in the most demanding workloads. If you want it for gaming, it’s clearly an excellent choice. However, keep in mind that, while in gaming, DDR4 might deliver the same or very similar results as DDR5, in other software (like video rendering apps), faster DDR5 memory might offer a significant positive difference in performance.
The Armoury Crate software
MyASUS is also a useful app, a sort of portal from where you can update your computer and install drivers, optimize the PC’s performance, check on ASUS’ exclusive offers, and contact support personnel.
The MyASUS app
Both the Armoury Crate and the MyASUS apps are handy, so I recommend you install and use them to customize and manage your ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 motherboard.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4: Who is it good for?
The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 is the motherboard you should get if:- You’re looking for a Z790 motherboard that supports 13th Gen Intel Core processors
- You intend to keep on using your DDR4 memory or don’t want to buy DDR5
- You’re a gamer and want a capable motherboard
Pros and cons
There are many positive aspects about the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 motherboard:
- Its price is lower than that of DDR5-compatible motherboards
- The black and white/silver design looks great
- Includes a PCI Express 5.0 x16 graphics port
- Plenty of PCIe 4.0 slots
- Compatible with Wi-Fi 6E networks
- Offers USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 that can transfer data at speeds of up to 20 Gbps
- It’s more expensive than similar DDR4-compatible motherboards
Verdict
In my opinion, the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 is a motherboard you should consider buying if you’re a gamer first and foremost. It’s a great choice for anyone who plays a lot and still wants to keep and use their DDR4 memory modules. Compared to DDR5, DDR4 has tighter timings, and games should run similarly well. For other software, where RAM bandwidth matters more, it’s worth looking into DDR5-compatible motherboards. Besides offering excellent performance, the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 is also a beautiful motherboard that includes numerous features you might want. You get PCI Express 5.0 for the graphics port, PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, and WiFi 6E. Taking everything into account, the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 is a high-end proposition among the Z790-based motherboards with DDR4 and deserves our “Buy for Gamers” award.Unboxing the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4
The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 motherboard arrives in a relatively large box that’s made of premium cardboard. The package looks great, showcasing the white and silver color accents of the motherboard. On the top of the box, you get to see a large image of the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4, while on the back, you’ll find details about its main features and specs.Hardware specifications and design
Measuring exactly 30.5 cm (12 inches) in length and 24.4 cm (9.6 inches) in width, the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 is a motherboard with a standard ATX form factor. To carry out its duties, the motherboard relies on a Z790 chipset that can work with both 13th and 12th Gen Intel Core processors. This is the latest chipset from Intel, launched in 2022, and compared to the older high-end Z690 chipset, the main improvement it brings is support for more and faster PCI Express 4.0 lanes. Z790 offers up to twenty PCI Express 4.0 lanes and up to eight PCI Express 3.0 lanes. It also integrates Intel Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity and up to five USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports. Moreover, the chipset allows motherboards based on it to run with either DDR5 or DDR4, depending on the manufacturer’s choice. The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 motherboard that we’re looking at in this review uses DDR4. You’ve probably noticed that already in its naming: the D4 stands for DDR4. 🙂- one PCIe 5.0 (x16 mode) slot for the graphics card
- one M.2 PCIe 4.0 (x4 mode) slot for a fast solid-state drive (type 2242/2260/2280/22110)
- two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots (support x4/x4 mode)
- one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot
- one PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot (supports x4 mode, type 2242/2260/2280)
- one PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot (supports x4 mode, type 2242/2260/2280/22110)
- one PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot (supports x4 and SATA modes, type 2242/2260/2280)
- four SATA 6Gb/s ports
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 - Benchmark results
I tested the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 motherboard on a desktop PC that had the following hardware and software:- Processor: Intel Core i9-13900K
- CPU cooler: ASUS ROG Ryuo III 240 ARGB AIO
- Memory: Kingston FURY Beast 16GB 3200MHz DDR4 CL16
- Graphics Card: ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3070 OC Edition
- Storage: Kingston KC3000 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD (2TB)
- Power Supply Unit: ASUS ROG Thor 850W Platinum
- Operating System: Windows 11 Pro version 22H2
The software bundled with ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4
Just like all the motherboards made by ASUS, the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi D4 doesn’t bundle any bloatware. The only software I got with this motherboard were the Armoury Crate and MyASUS apps. Armoury Crate gives you details about the system, like temperatures, fan speeds, voltages, and frequencies, and it also allows you to configure and personalize other aspects of how your PC works and looks. For example, you can change the RGB lighting effects, set the speed of fans, turn on power-saving mode, and install additional software.
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