The ASRock PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi motherboard offers a balanced blend of essential and advanced features, catering to the needs of mainstream gamers. This Z790 chipset motherboard is priced accessibly, delivering 16+1+1 power phases to support high-end processors effectively. Its standout feature is the unique eDP display output interface, which opens up creative possibilities for players looking to customize their screens.
Key Specifications of the ASRock PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi:
- Form Factor: ATX, measuring 30.5cm x 24.4cm.
- CPU Support: Compatible with Intel Core 12th/13th/14th Gen, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors.
- CPU Socket: LGA 1700.
- Power Delivery: Robust 16+1+1 Phase 50A CPU power supply.
- Chipset: Utilizes the Intel Z790 chipset.
- BIOS: Equipped with 128Mb flash ROM, featuring UEFI AMI BIOS.
- Memory: Supports up to 192GB across 4 DIMM slots, DDR5 7600+(OC) XMP.
- Display Outputs: Includes 1 eDP (1080P60) and 1 HDMI 2.1 (4K60) port.
- Expansion Options: 1 PCIe 5.0 x16, 2 PCIe 3.0 x1, and 1 PCIe 4.0 x16 (x4 mode).
- Storage Interfaces: Offers 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports and 3 M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slots.
- Networking: Features Killer 2.5GbE network chip.
- Wireless Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 6E 2×2 (2.4/5/6GHz) and Bluetooth 5.3.
- Audio: Powered by Realtek ALC897 with 3 audio jacks.
- USB Ports: Diverse USB options including USB-C 5Gbps, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and USB-C 20Gbps.
- RGB Support: 3 ARGB headers and 1 AURA RGB header.
- Cooling: 1 4-pin CPU, 1 4-pin AIO PUMP, and 5 4-pin Chassis Fan connectors.
This rephrased description focuses on SEO by emphasizing key features and technical specifications, making it more accessible and informative for users interested in the ASRock PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi motherboard.
16+1+1 phase power supply, 3 PCIe 4.0 M.2, Wi-Fi 6E | PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi motherboard unboxing
ASRock, adapting to Intel’s 14th generation product lineup, introduces the PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi motherboard, targeting the cost-effective, mainstream market. This motherboard is notably equipped with a robust 16+1+1 phase 50A power supply, four DDR5 DIMM memory slots, and a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, all designed to maximize the performance of high-end CPUs and GPUs. For storage expansion, it features three PCIe 4.0 x 4 M.2 slots and six SATA ports. While higher-end Z790 motherboards often start with five M.2 slots, the PHANTOM GAMING Z790 questions the practical need for more than three M.2 slots for most users.
The design of the PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi is relatively understated, eschewing flashy heat dissipation armor for a more straightforward appearance. Despite this simplicity, critical heat-generating components such as the power supply, chipset, and primary M.2 slot are all well-equipped with solid aluminum heat sinks, ensuring effective cooling and stable performance. This rephrasing emphasizes the motherboard’s balance between performance, design simplicity, and value, making it a compelling choice for mainstream gamers and PC builders.
The PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi, an ATX-sized motherboard, leverages the Z790 chipset to offer robust support for Intel Core 12th/13th/14th generation processors. It features four DDR5 DIMM memory slots, accommodating a substantial maximum memory capacity of 192GB, and supports high memory speeds up to 7600+ MT/s. The motherboard is equipped with a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot that connects directly to the CPU, enhancing graphics performance, and includes additional expansion options: one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (operating at x4 bandwidth) and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots connected to the chipset. Storage expansion is well-provided with three M.2 slots, each supporting the PCIe 4.0 x4 interface for fast data transfer. This rephrasing highlights the motherboard’s compatibility with the latest processors, its high memory capacity and speed, as well as its versatile expansion options, making it a suitable choice for gamers and PC enthusiasts seeking a balance of performance and expansion capabilities.
The PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi motherboard is equipped with a diverse range of USB connectivity options. It includes a built-in USB 5Gbps socket that can be expanded to accommodate 1 USB-C port. There are two 19-pin USB 5Gbps sockets, which can be expanded to provide 4 USB 3.0 ports and a 9-pin USB 2.0 socket that can be expanded to support 2 USB 2.0 ports. The motherboard also features a provision for a Thunderbolt 3 (USB 4) reserve socket, which is ideal for connecting Thunderbolt PCIe expansion cards, enhancing its versatility for high-speed external device connectivity.
In terms of cooling and lighting customization, the motherboard offers an extensive array of sockets. There are seven sets of 4-pin PWM fan/water pump sockets, which cater to both standard cooling fans and water pump setups for advanced cooling solutions. For lighting enthusiasts, it provides three sets of 5V 3-pin ARGB (Addressable RGB) sockets and one set of 12V 4-pin RGB sockets, allowing for a wide range of lighting effects and color synchronization options. This array of fan and ARGB sockets makes the motherboard highly adaptable for various cooling and aesthetic configurations, appealing to users who prioritize both performance and visual customization in their builds.
In the realm of custom PC building, there has been a growing trend among enthusiasts to incorporate DIY secondary or small monitoring screens into their cases. The PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi motherboard directly caters to this trend by featuring an eDP (Embedded DisplayPort) 1.4 display output interface on its rear panel. The eDP standard, commonly employed in laptop screens and DIY display projects, offers a compact and efficient solution for internal display connectivity.
The eDP 1.4 interface on the PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi supports a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60Hz. This capability provides gamers and PC builders with enhanced flexibility and creative possibilities for their builds. They can leverage this feature to add custom screens for system monitoring, in-game statistics, or even aesthetic enhancements within their PC case. This focus on expandability and customization is a significant appeal of this motherboard, meeting the evolving demands of the DIY PC community who seek to personalize their computing experience to a greater extent.
The PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi motherboard boasts a highly competent rear IO panel that should more than satisfy the needs of most gamers. It offers a comprehensive array of USB ports, including 1 USB-C port capable of 20Gbps transfer speeds, 2 USB-A ports at 10Gbps, 4 USB-A ports at 5Gbps, and an additional USB 2.0 port. This range of USB connectivity options ensures high-speed data transfer capabilities and ample flexibility for connecting a variety of peripherals.
The motherboard includes a versatile PS/2 interface for connecting older keyboards and mice, catering to users who prefer legacy input devices or require the PS/2 port for specific functionalities. For network connectivity, there is a 2.5GbE RJ45 network port, offering high-speed, reliable wired internet connections, which is crucial for online gaming and streaming.
The inclusion of an HDMI 2.1 port provides high-definition video output, supporting the latest displays and televisions for gaming or media consumption. Finally, the motherboard is equipped with three 3.5mm audio jacks, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of audio equipment, from standard headphones to more complex speaker systems.
Overall, the rear IO of the PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi is thoughtfully designed to cater to the diverse needs of gamers, offering a balance of modern and legacy interfaces, high-speed connectivity, and robust multimedia support.
The user-friendly construction of this device features a tool-less M.2 heatsink and a tool-free M.2 securing clasp, simplifying the process of disassembling, assembling, and diagnosing issues with the LED light. This design enhances the ease of maintenance and customization for users.
The accessory kit for the PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi consists of a SATA cable, a wireless network antenna, a 1/3 ARGB splitter cable, and a cable for measuring temperature. This comprehensive set ensures optimal connectivity and performance for the motherboard.
8-layer board, 16+1+1 phase power supply | PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi disassembly analysis
The PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi boasts a robust 16+1+1 phase 50A power delivery system, where 16 phases are dedicated to the CPU core, one phase powers the VCCGT internal display, and another phase is allocated for the VCCAUX. It’s covered with an aluminum metal sheet to ensure efficient heat dissipation. Now, let’s proceed to remove the heat sink and explore the internal components!
CPU constitution prediction, overclocking suggestions | PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi BIOS Introduction
ASRock has integrated a CPU Indicator constitution prediction feature in the BIOS, designed to assess the overclocking capacity of the processor and suggest appropriate voltage levels. For instance, with the i9-14900K, the overall CPU constitution scores 89 points, with the P-core achieving 94 points and the E-core 80 points. This functionality proves to be highly beneficial for users interested in overclocking.
i9-14900K can also carry it | PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi performance test
The primary focus of testing for the PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi motherboard encompasses the CPU, memory, and solid-state drive. This setup utilizes the latest Intel Core i9-14900K processor, combined with CORSAIR DOMINATOR TITANIUM DDR5-7200 24GBx2 memory. It’s further enhanced by a 360mm integrated water cooler and an NVIDIA RTX 4080 graphics card. The motherboard operates on the latest 2.05 BIOS version, with XMP enabled and the power limit removed to maximize performance.
Testing Configuration:
- Processor: Intel Core i9-14900K
- Motherboard: ASRock PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi
- Memory: CORSAIR DOMINATOR TITANIUM DDR5-7200 24GBx2
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 FE
- Storage: KLEVV CRAS C710 512GB (System Drive) + CORSAIR MP400 4TB (Gaming Drive)
- Cooling: Lianli GALAHAD II PERFORMANCE 360
- Power Supply: Seasonic Focus 1000W
- Operating System: Windows 11 Pro 23H2
Using CPU-Z, the processor Intel i9-14900K and motherboard BIOS version 2.05 are identified. The memory runs at 7200MHz in dual-channel mode. The CPU Bench results show a single-thread score of 931.0 and a multi-thread score of 17241.2.
The AIDA64 CPUID information reveals the Boost strategy implemented by the PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi motherboard for the Intel i9-14900K processor. This strategy outlines a standard configuration where 1 to 2 cores operate at 6GHz, and 3 to 8 cores run at 5.7GHz, before disabling the power limit. The power level 1 (PL1) is set at 253W, while power level 2 (PL2) is unrestricted. This approach optimizes the processor’s performance by balancing power consumption and speed, especially beneficial before the power wall is unlocked.
Using GPU-Z to examine the graphics card details, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 FE is confirmed to operate on a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface. The driver version for this setup is 546.01. This information is crucial for understanding the card’s compatibility and performance capabilities, particularly in terms of its connection bandwidth and driver support.
MAXON’s newest release, Cinebench 2024, leverages the Redshift rendering engine from Cinema 4D to evaluate both CPU and GPU rendering capabilities. This version marks a significant upgrade over Cinebench R23, with a threefold increase in memory usage to better align with the demanding requirements of modern, memory-intensive projects. The Cinebench 2024 intensifies computational workloads and makes more extensive use of updated instruction sets, amplifying them six times compared to its predecessor. This ensures that the tests are more reflective of the intricate and demanding nature of current creative endeavors.
In terms of performance benchmarks, the Intel i9-14900K achieved a score of 127 in the single-core test, 2276 in the multi-core test, and 26808 in the GPU test using Cinebench 2024. For comparison, in Cinebench R23, the same processor scored 2295 in the single-core test and 40886 in the multi-core test, demonstrating the evolving and more challenging nature of the Cinebench 2024 benchmarks.
The 7-ZIP benchmark tests the performance of compression and decompression, providing results in Giga Instructions Per Second (GIPS). In this metric, a higher score indicates better performance. The test results show a total completion time of 55.281 seconds. Specifically, the compression performance achieved a rating of 189.833 GIPS, while the decompression performance scored 225.464 GIPS. The overall performance, combining both compression and decompression, resulted in a total rating of 207.648 GIPS. These figures reflect the processor’s efficiency in handling compression and decompression tasks, which are crucial for file management and data processing.
3DMARK’s CPU Profile is designed to evaluate the physical operations and custom simulation tasks of a CPU. It tests the CPU’s performance across a variety of thread counts: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and the maximum number of threads supported by the CPU. This range is particularly relevant because different games and applications utilize varying numbers of threads, affecting performance. Thus, these tests provide a comprehensive overview of the CPU’s performance in diverse usage scenarios.
For instance, the ‘Max threads’ score represents the full capability of the CPU, which is especially pertinent for tasks like rendering, simulation, or scientific applications that demand high computational power. In the case of the Intel i9-14900K, it achieved a score of 17290 in the ‘Max threads’ category. For scenarios more common in gaming, which typically rely on fewer threads, the i9-14900K scored 9202 in the 8-thread test and 4850 in the 4-thread test. These scores are indicative of the processor’s performance in gaming contexts, where fewer threads are often employed.
In the 3DMARK Time Spy benchmark, specifically tailored for 2K resolution and DirectX 12, the Intel i9-14900K processor achieved a score of 19653 points. Meanwhile, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 FE graphics card delivered an impressive performance with a score of 27758 points. The Time Spy benchmark is known for its focus on testing the DirectX 12 performance of gaming PCs, emphasizing graphics and computational efficiency at 2K resolution. These scores reflect the capabilities of both the i9-14900K and RTX 4080 FE in handling demanding graphics and computational tasks, providing insights into their performance in gaming and other high-resolution, high-detail scenarios.
In the 3DMARK Fire Strike Ultra benchmark, designed for 4K resolution and DirectX 11 testing, the CPU physics score achieved by the system was 56174 points. This score reflects the CPU’s ability to handle the demanding physics simulations typical in high-resolution gaming and other intensive computational tasks.
On the GPU front, the score was 16962 points. The Fire Strike Ultra benchmark is particularly challenging as it tests the graphics performance at 4K resolution, pushing the limits of the GPU’s capabilities. This score provides an insight into how well the GPU, in this case, can handle extremely high-resolution graphics and demanding rendering tasks, which are crucial for gaming and professional graphics work at 4K resolution.
CrossMark, developed by BAPCo, is a versatile benchmarking tool available for a range of platforms including Windows, iOS/iPadOS, macOS, and Android. It provides a comprehensive assessment across three main categories: productivity, creative content work, and system responsiveness. The tool evaluates performance through a variety of tasks such as document editing, spreadsheet simulations, web page loading, and tasks related to creative workflows like photo editing, photo organizing, and video editing, as well as the general responsiveness in opening programs and files.
In this benchmark, the Intel i9-14900K processor achieved an impressive overall score of 2544 points. Breaking down this score into specific categories, the processor scored 2265 points in the productivity tests, which assess tasks like document handling and spreadsheet management. In the creative content work category, which includes more graphics and media-intensive tasks, the i9-14900K scored 2976 points. Finally, for system responsiveness, which gauges the speed of general computing operations, it scored 2254 points. These scores collectively reflect the processor’s well-rounded capabilities in handling a diverse array of computing tasks, from general productivity to more demanding creative processes.
The V-Ray 5 Benchmark is designed to evaluate the rendering performance of processors through a series of tests based on three distinct scenarios. Each scenario assesses the processor’s ability to handle complex rendering tasks, which are crucial in fields like 3D modeling, animation, and architectural visualization.
For the Intel i9-14900K, the total score achieved in the V-Ray 5 Benchmark was 26843 points. This score is indicative of the processor’s proficiency in rendering tasks, reflecting its capability to efficiently process and render complex 3D scenes. High scores in such benchmarks are particularly relevant for professionals in graphics-intensive fields, as they demonstrate the processor’s ability to manage demanding rendering workloads effectively.
Geekbench 6 is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that evaluates the overall performance of processors, with a particular emphasis on current trends like AI, extended reality, and machine learning. This benchmark differentiates itself by incorporating tasks and tests that mirror real-world scenarios, utilizing real data and commonly used applications. This approach ensures that the results are more reflective of the processor’s performance in everyday use.
For the Intel i9-14900K, the scores in Geekbench 6 were quite impressive. It achieved a single-core score of 2992, indicating strong performance in tasks that rely on a single processing unit. This is particularly relevant for applications and operations that are not parallelized and depend heavily on the efficiency of a single core.
In the multi-core test, which assesses how well the processor handles tasks that can be distributed across multiple cores, the i9-14900K scored 21960. This high score suggests excellent capability in managing multi-threaded tasks, which is crucial for more demanding processes like video editing, 3D rendering, and complex calculations in scientific computations.
Together, these scores from Geekbench 6 highlight the i9-14900K’s versatility and strength in both single-threaded and multi-threaded applications, aligning with the needs of modern computing tasks.
For the SSD performance test, the system disk used is the KLEVV CRAS C710 512GB, which conforms to the PCIe 3.0 x4 specification. This SSD is installed in the M2_1 slot on the motherboard and is tested with the motherboard’s provided heat sink to ensure optimal operating conditions.
To check the SSD’s specifications and performance, CrystalDiskInfo, a utility tool for monitoring SSD health and specifications, is used. It confirms that the M.2 SSD is indeed operating on a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface. This interface specification is crucial for understanding the potential bandwidth and speed at which the SSD can operate, directly impacting data transfer rates and overall system performance. The use of the motherboard’s heat sink in the test is also significant, as it helps maintain the SSD’s operational efficiency and longevity by mitigating heat build-up during intensive tasks.
The SSD performance of the KLEVV CRAS C710 512GB was evaluated using CrystalDiskMark, a benchmarking tool specifically designed for testing the speed of solid-state drives. Under the NVMe SSD profile, which is tailored to assess the performance of NVMe interface SSDs, the KLEVV CRAS C710 512GB delivered notable results.
The sequential read speed, which measures how quickly the drive can read data in a sequential order, reached 2040MB/s. This is a significant metric for tasks such as loading large files or applications, where large amounts of data are read from the SSD.
On the other hand, the sequential write speed, which indicates the speed at which the drive can write data sequentially, reached 1672MB/s. This speed is crucial for operations like saving large files, video rendering, or transferring data to the SSD.
These speeds, particularly in the context of a PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD like the KLEVV CRAS C710, are indicative of its capability to handle high-demand data transfer tasks efficiently, making it a solid choice for both general and more intensive computing needs.
The Aida64 cache and memory test, a comprehensive tool for assessing memory performance, was used to evaluate the CORSAIR DOMINATOR TITANIUM DDR5-7200 24GBx2 memory modules. This test provides insights into the memory’s speed and efficiency in various operations.
The test results show that the memory achieved a read speed of 105.16GB/s. This high read speed is indicative of how quickly the system can retrieve data from the memory, which is crucial for tasks that require frequent access to large data sets, like complex calculations or data analysis.
In terms of write speed, the memory reached 90698 MB/s (approximately 90.7GB/s). This metric is important for operations where data is being written to the memory, such as saving files or rendering videos.
The copy speed, which measures the efficiency of transferring data within the memory, was recorded at 94776 MB/s (approximately 94.8GB/s). This speed is vital for tasks that involve manipulating and moving large amounts of data within the system.
Finally, the memory exhibited a latency of 74.8 nanoseconds (ns). Latency in memory refers to the time it takes for a data request to be processed and is a critical factor in overall system responsiveness, especially in applications requiring quick memory access.
These results collectively highlight the high performance and efficiency of the CORSAIR DOMINATOR TITANIUM DDR5-7200 memory, showcasing its capability to handle high-speed operations and large data volumes, which are essential for advanced computing tasks and applications.
Summary
Based on the comprehensive tests conducted, it’s evident that the PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi motherboard is capable of fully leveraging the performance of the Intel i9-14900K flagship processor in its default configuration. While it may not always match the scores of high-end motherboards in various benchmarks, its performance does not fall short in a way that would significantly impact its value proposition. Particularly for gamers, the cost savings offered by this motherboard could be more strategically invested in upgrading other components like graphics cards, memory, or solid-state drives, which could yield more noticeable improvements in gaming performance.
In terms of expandability, the motherboard’s capacity to accommodate three M.2 SSDs is notable. However, it’s worth mentioning that only one of these M.2 slots comes with a heat sink, which could be a downside for users looking to maximize SSD performance and longevity. Another point to consider is the front panel USB-C port’s speed limitation of 5Gbps, which might be insufficient for some high-speed peripherals. Nonetheless, the rear IO’s inclusion of a USB-C port with a 20Gbps capability is a commendable feature, offering high-speed connectivity options.
The motherboard’s scalability is further enhanced by multiple PCIe slots, allowing for additional expansion if needed. This feature is particularly beneficial for users who might require more extensive connectivity or hardware upgrades in the future.
Overall, the PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi stands out for its solid feature set, including WiFi 6E and 2.5GbE high-speed network capabilities, robust power supply, and effective heat sinks. Most importantly, it maintains consistent performance without any significant compromises, aligning well with the priorities of gamers and users who are focused on getting the best value for their investment.
If this article is helpful for you, please share this article with your friends on social media. Thank you!
This article is based on the personality of the reviews. You are responsible for fact-checking if the contents are not facts or accurate.
Title: ASRock PHANTOM GAMING Z790 Lightning WiFi Review: High-Performance, Cost-Effective Mainstream Motherboard with Advanced Connectivity and Solid Power Supply
English 
Chinese (Taiwan) 
Chinese (China) 
Japanese 
Korean