Description
What The ASRock Z790M-ITX WiFi Is
The ASRock Z790M-ITX WiFi is a small form factor desktop motherboard built around the Intel Z790 chipset. The product listing describes it as supporting 13th Gen and 12th Gen Intel Core processors, and it carries the feature set most people associate with the Z790 tier: DDR5 memory, a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot, multiple M.2 storage sockets and integrated Wi-Fi. What sets it apart from the rest of the ASRock Z790 range is the board size. This is a Mini ITX layout, which means a single expansion slot, two memory slots instead of four, and a rear input and output panel packed tighter than on a full ATX board.
That makes the audience fairly specific. It suits someone building a compact desktop that still uses a mainstream desktop Intel processor and a discrete graphics card, rather than someone who wants maximum expansion. If you want four DIMM slots, several PCIe slots and room for add in cards, a larger board such as the ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WiFi is a better structural match. If the small footprint is the point, the pairing to think about first is the case, and something like the JONSBO N2 ITX case shows how little room these builds leave for coolers and cables.
Processor Support And What The Listing Does Not Say
The manufacturer description states support for 13th Gen and 12th Gen Intel Core processors. It is worth being precise about what that does and does not tell a buyer. The listing does not print the CPU socket designation anywhere in its description or its specification table, and it does not include a compatibility list of individual processor models. It also makes no statement about whether a BIOS update is required for any particular chip. Compatibility is the single most important thing to get right on a motherboard purchase, so the sensible step is to confirm the socket and the exact supported CPU list against the ASRock support page for this model before ordering a processor to go with it.
The power delivery is quoted as a 7+1+1 phase design using Dr.MOS for VCore and GT. That is a modest arrangement by Z790 standards, which is normal for Mini ITX because there is simply less board area for voltage regulator stages and heatsinks. It reads as adequate for mainstream and mid tier processors rather than as a platform for heavy sustained overclocking of a top end part.
Memory
Two DDR5 DIMM slots are fitted. Here the listing contradicts itself: the feature bullets say the board supports up to 6800 MHz and beyond when overclocked, while the specification table lists memory speed as 5200 MHz. Those are two different claims about the same board, and the gap between them is the difference between a rated speed and an overclocked memory profile. Buyers who care about a specific memory kit speed should treat the 6800 figure as an overclocking ceiling rather than a guaranteed operating speed, and check the qualified vendor list for the kit they intend to use.
Expansion, Storage And Rear Ports
The single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot is the only expansion slot, which is standard for this format. Storage is handled by two Hyper M.2 sockets, both quoted at PCIe Gen4 x4, with the second one also supporting SATA3 mode. That shared arrangement is common and usually means a SATA port is disabled when the second M.2 socket runs in SATA mode, so anyone planning to fill both M.2 sockets and all four SATA3 ports should read the shared bandwidth table in the manual first.
Connectivity is one of the stronger parts of the specification. The listing gives one USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C on a front header, one USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C at the rear, four USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A at the rear, two USB 3.2 Gen1 on a front header, and three USB 2.0 ports split one rear and two front. Video output from the integrated graphics is provided by one HDMI, one DisplayPort and an eDP connector. Networking is doubled up with an Intel 2.5G controller and an Intel 1G controller, plus 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth. Audio is a 7.1 channel arrangement using the Realtek ALC897 codec with Nahimic software.
Highlights
- Z790 chipset feature set in a Mini ITX footprint.
- Listing states support for 13th Gen and 12th Gen Intel Core processors.
- Two DDR5 DIMM slots, quoted at 5200 MHz in the spec table and up to 6800 MHz overclocked in the bullets.
- One PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for a discrete graphics card.
- Two Hyper M.2 sockets at PCIe Gen4 x4, one of which also handles SATA3.
- Four SATA3 ports.
- Two wired network controllers, Intel 2.5G and Intel 1G.
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth included on the board.
- USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C on both a front header and the rear panel.
- HDMI, DisplayPort and eDP video outputs for integrated graphics.
Things To Consider
The specification data on this listing has clear problems, and they are worth naming rather than smoothing over. The item weight is given as 0.035 ounces, which is not a plausible figure for a motherboard and should be ignored. The product dimensions read 6.69 by 0.67 by 1.18 inches, which does not describe a square Mini ITX board either, so treat the physical figures as unreliable and work from the Mini ITX standard of 6.7 by 6.7 inches when planning a case fit. The memory speed disagreement described above is the second contradiction on the same page.
- The socket designation is not stated in the listing text or the specification table. Verify it before buying a CPU.
- No BIOS version or BIOS update requirement is mentioned, so nothing can be concluded either way from this page.
- Two DIMM slots cap total memory capacity and remove the option of filling four slots later.
- One expansion slot only. A capture card or sound card competes with the graphics card for that slot.
- The 7+1+1 phase power design is lean for the chipset tier, which matters most for high wattage processors.
- Small form factor boards leave little clearance for large air coolers and thick graphics cards, so measure before committing.
Who Should Buy It And Who Should Not
This board makes sense for a builder who has already decided on a compact Intel desktop and wants the Z790 feature set rather than a lower tier chipset: PCIe 5.0 for the graphics slot, DDR5, two fast M.2 sockets and 2.5G plus Wi-Fi 6E without add in cards. It is a reasonable foundation for a compact gaming or content machine, and it pairs naturally with a mid range card in the class of the MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Super.
It is the wrong choice for anyone who needs expansion headroom, wants four memory slots, or plans to push a high wattage processor hard. Those buyers should look at full size ATX options such as the GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Elite or the ASUS ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi depending on which processor generation they are targeting, and the wider motherboards category covers both Intel and AMD alternatives at several size tiers.
