ASRock Z790 Steel Legend Evaluation: Exceptional Choice for Budget-Conscious Builds.

The Z790 Steel Legend features a matte-black, six-layer PCB that includes multiple reinforced slots, silver heatsinks, and digital camouflage accents in black, white, and gray throughout various sections. While its appearance is appealing, it conveys a budget-friendly impression due to the visible PCB, which is more pronounced compared to other models in the same price range. For those interested in integrated RGB lighting, the Steel Legend offers ample illumination in two locations: the I/O area and beneath the M.2 and chipset heatsinks at the bottom. Users can manage the lighting through the BIOS or ASRock’s Polychrome Sync Application. The RGB lighting on this motherboard is vibrant and intense, guaranteed to draw attention to your setup. Although we appreciate its aesthetic, which complements various themed builds, the overall design does not exude a high-end feel.

In the upper-left corner, the initial components visible among the heatsinks are the two 8-pin EPS connectors, of which one is necessary for powering the processor. The silver VRM heatsinks that encircle these connectors are notably taller and possess substantial mass and surface area, ensuring that the power components beneath operate within their specified limits. The cover over the I/O section features ASRock branding, with the Steel Series “S” illuminated from beneath by RGB LEDs.

Adjacent to the socket area and positioned to the left of the DRAM slots, one can find the initial two of seven 4-pin fan headers. Each header is compatible with both PWM and DC-controlled devices, with power ratings varying from 1A/12W for CPU_FAN1 to 2A/24W for the others. This configuration provides sufficient power to accommodate multiple devices, although it is important to avoid exceeding the specified limits. Management of these headers is facilitated via the BIOS or the A-Tune application.

Adjacent to the socket, there are four fortified DRAM slots equipped with locking mechanisms on either side. ASRock indicates compatibility with memory speeds of up to DDR5-7200+(OC), although individual experiences may differ. Our testing with three different memory kits, including the Teamgroup DDR5-7200 set—which is not included in the QVL list—yielded no issues. Overall, ASRock has demonstrated commendable memory compatibility on this platform, a trend that continues with the Steel Legend.

Beyond the DRAM slots, there are two additional 4-pin fan headers along with the initial RGB headers, which consist of two 3-pin ARGB connectors. At the lower section of the motherboard, two more headers are available. This includes another 3-pin ARGB header, bringing the total to three, as well as the sole 4-pin RGB header. It is important to note that these headers can be managed via the BIOS or the Polychrome Sync application. Proceeding along the right edge, one encounters the 24-pin ATX connector designated for powering the motherboard, a front panel USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps) Type-C port, a front panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) port, and an additional 4-pin fan header.

ASRock specifies that the Steel Legend motherboard features a total of 18 power delivery phases, with 16 of these allocated specifically for Vcore. The power is supplied through an 8-pin EPS connector, which connects to the Renesas RAA229131 PWM controller. Additionally, there are 16 Intersil ISL99360 SPS MOSFETs, each rated at 60A, configured in a Teamed arrangement for Vcore. While the total capacity of 960A is not particularly exceptional, it effectively supported our Intel Core i9-13900K during both stock and overclocked testing. It is important to note that thermal management will likely become a limiting factor before the power delivery system on most motherboards, ensuring adequate performance.

The lower section of the motherboard features three full-length PCIe slots alongside an impressive five M.2 sockets. Beginning from the left edge, there is a fully exposed audio section showcasing the budget-friendly Realtek ALC897 codec and four accompanying audio capacitors. While the codec may not be of the highest quality, its presence at this price point is typical. Additionally, a noteworthy component in this region is the eDP connector, located above the audio section and the M.2 Wi-Fi Key-E socket. This port allows for the connection of displays that support the eDP standard, enabling the extension of your desktop to a screen housed within your case. The ASRock 13.3” side panel kit is an ideal complement for this setup.

In the central area of the motherboard, we will examine the three PCIe slots available. The upper two slots are reinforced to reduce the risk of shearing caused by heavy graphics cards and are reported to be effective in mitigating electromagnetic interference (EMI). The first slot (PCIE1) interfaces directly with the CPU, serving as the primary graphics slot and operating at PCIe 5.0 x16 speeds. The second slot (PCIE2) connects via the chipset and supports speeds of up to PCIe 4.0 x4. Finally, the lowest slot, which lacks reinforcement (PCIE3), also connects through the chipset and operates at speeds of up to PCIe 3.0 x2.

Situated within and around these slots are five M.2 sockets. However, only four can be utilized simultaneously due to their physical arrangement and wiring constraints. It is a matter of choosing one over the other. The M2_1 socket supports PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps), while the second socket operates at PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps). The remaining three sockets interface through the chipset and also support up to PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps). All sockets accommodate modules up to 80mm in length and are compatible with RAID0/1/5 configurations for NVMe storage devices. When M2_2 is in use, the PCIE1 port reverts to x8 mode, resulting in a slight reduction in bandwidth for the primary graphics port; however, this is generally inconsequential unless one is attempting to achieve extreme overclocking results.

Proceeding to the right, we pass through the chipset section to reach the boundary that accommodates four of the eight SATA ports. All of these ports can be utilized concurrently, and they function effectively. The remaining four ports are located along the bottom edge and are oriented vertically. For those interested in configuring RAID for their SATA drives, the motherboard offers support for RAID modes 0, 1, 5, and 10.

Several exposed headers are located along the bottom of the board. Among these, you will encounter the standard components, such as extra USB ports, RGB headers, and power/reset buttons. A comprehensive list is provided below, arranged from left to right.

• Front panel audio
• 3-pin ARGB header
• 4-pin RGB header
• Thunderbolt AIC header
• Clear CMOS jumper
• (2) System Fan headers
• USB 2.0 header
• TPM header
• (4) SATA3 6 Gbps ports
• System panel header

The rear I/O plate of the Z790 Steel Legend is preinstalled on the motherboard, which is a commendable feature at this price point, although it has become increasingly standard in recent times. The design adheres to the Steel Legend aesthetic, featuring a black-and-white color scheme with black labels identifying the ports. The rear I/O includes a total of 10 USB ports, comprising one USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Type-C port, one Type-A 10 Gbps port, and eight additional USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) ports. For video output, the Steel Legend is equipped with HDMI and DisplayPorts, catering to users who wish to utilize the integrated graphics of their processor. Additionally, it offers a 2.5 GbE port, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a 5-plug analog output along with SPDIF for audio purposes.