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Our standard benchmarks and power tests are performed using the CPU’s stock frequencies (including any default boost/turbo) with all power-saving features enabled. We set optimized defaults in the BIOS and the memory by enabling the XMP profile. For this baseline testing, the Windows power scheme is set to Balanced (default) so the PC idles appropriately.
Synthetic Benchmarks
In most synthetic tests, performance in those benchmarks was around average to slightly below average. The Procyon Office test showed excellent results, some of the best we’ve seen across the swath of tests. With a PL2 limit of 320W using the 360//420mm AIO setting, you’re limited by cooling in any long-running heavily multi-threaded tests as you are with any motherboard with liberal PL settings above the Intel specification.
Timed Applications
In our timed applications, the Z790 Riptide was average in Corona and LAME and slightly faster than in Handbrake. There’s nothing to worry about here.
3D Games and 3DMark
Starting with the launch of Zen 4, we shifted our test games from F1 21 to F1 22 while keeping Far Cry 6. We run the games at 1920x1080 resolution using the Ultra preset (details listed above). As the resolution goes up, the CPU tends to have less impact. The goal with these settings is to determine if there are differences in performance at the most commonly used (and CPU/system bound) resolution with settings most people use or strive for (Ultra). We expect the difference between boards in these tests to be minor, with most falling within the margin of error differences. We’ve also added a minimum FPS value, which can affect your gameplay and immersion experience.
In games, it was a tale of two tests. In the 3DMark portion, our Z790 Riptide was the highest scoring out of our tested boards albeit not by much (all results are tightly packed). Game testing showed an average result in Far Cry 6, mixing in with the other results, while in F1 22, it was slower than the average by a couple of percent. Unless you have a frame counter up, you’d never notice the difference here.
Overclocking
Generation after generation, overclocking headroom has been shrinking with both Intel and AMD processors, with motherboard partners pushing the limits to set themselves apart from the plethora of options available to the consumer. With the overclocking headroom gone, we’ve left things at stock for cores but will push the Integrated Memory Controller (IMC) for faster RAM. Remember, for 14th-gen CPUs, the maximum stock spec for memory is DDR5-5600. We have a DDR5-7200 kit and a DDR5-8000 kit in-house to test the higher speeds.
Using the latest BIOS when writing (5.07 from 12/29/23), we got our Teamgroup DDR5-7200 kit working (enable XMP and go). However, our Klevv DDR5-8000 kit wouldn’t play nice. This specific kit was not on ASRock;s Memory QVL list, but similar DDR5-8000 kits (from Klevv, even) were. If you’re trying to push such faster memory, make sure it’s on the QVL, AND you have a memory IMC that will reach those speeds, as not many will do over 8000 MHz.
Power Consumption / VRM Temperatures
We used AIDA64’s System Stability Test with Stress CPU, FPU, Cache, and Memory enabled for power testing, using the peak power consumption value. The wattage reading is from the wall via a Kill-A-Watt meter to capture the entire PC (minus the monitor). The only variable that changes is the motherboard; all other parts remain the same. Please note we moved to using only the stock power use/VRM temperature charts. Since the system uses every available degree Celsius, unless you’re using a sub-ambient cooling solution, you’ll use more power and generate more heat using default settings.
Power consumption on this board was also a tale of two states. At idle, the board sat around 60W, the second lowest value so far. It peaked at 428W during load testing and grouped with some of the higher results. The load results are high due to the cooler setting at the PL2 limit set at 320W.
VRM temperatures peaked at just over 60 degrees Celsius, well below the SPS MOSFETs' limit. It reached these speeds because of our cooler setting that raised the PL limit. Interestingly, we never saw the full 320W during our testing due to thermal throttling. Regardless, the VRMs and the heatsinks handled our i9-14900K without flinching. You’ll even be able to overclock without worry. Just make sure to have adequate airflow inside your chassis, as you should with any system.
Bottom Line
ASRock has hit another homerun in the Z790 PG Riptide. If your build uses a lot of storage, M.2-type or SATA, it’s one of the least expensive boards with eight SATA ports and one of the cheapest with five M.2 sockets (one of those PCIe 5.0-capable). On top of that, you get capable power delivery, integrated Wi-Fi 7, and native 14th-gen processor support. The mostly black appearance and bright RGB lighting fit nicely into most chassis and build themes. You also get an eDisplayPort if you want to use an eDP-capable monitor. In short, it’s a well-rounded motherboard with few shortcomings, especially for the price. The only concerns some may run into is the generally slower USB ports on the rear IO with only two USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) ports where most of the competition has three and a 20 Gbps Type-C port on the rear IO (front panel for this board). Otherwise, it has everything most users are likely to expect from the Z790 platform.
Choosing the right budget-priced motherboard as you’ll want to be sure you get the most for your money. This space is shared with similar boards, including the Asus TUF Gaming Z790-Plus Wi-Fi ($249), MSI Pro Z790-A MAX Wi-Fi ($259.99), Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite X AX ($289.99). These boards support 14th-gen processors natively and are considered a ‘refresh’ or mid-cycle update. Only the MSI includes Wi-Fi 7, while none have PCIe 5.0-capable M.2 storage (nor five total M.2 sockets) and are also short on SATA count comparatively. While most of us don’t need Wi-Fi 7 or that amount of storage, ASRock’s board is still less expensive than the rest, while offering more from a specifications standpoint.
In the end, if you’re in the market for a budget Z790 motherboard, the Riptide is one of the best available in its price range.
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