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Right around the release of Intel’s 14th generation of processors, Intel dropped a big bomb by announcing that they’re finally rebranding the “i” series to the new Intel Core Ultra series. However, the situation hasn’t changed on the motherboard side, and the new Z890 chips bring various improvements and new features over the Z790 chipset, such as Thunderbolt4 ports, a beefier power delivery solution, and faster networking & connectivity options.
Here’s the list of our top picks for the Z890 chipset motherboard, which you can buy if you’re willing to upgrade to the latest Intel CPUs.
Best Z890 Motherboards
To get started with the individual recommendation, these are the categories and names of the motherboards that I have chosen based on personal testing and several other feature sets of each motherboard:
- Best Overall: MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
- Best White: ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- Best High-End: ASRock Z890 Taichi Lite
- Best Overclocking: MSI MEG Z890 ACE
- Best Budget: ASRock Z890 Pro-A
MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
Best Overall Z890 Motherboard
Chipset: Intel Z890 | Memory: DDR5 9200+ (OC) | VRM: 16+1+1+1 | Video Outputs: HDMI 2.1, 2x Type-C DisplayPort 2.1 | RGB Lighting: No | Network: WiFi 7, Intel Killer 5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.4 | Storage: 4x M.2, 4x SATA 6G | USB Ports: 10x Rear, 7x Front
Pros
- The VRM config is solid
- Can withstand decent OC settings
- Plethora of I/O ports
- Stealthy design
- EZ NVMe & PCIe release mechanism
- Good thermal solution
Cons
- Relatively high VRM thermals
Read Our MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi Review
Going in with the MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi, you can expect a terrific experience overall. The motherboard offers a robust 16+1+1+1 VRM solution that can help you overlock Intel’s Core Ultra series processors and RAM. Not to mention, the board is built with high-quality 6-layered PCB and comes with useful features such as the MSI AI LAN manager support to assist those who play online as it auto-tunes the network settings to lower latency.
Besides that, I liked the I/O on this motherboard too, you get a total of 17x USB ports for your use, two of which are Thunderbolt4 ports that can accommodate up to 3x Thunderbolt4 simultaneously in each port. What’s more, is that the motherboard also features an EZ DIY design for both the M.2 and the graphics card slot. However, the motherboard only offers a single Gen5 M.2 slot, and the rest of the three M.2 slots are Gen4.
Here’s how I summarized the MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi in my dedicated review:
The MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi is a $299 motherboard packed with the latest I/O and EZ-DIY features. It has a fairly basic (almost) all-black design with silver accents and yellow-green colors to represent the board’s branding. For VRMs, the board’s 16+1+1+1 (16A 90A duet stages for the board), which is enough for Intel’s 15th gen chips, even if you want to overclock a bit.
What Makes It The Best Overall Z890 Motherboard?
It has an impressive VRM configuration coupled with a great thermal solution and a plethora of solid I/O, decent looks, and exclusive features such as the MSI LAN manager, WiFi 7, and BT 5.4. I can safely say that the Z890 Tomahawk Wi-Fi is the best overall Z890 motherboard.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8.5/10 |
| Features: 9.5/10 | Design: 9/10 |
ASRock Z890 Taichi Lite
Best High-End Z890 Motherboard
Chipset: Intel Z890 | Memory: DDR5 9600+ (OC) | VRM: 20+1+2+1+1 | Video Outputs: HDMI 2.1, 2x USB4 Ports | RGB Lighting: Yes | Network: WiFi 7, 2.5G + 5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.4 | Storage: 6x M.2, 4x SATA3 | USB Ports: 12x Rear, 9x Front
Pros
- High-end 20+1+2+1+1 VRM design
- Exceptional overclocking potential
- Has six M.2 storage slots
- Sturdy 8-layer PCB
- Thoughtful design with RGB
Cons
- No EZ PCIe Release
Read Our ASRock Z890 Taichi Lite Review
Looking for a high-end motherboard, but at a not-so-high-end price point? Well, the ASRock Z890 Taichi Lite is here to fulfill that specific demand. Firstly, the motherboard comes in at a $400 price bracket and manages to brag about its high-performance capabilities with its 20+1+2+1+1 VRM phase layout. You definitely can’t go wrong while pushing the Intel Core Ultra series processors to their limits.
Another thing to love here is that it has a total of six M.2 slots, however, only one of them is Gen5 enabled. Similarly, the silver-themed design also looks catchy on the motherboard, and having a well-rounded rear I/O with 12x USB4 ports is like a cherry on top. In my opinion, this is one of the best picks in the high-end section. Keeping all that aside, it would have been nice to see an EZ PCIe release mechanism around the primary PCIe slot.
This is what I said about the ASRock Z890 Taichi Lite in my review:
It holds strong in benchmark tests, often placing near the top while remaining competitively priced at $399.99. With effective VRM cooling through an XXL heatsink and a solid, premium design, it’s an excellent choice for high-performance builds.
What Makes It The Best High-End Z890 Motherboard?
The motherboard delivers great build quality, high-end performance, and overclocking support for the CPU and the memory. Apart from that, the design is also appealing with plenty of connectivity options like having a bunch of M.2 slots and USB4 ports. All this makes it the best high-end Z890 motherboard.
| Performance: 9.5/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Design: 9/10 |
ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
Best White Z890 Motherboard
Chipset: Intel Z890 | Memory: DDR5 9466+ (OC) | VRM: 18+1+1+1+1 | Video Outputs: HDMI 2.1, 2x USB4 Ports | RGB Lighting: Yes | Network: WiFi 7, Dragon 2.5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.4 | Storage: 4x M.2, 4x SATA3 | USB Ports: 10x Rear, 9x Front
Pros
- Striking white-themed aesthetics
- Great value
- Excellent power delivery solution
- Screwless M.2 shield release mechanism
- Impressive RAM overclocking support
- Good rear I/O for the price
- Onboard RGB lighting
Cons
- No Debug Code Panel
Read Our ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi Review
Now, for the white-themed PC lovers, I present you with the ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi. The motherboard packs beautiful visuals while also being equally competitive in terms of performance with its 18+1+1+1+1 VRM phase design, being not too far behind the Z890 Taichi Lite motherboard. It is worth noting that the motherboard also takes the ease-of-installation step further as it features a screwless M.2 release design.
What else caught my attention but in a slightly opposite way is the exclusion of debug LEDs, which comes in handy while troubleshooting various issues. However, the impressive number of USB4 ports and the capability to support RAM over 9466 MHz compensate for the minor drawbacks, especially when price is considered.
Impressed by the value, this is how I described the Z890 Steel Legend WiFi after reviewing it:
The ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi shows outstanding price-to-performance, making it one of the best budget Z890 boards out there. It offers a fairly capable 18+1+1+1+1 VRM solution, DDR5 support up to 9466 MT/s, WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and dual Thunderbolt 4 ports. That should be enough, but if not, it also offers a beautiful white design and includes an RGB under the M.2 heatsink.
What Makes It The Best White Z890 Motherboard?
The ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi has the characteristics of both Beauty and the Beast, as it looks beautiful in its snowy white color and terrific VRM ensures great performance. Moreover, its decent number of connectivity ports and RGB lighting only add to its reputation and make it the best white Z890 motherboard.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 10/10 |
MSI MEG Z890 ACE
Best Overclocking Z890 Motherboard
Chipset: Intel Z890 | Memory: DDR5 9200+ (OC) | VRM: 24+2+1+1 | Video Outputs: HDMI 2.1, 2x Type-C DisplayPort 2.1, 2x USB4 ports | RGB Lighting: Yes | Network: Intel Killer 10G LAN, WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Storage: 5x M.2, 4x SATA 6G | USB Ports: 15x Rear, 9x Front
Pros
- Has a 10G LAN port
- 24x USB ports
- Best-in-class VRM solution for OC
- Aesthetically pleasing board design
- Excellent VRM cooling solution
- EZ one click OC
- EZ M.2 Installation & removal
- AI LAN manager
Cons
- Quite expensive
Read Our MSI MEG Z890 ACE Review
The MSI MEG Z890 ACE is an easy pick as it has the most superior power delivery configuration with a total of 28 phases. You can easily push any Core Ultra series processor without even trying too hard. The VRM thermals also stay in the safe zone thanks to the robust cooling solution featuring heat pipes for rapid heat dissipation.
It also benefits from a high-quality PCB and an aesthetically pleasing design with golden accents throughout the entire motherboard. It doesn’t stop here, we also get to see 15x USB ports at the back. There’s an even more impressive thing to show, which is the inclusion of two Gen5-enabled M.2 slots instead of one; however, in total, it has 5x M.2 slots. All in all, this motherboard is an excellent choice for overclocking.
Speaking of its flagship features, I was so impressed by the MSI MEG Z890 ACE that I gave it an Editor’s Choice award in my dedicated review, saying:
The MSI MEG Z890 ACE motherboard delivers top-tier performance and features, perfect for those who want the best without budget constraints. The motherboard supports high-speed DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0, with plenty of M.2 and USB ports to meet any demand.
What Makes It The Best Overclocking Z890 Motherboard?
The MSI MEG Z890 ACE is a terrific motherboard that has the best-in-class aesthetics, excellent overclocking support, and a cooling solution. While also offering a great number of ports on the connectivity side, I can easily call this the best overclocking Z890 motherboard.
| Performance: 10/10 | Value: 7.5/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Design: 9/10 |
ASRock Z890 Pro-A
Best Budget Z890 Motherboard
Chipset: Intel Z890 | Memory: DDR5 9066+ (OC) | VRM: 16+1+1+1+1 | Video Outputs: HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB4 port | RGB Lighting: No | Network: Dragon 2.5G LAN | Storage: 4x M.2, 4x SATA3 | USB Ports: 9x Rear, 9x Front
Pros
- Good value
- Great performance for the price
- Decent VRM thermals
- Excellent RAM speed support
- Solid connectivity & display options
- Features Gen5 M.2 slot
Cons
- No WiFi & Bluetooth
- Heatsink limited to Gen5 M.2
Can’t forget the budget options, can we? The ASRock Z890 Pro-A is the budget pick from me. Sure, it’s a budget-category motherboard but it still rocks the Z890 chipsets which allow it to deliver a handful of impressive features. Such as good enough overclocking with 16+1+1+1+1 phase power delivery. Furthermore, if you’re not fond of manual OC, the memory can go as high as 9066 MHz with just a single click.
Due to budget limitations, the motherboard drops the WiFi & BT connectivity completely and only features a 2.5G LAN port for a decent enough wired internet connection. Lastly, the motherboard still manages to incorporate 4x M.2 slots and a Thunderbolt 4 Type-C port for faster storage expansion, which, in my view, makes it a decent budget value.
What Makes It The Best Budget Z890 Motherboard?
The ASRock Z890 Pro-A is a simple yet impressive motherboard that hardly compromises performance and connectivity options except for WiFi & Bluetooth. Furthermore, the motherboard looks fairly decent and comes in at a highly affordable price for a flagship chipset. This makes it the best budget Z890 motherboard.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 7/10 |
Benchmarks Of The Best Z890 Motherboards
To make sure our recommended motherboards really offer the best performance, we reviewed them all to check out their test results. Swipe through the gallery to go over their benchmarks and VRM thermals.
Motherboard Specification Comparison
Since everyone looks for a motherboard with a different set of specs in mind, we have made a comparison of the specifications of the motherboards we picked for you to further save your time and assist in quick decision-making.
| Motherboard Model | Total Power Phases | Max Memory Speed (MT/s) | No. of M.2 Slots | No. of SATA Ports | No. of USB Ports (Front) | No. of USB Ports (Rear) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSI MAG Z890 TOMAHAWK WiFi | 19 | 9200 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 |
| ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi | 22 | 9466 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 10 |
| MSI MEG Z890 ACE | 28 | 9200 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 15 |
| ASRock Z890 Taichi Lite | 25 | 9600 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 12 |
| ASRock Z890 Pro-A | 20 | 9066 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 9 |
Key Motherboard Terms
- Form Factor: As the name suggests, the form factor refers to the shape and size of the motherboard. They come in different shapes and sizes like PC cases, you can find motherboards in ATX, mini-ITX, mATX, and E-ATX form factors.
- DIMM slots: Like that of CPU sockets, DIMM slots are for memory modules, this is where you install the memory sticks for your use.
- CPU Socket: There’s this socket in the middle and near the DIMM slots, which is called a CPU socket and is the place where you install your processor on the motherboard.
- VRM: VRM stands for voltage regulatory module and is responsible for handling the power delivery to all of the components connected to the motherboard. A good power delivery also means easy CPU & memory overclocking.
- Chipset: A chipset is the main chip on the motherboard, which handles all the communication and operation between all the other PC components.
How We Tested These Motherboards
We do not pick motherboards without a proper screening which includes several different stages. Some of the factors are these:
- Power Delivery Solution: A motherboard needs to have a great power delivery solution so everything runs smoothly and trouble-free. People often overclock this aspect of the motherboard and end up with the ones having a basic VRM solution. So, to help you all, I chose only those motherboards that boast a decent power delivery solution as well as a capable cooling solution to keep the VRM thermals within safe limits.
- Price to Performance: As each category targets a different budget segment, I chose the best offerings for each one so you get maximum value no matter which category board you’re going to pick for yourself.
- Features: To be honest, when you’re spending a big sum on something, you expect it to have at least a decent number of features to justify its purchase. This is why I picked motherboards that offer unique features such as EZ screwless install & removal mechanism, one-click OC, high-speed M.2 & memory slots, and AI network tuning.
FAQs
No, the new Z890 chipset motherboards feature a new LGA1851 socket which is for the new Intel Core Ultra series processors only as the 14th gen CPUs are compatible with LGA1700 socket motherboards only.
From our personal testing and reviews all over the internet, the new Intel Core Ultra series processors seem to have improved the gaming performance completely. These CPUs focus more on efficiency and productivity performance at least for now.
Considering how little the gains are, especially in terms of gaming, I would recommend sticking to your Z790 chipset motherboards or even the Z690 and waiting for another generation to make the upgrade a worthy one.
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[Reviews Specialist]
Usman Saleem brings 8+ years of comprehensive PC hardware expertise to the table. His journey in the tech world has involved in-depth tech analysis and insightful PC hardware reviews, perfecting over 6+ years of dedicated work. Usman’s commitment to staying authentic and relevant in the field is underscored by many professional certifications, including a recent one in Google IT Support Specialization.
8+ years of specialized PC hardware coverage
6+ years of in-depth PC hardware analysis and reviews
Lead PC hardware expert across multiple tech journalism platforms
Certified in Google IT Support Specialization
Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com
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