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ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£220
  • Avg. price in US: ~$140
  • CPU socket: LGA 1700
  • Chipset: Intel Z690
  • Form factor: ATX

ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

6.7

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

6.7

Technical Score

10.0%

6.5

User score

Good
6.7

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

7.0

Memory

16.0%

7.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

7.4

Storage

15.0%

5.3

Network

13.0%

5.2

Ports & USB

8.0%

7.6

Expansion

8.0%

6.8

Power & Cooling

5.0%

5.8

Audio

Good
6.5

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

3.1

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.2
(29)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(30)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Good
  • 6.6
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    5.5

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    7.8

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    6.3

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    10

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 is an ATX motherboard designed for 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen Intel Core processors on the LGA1700 socket, featuring a 9-phase Dr.MOS power design and support for up to 128GB of dual-channel DDR4 memory at speeds reaching 5333MHz (OC). Key specifications include a primary PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, three Hyper M.2 slots (PCIe Gen4 x4), and extensive connectivity via a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C header (20 Gb/s) and Intel Gigabit LAN. Main pros include its support for high-speed PCIe 5.0 graphics cards, triple M.2 storage options, and convenient BIOS Flashback functionality. However, potential cons include a more basic Realtek ALC897 audio codec and the lack of integrated Wi-Fi, which requires a separate M.2 Key-E module.

Technical Specifications of ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

7.0

Memory

16.0%

7.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

7.4

Storage

15.0%

5.3

Network

13.0%

5.2

Ports & USB

8.0%

7.6

Expansion

8.0%

6.8

Power & Cooling

5.0%

5.8

Audio

6.7
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has a technical score of 6.69 points, which is higher than that of 56.6% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

3.1

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.2
(29)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(30)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

6.5
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has a user score of 6.54 points, which is lower than that of 87.3% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
3.1
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has a popularity of 3.1 points, which is lower than 58.8% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

6.7

Overall score

40.0%

9.4

Price

7.5
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has a quality-to-price ratio of 7.5 points, which is higher than 54% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

Asrock
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

LGA 1700
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 uses the LGA 1700 CPU socket, which is more advanced than that of 55% of motherboards and equal to that of 22.7% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

Intel Z690
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 uses the Intel Z690 chipset, which is more advanced than that of 68.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 3.8% of motherboards.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

ATX
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has the ATX form factor, which is more versatile than that of 47.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 52.2% of motherboards.
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DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR4
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 uses DDR4 memory, which is newer than that of 13.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 51% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

4
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

128 GB
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 supports up to 128 GB of memory, which is more than 40.4% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

5,333 MT/s
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 supports memory speeds up to 5333 MT/s, which is higher than that of 62.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 5.2% of motherboards.
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N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

3
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 3 M.2 sockets, which is more than 65.4% of motherboards and equal to 18.6% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

2x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4/SATA
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 offers 2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA for M.2 slot interfaces, which is faster than that of 65.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.8% of motherboards.
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

4
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 4 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 5.6% of motherboards and equal to 46.3% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
SATA only
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

yes
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 supports NVMe RAID. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
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N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

1
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 1 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is more than 68.6% of motherboards and equal to 26.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

1
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 1 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is more than 55.6% of motherboards and equal to 35.3% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

0
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 0 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 59.5% of motherboards and equal to 40.5% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

?
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
x8/x8.
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Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

8
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 8 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 40.3% of motherboards and equal to 30.7% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

15
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 15 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 48.3% of motherboards and equal to 13.5% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

1
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 1 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 35.4% of motherboards and equal to 48.8% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

2
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 2 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 51.8% of motherboards and equal to 32.8% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
header only excluded.
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LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

1 Gbps
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.1% of motherboards.
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel I219-V
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 uses the Intel I219-V LAN controller, which is more advanced than that of 41% of motherboards and equal to that of 14.2% of motherboards.
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

1
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 1 RJ45 ports, which is equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 49.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

N/A
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek ALC897
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 uses the Realtek ALC897 audio codec, which is less advanced than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 29.3% of motherboards.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

97 dB
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has an audio SNR of 97 dB, which is lower than that of 67.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 16.8% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

no
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 does not support a headphone amp. 63% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

3
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 3 3.5mm audio jacks, which is fewer than 50.3% of motherboards and equal to 38.2% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

8+1
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 8+1 VRM phases, which is fewer than 66.1% of motherboards and equal to 1.4% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

2
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.3% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

2
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has 2 fan headers, which is fewer than 91.7% of motherboards and equal to 8.3% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has a pump header. 23.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

2 A
ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 supports up to 2 A on the pump header, which is higher than that of 43.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 33.4% of motherboards.
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ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 vs the average motherboard

  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.1 vs 0
  • Newer CPU socket
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
    What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
    When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.LGA 1700 vs LGA 1151
  • 1 more M.2 sockets
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.3 vs 2
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
    What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=2

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.2 vs 1
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster rear USB-C connectivity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.1 vs 0
  • 1 more PCIe 4.0x16 slots
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more PCIe 4.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more PCIe 4.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slot/s.1 vs 0
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.
    two internal headers
    What it is: The number of internal USB 3.2 Gen1 headers for front-panel Type-A ports.
    When it matters: When your case has front USB-A ports to connect.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=1

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.2 vs 1
  • 2 more PCIe x1 slots
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe x1 slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want space for smaller add-in cards.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.3 vs 1
  • Newer CPU socket
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • 15.9% higher maximum RAM speed
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has a higher maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (5,333 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 1 more M.2 sockets
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 more PCIe 4.0x16 slots
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more PCIe 4.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slot/s.
  • 2 more PCIe x1 slots
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.
  • 1 more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB4 or Thunderbolt header/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 header/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 header/s.
  • 1 more total USB-C connections
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.

Total
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
  • 1 fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 18 dB lower audio SNR
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (97 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • No headphone amp support
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
  • More basic audio codec
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC897 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • 2 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • No optical S/PDIF out
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.7% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • 3 fewer fan headers
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (8+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 2.5GbE

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
    What it is: Shows whether the external Wi-Fi antenna is included with the motherboard package.
    When it matters: When the board has Wi-Fi and you want it ready to use right away.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel Z690 vs Intel B860
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
    What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.2x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • 18 dB lower audio SNR
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (97 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
    What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
    When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=120 dB

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (97 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.97 dB vs 115 dB
  • No headphone amp support
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
    What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
    When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
  • 3 fewer fan headers
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
    What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
    When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=6

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.2 vs 5
  • More basic audio codec
    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC897 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
    What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC897 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.Realtek ALC897 vs Realtek ALC898
Total
Overall
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Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.2
29 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
30 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4?

  • Extremely competitive pricing, often being one of the most affordable Z690 boards available
  • Simple and responsive BIOS design that is easy to navigate
  • Ample internal headers, including plenty of fan ports and RGB headers
  • Reliable for budget-conscious builds using mid-range CPUs like the i5-12600K
  • Support for PCIe 5.0 and multiple M.2 slots provides good value for its price bracket

What customers dislike about ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4?

  • Weak VRM power delivery and minimal heatsinks, making it unsuitable for high-end chips like the i9-12900K or heavy overclocking
  • Lacks premium aesthetics; users frequently describe the board as looking 'cheap' or 'basic'
  • The ALC897 audio codec is considered entry-level compared to higher-end board offerings
  • Some SATA ports are controlled by third-party ASMedia controllers which can cause stability issues without specific drivers
  • No built-in WiFi on the base model, requiring a separate M.2 card or PCIe adapter

Video reviews

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