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ASRock Z690 Steel Legend Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£170
  • Avg. price in US: ~$160
  • CPU socket: LGA 1700
  • Chipset: Intel Z690
  • Form factor: ATX

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

7.4

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%

7.3

Technical Score

10.0%

8.3

User score

Very good
7.3

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%

8.6

Platform & Features

16.0%

7.6

Storage

15.0%

9.2

Network

13.0%

4.2

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.8

Expansion

8.0%

8.4

Power & Cooling

5.0%

6.2

Audio

Very good
8.3

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%

8.4

User reviews

30.0%

8.2

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.3
(205)
amazon
4.0
(48)
amazon
4.7
(5)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(125)
Amazon_logo.png
3.8
(51)
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(5)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Excellent
  • 7.9
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    6.7

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    7.8

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    10

    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

?

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

Verdict

The ASRock Z690 Steel Legend is an ATX motherboard built for 14th, 13th, and 12th Gen Intel Core processors on the LGA1700 socket, featuring a robust 13-phase Dr.MOS power design and support for up to 128GB of dual-channel DDR4 memory (OC up to 5333+ MHz). Key characteristics include a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for high-speed graphics, a storage-focused array with eight SATA3 ports and three M.2 slots (including two Hyper M.2 PCIe Gen4x4), and high-speed networking via a Dragon 2.5G LAN. Main pros include its 'old school' connectivity with abundant SATA and PCIe slots, an included adjustable graphics card holder to prevent GPU sag, and an integrated, adjustable I/O shield for easier installation. However, some cons include a relatively basic Realtek ALC897 audio codec and a lack of integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the standard (non-WiFi) model.

Technical Specifications of ASRock Z690 Steel Legend

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%

8.6

Platform & Features

16.0%

7.6

Storage

15.0%

9.2

Network

13.0%

4.2

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.8

Expansion

8.0%

8.4

Power & Cooling

5.0%

6.2

Audio

7.3
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has a technical score of 7.28 points, which is higher than that of 67.5% 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%

8.4

User reviews

30.0%

8.2

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.3
(205)
amazon
4.0
(48)
amazon
4.7
(5)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(125)
Amazon_logo.png
3.8
(51)
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(5)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

8.3
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has a user score of 8.35 points, which is higher than that of 72.2% 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.
8.2
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has a popularity of 8.2 points, which is higher than 74.5% 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%

7.4

Overall score

40.0%

9.6

Price

8.1
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has a quality-to-price ratio of 8.1 points, which is higher than 73.4% 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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.
Show more
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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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.
Show more
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 Steel Legend has 3 M.2 sockets, which is more than 65.4% of motherboards and equal to 18.6% of motherboards.
plus 1 Key E for Wi-Fi.
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

1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend offers 1x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4 for M.2 slot interfaces, which is faster than that of 68.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% 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

8
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has 8 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 85.5% of motherboards and equal to 11.2% 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 Steel Legend supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
JBOD excluded from RAID-level set
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 Steel Legend supports NVMe RAID. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
Intel RST support
Show more
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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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

1
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 40.6% of motherboards and equal to 26.7% 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

no
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend does not support PCIe bifurcation. 61% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
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

6
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has 6 USB ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.2% of motherboards and equal to 32.9% 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

14
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has 14 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 51.8% of motherboards and equal to 12.9% 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
header only excluded.
Show more
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

2.5 Gbps
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend supports LAN speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, which is higher than that of 49.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 41.5% 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

Realtek RTL8125B
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend uses the Realtek RTL8125B LAN controller, which is more advanced than that of 58.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 17.3% 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 Steel Legend 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

yes
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.9% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi 6E.
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)

Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend supports Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), which is newer than that of 72.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 16.6% of motherboards.
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 Steel Legend 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.
Nahimic audio.
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 Steel Legend 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

98 dB
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has an audio SNR of 98 dB, which is lower than that of 64.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 3% 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 Steel Legend 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

5
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has 5 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 49.8% of motherboards and equal to 36.8% 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

13
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has 13 VRM phases, which is more than 60.8% of motherboards and equal to 0.5% 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 Steel Legend has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.3% of motherboards.
Dual 8-pin CPU power.
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

7
ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has 7 fan headers, which is more than 72.7% of motherboards and equal to 9.5% 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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.
Show more

ASRock Z690 Steel Legend vs the average motherboard

  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    plus 1 Key E for Wi-Fi.
    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 Steel Legend has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.3 vs 2
  • Integrated I/O shield
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
    What it is: Shows whether the rear I/O shield comes pre-mounted on the motherboard instead of being installed separately.
    When it matters: When you want an easier motherboard installation process.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
    Dual 8-pin CPU power.
    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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
    Wi-Fi 6E.
    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

    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Newer CPU socket
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Integrated I/O shield
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • 15.9% higher maximum RAM speed
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • 4 more SATA 3 connectors
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (8 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend has more PCIe 4.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
  • 2 more fan headers
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has more fan headers than the average motherboard (7 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • More VRM phases
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (13 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 1 more RGB headers
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.

Total
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4 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.
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 1 fewer total USB connections
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (14 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 2 fewer USB 2.0 ports
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has fewer USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • More basic LAN controller
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,125B vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
  • No headphone amp support
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
  • 17 dB lower audio SNR
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (98 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • More basic audio codec
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC897 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
    Nahimic audio.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    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

    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.6 vs 8
  • More basic LAN controller
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,125B vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C 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

    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,125B vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.Realtek RTL8125B vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
    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

    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4 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 Steel Legend has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4 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.1x PCIe 4.0x4, 1x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA, 1x PCIe 4.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • No headphone amp support
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend 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 Steel Legend does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
  • 17 dB lower audio SNR
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (98 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 Steel Legend has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (98 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.98 dB vs 115 dB
  • More basic audio codec
    ASRock Z690 Steel Legend has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC897 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
    Nahimic audio.
    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 Steel Legend 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
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.3
205 Reviews
amazon
4.0
48 Reviews
amazon
4.7
5 Reviews
United States
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4.1
125 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
3.8
51 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
5 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about ASRock Z690 Steel Legend?

  • High value-for-money compared to premium Z690 boards
  • Excellent storage expansion with 8 SATA ports and 3 M.2 slots
  • DDR4 support allows for more budget-friendly builds using existing RAM
  • Strong visual appeal with integrated RGB and a clean 'Steel' aesthetic
  • Includes useful extras like a GPU anti-sag bracket and BIOS Flashback
  • Solid VRM cooling with effective heatsinks for stable performance

What customers dislike about ASRock Z690 Steel Legend?

  • Stingy rear I/O with only five Type-A USB ports
  • Uses the entry-level ALC897 audio codec, which may require an external amp for high-end headphones
  • Occasional reports of high 'Auto' CPU voltages in early BIOS versions
  • Some users experienced difficulty reaching advertised XMP speeds without manual tuning
  • Lacks a fourth M.2 slot found on some similarly priced competitors

Video reviews

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