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Scored using Motherboards Methodology v3.0
Motherboards Methodology v3.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Motherboards Methodology v3.0: the technical score from the specifications is the base, and independent expert and video reviews (up to ±0.5 points), owner opinions (up to ±0.3) and best-of lists (up to +0.3) move it up or down.
Explore Motherboards Methodology v3.0

ASUS Pro WS W790-ACE review: 109 specs compared

Avg. price:~£900CPU socket:?Chipset:Intel W790Form factor:?

ASUS Pro WS W790-ACE Review: Compare 109 technical specifications and 1 expert and video reviews to see how this product ranks in the Motherboards category and whether it is worth buying.

ASUS Pro WS W790-ACE
7.6/10

Overall score

Score
7.6/ 10
✕
What it is
Our main score for this model, 1–10. It combines specs, expert reviews, best-of lists, owners and ratings from across the web.
How we count it
Parts: Technical score 40%, Reviews score 20%, List score 20%, Sentiment score 10%, User score 10%
Marks: Each part gets a mark out of 10. For reviews, lists and owners, a typical model in this category gets about 8 and the best one gets 10.
No data yet: A part with no data shows "?". It counts as the mark of a weaker model in this category (4 in 5 models with data score higher). This way, models with reviews, lists and owners usually come out ahead.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 73% of models
Score components

40%

7.8

Technical score

20%

7.7

Reviews score

20%

?

List scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.5, the mark of a weaker model in this category

10%

?

Sentiment scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.0, the mark of a weaker model in this category

10%

7.1

User score

â–²Better than 73% of motherboards
7.0

Value for money

Value for money
7.0/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 91% of models
Score components

70%

7.6

Overall score

30%

5.8

Price

â–¼Worse than 91%
7.8

Technical score

Technical score
7.8/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 81% of models
Score components

19%

9.8

Memory

16%

8.6

Platform

16%

5.8

Storage

15%

7.4

Network

13%

7.4

Ports

8%

5.7

Expansion

8%

8.2

Power & Cooling

5%

9.6

Audio

â–²Better than 81%
7.7

Reviews score

Reviews score
7.7/ 10
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Big test sites count more, short reviews half as much as full tests. A video review counts half.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.8 for now.
Share: Reviews count 20% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 60% of models

80%

8.4

Average grade

20%

5.0

Popularity

Grades by review (1)
1 video review, counting half as much as a written test. Reviews count 20% of the overall score.
Ratings from across the web count in the User score, not in this score.
â–¼Worse than 60%
7.1

User score

User score
7.1/ 10
✕
What it is
How happy buyers are with this model, based on ratings from across the web.
How we count it
Enough data: A model needs at least 1 rating from across the web. Without one, it counts as 7.9, the mark of a weaker rated model in this category.
Share: User score counts 10% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 64% of models

70%

7.4

Rating

30%

6.6

Popularity

â–¼Worse than 64%
?

List score

List score
7.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 20% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (0)
Not in any best-of list yet, so this part counts as 7.5. Models in a list get 8 to 10.
Not in any best-of list yet
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Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of motherboard ASUS Pro WS W790-ACE

Technical score
Technical score
7.8/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 40% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 81% of models
Score components:

19%

9.8

Memory

16%

8.6

Platform

16%

5.8

Storage

15%

7.4

Network

13%

7.4

Ports

8%

5.7

Expansion

8%

8.2

Power & Cooling

5%

9.6

Audio

7.8
Reviews score
7.7
User score
7.1
List score
?
Value for money
Value for money
7.0/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 91% of models
Score components:

70%

7.6

Overall score

30%

5.8

Price

7.0
CPU socket
?
CPU platform
Intel
Chipset
Intel W790
This motherboard uses Intel W790, which is less capable than 64.5% of Motherboards and as capable as 0.1% of Motherboards.
Form factor
?
Integrated graphics support
yes
This motherboard supports integrated graphics. 10.2% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
DDR memory version
DDR5
This motherboard uses DDR5, which is more modern than 63.8% of Motherboards and the same as 36.2% of Motherboards.
Memory slots
8
Market range: <2 – >4
This motherboard has 8 Memory slots, which is more than 93.9% of motherboards and equal to 5.8% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
2 GB
Market range: <32 GB – >256 GB
This motherboard supports up to 2 TB of memory, which is more than 99.6% of motherboards and equal to 0.4% of motherboards.
Memory channels
?
Maximum RAM speed
?
Show more
N. of M.2 sockets
2
Market range: <0 – >4
This motherboard has 2 M.2 sockets, which is more than 30.5% of motherboards and equal to 34.5% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
?
N. of SATA 3 connectors
4
Market range: <4 – >8
This motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 6.1% of motherboards and equal to 46.8% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
0/1/5/10
This motherboard RAID support: 0/1/5/10, which is more flexible than 32.5% of Motherboards and the same as 67.5% of Motherboards.
NVMe RAID support
yes
This motherboard supports NVMe RAID. 40.2% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
5
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 5 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is more than 99.9% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
0
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 44.8% of motherboards and equal to 55.2% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
?
PCIe slot electrical configuration
?
PCIe bifurcation support
yes
This motherboard supports PCIe bifurcation. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
13
Market range: <6 – >10
This motherboard has 13 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 98.4% of motherboards and equal to 0.8% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
?
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
1
Market range: <0 – >2
This motherboard has 1 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 35.8% of motherboards and equal to 48.3% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
?
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
1
Market range: <0 – >1
This motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is more than 82.1% of motherboards and equal to 17.7% of motherboards.
Show more
LAN speed
10 Gbps
Market range: <1 Gbps – >2.5 Gbps
This motherboard supports LAN speeds up to 10 Gbps, which is higher than that of 95.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 4.3% of motherboards.
LAN controller
?
N. of RJ45 ports
2
Market range: <1 – >2
This motherboard has 2 RJ45 ports, which is more than 85.6% of motherboards and equal to 13.3% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
no
This motherboard does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
N/A
Show more
Audio codec
Realtek S1220A
This motherboard uses Realtek S1220A, which is higher-end than 85.8% of Motherboards and the same as 1.2% of Motherboards.
Audio channels
7.1
This motherboard offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.7% of motherboards and equal to 95.3% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
120 dB
Market range: <95 dB – >120 dB
This motherboard has an audio SNR of 120 dB, which is higher than that of 55.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 41% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
yes
This motherboard supports a headphone amp. 41.2% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
5
Market range: <2 – >6
This motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 50.6% of motherboards and equal to 36.3% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
?
N. of CPU power connectors
?
N. of fan headers
?
Pump header
yes
This motherboard has a pump header. 22.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
?
Show more

ASUS Pro WS W790-ACE vs the average motherboard

246810TotalPlatformMemoryStorageExpansionPortsNetworkAudioPower & Cooling
  • 16x more maximum memory capacity
    This motherboard has more maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (2 TB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    2 TB vs 128 GB
  • 5 more rear USB ports
    This motherboard has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (13 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    13 vs 8
  • 5 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    This motherboard has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (5 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
    5 vs 0
  • More modern memory type
    This motherboard uses a more modern memory type than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4).
    DDR5 vs DDR4
  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    This motherboard has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
    2 vs 1
  • 3 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    This motherboard has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
    4 vs 1
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports
    This motherboard has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C port/s.
    1 vs 0
  • 4 more memory slots
    This motherboard has more memory slots than the average motherboard (8 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
    8 vs 4
  • Integrated I/O shield
    This motherboard has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.6% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • Includes POST code display
    This motherboard has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 26.7% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    This motherboard has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • 16x more maximum memory capacity
    This motherboard has more maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (2 TB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    2 TB vs 128 GB
  • More modern memory type
    This motherboard uses a more modern memory type than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4).
    DDR5 vs DDR4
  • 4 more memory slots
    This motherboard has more memory slots than the average motherboard (8 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
    8 vs 4
  • Supports ECC memory
    This motherboard supports ECC memory, while the average motherboard does not. 20.9% of motherboards support ECC memory.
  • 5 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    This motherboard has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (5 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
    5 vs 0
  • 5 more rear USB ports
    This motherboard has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (13 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    13 vs 8
  • 3 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    This motherboard has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
    4 vs 1
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports
    This motherboard has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C port/s.
    1 vs 0
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers
    This motherboard 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 vs 0
  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    This motherboard has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
    2 vs 1
  • 4x higher LAN speed
    This motherboard has a higher LAN speed than the average motherboard (10 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    10 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • More capable onboard audio
    This motherboard has a higher-end audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek S1220A vs Realtek ALC897).
    Realtek S1220A vs Realtek ALC897
  • 5 dB higher audio SNR
    This motherboard has a higher audio SNR than the average motherboard (120 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
    120 dB vs 115 dB
  • 2 more 3.5mm audio jacks
    This motherboard has more 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (5 vs 3). The average motherboard has 3 3.5mm audio jacks.
    5 vs 3
  • More basic chipset
    This motherboard uses a more basic chipset than the average motherboard (Intel W790 vs Intel B860).
    Intel W790 vs Intel B860
  • No Wi-Fi connectivity
    This motherboard does not support Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does. 50.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    This motherboard does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    This motherboard has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    0 vs 1
  • 6x more expensive
    ASUS Pro WS W790-ACE is more expensive than the average motherboard (£900 vs £150).
    £900 vs £150
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    This motherboard has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
    0 vs 1
  • 9.3% worse value for money
    ASUS Pro WS W790-ACE has worse value for money than the average motherboard (7.04 vs 7.7).
    7.04 vs 7.7
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    This motherboard has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    0 vs 1
  • 6x more expensive
    ASUS Pro WS W790-ACE is more expensive than the average motherboard (£900 vs £150).
    £900 vs £150
  • 9.3% worse value for money
    ASUS Pro WS W790-ACE has worse value for money than the average motherboard (7.04 vs 7.7).
    7.04 vs 7.7
  • More basic chipset
    This motherboard uses a more basic chipset than the average motherboard (Intel W790 vs Intel B860).
    Intel W790 vs Intel B860
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    This motherboard has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    This motherboard has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    0 vs 1
  • No Wi-Fi connectivity
    This motherboard does not support Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does. 50.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    This motherboard does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    This motherboard has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
    0 vs 1

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

8.0
Level1Techs
≈ estimated
23/05/2023
Hands-on review · platform and performance notes
Verdict
ASUS Pro WS W790-ACE is a solid workstation board with plenty of useful features, but it doesn't beat current Threadripper Pro.
Overview video
Overview video

Third-party reviews

What customers like about ASUS Pro WS W790-ACE

  • Five PCIe 5.0 x16 slots take several graphics or add-in cards.
  • It takes up to 2048 GB of DDR5 memory across eight slots.
  • A 10 Gbps LAN and two RJ45 ports suit fast network work.
  • Thirteen rear USB ports, four of them USB 3.2 Gen2, leave room for storage.
  • ECC memory support is an uncommon extra for data that must stay correct.
  • The POST code display and rear CMOS reset button help when a build will not start.

What customers don't like about ASUS Pro WS W790-ACE

  • There is no Wi-Fi, so a wired connection is needed.
  • There is no dual BIOS to fall back on if an update fails.
  • The M.2 sockets are not PCIe 5.0, so the newest fast drives will not run at full speed.
  • Two M.2 sockets limit how many fast drives you can fit.

Verdict

Five PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and room for 2048 GB of DDR5 memory set the ASUS Pro WS W790-ACE apart, and it is aimed at people who fill a machine with hardware. Eight memory slots, two RJ45 ports and a 10 Gbps LAN suit large file work on a busy network. Thirteen rear USB ports, four of them USB 3.2 Gen2, leave room for storage and peripherals. ECC memory support is an uncommon extra, and the POST code display helps find the cause when a build will not start. The trade-offs are no Wi-Fi and no dual BIOS, so a failed firmware update has no backup copy. It suits a studio, lab or engineering desk where the work is heavy and the hardware has to keep running.

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