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ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£340
  • Avg. price in US: ~$180
  • CPU socket: LGA 1700
  • Chipset: Intel Z790
  • Form factor: ATX

ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

7.1

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%

7.1

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Very good
7.1

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%

5.5

Memory

16.0%

8.6

Platform & Features

16.0%

7.4

Storage

15.0%

9.3

Network

13.0%

5.3

Ports & USB

8.0%

4.2

Expansion

8.0%

8.0

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.0

Audio

Very good
?

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%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 6.7
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    7.0

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    7.8

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    10

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    6.6

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • No image
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Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £340

Best rankings

?

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

Verdict

The ASUS Z790-AYW OC WIFI is an ATX motherboard designed specifically for memory overclocking, featuring the Intel LGA 1700 socket to support 14th, 13th, and 12th Gen processors. Its standout feature is a dual-DIMM memory layout that enables high-frequency DDR5 speeds of up to 8400+ MT/s, supported by a 12+1 phase DrMOS power delivery system and a 6-layer PCB. Connectivity includes three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and a Thunderbolt (USB4) header, while the physical design incorporates enlarged VRM heatsinks and M.2 thermal pads. Main pros include exceptional RAM overclocking potential and a comprehensive set of DIY-friendly features like BIOS FlashBack and M.2 Q-Latch. However, a significant con is the limitation to only two memory slots, which restricts total RAM capacity compared to standard four-slot boards.

Technical Specifications of ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi

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%

?

Memory

16.0%

?

Platform & Features

16.0%

?

Storage

15.0%

?

Network

13.0%

?

Ports & USB

8.0%

?

Expansion

8.0%

?

Power & Cooling

5.0%

?

Audio

7.1
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has a technical score of 7.05 points, which is higher than that of 64.3% 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%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
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.
1.0
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 77.9% 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%

7.1

Overall score

40.0%

8.7

Price

7.6
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has a quality-to-price ratio of 7.6 points, which is higher than 57% 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

Asus
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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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 Z790
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi uses the Intel Z790 chipset, which is more advanced than that of 77.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.5% 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

DDR5
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi uses DDR5 memory, which is newer than that of 64.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 35.3% 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

2
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has 2 Memory slots, which is fewer than 78.6% of motherboards and equal to 21.4% 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

96 GB
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi supports up to 96 GB of memory, which is less than 59.6% of motherboards and equal to 2.9% 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

5,600 MT/s
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi supports memory speeds up to 5600 MT/s, which is higher than that of 68.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.7% 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi supports NVMe RAID. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
Intel RST support
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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

0
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is equal to 68.5% 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

3
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has 3 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is more than 97.4% of motherboards and equal to 2.4% 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

x16/x4/x4/x1/x1
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi uses x16/x4/x4/x1/x1 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is more flexible than that of 87.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.6% of motherboards.
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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
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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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

17
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has 17 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 72.1% of motherboards and equal to 10.8% 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
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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

2.5 Gbps
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

?
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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.9% 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)

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), which is newer than that of 60.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 11.6% of motherboards.
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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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

?
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

yes
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi supports a headphone amp. 37% 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

12+1+1
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has 12+1+1 VRM phases, which is more than 64.7% of motherboards and equal to 4.5% 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

5
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has 5 fan headers, which is more than 35.8% of motherboards and equal to 14.5% 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
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

1 A
ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi supports up to 1 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 58.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 15.9% of motherboards.
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ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi vs the average motherboard

  • Newer DDR memory generation
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    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

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR5 vs DDR4
  • 3 more PCIe 4.0x16 slots
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more PCIe 4.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (3 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

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more PCIe 4.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slot/s.3 vs 0
  • Newer CPU socket
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.2 vs 1
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x4/x4/x1/x1 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane 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

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x4/x4/x1/x1 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.x16/x4/x4/x1/x1 vs x16/x1
  • Includes dual BIOS
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes two BIOS chips for redundancy or recovery.
    When it matters: When BIOS safety and recovery matter to you.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • Newer CPU socket
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • Includes onboard power button
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 21.7% higher maximum RAM speed
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has a higher maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (5,600 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 66.2% higher overclocked RAM speed
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has a higher overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (8,200 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • 1 more M.2 sockets
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • 3 more PCIe 4.0x16 slots
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more PCIe 4.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slot/s.
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x4/x4/x1/x1 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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 more total USB connections
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (17 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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 total USB-C connections
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
  • More VRM phases
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (12+1+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 1 more ARGB headers
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more ARGB headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.

Total
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Power & Cooling
  • No BIOS flashback support
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
    requires CPU/RAM
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z790 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
  • 25% less maximum memory capacity
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (96 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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.
  • No multi-GPU support
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
    Secondary slot is chipset-fed / reduced-width only.
  • 1 fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
  • 2 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    other video outputs only
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
  • More basic audio codec
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.7% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 61 mm wider
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi is wider than the average motherboard (305 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
  • 1 A lower pump header current limit
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has a lower pump header current than the average motherboard (1 A vs 2 A). The average motherboard provides pump header current of 2 A.
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
    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

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.2 vs 4
  • No BIOS flashback support
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
    requires CPU/RAM
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard can update BIOS without needing a fully installed or supported CPU to boot first.
    When it matters: When you may need to update BIOS before the system can boot.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
  • No multi-GPU support
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
    Secondary slot is chipset-fed / reduced-width only.
    What it is: Shows whether the board can run more than one graphics card in a supported multi-GPU configuration.
    When it matters: When you plan to run more than one graphics card.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
  • 2 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more standard USB ports with faster transfer speeds.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=4

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.2 vs 4
  • 25% less maximum memory capacity
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (96 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    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

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (96 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.96 GB vs 128 GB
  • More basic audio codec
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi 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
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    other video outputs only
    What it is: The number of DisplayPort video outputs on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to connect compatible displays through the rear I/O.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=1

    ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.0 vs 1
Total
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Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi?

  • Excellent memory overclocking potential, supporting DDR5 speeds up to 8400+ MT/s
  • 2-DIMM design provides enhanced signaling for easier high-frequency memory stability
  • Affordable entry point for users specifically focused on memory tuning and benchmarking
  • Clean silver-white aesthetic with a matching white PCB
  • User-friendly BIOS with intuitive features like AEMP II for easy memory optimization
  • Includes convenient hardware features like a BIOS Flashback button

What customers dislike about ASUS Z790 AYW OC WiFi?

  • Limited to only 2 RAM slots, which reduces total maximum memory capacity compared to 4-slot boards
  • Lack of high-speed connectivity such as WiFi 7, 10G LAN, or 20Gbps USB ports
  • Lacks integrated RGB lighting, which some users found disappointing for the price
  • The included Mediatek WiFi/Bluetooth module may have limited support in Linux environments
  • VRM cooling is adequate but may not be robust enough for extreme overclocking of flagship i9 processors
  • Fewer SATA ports and total expansion slots than competing Z790 boards

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