OVERALL
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
ALTERNATIVES

NZXT N9 Z890 Review | 107 Data compared

double-arrow
  • Avg. price in UK: ~£340
  • Avg. price in US: ~$410
  • CPU socket: LGA 1851
  • Chipset: Intel Z890
  • Form factor: ATX

NZXT N9 Z890 review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

8.7

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%

8.8

Technical Score

10.0%

6.9

User score

Excellent
8.8

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%

8.9

Memory

16.0%

9.5

Platform & Features

16.0%

9.1

Storage

15.0%

9.9

Network

13.0%

8.5

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.4

Expansion

8.0%

8.8

Power & Cooling

5.0%

9.2

Audio

Excellent
6.9

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%

4.3

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(62)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(31)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Good
  • 9.7
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    9.0

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    10

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    10

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    10

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    10

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • nzxt-n9-z890
  • nzxt-n9-z890
  • nzxt-n9-z890
  • nzxt-n9-z890
  • nzxt-n9-z890
  • nzxt-n9-z890
  • nzxt-n9-z890
  • nzxt-n9-z890
  • nzxt-n9-z890
nzxt-n9-z890
nzxt-n9-z890
nzxt-n9-z890
nzxt-n9-z890
nzxt-n9-z890
nzxt-n9-z890
nzxt-n9-z890
nzxt-n9-z890
nzxt-n9-z890

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 NZXT N9 Z890 is a flagship ATX motherboard designed for Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors on the LGA 1851 socket, featuring a high-end 20+1+1 phase power design with 110A Smart Power Stages and an 8-layer copper PCB. Its main characteristics include extensive connectivity with Wi-Fi 7, 5GbE LAN, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, and support for DDR5 memory speeds exceeding 8000 MT/s. The board's primary pros are its striking minimalist aesthetic with a full-metal cover, integrated RGB lighting controllable via NZXT CAM, and a robust cooling array that includes dual VRM fans and dedicated heatsinks for its five M.2 slots (one PCIe 5.0 and four PCIe 4.0). Notable cons include a reliance on software for advanced fan control due to a basic BIOS interface, potentially noisy VRM fans under default curves, and the requirement to remove the GPU to access the lower M.2 SSD heatsinks.

Technical Specifications of NZXT N9 Z890

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%

8.9

Memory

16.0%

9.5

Platform & Features

16.0%

9.1

Storage

15.0%

9.9

Network

13.0%

8.5

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.4

Expansion

8.0%

8.8

Power & Cooling

5.0%

9.2

Audio

8.8
NZXT N9 Z890 has a technical score of 8.85 points, which is higher than that of 95% 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%

4.3

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(62)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(31)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

6.9
NZXT N9 Z890 has a user score of 6.88 points, which is lower than that of 81.4% 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.
4.3
NZXT N9 Z890 has a popularity of 4.3 points, which is higher than 50.6% 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%

8.7

Overall score

40.0%

8.7

Price

8.7
NZXT N9 Z890 has a quality-to-price ratio of 8.7 points, which is higher than 91.6% 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

Nzxt
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 1851
NZXT N9 Z890 uses the LGA 1851 CPU socket, which is more advanced than that of 77.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 8.1% 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 Z890
NZXT N9 Z890 uses the Intel Z890 chipset, which is more advanced than that of 94.5% 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
NZXT N9 Z890 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

DDR5
NZXT N9 Z890 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

4
NZXT N9 Z890 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

192 GB
NZXT N9 Z890 supports up to 192 GB of memory, which is more than 72.6% of motherboards and equal to 10.1% 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
NZXT N9 Z890 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

8,600 MT/s
NZXT N9 Z890 supports memory speeds up to 8600 MT/s, which is higher than that of 93.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.6% 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

5
NZXT N9 Z890 has 5 M.2 sockets, which is more than 94.7% of motherboards and equal to 4.3% 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

1x PCIe 5.0 x4, 4x PCIe 4.0 x4
NZXT N9 Z890 offers 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 4x PCIe 4.0x4 for M.2 slot interfaces, which is faster than that of 97.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.9% 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
NZXT N9 Z890 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
NZXT N9 Z890 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
NZXT N9 Z890 supports NVMe RAID. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
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
NZXT N9 Z890 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
NZXT N9 Z890 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
NZXT N9 Z890 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/x0/x2
NZXT N9 Z890 uses x16/x0/x2 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is less flexible than that of 70% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.2% 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
NZXT N9 Z890 supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% 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

12
NZXT N9 Z890 has 12 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 93% of motherboards and equal to 5.5% 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

21
NZXT N9 Z890 has 21 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 95% of motherboards and equal to 2.7% 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

3
NZXT N9 Z890 has 3 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 96.6% of motherboards and equal to 2.7% 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

4
NZXT N9 Z890 has 4 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 95.8% of motherboards and equal to 2.7% 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

1
NZXT N9 Z890 has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is more than 81.7% of motherboards and equal to 18.1% of motherboards.
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

5 Gbps
NZXT N9 Z890 supports LAN speeds up to 5 Gbps, which is higher than that of 90.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 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
NZXT N9 Z890 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
NZXT N9 Z890 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 7 (802.11be)
NZXT N9 Z890 supports Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), which is newer than that of 88.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 11.3% 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 ALC4082
NZXT N9 Z890 uses the Realtek ALC4082 audio codec, which is more advanced than that of 96.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 3.1% 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
NZXT N9 Z890 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
NZXT N9 Z890 supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
headphone amp on rear port.
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

2
NZXT N9 Z890 has 2 3.5mm audio jacks, which is fewer than 88.6% of motherboards and equal to 11.1% 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

20+1+1
NZXT N9 Z890 has 20+1+1 VRM phases, which is more than 95.9% of motherboards and equal to 0.2% 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
NZXT N9 Z890 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

7
NZXT N9 Z890 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
NZXT N9 Z890 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
NZXT N9 Z890 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

NZXT N9 Z890 vs the average motherboard

  • 3 more M.2 sockets
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (5 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

    NZXT N9 Z890 has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (5 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.5 vs 2
  • Newer CPU socket
    NZXT N9 Z890 has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,851 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

    NZXT N9 Z890 has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,851 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.LGA 1851 vs LGA 1151
  • 5 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster USB-A ports for storage or accessories.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2

    NZXT N9 Z890 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.6 vs 1
  • 4 more rear USB ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (12 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

    NZXT N9 Z890 has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (12 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.12 vs 8
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    NZXT N9 Z890 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

    NZXT N9 Z890 has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR5 vs DDR4
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    NZXT N9 Z890 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

    NZXT N9 Z890 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
  • More VRM phases
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (20+1+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    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

    NZXT N9 Z890 has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (20+1+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.20+1+1 vs 10
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 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.
    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

    NZXT N9 Z890 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
  • Newer CPU socket
    NZXT N9 Z890 has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,851 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Integrated I/O shield
    NZXT N9 Z890 has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • Includes POST code display
    NZXT N9 Z890 has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    NZXT N9 Z890 has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • Better motherboard chipset
    NZXT N9 Z890 has better motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z890 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • Includes onboard power button
    NZXT N9 Z890 has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    NZXT N9 Z890 has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • 4 newer release date
    NZXT N9 Z890 has a newer release date than the average motherboard (2,025 vs 2,021). The average motherboard was released in 2,021.
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    NZXT N9 Z890 has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 50% more maximum memory capacity
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (192 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • 87% higher maximum RAM speed
    NZXT N9 Z890 has a higher maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (8,600 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 74.3% higher overclocked RAM speed
    NZXT N9 Z890 has a higher overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (8,600 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • 3 more M.2 sockets
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (5 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • Faster M.2 slot interfaces
    NZXT N9 Z890 has faster M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 5.0x4, 4x 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.
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    NZXT N9 Z890 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
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more PCIe 4.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slot/s.
  • 5 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • 4 more rear USB ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (12 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 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.
  • 2 more rear USB-C ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 6 more total USB connections
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (21 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 3 more total USB-C connections
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (4 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    NZXT N9 Z890 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 USB4 40Gbps ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more USB4 40Gbps ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB4 40Gbps port/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers
    NZXT N9 Z890 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.
  • 2 more Thunderbolt 4 ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more Thunderbolt 4 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 Thunderbolt 4 port/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers
    NZXT N9 Z890 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.
  • 2x higher LAN speed
    NZXT N9 Z890 has a higher LAN speed than the average motherboard (5 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    NZXT N9 Z890 supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    NZXT N9 Z890 supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • Better audio codec
    NZXT N9 Z890 has better audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC4,082 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • More VRM phases
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (20+1+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
  • 2 more fan headers
    NZXT N9 Z890 has more fan headers than the average motherboard (7 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.

Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling
  • No TPM connector
    NZXT N9 Z890 does not have a TPM connector, while the average motherboard does. 86.7% of motherboards include a TPM connector.
  • No multi-GPU support
    NZXT N9 Z890 does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    NZXT N9 Z890 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
    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (3 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
  • 2 fewer USB 2.0 ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • 3 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (2 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • No multi-GPU support
    NZXT N9 Z890 does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
    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

    NZXT N9 Z890 does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
  • 3 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (2 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 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

    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (2 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.2 vs 5
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    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

    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (3 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

    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (3 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.3 vs 4
  • 2.13x more expensive
    NZXT N9 Z890 is more expensive than the average motherboard (£340 vs £160).
    NZXT N9 Z890 is more expensive than the average motherboard (£340 vs £160).£340 vs £160
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
    What it is: The number of 4-pin RGB headers available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to connect more standard RGB lighting devices.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=2

    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
    What it is: The number of PS/2 ports on the motherboard rear I/O.
    When it matters: When you want support for older keyboards or mice.

    Importance: LOW

    NZXT N9 Z890 has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.0 vs 1
  • 16.3% lower user score
    NZXT N9 Z890 has a lower user score than the average motherboard (6.88 vs 8.000).
    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.
    NZXT N9 Z890 has a lower user score than the average motherboard (6.88 vs 8.000).6.88 vs 8
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Expansion
Ports & USB
Audio
Power & Cooling

Graphic comparison of NZXT N9 Z890 and

Attribute category
Attribute
No results found

Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
62 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
31 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about NZXT N9 Z890?

  • Striking minimalist design with full-metal covers and extensive integrated RGB lighting
  • Robust 20+1+1 power phase delivery (110A) ideal for high-end Intel Core Ultra 200S processors
  • Modern connectivity including Wi-Fi 7, 5Gb Ethernet, and dual Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps) ports
  • Generous storage options with five M.2 slots (one PCIe 5.0 and four PCIe 4.0) without shared bandwidth issues
  • Effective cooling for VRMs and NVMe drives using thick thermal pads and high-density heatsinks
  • Recent price reductions have made it a significantly better value compared to its launch price

What customers dislike about NZXT N9 Z890?

  • BIOS (based on ASRock) lacks a graphical UI for fan curve adjustment, forcing users to use NZXT CAM software
  • VRM fans can be loud and aggressive by default, often requiring manual tuning to reach silent levels
  • Lacks modern tool-free 'EZ-DIY' features for some heatsinks and the top M.2 slot, still requiring screws
  • PCIe lane management prioritizes M.2 storage over the x16 slot, which may limit high-performance multi-GPU setups
  • Single large lower heatsink requires removing the graphics card to access the secondary M.2 SSDs
  • M.2 heatsinks lack underside cooling for double-sided SSD modules

Video reviews

Compare NZXT N9 Z890 with

VS
VS

Compare