ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-I Gaming WiFi REVIEW: MINI-ITX Alder Lake Perfection?

[@dovahkiin777s]

With prices now around 180 2 years later it's a really good option

[@CrazyTechLab]

It's an awesome board. Pair it with a 14700K and microcode patch and it's an awesome combo

[@MCjohcu]

@@CrazyTechLab it supports 14th gen? I thought it was only up to 13th?

[@CrazyTechLab]

@@MCjohcu Nope every Z690 board will support 12th,13th and 14th Gen CPUs. It might need a BIOS update though.

[@andyd7728]

12700k for 200 USD is clear winner

[@clarkkent1922]

I got this open box from ebay at $140.00 Nov 2024.

[@marcom.7995]

I have this board and it Over Clocks my DDR5 Ram all the way up to 7600...With just the XMP2 click... Crazy! OLOy DDR5 RAM 32GB (2x16GB) 7600 MHz CL36 1.45V -- Running a i9 14900KF (5700 of Heavy Loads 6200 on light loads Only 3 of the P Cores)... I like this Chip...

[@merkedgg6322]

This is the exact information I was looking for I got a 14900k also but can’t over clock due to b760 mb what kind wattage are you able to pull with this little board ?

[@ZacharyMorrison-j6w]

That's awesome so far I can't get anything above 6800mhz stable with a 12700kf

[@TurboD16z6]

20 minutes, I came here just to see if it has a backplate. Would have taken less than 5 seconds.

[@Ray-bn7hr]

Will it work fine with 13 gen intel chipsets? I am looking at itx boards with ddr5 support and the z-790 boards are triple the price .

[@CrazyTechLab]

Yes but you might need to use bios flashback to update it so it can use a 13th gen CPU. The bios on it might be old. If you get one secondhand then definitely get the owner to update it if possible. But update in the bios using bios flashback is usually pretty straightforward.

[@ScumAndVillains]

Got this one a few days ago for my NZXT H1 V2 build and it's amazing. I have it built with an i7-12700k, DDR5 5200 1x32gb Kingston Fury Beast, 2 x M.2 980 Pro Samsung 2tb and Asus TUF RTX3080ti and al works awesomely. Highly recommended.

[@CrazyTechLab]

Sounds like an awesome rig!

[@ZacharySound]

I got one last month 12700k, 32GB G.Skill Ripjaw DDR-5 running at 6000, 1 TB SK Hynix NVME Purple, EVGA 3080 FTW3 you can feel the power coming out of the little Q58 Lian Li case lol Gonna return the 3080 to Amazon and get the AMD 7900 XTX when it is released in Dec.

[@CrazyTechLab]

@@ZacharySound Nice! Yeah is a bit toasty. Airflow isn't actually that great in the Q58 - the top mesh vent holes are very small and widely-spaced. Definitely considering the full mesh upgrade on mine!

[@cieuxlux9617]

@@CrazyTechLab I recommend setting the top as intake - ordering 140mm (or 180mm) dust filters - and setting the bottom fan as exhaust. You can also purchase a small, slim, 120mm fan and attach it to the interior panel with double-sided sticky pads as another exhaust. It's the ideal setup for the Q58.

[@MD-sc1jk]

Great Review..! I am in the process of building a PC with this board . Do you happen to have a list of air coolers ( heatsinks) that can be use with this board?

[@asadnawaz9985]

My question too ... Can't seem to find any air coolers specifically for lga 1700 yet ... I guess I'll just make the PC without it and add it later?

[@ParallaxEffect]

@@asadnawaz9985 there are more and more now - almost all will come with a retrofit if you bug the support channels, and some (like the DH15s I just bought from amazon) comes with compatibility in the box. but i guess you know this now since it's been a month!

[@tommynguyen8620]

@@ParallaxEffect I suspect the issue isn't LGA1700 compatibility. It's physical interference with the protrusions surrounding the socket - especially so for low profile coolers that would likely be used in ITX builds.

[@yoriisoet]

It is backwards compatible with LGA1200 coolers, just read the manual lol

[@bigwavemax]

Can you recommend an AIO that fits? Seems quite a few clash with all the surroundings. Ek calls out removing the m.2 heat sink and using their lower profile model. Cheers.

[@CrazyTechLab]

Yep working on a video as we speak

[@kaankrsln]

What exactly clearence of the cpu cooler area?

[@numberl6]

i wish there was a DDR4 version

[@ZacharySound]

These British tech KZbinr's explain things so much better.

[@HartLarsson]

Hi, have you noticing some rattling sound from the mini fan during working? You think there is a way to substitute the mini fan with something more silent?

[@appleship4369]

if i connect the xdr apple monitor to that thunderbolt 4 output will i have the performance of my rtx 3080 or the performance of my cpu graphics... thx

[@zGunBLADEz]

you can switch backwards the usb dongle thingy with the sata ports.. but bad design

[@cuzzinbpoty6069]

Wrong the data cable include perfectly angle to the outside of the board.

[@MichalOlber]

Great review of this motherboard. I'm courios about low profile coolers that are compatible with this 🙂

[@lenfantterribleX]

Nice review, what ram model are you using with this board?

[@CrazyTechLab]

I've tried both Kingston Fury and Corsair Dominator DDR5, both 5200MHz

[@ZacharyMorrison-j6w]

Team group 7200mhz 34-42-42-84 turned down to 6800mhz I just got the board a week ago and am still learning how to tune ddr5 with alder lake

[@skweetis]

Thoughts on Intel 12th gen K processors having sucking up (and thus having to dissipate) 240+ watts? My thought is that's not a SFF PC, that's an ez-bake oven. Other review sites had it hitting 74C with a Noctua DH-15 on it.

[@CrazyTechLab]

Depends on the power limits. I’ve had a 10980XE in a SFF PC before now. Now that’s a hot CPU but it’s doable. If you push the power limits or OC then yeah it can get toasty. But 12600K is where it’s all at. My system drew like 20W more than with the 5600X. I’ve also seen results at Igores Lab that show 12th gen using a lot less power than AMD in games. Remember that 240W draw is a worst case scenario with all cores loaded. I don’t know about you but my PC spends 0.00001% of its life at that kind of extreme. Food for thought

[@LukeRambally]

Is there any RGB on the board itself? Like the x570 itx?

[@Ptrmrkks]

I have the z590 version of this and I love it ...bthinking of upgrading already

[@CrazyTechLab]

Is a fair bit more expensive, but I found the heatsinks to be easier to work with and there's slightly more room around the CPU socket. Still has low profile cooler compatibility issues due to the heatsink heights but at least a few more things fit.

[@unknown-sj1zc]

so far, all three z690 itx mobos (asus, gigabyte, asrock) dont have thermal probe, which forced me to get an Aquacomputer quadro. That's sad, I really think asus with that daughter board design can and should come up with a upgrade kit for water cooling crowds. Should be easy with those two type c ports right?

[@CrazyTechLab]

I completely agree. Would have swayed the decision for me as I use it on its AM4 sister board in my current rig. It's not as good as having an Aquacomputer controller but it's nice to have as a free feature, especially given the price of the board. As you say, there's plenty of space for it too

[@Tom--Ace]

I got a quadro too - my z390 mini itx didnt have it and this one doesnt, got sick of trying to get a thermal probe port and just went with the quadro

[@unknown-sj1zc]

@@CrazyTechLab I agree. Even if not free, maybe sell it as an accessory (like a different daughter board using the same two type c connector) would be acceptable. Now the only option is to get an external hub which adds unnecessary cables and takes up valuable space in an itx build.

[@unknown-sj1zc]

@@Tom--Ace me too, now I have to struggle to fit an extra piece of equipment in my fully jam itx case

[@ZacharyMorrison-j6w]

Just picked this board up a couple of weeks ago for $159 and so far so good I can't get the ram stable above 6800.hz with a 12700kf

[@CrazyTechLab]

Steal! New or used?

[@nightjarrr]

did you have any issues with chipset temperature? running constantly ~63-70 c without any apps open.

[@Tuxinno]

would this work well with a 12900ks because i found a bundle with warranty for 300 dollars and a year long warranty

[@ZacharyMorrison-j6w]

Yes it would work well just make sure you have good cooling and don't pay attention to single core boost clocks and do an all core lock with a low voltage

[@THausK]

I can only use a DDR5 RAM with this board, right? The i5 12600k would be a great combo for gaming I think.

[@CrazyTechLab]

Yeah sadly so. Is a bit more expensive. Might be worth waiting for the B690 chipset or whatever it turns out to be as it might well stick to DDR4. Totally go for the 12600K. Unless you need the extra multithread performance it’s by far the better option especially for an ITX rig

[@THausK]

@@CrazyTechLab thanks so I will go with the i5 12600k. Do you know if we will see the B boards in this year, too?

[@Outmind01]

@@THausK I think B boards arrive in Q1 2022.

[@knightninja8714]

Is there a mini ITX AMD motherboard that also has dual M.2s sandwiched in the front?

[@CrazyTechLab]

No all the Asus ones have the second slot on the rear and no one else has a double stack afaik.

[@ajnmorisecord2051]

Do you know what speed the Thunderbolt4 ports run at when you use them as USB? (I've heard since implementations are limited to 10Gbps, others 20Gbps)

[@winkawak]

will this fit meshlicious itx tower?

[@wizzawiztech5385]

Awesome review dude thanks! Ahh man shame it's so expensive! I was lining this up with the 12600K after watching your review! Guess I'll have to wait for the B690 version or something!

[@buestad]

Will this board work if you remove the upper M.2 PCB? I only need one, and removing the upper (M.2_1) will leave room for bigger CPU coolers

[@marcaosebba0]

Hey, could you please name the coolers that you have tested and which works please? Just acquired mine and need help! I was expecting to use a fume 2 or mugen 5 on my i5 12600k in a nr200 case! Cable management is gonna be hell.

[@Outmind01]

Could this board run a stock watercooled 12900K without melting everything else inside the PC? That's the only combo that comes to mind that justifies the price.

[@CrazyTechLab]

I actually carried out all my 12 Gen testing using this board including the i9 so I have absolutely no problem recommending it. Also it’s worth remembering that the power consumption only goes skyhigh on full load with all cores loaded. At low to medium loads including in games it’s actually fairly power efficient compared to AMD CPUs looking at other peoples benchmarks. You just have to see yourself how often your CPU will be under maximum load across all cores. For me it’s probably a tiny fraction of the time my PC is on makes a bit more noise during that time then so be it really.

[@Outmind01]

@@CrazyTechLab Thanks for the info. That's a fun typo as I don't see what the user's hygiene habits have to do with CPU performance xD.

[@CrazyTechLab]

@@Outmind01 Got to love speech to text!

[@bennyx1281]

Would this fit ok in the MESHLICIOUS case ??

[@CrazyTechLab]

Yes no problem at all.

[@bennyx1281]

@@CrazyTechLab thank you 🙏

[@gsanjeevkumar]

Can you please build a developer Computer ITX with no Graphics Card. i9 12th Generation. Use Case: Web Development, NodeJS, Docker Desktop etc., (NO Games). Thanks

[@GJBedrin]

Does this board have Bluetooth? Just wondering cause the spec page doesn't really mention it

[@CrazyTechLab]

Yes Bluetooth 5.2

[@cuzzinbpoty6069]

Asus just make best motherboard at any platform!

[@jacquesvanderlinde5562]

Could you please check if Noctua Low profile coolers (NH-l12 /NH-l12S / NH-l12 Ghost S1) will fit this board? Previous Strix boards had issues

[@CrazyTechLab]

It’s a no with the NH-L12S just too big to fit amongst the heat sinks.

[@ahmadnaser8527]

Would i still need to get CPU cooler for this since it already has VRM cooling or?

[@CrazyTechLab]

Always need a CPU cooler.

[@allansh828]

that tiny SATA daughter board is exactly what sandwich-layout cases need. The usual SATA port would directly face the PSU. And having M.2 in the back would make it directly face the backplane of the GPU. This board reverses all the bad traits of ASRock Z570 itx. I don't even care about perf of AlderLake. I swapped out my ryzen just for this board.

[@CrazyTechLab]

Some good points there! Which case are you using?

[@IrfanullahJan]

Got it for 200CAD in 2024

[@RoMee651]

Easy pass, air cooler compatibility SUCKS with this board. Anyone who knows anything about SFF will know that's a top priority with itx MB.

[@CrazyTechLab]

I do, my main rig has been ITX for 12 years and I've built dozens for magazines and websites. I just don't have LGA1700 mounting kits - they're in short supply. The board's layout is also different to the Z590 version - CPU socket area clearance is better and the Corsair waterblock I used for testing fitted this board but not the Z590-I. Can't comment on air cooler clearance - I'd wait for proper LGA1700 kits and the usual SFF coolers and someone that has them

[@kennysee1878]

Hi, can the ek-basic 240 AIO fit this motherboard?

[@CrazyTechLab]

Given I can fit the massive Corsair XC7 RGB Pro waterblock on it as well as Asetek AIOs with side-mounted tubes, I'd be 99.99% certain it would fit. It's mainly low profile coolers that have issues.

[@aldwinrayjimenez]

Would a noctua u12a fit in this?

[@CrazyTechLab]

Will check for you

[@josuecc7843]

@@CrazyTechLab So did it fit ?

[@metalhandx]

No backplate ? A poor finishing.

[@franciszekfrankiewicz339]

Im considering this board for a new custom loop build. Im going to be using a 3080Ti with an EKWB WB that comes with a backplate. Is there enough clearance for the backplate part of the GPU? I recently did a build w/ a x570 crosshair impact using a 6900xt w/ backplate and had to cut into the fan shroud to make it work.

[@Ptrmrkks]

Is this ddr 5 ?

[@CrazyTechLab]

Yes DDR5 only on this one

[@jonwnye]

I'm scoffing! Thanks for the review regardless

[@CrazyTechLab]

Tell me about it. Can imagine a lot of SFF peeps salivating over the 12600K but not wanting spend more than the same again on a board...

[@vintyprod]

@@CrazyTechLab exactly! the prices are absurd!

[@vladimirljubopytnov5193]

the daughter board makes sense as it is, there are cases where the side facing ports are blocked. I would not cry about not having sata whatsoever in an itx build though. This whole board does not make sense. There is a lot of connectivity paid for in the chipset and there is no place for it. I'm a happy owner of b560 version of this board, the price was right unlike this...

[@firstranger7282]

This board is hideous lol. Z590-I was sooo much better. And no, there was nothing fiddly about taking the SSD rad off (taken you have straight hands).

[@CrazyTechLab]

Got both boards right here. They look nearly identical! New one is definitely much easier getting at both M.2 ports. It's a mucj slicker arrangement but both work well.

[@sidthekid1061]

What memory and storage would you recommend for it? @CrazyTechLab

[@appleship4369]

if i connect the xdr apple monitor to that thunderbolt 4 output will i have the performance of my rtx 3080 or the performance of my cpu graphics... thx

[@GAmbrose]

It will use the CPUs iGPU