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NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard Review

NZXT is back with another motherboard, which we will look into in our NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard Review. It sports an LGA 1700 socket to work smoothly with 12th and 13th Gen Intel CPUs. 

Based on the Z790 chipset, this motherboard is ready for the best gaming CPUs. Aside from these, it also integrates advanced features like Intel XMP 3.0 settings, four DDR5 slots, etc. 

To learn more about the motherboard, continue reading our NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard Review. We will discuss everything essential about its design, functions, performance, features, and specifications. But before we look deeper into these, let us check its packaging and contents. 

NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard Packaging

The front displays an image of the motherboard with its name and company branding. If you want to know more about the N7 Z790, you can flip the box to find a diagram with its parts indicated. You will also see a list of its specifications. 

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In this NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard Review, we will also list the items NZXT included in the package. Aside from the N7 Z790, here are the other accessories inside: 

  • Four SATA Cables (2 x 90° + 2 x 180°)
  • Three M.2 Screws 
  • An M.2 Standoff
  • Two Wireless Antennas
  • A User Manual

NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard Review – Design and Functionality

Let us continue our NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard Review and look into the product design and functions. 

The N7 Z790 has a design and build that works for the latest Z790 chipset from Intel. Although this is the case, the motherboard retains the earlier generation sockets featuring LGA 1700. NZXT kept this segment due to the increase in the size of these processors since Rocket Lakes. 

The chipset supports PCIe 5.0, offering an optimised storage performance than the earlier generation. Plus, it provides DDR5 support as well. Measurement-wise, the motherboard is 305 x 244mm, corresponding to its ATX format. 

What we have for this review is a white N7 Z790. However, you can opt for a black-coloured one instead. But whatever colour you choose, the motherboard is reinforced by a solidly-crafted steel case. 

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The N7Z790 sports a neutral design and does not feature an RGB system. Instead, it has connectors that work effectively with NZXT components, which integrate directly into the PCB.

Moving to its radiators, the N7 Z790 has three of these, with two positioned at the top of the motherboard. These cover the power supply stage and link via a screw. It means you will not find any heat pipes.

Why? Because the radiators are in direct contact with the MOSFETs via a thermal pad. You have an entirely passive system with this motherboard. 

The other heatsink covers the chipset and positions underneath the metal cover that conceals more than half the PCB. The spot where you can find the metal cover is perforated to allow quicker heat removal. 

The CPU fan, AIO headers, and two parts of the NZXT lighting system are above the northernmost heatsink. It is a feature recognisable to anyone who uses one of their Kraken AIOs. 

The bottom edge has two additional RGB headers. These elements add more flexibility in cable routing without stretching extension cables behind the motherboard tray. Aside from these, a power and reset switch is also present, allowing you to test your build before installation. 

There are three more system fan headers and two USB 2.0 front panel headers. The presence of these helps accommodate your cold air intake needs and for managing your AIO. 

Lastly, two ARGB headers conceal the edge connectors. These are essential if your lighting is outside the NZXT ecosystem. Moreover, front audio is also present for those who still use a 3.5mm headset. 

M.2 SSD slots

Next in our NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard Review are the motherboard SSD slots. You can remove three areas by unclipping these to find three M.2 SSD slots. Save for the slot beneath the socket, M.2 SSD slots are in place using two magnets.

These are removable via a Philips screwdriver.

The N7 Z790 features three slots for accommodating M.2 SSDs. These are 2242 / 2260 / 2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4 mode) and 2242 / 2260 / 2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4 & SATA mode). The last slot is 2242 / 2260 / 2280 / 22110 (PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)

Socket and PCIe of the NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard

The mounting holes for the LGA-1700 socket are the only visible features in the clear space surrounding it. This N7 Z790 motherboard can support up to four DDR5 memory modules. It also has dual channel memory kits reaching speeds up to 5000 MHz and a maximum capacity of 128 GB. 

However, there is potential for higher speeds beyond 5000 MHz.

In terms of PCIe ports, there are a total of five: 

  • A PCIe 5.0 in 16x
  • Two PCIe 4.0 x4
  • Two PCIe 3.0 x1

Additionally, the PCB features four NZXT RGB connectors and two 5v ARGB connectors.

Power Design

This motherboard also features a 16 + 1 + 2 phase power delivery with a single 8-pin EPS 12V. You will also find a 4-pin 12V power connector pairing to offer power to the CPU. Additionally, a 224-pin 12V power connector powers the rest of the N7 Z790 components. 

Rear I/O

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Its rear I/O is a practical element featuring three USB 3.2 G1 Type-A. It also has two USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A though no rear panel Type-C connections are present. 

Moreover, the rear panel features five 3.5mm audio jacks plus one S/PDIF optical output. The latter is powered using a Realtek ALC122000 HD audio codec that has two antenna ports. These are for unspecified WiFi 6E CNVi. 

The rear panel features one HDMI video output with a Realtek RTL 8125BG 2.5 GbE controller.

NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard PCB

There is a high chance ASRock outsourced the PCB design for the N7 Z790. And if that is the case, selecting this motherboard is a wise choice due to the reputation of ASRock.

This motherboard features a 16 + 1 + 2 (vcore/vccgt/vccin) power supply configuration. Then, there are 16 phases in the CPU section using an RAA-229131 controller, plus eight of these are in parallel.

All 16 MOSFETs are ISL99360. These are the same as those used by ASRock on other models. Therefore, the power stage can handle the Core i9-13900K without issues.

Key Features of the NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard

What makes the N7 Z790 from NZXT a good motherboard? Why is it better than other products that use the same chipset? We will discuss its product features to help you determine if this product is worth purchasing.

Innovative Design of the NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard

The N7 Z790 offers superior aesthetics without compromising the build experience. In addition, it has an integrated rear I/O and optimally positioned headers to make cable management more convenient.

Stunning Craftsmanship

With the stunning craftsmanship of the N7 Z790, you can build an attractive PC that can deliver excellent performance. It has three M.2 connectors for adequate storage, WiFi 6E, 16+1+2 DrMOS power phase design, and more. These features combined allow you to enjoy a high-quality PC build that performs exceptionally.

Impressive Lighting and Powerful Control

The N7 Z790 has lighting headers that support 5V ARGB and RGB accessories from all manufacturers. Also, it is compatible with the NZXT RGB and Fan Controller. Furthermore, it provides intuitive control of the six RGB lighting channels.

Supports the Latest Processors

This motherboard supports the latest Intel CPUs and has all the essential features for building a modern computer. It works with 12th and 13th Generation Intel processors, including i5, i7 Core, and i9 Core.

You can choose from a full white or black cover that seamlessly blends with your build. Plus, it has a built-in fan and lighting controls which you can control via NZXT CAM.

Specifications

The N7 Z790 works with Windows 11/10 64-bit and has a 3-year warranty. It sports an ATX factor and uses the Intel Z790 chipset, hence, its name. 

Memory-wise, the motherboard has four DDR5 DIMM slots and a dual-channel memory architecture. Also, its total memory support is 128GB DDR5, and it supports the Intel XMP 3.0.

On its wireless, LAN, and audio specifications, the product supports dual-band WiFi 6E. Then, it uses Bluetooth V5.2, a Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5G LAN, and a Realtek ALC1220 codec.

Hands-on with the NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard

We will discuss our hands-on experience and test results in this section of our NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard Review. But before that, we will focus on the BIOS and the NZXT CAM. 

BIOS

NZXT has been an affiliate of ASRock since the Z490 motherboard of the former, and their partnership continues today. Hence, NZXT models its BIOS after ASRock models. It also provides all the essentials to maximise the performance of the processor and memory kit.

Flashing the BIOS

Before testing the motherboard, we flashed the NZXT BIOS to use its most recent version. First, we pressed the F6 key to reach Advanced Mode, which provides access to all parameters. Next, we chose the Tool tab and then selected Instant Flash.

We liked the convenience of flashing the BIOS of this motherboard. Specifying the location of the BIOS on the USB key was unnecessary since the BIOS scans the key instead. It is a highly efficient process, and it finished identifying the BIOS on our USB key within three seconds.

After the previous step, the BIOS notified about the motherboard rebooting before starting the BIOS flash. Once done, we accessed the latest BIOS version to see what it offers.

The NZXT BIOS had a simple yet highly organised interface. Each section was precisely and easily distinguishable. 

Of course, the Overclocking portion of BIOS was the most interesting since it featured numerous sections. These include CPU, Voltage, and Memory. Also, it had three different profiles for saving and loading when needed.

The CPU section allowed the modification of the E-Core multiplier and P-Core values. In the Memory area, the BIOS offers options for adjusting timings and sub-timings manually.

The third important section under Overclocking is Voltages, which we also tweaked while overclocking our system. There are five primary voltages, which include: 

  • CPU System Agent Voltage
  • Memory Controller Voltage
  • IVR Transmitter VVDQ Voltage
  • DRAM VVD Voltage
  • DRAM VVDQ Voltage

Activating the XMP Profile

Like most motherboards, the N7 Z790 did not automatically set the parameters of our memory kit after installation. It is another reason why we needed to access the BIOS.

We went to the DRAM Configuration section under Overclocking before we selected Load XMP Profile. Next, we activated Profile 1 and saved the changes before rebooting the motherboard to load the profile. We also returned to this section to ensure that it started.

Note that failing to activate the profile affects the performance in all areas. It will not exceed the 4800 MHz frequency when using a CL40 memory kit. 

So, always remember to activate the XMP profile when overclocking. We often returned to this section of the BIOS while using the motherboard to do more tweaking.

Load-line Calibration in the NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard BIOS

Load-line Calibration (LLC) is a feature in the BIOS that offers additional voltage to the processor to prevent voltage fluctuations. It maintains the voltage at IDLE and LOAD modes, making it an essential element when overclocking the processor.

In LLC, the BIOS is adjustable from levels 1 to 5. These levels help keep the voltage as consistent as possible. For example, opting for Level 1 maintains the most constant and stable voltage possible when the processor is under load.

Other BIOS Tabs

The other tabs in the BIOS provide access to the management options of the processor, SSD, and chipset. It also has a monitoring section and settings for each fan connected to the N7 Z790. 

The last options are defining the boot sequence and saving & rebooting the motherboard.

NZXT CAM

NZXT CAM is the proprietary software for managing NZXT products, including the N7 Z790. Aside from customising the fans and RGB settings of the N7 Z790, it offers multiple control options for other components. 

With NZXT CAM, you can monitor the stats of your PC with this software. It shows the current FPS, CPU & GPU temperature, CPU & GPU load, and time played. Furthermore, it lets you control the RGB of peripherals and tweak system settings for optimised performance. Also, it allows syncing the lighting and fans with audio cues in thousands of supported games.

NZXT CAM has an excellent feature named Smart Scheduling. It allows customising lighting and fan behaviour in different timeframes.

We were impressed when we used NZXT CAM while testing this motherboard. Its interface was simple and user-friendly, so finding all the settings we needed was quick. The software was also fast and efficient, which made customising our system settings enjoyable. 

Performance of the NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard

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NZXT still maintains its tradition of providing powerful models with a distinctive appearance. We have personally used the N7 Z790 for professional and leisure purposes, and it has performed flawlessly.

It is satisfying to note that this motherboard is not only notable for its visually-striking appearance. The product is also excellent for its high-quality performance. 

Our processor flawlessly worked when we tested it after configuring BIOS. We were impressed with the stable performance of this motherboard under heavy loads. Plus, its voltages were consistent when we overclocked the CPU and memory.

Overall, we were satisfied with the N7 Z790 and did not have complaints since it delivered what NZXT promised. 

NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard Review Summary

NZXT maintains its momentum with the N7 Z790 after the highly successful predecessor, the N7 Z690. With this new motherboard, enthusiasts still recognise the brand positively. 

Aside from the outstanding design, it has a comprehensive BIOS that offers multiple configurations for in-depth system tweaking. NZXT improved on the N7 Z790 since it allows overclocking, unlike its predecessor. Additionally, its user-friendly software allows for easy monitoring and customisation of various settings.

When we tested this motherboard for our NZXT N7 Z790 Motherboard Review, we enjoyed its impressive performance. It delivered everything we wanted and did not encounter any issues during our tests. This motherboard is an efficient product that performs seamlessly and can handle heavy loads, making it ideal for modern builds.

The N7 Z790 is ideal for anyone who wants an efficient motherboard to handle demanding tasks. It is also best for those who want to maximise performance via CPU and memory overclocking. With the partnership of NZXT and ASRock, you can ensure that this motherboard is highly reliable.

To learn more about the N7 Z790 Motherboard, visit the official NZXT product page for additional information.