GIGABYTE Z790 S WiFi DDR4
GIGABYTE Z790 S WiFi DDR4 Specifications Review
GIGABYTE Z790 S WiFi DDR4 by MICRO CENTER is a Standard-ATX form factor motherboard based on the high-end Z790 chipset and LGA 1700 socket, offering the most advanced features and connectivity options. It is designed to support DDR4 memory, with 4 slots, a maximum capacity of 128 GB, and an overclocking speed of up to 5333 MHz.
VRM Quality
The GIGABYTE Z790 S WiFi DDR4 has a basic VRM configuration, delivering 60 A across 8 phases. Best for low-power CPUs (≤65 W TDP). Using high-wattage chips or overclocking could cause severe thermal issues and instability. Recommended for budget builds, office workstations, and media PCs.
See the VRM Appropriate CPU Specification Table at the bottom of this page for recommended CPU options.
Expansion and Storage Overview
The GIGABYTE Z790 S WiFi DDR4 offers a balanced expansion and storage configuration with PCIe 4.0 support, meaning it uses PCI Express 4.0, fast enough for modern GPUs and high-speed NVMe SSDs. It also includes 3 x16 slots . These PCIe slots are used to connect expansion cards — with the x16 slots typically reserved for graphics cards, while x8, x4, and x1 slots are used for devices like capture cards, sound cards, or network adapters.
For storage, this motherboard provides 3 M.2 slots (x4/x2) and 4 SATA ports. M.2 slots are high-speed connectors for modern NVMe SSDs, which are much faster than older storage, while SATA ports are used for traditional hard drives and 2.5-inch SSDs. Together, they allow you to mix fast primary storage with larger, more affordable drives for bulk data.
Connectivity Overview
This motherboard has essential connectivity features with wired Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip (2.5 Gbps/1 Gbps/100 Mbps) Ethernet wireless networking with the Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard, Bluetooth 5.1 is included for wireless peripherals. USB connectivity covers basic needs. Please refer to the specification table for details.
For video output, this motherboard includes HDMI version 2.1 , DisplayPort version 1.2 . These video outputs are intended for integrated graphics and will only function if your CPU includes integrated GPU capabilities.
Audio Quality
The motherboard includes a standard audio chipset (Realtek® Audio CODEC) that covers basic needs for casual listening. While adequate for everyday use with mainstream headphones or desktop speakers, discerning users may want to add a USB DAC or sound card for improved fidelity, especially for music production or high-end headphones. Additional features include optical S/PDIF output for clean digital audio, plus multiple audio jacks (6) for flexible connectivity.
Overall Quality and Value
GIGABYTE Z790 S WiFi DDR4 is a dependable choice with a respectable overall quality score of 54.80. It provides all the essential features and stable performance expected in a mainstream system, covering typical use cases without unnecessary extras.
This motherboard shows a 34.7% value score indicating less favorable price-to-performance compared to mainstream models. For budget-conscious buyers, there may be better value options available at this price point.
General Information
| Manufacturer | MICRO CENTER |
|---|---|
| Motherboard Name | GIGABYTE Z790 S WiFi DDR4 |
| Current Price Amazon | $300 |
| Amazon Price Updated | 3 hours, 55 minutes ago. |
| Motherboard Available | True |
| Chipset / Socket | Z790 / LGA 1700 |
| Form Factor | Standard-ATX |
VRM Configuration
| CPU Power Phases (Amps) | 8 (60 A) |
|---|---|
| Power Design | 8+1+1 |
Memory Information
| Type / Slots | DDR4 / 4 slots |
|---|---|
| Max Capacity / Max OC | 128 GB / 5333 MHz |
PCIe Slot Configuration
| Supported Version | PCIe 4.0 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot Size | Physical Slots | Gen4 | Gen3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| x16 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Storage Configuration
| M.2 Slot Count | 3 slots |
|---|---|
| M.2 Supported Lengths | 22110, 2280 |
| M.2 PCIe Modes | x4/x2 |
| SATA Ports | 4 |
Onboard Audio Features
| Audio Chipset | Realtek® Audio CODEC |
|---|---|
| Analog Audio Jacks | 6 jacks |
| Optical S/PDIF Output | ✔️ Present |
Motherboard Display Outputs
| HDMI Output | HDMI - Version 2.1 (Max: 4096x2160@60 Hz) |
|---|---|
| DisplayPort Output | DisplayPort - Version 1.2 (Max: 4096x2304@60 Hz) |
USB and Thunderbolt Connectivity
Rear USB Ports
| USB 2.0 Type-A (480 Mbps) | 5 |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (5 Gbps) | 2 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps) | 1 |
Front USB Ports
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10 Gbps) | 1 |
|---|
Internal USB Headers
| USB 2.0 Header (480 Mbps) | 4 |
|---|---|
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 Header (5 Gbps) | 2 |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 Header (10 Gbps) | 1 |
Networking Information
| Ethernet | Chipset: Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip (2.5 Gbps/1 Gbps/100 Mbps) LAN Ports: 1 |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi |
Version: Wi-Fi 802.11ac Bandwidth: 160MHz Frequency Bands: 2.4/5 GHz Antenna Connectors: 2 |
| Bluetooth |
Version: 5.1 |
Button Features
| Buttons |
Q-Flash Plus Reset Button |
|---|
Quality & Features
Additional Information
| RAM | Supports DDR4 speeds: 5333(O.C.) down to 2133 MT/s. Supports ECC Un-buffered DIMM 1Rx8/2Rx8 memory modules, but they operate in non-ECC mode. The CPU and memory configuration may affect the supported memory types, data rate (speed), and number of DRAM modules. |
|---|---|
| Display | Requires a CPU with integrated Intel® HD Graphics. Both DisplayPort and HDMI ports support HDCP 2.3. The HDMI ports are native HDMI 2.1 TMDS compatible. Graphics specifications may vary depending on CPU support. |
| Expansion | The primary PCIEX16 slot supports PCIe 4.0 and runs at x16. It can only support a graphics card or an NVMe SSD. The two other physical x16 slots (PCIEX1_1, PCIEX1_2) are connected to the chipset, support PCIe 3.0, and run at x1 speed. |
| Storage |
M.2 Slot Details:
|
| Audio | Supports High Definition Audio and 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel configurations. The functionality of an audio jack can be changed using the audio software, which is also used to configure 7.1-channel audio. |
| Networking | Wireless module: Intel Wireless-AC 9560. (Actual data rate may vary depending on environment and equipment.) |
| Buttons | The text mentions a reset button, a reset jumper, and a Clear CMOS jumper. |
| Dimensions | 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm |
Note: The specifications and descriptions above are extracted by AI to present the official manufacturer data in a clearer and more natural way for easier understanding. However, this AI-processed information may contain inaccuracies. Please verify all details by consulting the official manufacturer's information provided below.
GIGABYTE Z790 S WiFi DDR4 Compared to Motherboards with Similar Performance and Features
Motherboard Quality & Features per Price Table
| Motherboard (Desc) | Price (Desc) | Overall_Q (Desc) | VRM_Q (Desc) | Chipset (Desc) | Exp_Str (Desc) | Connect (Desc) | Audio (Desc) | Q&F/Price (Desc) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$111❗
|
↓
-14.9%
|
56.6%
|
43.0%
|
65.0%
|
69.0%
|
63.0%
|
43.0%
|
97.3%
|
|
|
$140❗
|
↑
53.1%
|
56.6%
|
24.0%
|
92.0%
|
67.0%
|
54.0%
|
46.0%
|
76.8%
|
|
|
$300
|
↓
-30.2%
|
54.8%
|
24.0%
|
92.0%
|
67.0%
|
45.0%
|
46.0%
|
34.7%
|
|
|
$436
|
0.0%
|
54.8%
|
43.0%
|
65.0%
|
60.0%
|
63.0%
|
43.0%
|
23.9%
|
|
|
$186
|
↑
0.6%
|
54.8%
|
32.0%
|
67.0%
|
74.0%
|
55.0%
|
46.0%
|
56.0%
|
|
|
$140
|
0.0%
|
54.6%
|
37.0%
|
65.0%
|
74.0%
|
54.0%
|
43.0%
|
74.1%
|
|
|
$126
|
0.0%
|
54.6%
|
14.0%
|
67.0%
|
100.0%
|
47.0%
|
45.0%
|
82.3%
|
|
|
$150
|
0.0%
|
54.6%
|
14.0%
|
67.0%
|
100.0%
|
47.0%
|
45.0%
|
69.2%
|
|
|
$138
|
0.0%
|
54.0%
|
34.0%
|
65.0%
|
74.0%
|
54.0%
|
43.0%
|
74.4%
|
Motherboard Comparison and Detail Specifications Table
| Specification | Perf Chart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price |
$111❗
|
↓
-14.9%
|
$140❗
|
↑
53.1%
|
$300
|
↓
-30.2%
|
$436
|
0.0%
|
$186
|
↑
0.6%
|
$140
|
0.0%
|
$126
|
0.0%
|
$150
|
0.0%
|
$138
|
0.0%
|
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| Manufacturer | MSI | GIGABYTE | MICRO CENTER | THFKLXT | ASUS | MSI | ASUS | ASUS | MSI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chip/Socket | B760M / LGA 1700 | Z790 / LGA 1700 | Z790 / LGA 1700 | B760M / LGA 1700 | B760 / LGA 1700 | B760 / LGA 1700 | B760M / LGA 1700 | B760M / LGA 1700 | B760 / LGA 1700 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Form | Micro-ATX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Micro-ATX | Standard-ATX | Standard-ATX | Micro-ATX | Micro-ATX | Standard-ATX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CPU Phases | 12 (75 A) | 8 (60 A) | 8 (60 A) | 12 (75 A) | 12 (50 A) | 12 (60 A) | 5 (55 A) | 5 (55 A) | 12 (55 A) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PWR Design | 12+1+1 | 8+1+1 | 8+1+1 | 12+1+1 | 12(50A)+1(60A)+1 | 12+1 | 5+1+1 | 5+1+1 | 12+1+1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mem Slots | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR4 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR5 | 4 / DDR4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Max Mem | 256 GB / 7800 MHz | 256 GB / 7600 MHz | 128 GB / 5333 MHz | 256 GB / 7800 MHz | 192 GB / 7200 MHz | 256 GB / 6800 MHz | 128 GB / 7200 MHz | 128 GB / 7200 MHz | 128 GB / 5333 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCIe | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 5.0 | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 4.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PCIe Slots | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen4 | 1x1 Gen3 | 1x16 Gen4 | 2x16 Gen3 | 1x16 Gen4 | 2x16 Gen3 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x4 Gen3 | 1x16 Gen5 | 1x16 Gen3 | 2x1 Gen3 | 2x16 Gen4 | 3x16 Gen3 | 4x16 Gen4 | 4x16 Gen4 | 2x16 Gen4 | 3x16 Gen3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M.2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SATA | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Audio | Realtek® ALC897 Codec | Realtek® Audio CODEC | Realtek® Audio CODEC | Realtek® ALC897 Codec | Realtek 7.1 Surround Sound Hi… | Realtek® ALC897 Codec | Realtek® ALC892/ALC897 | Realtek® ALC892/ALC897 | Realtek® ALC897 Codec | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S/PDIF | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HDMI | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ✔️ (2.1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DP | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.2) | ✔️ (1.2) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ✔️ (1.4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAN | Realtek® 2.5Gbps LAN (1 ports) | Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip… (1 ports) | Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN chip… (1 ports) | Realtek® 2.5Gbps LAN (1 ports) | 1 x Realtek 2.5Gb Ethern… (1 ports) | Realtek® RTL8125BG 2.5G … (1 ports) | 1 x Realtek 2.5Gb Ether… (1 ports) | 1 x Realtek 2.5Gb Ether… (1 ports) | Realtek® RTL8125BG 2.5G … (1 ports) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 802.11ac | Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BT | v5.3 | v5.3 | v5.1 | v5.3 | v5.2 | v5.3 | v5.2 | v5.2 | v5.3 | Rear USB |
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| USB Headers |
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| Front USB |
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VRM Appropriate CPU Specification Table
| CPU | Price | App_Performance | Game_Performance | TDP/Max | C/SC/T | L2/L3 Cache | Base/Boost | Code Name | GPU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$94
|
↓
-27.8%
|
22.2%
|
56.7%
|
58 W / 89 W | 4 / 0 / 8 | 1280.0 kB / 12.0 MB | 3.40 GHz / 4.50 GHz | Raptor Lake-S | None | |
|
$94
|
↓
-27.8%
|
22.2%
|
56.7%
|
60 W / 89 W | 4 / 0 / 8 | 1280.0 kB / 12.0 MB | 3.40 GHz / 4.50 GHz | Raptor Lake-S | UHD Graphics 730 | |
|
$135
|
0.0%
|
21.3%
|
53.0%
|
58 W / 89 W | 4 / 0 / 8 | 1280.0 kB / 12.0 MB | 3.30 GHz / 4.30 GHz | Alder Lake-S | None | |
|
$275
|
↑
63.6%
|
21.3%
|
53.0%
|
60 W / 89 W | 4 / 0 / 8 | 1280.0 kB / 12.0 MB | 3.30 GHz / 4.30 GHz | Alder Lake-S | UHD Graphics 730 |
Official Manufacturer Data
Memory:
4 x DDR4 DIMM sockets supporting up to 128 GB (32 GB single DIMM capacity) of system memory
Dual channel memory architecture
Support for ECC Un-buffered DIMM 1Rx8/2Rx8 memory modules (operate in non-ECC mode)
Support for non-ECC Un-buffered DIMM 1Rx8/2Rx8/1Rx16 memory modules
Support for Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory modules
(The CPU and memory configuration may affect the supported memory types, data rate (speed), and number of DRAM modules, please refer to "Memory Support List" on GIGABYTE's website for more information.)
Graphics:
- 1 x DisplayPort, supporting a maximum resolution of 4096x2304@60 Hz
* Support for DisplayPort 1.2 version and HDCP 2.3
- 1 x HDMI port, supporting a maximum resolution of 4096x2160@60 Hz
* Support for HDMI 2.1 version and HDCP 2.3.
** Support native HDMI 2.1 TMDS compatible ports.
(Graphics specifications may vary depending on CPU support.)
Storage:
- 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 22110/2280 PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 SSD support) (M2A_CPU)
Chipset:
- 2 x M.2 connectors (Socket 3, M key, type 22110/2280 PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 SSD support) (M2P_SB, M2M_SB)
- 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID5, and RAID 10 support for NVMe SSD storage devices
RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10 support for SATA storage devices
Expansion Slots:
- 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, supporting PCIe 4.0 and running at x16 (PCIEX16)
* The PCIEX16 slot can only support a graphics card or an NVMe SSD. If only one graphics card is to be installed, be sure to install it in the PCIEX16 slot.
Chipset:
- 2 x PCI Express x16 slots, supporting PCIe 3.0 and running at x1 (PCIEX1_1, PCIEX1_2)
USB:
- 1 x USB Type-C® port with USB 3.2 Gen 2 support, available through the internal USB header
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port (red) on the back panel
- 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (2 ports on the back panel, 2 ports available through the internal USB header)
- 1 x USB 2.0/1.1 port on the back panel
Chipset+2 USB 2.0 Hubs:
- 8 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (4 ports on the back panel, 4 ports available through the internal USB headers)
Internal I/O:
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
1 x CPU fan header
1 x CPU fan/water cooling pump header
3 x system fan headers
1 x system fan/water cooling pump header
2 x addressable LED strip headers
2 x RGB LED strip headers
3 x M.2 Socket 3 connectors
4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
1 x front panel header
1 x front panel audio header
1 x S/PDIF Out header
1 x USB Type-C® header, with USB 3.2 Gen 2 support
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header
2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers
1 x Trusted Platform Module header (For the GC-TPM2.0 SPI/GC-TPM2.0 SPI 2.0/GC-TPM2.0 SPI V2 module only)
1 x serial port header
1 x Q-Flash Plus button
1 x reset button
1 x reset jumper
1 x Clear CMOS jumper
Back Panel I/O:
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
5 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
2 x SMA antenna connectors (2T2R)
1 x DisplayPort*
1 x HDMI port*
1 x RJ-45 port
6 x audio jacks
WiFi:
- WIFI 802.11a, b, g, n, ac, supporting 2.4/5 GHz Dual-Band
- BLUETOOTH 5.1
- Support for 11ac 160MHz wireless standard
(Actual data rate may vary depending on environment and equipment.)
Audio:
High Definition Audio
2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
Support for S/PDIF Out
* You can change the functionality of an audio jack using the audio software. To configure
7.1-channel audio, access the audio software for audio settings.
Special Features:
* Available applications in GCC may vary by motherboard model. Supported functions of each application may also vary depending on motherboard specifications.
Support for Q-Flash
Support for Q-Flash Plus
Support for Smart Backup
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