Quick notes
- In this comparison, we’ll pit the ROG Strix Z790-F against the ROG Strix Z790-H to determine which one is the best choice for gamers.
- The Z790-F has a slight edge in memory overclocking, as it can support speeds up to DDR5-7200 (OC), while the Z790-H can only support speeds up to DDR5-6400 (OC).
- It has a more powerful VRM, better memory overclocking support, more storage options, and a better audio codec than the ROG Strix Z790-H.
The ASUS ROG Strix Z790 series motherboards are the latest and greatest from ASUS, designed to power the latest 13th-gen Intel Core processors. In this comparison, we’ll pit the ROG Strix Z790-F against the ROG Strix Z790-H to determine which one is the best choice for gamers.
Chipset and Features
The ROG Strix Z790-F and Z790-H both use the Intel Z790 chipset, which supports the latest 13th-gen Intel Core processors. However, the Z790-F has a few extra features that the Z790-H does not, including:
- PCIe 5.0 support: The Z790-F has one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, which is essential for future-proofing your system for the latest graphics cards.
- 10Gb Ethernet: The Z790-F has a built-in 10Gb Ethernet port, which provides blazing-fast network speeds for online gaming and file transfers.
- Wi-Fi 6E support: The Z790-F has built-in Wi-Fi 6E support, which offers faster wireless speeds and lower latency than previous Wi-Fi standards.
VRM and Power Delivery
The VRM (voltage regulator module) is responsible for delivering power to the CPU. A good VRM is essential for overclocking and ensuring stable system performance.
The ROG Strix Z790-F has a 16+1-phase VRM with 90A power stages. This is a very powerful VRM that can easily handle even the most demanding overclocks.
The ROG Strix Z790-H has a 14+1-phase VRM with 80A power stages. This is still a good VRM, but it is not as powerful as the VRM on the Z790-F.
Memory Support
Both the ROG Strix Z790-F and Z790-H support up to 128GB of DDR5 memory. The Z790-F has a slight edge in memory overclocking, as it can support speeds up to DDR5-7200 (OC), while the Z790-H can only support speeds up to DDR5-6400 (OC).
Storage
The ROG Strix Z790-F has six SATA III ports and four M.2 slots. The Z790-H has four SATA III ports and three M.2 slots.
All of the M.2 slots on both motherboards support PCIe 4.0, which provides faster storage speeds than PCIe 3.0. The Z790-F has one M.2 slot that supports PCIe 5.0, which is the latest and fastest storage standard.
Audio
The ROG Strix Z790-F and Z790-H both have high-quality audio codecs that provide excellent sound quality. The Z790-F has a slight edge in audio performance, as it has a dedicated ESS ES9218 Quad DAC.
Rear I/O
The ROG Strix Z790-F and Z790-H have similar rear I/O panels, but there are a few key differences.
The Z790-F has an additional USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port, which provides faster data transfer speeds than USB 3.2 Gen 2. The Z790-F also has a DisplayPort output, which is useful for connecting to a monitor that does not have an HDMI input.
Recommendations
The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-F is the better choice for gamers who want the most features and the best performance. It has a more powerful VRM, better memory overclocking support, more storage options, and a better audio codec than the ROG Strix Z790-H.
However, the ROG Strix Z790-H is a good choice for gamers who want a more affordable motherboard with good performance. It has a solid VRM, good memory overclocking support, and plenty of storage options.
Questions You May Have
Q: Which motherboard is better for overclocking?
A: The ROG Strix Z790-F has a more powerful VRM than the Z790-H, which makes it better for overclocking.
Q: Which motherboard has more storage options?
A: The ROG Strix Z790-F has more storage options than the Z790-H, including one M.2 slot that supports PCIe 5.0.
Q: Which motherboard has better audio performance?
A: The ROG Strix Z790-F has a dedicated ESS ES9218 Quad DAC, which provides better audio performance than the Z790-H.