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ASRock Z890 Taichi

The technical specifications:

• SOCKET: LGA1851
• CPU (MAX SUPPORT): Intel Core Ultra Processors
• CHIP SET: Intel Z890
• DDR5 MEMORY: Up to 9600 MHz
• MEMORY CHANNEL: Dual Channel
• DIMM SLOTS: 4
• MAX MEMORY (GB): 256 GB
• PCI-E X16: 2
• PCI-E X4: 0
• PCI-E X1: 0
• SATA III: 4
• RAID: 0/1/5/10
• M.2 CASTLE: 6
• LAN: 1x 5G Ethernet (Realtek RTL8126), 1x 2.5G (Dragon RTL8125BG)
• Wifi: 2x2 Wifi 7
• AUDIO: Realtek ALC4082 CODEC
• FORM FACTOR: ATX
• SLI: No
• CROSSFIRE: No
• OPERATING SYSTEM: Support for Windows 11

About the ASRock Z890 Taichi

ASRock Z890 Taichi is a high-end motherboard designed for Intel Core Ultra processors, ideal for gamers and creators. It features Thunderbolt™ 4, PCIe Gen5, and Wi-Fi 7 for fast data transfer and wireless connectivity. With a solid VRM structure and cooling system, it ensures stable performance even when overclocking. RGB lighting and a stylish metal frame combine functionality with aesthetics, making it suitable for both performance and appearance in heavy-duty PC builds.

ASRock Z890 Taichi has an elegant design with a robust metal frame and RGB lighting. The motherboard is equipped with six M.2 slots for flexible storage capacity. One of these slots supports PCIe Gen5, providing high-speed performance for the most demanding tasks, while the remaining five slots are PCIe Gen4 compatible. This setup provides a strong combination of speed and capacity, ideal for both gaming and work use.

ASRock Z890 Taichi has an advanced power design with 20+1+2+1+1 power stages, which ensures efficient and stable power supply for the CPU and other critical components. This design includes a digital power control that delivers precise voltage and reduces heat generation, which is especially useful under high loads or when overclocking. Combined with the motherboard's cooling solutions, it optimizes both performance and stability for demanding tasks and high-performance systems.

ASRock Z890 Taichi offers flexible PCIe options with both PCIe Gen5 and Gen4 slots. The main slot is PCIe Gen5 x16, supporting the latest graphics cards with extreme bandwidth, ideal for demanding gaming and workstations. In addition, the motherboard has several PCIe Gen4 slots for additional expansion cards such as network or sound cards, which makes it suitable for users with advanced needs. The combination of PCIe Gen5 and Gen4 ensures high performance and future-proofs the system for upgrades.

The ASRock Z890 Taichi has four DDR5 DIMM sockets which support up to 256GB of RAM, ideal for demanding applications and multitasking. The motherboard can handle RAM frequencies of up to 9600 MHz (OC), which provides extremely high bandwidth and performance for both gaming and work tasks. With dual-channel support and optimized power management, stability is ensured at high speeds, making it suitable for users who want top performance in their system.

The ASRock Z890 Taichi is equipped with an HD audio system based on the Realtek ALC4082 audio chip, which delivers high-resolution 7.1-channel surround sound. This sound card is optimized for clear details and deep bass, creating an immersive sound experience for both gaming and multimedia use. The design includes isolated audio circuits and premium capacitors that reduce noise and distortion to ensure high sound quality, even at high volumes.

The ASRock Z890 Taichi offers six M.2 slots, one of which is PCIe Gen5 compatible, while the other five support PCIe Gen4, providing great flexibility for fast storage. Should it not be enough with six M.2 slots, a PCIe is also included, with an additional four M.2 slots. In addition, the motherboard has four SATA 3 ports, ensuring additional storage options for traditional SSD and HDD devices. This setup provides a powerful combination of fast NVMe storage and classic SATA support for a varied storage configuration that suits both performance needs and larger data storage.

ASRock Z890 Taichi's I/O panel offers a comprehensive range of connectivity options. It includes two Thunderbolt™ 4 ports for fast data transfer and multi-device connection, an HDMI port, two antenna ports for Wi-Fi, as well as an optical audio output. USB options include four USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, four USB 3.2 Gen1, and two USB 2.0 ports. There are also two RJ45 LAN ports, a CMOS button and a BIOS flashback button. Audio outputs consist of a line-out and a microphone input for flexible audio connection to headphones and speakers.

Price

Although most stores have not received the Z890 Taichi home yet, during testing. Has it been possible to find it in individual places, with a price of 700$.

If you want to read more about Z890 Taichi from ASRock, you can click on the banner above.

Conclusion

ASRock Z890 Taichi represents a high-end motherboard aimed at enthusiasts, gamers and professionals who want to take advantage of the latest technology with Intel Core Ultra processors. The motherboard has many impressive features that make it suitable for both demanding gaming and creative work tasks, including Thunderbolt™ 4, PCIe Gen5, and Wi-Fi 7. It also offers a robust VRM configuration with a 20+1+2+1+ 1 power stage setup that ensures stable power supply, especially during overclocking. This, combined with the motherboard's advanced cooling systems, makes it a reliable platform for high-performance systems that require continuous and stable operation.

The design of the Z890 Taichi is both functional and aesthetic. The motherboard has a metal frame and stylish RGB lighting, which is a plus for those who want a visually appealing PC build. With six M.2 slots and PCIe Gen5 compatibility, the ASRock Z890 Taichi ensures flexible storage options, which is especially beneficial for those working with large amounts of data. Five of these slots support PCIe Gen4, which also contributes to impressive flexibility in terms of storage expansion.

The RAM compatibility is another strength of the Z890 Taichi. It supports up to 256 GB DDR5 RAM and a maximum RAM frequency of 9600 MHz, making it suitable for multitasking and demanding tasks. This capability, combined with dual-channel support and stable power management, allows for high bandwidth and stable performance – something that professionals with heavy-duty application needs can especially appreciate.

On the audio side, the motherboard offers the Realtek ALC4082 audio chip, which supports high-resolution 7.1-channel surround sound. This ensures a good sound experience for both gaming and multimedia use, which is a clear advantage for users who want an immersive sound experience. The design of the audio components with isolated circuits and premium capacitors contribute to lower noise and distortion, raising the sound quality at high volumes.

The I/O panel of the Z890 Taichi offers a wide range of connectivity options, including two Thunderbolt™ 4 ports, HDMI, Wi-Fi antenna ports and a comprehensive range of USB ports. This versatility allows users to seamlessly connect multiple devices and peripherals. Two RJ45 LAN ports with 5G and 2.5G speed also support a strong network connection, which is a big advantage for online gaming and fast data transfer.

Although the motherboard has many advantages, the price is one of the most significant disadvantages. With a price of around 700$, the ASRock Z890 Taichi is at the higher end of the scale, which can be a barrier for many. Compared to competitors in the same price range, however, you get a solid package of features, so the investment can be justified for those who need the motherboard's advanced features and future-proof technology.

Overall, the ASRock Z890 Taichi is an excellent choice for those looking for a high-end motherboard with a wide range of modern technologies and connectivity options. It is an obvious choice for professionals and gaming enthusiasts who want high performance and stability. However, one should consider the price, as it is a significant investment that may not be necessary for more common users. For those who value advanced functionality and future-proof solutions, however, the Z890 Taichi will be able to meet even the most demanding needs. Therefore, we also finish with a 9 out of 10 together with the "Enthusiast Only" award.

Benefits

• Tai chi design
• Six M.2 connections.
• PCIe 5.0
• Good onboard components
• High RAM capacity and frequency
• Two Thunderbolt inputs
• 5G + 2.5G LAN
• Wifi 7

Disadvantages

• High price

Score: 9 + Enthusiast Only