ASUS PRIME Z790M-PLUS-CSM DDR5 Intel Motherboard

The ASUS PRIME Z790M-PLUS-CSM DDR5 is a full-size ATX motherboard built on Intel's Z790 chipset, designed to pair with 12th and 13th Generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors via the LGA1700 socket. It delivers a well-rounded feature set for PC builders who need a reliable, tuneable platform with room to grow. On the memory side, four DDR5 DIMM slots accept up to 192 GB of non-ECC unbuffered RAM running natively at 4800 MT/s or overclocked up to DDR5-7200+ with Intel XMP profiles and ASUS OptiMem II trace routing. Dual-channel operation keeps bandwidth high across demanding workloads. Storage options are generous: three Key-M M.2 slots — the first two supporting PCIe 4.0 x4, the third supporting both PCIe 4.0 x4 and SATA — are complemented by four SATA 6 Gb/s ports. Intel Rapid Storage Technology enables PCIe RAID 0/1/5/10 and SATA RAID 0/1/5/10 configurations. For expansion, one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot (from the CPU) handles the primary GPU, while the Z790 chipset adds three PCIe 4.0 x16 slots operating at x4 bandwidth and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. Connectivity at the rear includes a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port (20 Gbps), one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports. A Realtek 2.5 Gb Ethernet controller handles wired networking, while a vertical Key-E M.2 slot on the back panel accommodates an optional CNVi or PCIe Wi-Fi module (sold separately). Display outputs via DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.x both support 4K at 60 Hz using the processor's integrated graphics. Audio is handled by a Realtek HD CODEC delivering 7.1 surround sound at up to 24-bit/192 kHz, backed by audio shielding, premium capacitors, and dedicated PCB layers. Thermal management is covered by VRM heatsinks with thermal pads, five 4-pin fan/pump headers, and Fan Xpert 4 control through the UEFI BIOS. ARGB lighting is supported via three Addressable Gen 2 headers and two Aura RGB headers. A Thunderbolt (USB4) internal header is also present for future expansion. Key Verified Specifications: - Socket: Intel LGA1700 - Chipset: Intel Z790 - Form Factor: ATX, 12 in x 9.2 in (30.5 cm x 23.4 cm) - Memory: 4x DDR5 DIMM, max 192 GB, DDR5-4800 to DDR5-7200+ (OC), dual-channel, XMP, OptiMem II - Expansion: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 3x PCIe 4.0 x16 (x4 mode), 1x PCIe 3.0 x1 - Storage: 3x M.2 (PCIe 4.0 x4), 4x SATA 6 Gb/s; RAID 0/1/5/10 - Networking: Realtek 2.5 Gb Ethernet; Wi-Fi via optional CNVi/PCIe module - USB Rear: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 4x USB 2.0 - Display: 1x DisplayPort 1.4 (4K@60Hz), 1x HDMI (4K@60Hz) - Audio: Realtek 7.1 HD CODEC, 24-bit/192 kHz - BIOS: 192 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI - OS Support: Windows 11 / Windows 10 64-bit