Asus ROG Strix Z890-A Gaming WIFI Motherboard

The ASUS ROG Strix Z890-A Gaming WIFI is a full-size ATX motherboard designed for Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors on the LGA1851 socket. Built on the Intel Z890 chipset, it positions itself at the intersection of high-performance gaming and AI-oriented PC workloads, offering a comprehensive feature set without unnecessary compromise. At the heart of its connectivity story is end-to-end PCIe 5.0 support. The primary x16 slot, fed directly by the Core Ultra Series 2 processor, operates at PCIe 5.0 speeds, ensuring that current and near-future discrete GPUs and NVMe storage devices can run at full bandwidth. A secondary PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (operating in x4 mode) via the Z890 chipset provides additional expansion flexibility. Storage options are generous, with five M.2 Key-M slots and four SATA 6 Gb/s ports giving builders plenty of room to configure fast primary drives alongside bulk storage. On the memory side, the board supports DDR5 in dual-channel configuration, with speeds reaching up to 9066 MT/s and beyond through Intel XMP, ASUS AEMPIII profiles, and CUDIMM support. Maximum capacity sits at 256 GB across two channels. Wireless connectivity is handled by a WiFi 7 module paired with Bluetooth 5.4, while the rear panel also includes an Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet port for wired networking. Two Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB Type-C) provide up to 40 Gb/s transfer speeds and support DisplayPort and Thunderbolt video output. Additional rear USB ports include six USB 10 Gbps ports (five Type-A plus one Type-C with up to 30 W Power Delivery), two USB 5 Gbps Type-A ports, a DisplayPort output, and an HDMI port. Thermal management headers include a 4-pin CPU fan, CPU OPT fan, AIO pump header, and five chassis fan headers. Internal USB connectivity covers USB 20 Gbps (Type-C), USB 5 Gbps, and USB 2.0 headers. Three Addressable Gen 2 ARGB headers allow synchronised lighting with ASUS Aura Sync-compatible accessories, complemented by the board's own Polymo lighting aesthetic. ASUS software features include AI Overclocking, which profiles the CPU and cooling solution to suggest optimised frequency settings; AI Cooling II for automated fan curve management; and AI Networking II for dynamic WiFi 7 optimisation. ASUS AI Advisor provides a natural-language interface for exploring motherboard features. Hardware convenience features include a BIOS FlashBack button, Clear CMOS button, and a front-panel start button. Verified Specifications: - Socket: LGA1851 - Chipset: Intel Z890 - Form Factor: ATX - CPU Compatibility: Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2) - Memory: DDR5, Dual Channel, up to 256 GB, up to 9066+ MT/s (XMP / AEMPIII / CUDIMM) - Expansion: 1× PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU), 1× PCIe 4.0 x16 (x4 mode, chipset) - Storage: 5× M.2 (Key M), 4× SATA 6 Gb/s - Rear USB: 2× TB4 (Type-C), 6× USB 10 Gbps, 2× USB 5 Gbps - Display Out: 1× DisplayPort, 1× HDMI, 2× TB4 (DP alt-mode) - Networking: WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet - Warranty: 3 Years (ASUS India) - Price (at listing): ₹46,500 INR