MSI Z790 Project Zero DDR5 Intel Motherboard

The MSI Z790 Project Zero is an ATX motherboard built on the Intel Z790 chipset for the LGA1700 socket, supporting Intel Core 14th, 13th, and 12th generation processors as well as Intel Pentium Gold and Celeron processors. Its defining feature is a back-connect design that routes power and data connectors to the rear of the PCB, eliminating visible cable clutter on the front of the board for a noticeably cleaner system aesthetic. Memory support is comprehensive: four DDR5 UDIMM slots accommodate up to 192 GB of capacity, with JEDEC speeds starting at 4800 MHz and overclocking profiles reaching 7200+ MHz (1DPC 1R configuration). The board supports Intel Extreme Memory Profile and dual-channel operation using non-ECC, unbuffered modules. Storage is handled by four M.2 slots — the primary CPU-connected slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4 and accepts drives up to 110 mm (22110), while the three chipset-connected slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 or SATA mode. Six SATA 6 Gb/s ports complement these, with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 supported across SATA devices. The primary PCIe x16 slot (PCI_E1) runs at PCIe 5.0 x16 directly from the CPU and uses SMT (Surface Mount Technology) reinforcement with additional solder points to support the weight of modern graphics cards. Two additional x16-form slots and one x1 slot round out expansion options. Networking combines Intel 2.5 Gbps wired LAN with an integrated Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) module pre-installed in the Key-E M.2 slot, supporting 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands with 320 MHz channel width, MU-MIMO, MLO, 4K-QAM, and Bluetooth 5.4 — delivering wired and wireless bandwidth suited to high-throughput workloads. Audio is managed by a Realtek ALC897 codec with 7.1-channel output, an isolated analogue circuit structure to reduce interference, and S/PDIF output. Display outputs include HDMI 2.1 (4K 60 Hz with HDR) and DisplayPort 1.4 (4K 60 Hz), active only when a processor with integrated graphics is installed. The power delivery system uses a 14+1+1 Duet Rail configuration with dual 8-pin CPU power connectors, supported by a heavy-plated VRM heatsink, extended chipset heatsink, M.2 Shield Frozr thermal covers, and 7 W/mK MOSFET thermal pads. The PCB is ATX-sized (243.84 mm × 304.8 mm), constructed from six layers with 2 oz thickened copper. RGB and system management features include two Addressable V2 RGB headers, two standard RGB headers, four EZ Debug LEDs, a Flash BIOS button, a TPM 2.0 header, and a USB4 internal connector with RTD3 support. The board carries a 3-year manufacturer warranty and is compatible with Windows 11 and Windows 10 (64-bit). Verified Specifications: • Chipset: Intel Z790 • Socket: LGA1700 • Form Factor: ATX (243.84 mm × 304.8 mm) • Memory: 4× DDR5 UDIMM, max 192 GB, up to 7200+ MHz (OC) • Primary PCIe Slot: PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU) • M.2 Slots: 4× (PCIe 4.0 x4; M.2_1 also supports 22110) • SATA: 6× SATA 6 Gb/s; RAID 0/1/5/10 • LAN: Intel 2.5 Gbps • Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), up to 5.8 Gbps, BT 5.4 • Audio: Realtek ALC897, 7.1-channel, S/PDIF • USB (Rear): 1× USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C, 1× USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2× USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 4× USB 2.0 • Power Design: 14+1+1 Duet Rail, dual 8-pin CPU power • Warranty: 3 years