ASUS Z790-AYW WiFi W II Intel Z790 (LGA 1700) ATX Motherboard with PCIe® 5.0
Bottom line: The ASUS Z790-AYW WiFi W II Intel Z790 ATX Motherboard with PCIe® 5.0: 12+1 DrMOS stage with 6-layer PCB and alloy chokes for 14th Gen loads; main trade-off: LGA 1700 is Intel's final socket generation, so no future CPU upgrades.
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ 12+1 DrMOS stage with 6-layer PCB and alloy chokes for 14th Gen loads
- ✓ Thunderbolt (USB4) header support, rare at this price tier
- ✓ White PCB with Aura Sync RGB suits white-themed ATX builds
- ✓ BIOS FlashBack and Q-LED Core simplify CPU swaps and no-boot triage
Cons
- ✗ LGA 1700 is Intel's final socket generation, so no future CPU upgrades
- ✗ Wi-Fi 6 only, not the Wi-Fi 6E or 7 found on rival Z790 boards
- ✗ M.2 slots run PCIe 4.0, not 5.0, despite the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot
- ✗ DDR5 only, so existing DDR4 kits will not carry over
Manufacturer description
ASUS Z790-AYW WIFI W II motherboard features a sleek white PCB, PCIe 5.0, DDR5 8000+(OC), triple M.2 slots, WiFi 6, 2.5Gb LAN, USB-C 10Gbps, Thunderbolt (USB4) support, Q-LED Core, M.2 Q-Latch, BIOS FlashBack™, AI Noise Cancelation, and Aura Sync RGB—perfect for powerful white-themed builds
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored ASUS Z790-AYW WiFi W II Intel Z790 ATX Motherboard with PCIe® 5.0 using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the motherboards category. Compare with similarly-priced alternatives in the motherboards category before committing. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for motherboards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Key Features
- Intel LGA 1700 socket: Ready for Intel Core 14th & 13th Gen Processors, Intel Core 12th Gen, Pentium Gold and Celeron Processors
- Enhanced power solution: 12+1 DrMOS, 6-layer PCB, ProCool connectors, alloy chokes and durable capacitors for stable power delivery
- Next-gen connectivity: DDR5 memory, Wi-Fi 6, PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, rear USB 10Gbps Type-C and Type-A, front panel USB 10Gbps Type-C, Thunderbolt (USB4) header support
- Exclusive Memory Technology: ASUS Enhanced Memory Profile II and ASUS OptiMem II
- Comprehensive cooling: Large VRM heatsinks, M.2 heatsinks, PCH heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 4 with AI Cooling II
Full Specifications
| Brand | ASUS |
|---|---|
| Platform | Windows 10, Windows 11 |
| CPU Model | Core i7 |
| CPU Socket | LGA 1700 |
| Model Name | Z790-AYW WIFI W II |
| Chipset Type | Intel Z790 |
| Connectivity | USB, WiFi |
| Model Number | Z790-AYW WIFI W II |
| Chipset Family | Intel Z790 |
| Mfr Part Number | Z790-AYW WIFI W II |
| Number of Ports | 15 |
| Total Usb Ports | 17 |
| Processor Socket | LGA 1700 |
| Total PCIe Ports | 5 |
| Total SATA Ports | 4 |
| Compatible Devices | Personal Computer |
| Memory Clock Speed | 4800 MHz |
| Warranty Description | 3 year |
| Compatible Processors | Intel® Socket LGA1700 for Intel® Core™ 14th & 13th Gen Processors, Intel® Core™ 12th Gen, Pentium® Gold and Celeron® Processors |
| Comprehensive cooling | Large VRM heatsinks, M.2 heatsinks, PCH heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 4 with AI Cooling II |
| Full listing title | ASUS Z790-AYW WiFi W II Intel Z790 (LGA 1700) ATX Motherboard with PCIe® 5.0, 3X M.2, 12+1 DrMOS, DDR5, WiFi 6, 2.5Gb LAN, HDMI, USB 10Gbps Type-C®, USB 10Gbps Type-C®, Thunderbolt™, USB4®, Aura Sync |
Ready to buy?
ASUS Z790-AYW WiFi W II Intel Z790 (LGA 1700) ATX Motherboard with PCIe® 5.0, 3X M.2, 12+1 DrMOS, DDR5, WiFi 6, 2.5Gb LAN, HDMI, USB 10Gbps Type-C®, USB 10Gbps Type-C®, Thunderbolt™, USB4®, Aura Sync is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
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