ASRock Z890 Nova WiFi

Name: ASRock Z890 Nova WiFi
Brand: ASRock
SKU: 4610

Manufacturer: ASRock

The ASRock Z890 Nova WiFi is an ATX form factor motherboard built around Intel's LGA 1851 socket and the Z890 chipset, targeting users who want a well-rounded platform for current-generation processors. It includes built-in Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, RGB lighting, and a clear CMOS button for straightforward BIOS resets. The board supports overclocking, with RAM frequencies reaching up to 9200 MHz under XMP or manual tuning, and carries a three-year warranty.

On the connectivity side, the Z890 Nova WiFi offers a thorough port layout that includes two USB 4 40Gbps ports alongside two Thunderbolt 4 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and dual RJ45 Ethernet jacks. Storage options are handled by six M.2 sockets, four SATA 3 connectors, and full RAID support across levels 0, 1, 5, and 10. Expansion is covered by one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, while the onboard audio section delivers a 130 dB signal-to-noise ratio with 7.1-channel output and an S/PDIF port.

Pros

Six M.2 sockets provide substantial NVMe storage expansion without relying on SATA slots
Wi-Fi 7 support alongside the full Wi-Fi 4 through 6E stack ensures broad wireless compatibility
Two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB 4 40Gbps ports offer high-bandwidth connectivity for demanding peripherals
DDR5 memory can be overclocked up to 9200 MHz, with four slots supporting up to 256GB total capacity
Eight fan headers give considerable flexibility for managing airflow in complex cooling setups
RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support covers both performance and redundancy storage configurations

Cons

No USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Gen 1 Type-C rear ports despite having Type-C connectivity only through USB 4 and Thunderbolt
Only a single HDMI 2.1 output with no DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA alternatives limits multi-monitor flexibility
Dual BIOS is absent, leaving no automatic fallback if the firmware becomes corrupted
ECC memory is not supported, which limits suitability for workloads that require error-correcting RAM
Only two PCIe slots in total, with no x1, x4, or x8 slots available for additional expansion cards

Who is this for?

This board is well-suited for users building a high-throughput desktop system around Intel's current-generation LGA 1851 platform who need extensive storage flexibility. The six M.2 sockets combined with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support make it a strong fit for content creators, developers, or prosumers who juggle large file sets and want both speed and redundancy options. The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4, USB 4 40Gbps, Wi-Fi 7, and dual Ethernet also makes it a practical choice for users who regularly connect high-bandwidth external devices or operate in demanding networked environments. Those who plan to push memory performance will also benefit from DDR5 overclocking headroom up to 9200 MHz across four slots.

Who is this NOT for?

This board is not a good match for users who need broad multi-monitor display output, as only a single HDMI 2.1 port is available with no DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA alternatives. It is also poorly suited for workstation or server-adjacent workloads that depend on ECC memory for data integrity, since ECC is not supported. Users who require many independent PCIe expansion slots for capture cards, dedicated audio interfaces, or network cards will find the two-slot layout limiting, and the absence of a dual BIOS makes the board less forgiving for those who frequently experiment with firmware updates or aggressive overclocking.

General info:

CPU socket	LGA 1851
chipset	Z890
form factor	ATX
supports Wi-Fi	✓
Wi-Fi version	Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Has Bluetooth	✓
Bluetooth version	5.4
HDMI version	HDMI 2.1
Easy to overclock	✓
has RGB lighting	✓
Easy to reset BIOS	✓
Has dual BIOS	✕
has aptX	✕
CPU sockets	1
Has integrated graphics	✕
warranty period	3 years
height	244 mm
width	305 mm
Has integrated CPU	✕

The ASRock Z890 Nova WiFi is a full-size ATX motherboard measuring 305 x 244 mm, built around a single LGA 1851 CPU socket and compatible with the Z890 chipset. It supports overclocking and includes onboard RGB lighting, along with a clear CMOS button for convenient BIOS resets, though it does not feature a dual BIOS setup. Wireless connectivity spans Wi-Fi 4 through Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) and Bluetooth 5.4, while a single HDMI 2.1 output is available for display use; aptX audio over Bluetooth is not supported. The board does not include integrated graphics or an integrated CPU, and it carries a three-year warranty.

Memory:

maximum memory amount	256GB
RAM speed (max)	5600 MHz
overclocked RAM speed	9200 MHz
memory slots	4
DDR memory version	5
memory channels	2
Supports ECC memory	✕

The board uses DDR5 memory across four slots arranged in a dual-channel configuration, supporting a maximum capacity of 256GB. Native RAM speeds reach up to 5600 MHz, while overclocking can push frequencies as high as 9200 MHz. ECC memory is not supported.

Ports:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A)	4
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A)	4
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C)	0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C)	0
USB 2.0 ports	2
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports	0
USB 4 40Gbps ports	2
USB 4 20Gbps ports	0
Thunderbolt 4 ports	2
Thunderbolt 3 ports	0
has an HDMI output	✓
DisplayPort outputs	0
RJ45 ports	2
Has USB Type-C	✓
eSATA ports	0
DVI outputs	0
has a VGA connector	✕
PS/2 ports	0

The rear I/O panel offers a broad USB selection, including four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and two USB 2.0 ports, with no USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Gen 1 Type-C ports present. At the high-speed end, there are two USB 4 40Gbps ports and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, both of which use the Type-C connector; no USB 4 20Gbps or Thunderbolt 3 ports are included. For networking, two RJ45 Ethernet jacks are provided. Display output is handled solely by a single HDMI port, with no DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA connectors available. There are no eSATA or PS/2 ports on this board.

Connectors:

USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion)	4
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports (through expansion)	1
USB 2.0 ports (through expansion)	4
SATA 3 connectors	4
fan headers	8
USB 3.0 ports (through expansion)	4
M.2 sockets	6
Has TPM connector	✓
U.2 sockets	0
Has mSATA connector	✕
SATA 2 connectors	0

Internal expansion headers include four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, four USB 3.0 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, and one USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port for connecting front-panel or add-in devices. Storage connectivity is well-covered with six M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors; there are no SATA 2, U.2, or mSATA connectors on this board. Cooling is supported by eight fan headers, and a TPM connector is also present for security module installation.

Expansion slots:

PCIe 4.0 x16 slots	1
PCIe 5.0 x16 slots	1
PCIe 3.0 x16 slots	0
PCIe x1 slots	0
PCI slots	0
PCIe 2.0 x16 slots	0
PCIe x4 slots	0
PCIe x8 slots	0

The board provides two full-length PCIe slots: one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, covering the primary expansion needs for graphics cards or high-speed add-in cards. There are no PCIe 3.0, 2.0, x8, x4, or x1 slots, and no legacy PCI slots are present.

Audio:

Signal-to-Noise ratio (DAC)	130 dB
audio channels	7.1
Has S/PDIF Out port	✓
audio connectors	2

The onboard audio supports 7.1-channel output and delivers a 130 dB signal-to-noise ratio from its DAC, indicating a clean audio signal for both speakers and headphones. Two analog audio connectors are available on the rear panel, and an S/PDIF output port is included for digital audio passthrough to external receivers or DACs.

Storage:

Supports RAID 1	✓
Supports RAID 10 (1+0)	✓
Supports RAID 5	✓
Supports RAID 0	✓
Supports RAID 0+1	✕

The board supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations, covering the most common setups for both performance-oriented and redundancy-focused storage arrangements. RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The ASRock Z890 Nova WiFi is a well-specified ATX motherboard that covers a wide range of connectivity and storage needs for users building on the LGA 1851 platform. Its six M.2 sockets, Thunderbolt 4, USB 4 40Gbps ports, and Wi-Fi 7 form a coherent package for users who prioritize fast data throughput and modern wireless capability. While the limited display output options and lack of ECC support mean it is not a universal fit, those constraints are unlikely to affect its core audience. For a Z890-based build where storage density, high-speed peripheral connectivity, and DDR5 overclocking headroom are priorities, the Z890 Nova WiFi delivers a focused and capable platform.