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ASRock Z890 Riptide WiFi specifications and in-depth review

ASRock Z890 Riptide WiFi

Manufacturer: ASRock

The ASRock Z890 Riptide WiFi is an ATX form factor motherboard built around the Z890 chipset and LGA 1851 socket, targeting users who want a well-equipped platform for Intel's latest processors. The board ships with Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) and Bluetooth 5.4 integrated, alongside a full complement of rear connectivity that includes Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 40Gbps ports. RGB lighting is present, and the board carries a three-year warranty.

On the memory side, four DDR5 slots support up to 256 GB across two channels, with a standard ceiling of 5600 MHz and an overclocked ceiling reaching 9066 MHz. Storage options are broad: five M.2 sockets sit alongside four SATA 3 connectors, and the board supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations. Expansion is handled by one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, complemented by a single PCIe x1 slot. Audio comes via a 7.1-channel solution rated at 120 dB SNR, with S/PDIF output and two rear audio connectors rounding out the feature set.

Pros
  • Five M.2 sockets provide extensive NVMe storage flexibility without relying on adapter cards
  • Wi-Fi 7 support covers the full range of wireless standards from Wi-Fi 4 through 802.11be
  • Two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB 4 40Gbps ports offer high-bandwidth rear connectivity
  • DDR5 memory can be overclocked up to 9066 MHz across four slots with a 256 GB capacity ceiling
  • Seven-point-one channel onboard audio with a 120 dB SNR DAC is a strong specification for integrated sound
  • Eight fan headers give considerable flexibility for managing airflow and cooling configurations
Cons
  • No USB-C ports among the standard USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Gen 1 rear outputs — Type-C is only available via the USB 4 and Thunderbolt 4 ports
  • Lacks dual BIOS, leaving no hardware-level fallback if a firmware update causes issues
  • No easy CMOS reset button, which can complicate BIOS recovery after a failed overclock
  • Only a single RJ45 port with no additional wired networking redundancy
  • ECC memory is not supported, limiting suitability for workloads that require error-correcting RAM
Who is this for?

This board suits users building a high-end desktop around Intel's latest LGA 1851 platform who want room to grow in terms of storage and connectivity. With five M.2 sockets, four SATA 3 connectors, and full RAID 0/1/5/10 support, it fits content creators, media professionals, or enthusiasts who work with large volumes of data across multiple drives. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4, and USB 4 40Gbps ports also makes it a strong choice for users who rely on high-speed peripheral and wireless connectivity, such as those connecting external NVMe enclosures, high-resolution displays via HDMI 2.1, or fast docking solutions. The overclocking support and DDR5 headroom up to 9066 MHz further appeal to performance-focused builders who want to extract maximum throughput from their memory configuration.

Who is this NOT for?

This board is not a good fit for users who need ECC memory support, such as those running workstations or servers that demand error-correcting RAM for data integrity in scientific, financial, or virtualization workloads. The absence of dual BIOS and an easy CMOS reset mechanism also makes it less suitable for users who frequently experiment with aggressive BIOS settings and need a reliable hardware-level recovery option. Additionally, those who require multiple wired network connections or redundant LAN ports for network-intensive environments will find the single RJ45 port limiting, and users dependent on legacy display outputs such as DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA will need to rely solely on the single HDMI output for video connectivity.

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 Riptide WiFi is an ATX motherboard measuring 305 × 244 mm, built around a single LGA 1851 socket and compatible with the Z890 chipset. It supports overclocking and includes RGB lighting, while a single HDMI 2.1 output handles display connectivity. Wireless connectivity spans Wi-Fi 4 through Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), and Bluetooth 5.4 is also built in, though aptX is not supported. The board does not feature dual BIOS, an easy CMOS reset button, integrated graphics, or an integrated CPU, and it comes backed by a 3-year warranty.

Memory:

maximum memory amount 256GB
RAM speed (max) 5600 MHz
overclocked RAM speed 9066 MHz
memory slots 4
DDR memory version 5
memory channels 2
Supports ECC memory ✕

This motherboard uses DDR5 memory across four slots arranged in a dual-channel configuration, with a maximum supported capacity of 256 GB. Stock RAM speeds reach up to 5600 MHz, while overclocked configurations can push that figure to 9066 MHz. ECC memory is not supported.

Ports:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) 2
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 1
Has USB Type-C ✓
eSATA ports 0
DVI outputs 0
has a VGA connector ✕
PS/2 ports 0

The rear I/O offers a varied USB lineup, including two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and two USB 2.0 ports, alongside two USB 4 40Gbps ports and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, all of which are Type-C. There are no USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, USB 4 20Gbps, or Thunderbolt 3 ports present. Display output is limited to a single HDMI connection, with no DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA options available. Networking is handled by one RJ45 port, and 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 5
Has TPM connector ✓
U.2 sockets 0
Has mSATA connector ✕
SATA 2 connectors 0

Internal connectivity is well stocked, with five M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors available for storage, while SATA 2 and mSATA are absent. USB expansion headers cover 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, with no U.2 sockets present. Cooling is served by eight fan headers, and a TPM connector is included on the board.

Expansion slots:

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

The board provides three expansion slots in total: one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, and one PCIe x1 slot. There are no PCIe 3.0 x16, PCIe 2.0 x16, PCIe x4, PCIe x8, or legacy PCI slots present.

Audio:

Signal-to-Noise ratio (DAC) 120 dB
audio channels 7.1
Has S/PDIF Out port ✓
audio connectors 2

The onboard audio solution supports 7.1-channel output and delivers a DAC signal-to-noise ratio of 120 dB. Two analog audio connectors are available on the rear panel, and an S/PDIF output is also present for digital audio passthrough.

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 a range of performance and redundancy setups. RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The ASRock Z890 Riptide WiFi is a well-specified ATX motherboard that covers the LGA 1851 platform thoroughly, delivering strong storage versatility through five M.2 sockets paired with broad RAID support, and a rear I/O that holds up well for demanding connectivity needs thanks to Thunderbolt 4, USB 4 40Gbps, and Wi-Fi 7. Its DDR5 overclocking ceiling and eight fan headers add further depth for performance-oriented builds. Users who need ECC memory support or a dual-BIOS safety net will find certain safeguards absent, and the single wired LAN port may constrain network-heavy setups, but for an enthusiast or prosumer desktop build centered on fast storage, modern wireless, and high-bandwidth peripherals, this board makes a compelling and complete platform choice.

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