ASRock Z890 Taichi

Name: ASRock Z890 Taichi
Brand: ASRock
SKU: 79351

Manufacturer: ASRock

The ASRock Z890 Taichi is a full-size ATX motherboard designed around Intel's LGA 1851 platform and Z890 chipset. It ships with integrated Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, RGB lighting, and a clear CMOS button for straightforward BIOS resets. The board supports overclocking out of the box, and its three-year warranty reflects a longer-than-average coverage period for this product category.

On the technical side, the Z890 Taichi accommodates up to 256 GB of DDR5 memory across four slots in a dual-channel configuration, with a standard rated speed of 5600 MHz and overclocked support reaching 9200 MHz. Storage options are broad, with six M.2 sockets, four SATA 3 connectors, and full RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support. The rear I/O includes two USB 4 40 Gbps ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and dual RJ45 ethernet jacks, alongside an HDMI 2.1 output. Expansion is handled by one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, and the onboard audio section delivers a 130 dB signal-to-noise ratio with S/PDIF output.

Pros

Six M.2 sockets provide substantial onboard storage expansion without relying on adapter cards
Wi-Fi 7 support covers the full range of current wireless standards from 802.11n through 802.11be
Two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB 4 40Gbps ports offer high-bandwidth connectivity on the rear I/O
Overclocked RAM support up to 9200 MHz gives significant headroom for memory tuning beyond the 5600 MHz base speed
Eight fan headers allow detailed cooling management across a fully built system
RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support offers meaningful flexibility for storage redundancy or performance configurations

Cons

No USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Gen 1 Type-C ports on the rear I/O limits USB-C device connectivity at the back panel
Dual BIOS is absent, meaning there is no automatic fallback if a BIOS update fails
ECC memory is not supported, ruling out use cases that require error-correcting RAM
Only two rear audio connectors are available, which may be limiting for analog multi-channel speaker setups
No DisplayPort output is present, restricting video output to a single HDMI 2.1 connection

Who is this for?

This board suits builders who need a capable, fully featured ATX platform based on the LGA 1851 socket, particularly those planning to push memory performance through overclocking given the support for speeds up to 9200 MHz. The six M.2 sockets combined with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support make it a solid fit for workstation-adjacent builds where storage flexibility and redundancy matter. Users who rely on high-bandwidth peripherals will also find value here, as the combination of Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 40Gbps ports accommodates demanding external devices, fast storage enclosures, and daisy-chained displays without requiring add-in cards.

Who is this NOT for?

This board is not well suited to environments where ECC memory is a requirement, such as data integrity-critical workloads or professional server applications, as that memory type is explicitly unsupported. Users who depend on a diverse set of rear video outputs will find the single HDMI 2.1 connection restrictive, since there are no DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA outputs available. It is also a poor fit for anyone needing USB-C connectivity at the rear I/O for modern peripherals or displays, as no USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Gen 1 Type-C ports are present on the back panel.

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 Taichi is built around a single LGA 1851 socket and is compatible with the Z890 chipset, housed in a standard ATX form factor measuring 305 mm wide and 244 mm tall. It does not include an integrated CPU or integrated graphics. Wireless connectivity is well covered, with support spanning Wi-Fi 4 through Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) alongside Bluetooth 5.4, though aptX is not supported. The board outputs video via HDMI 2.1, features RGB lighting, and allows straightforward BIOS resets through a dedicated clear CMOS function. Overclocking is supported without advanced configuration, but there is no dual BIOS option. ASRock backs the board with a 3-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 supports DDR5 memory across four slots in a dual-channel configuration, with a maximum capacity of 256 GB. The standard rated speed reaches 5600 MHz, while overclocked profiles can push that figure up to 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 offers a broad range of USB connectivity, including four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and two USB 4 40Gbps ports alongside two Thunderbolt 4 ports; USB Type-C is present, though there are no USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Gen 1 Type-C ports, no USB 4 20Gbps ports, and no Thunderbolt 3 ports. Video output is handled solely by an HDMI port, with no DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA connectors available. Networking is covered by two RJ45 ports, and legacy interfaces such as eSATA and PS/2 are absent.

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 connectivity is well equipped, with six M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors available for storage devices, while SATA 2, U.2, and mSATA connections are not present. For USB expansion, the board provides four USB 3.2 Gen 1 headers, four USB 3.0 headers, one USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 header, and four USB 2.0 headers. Cooling is managed through eight fan headers, and a TPM connector is included for security module support.

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 x16 slots: one running at PCIe 5.0 and one at PCIe 4.0, covering the primary expansion needs for discrete 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	5.1
Has S/PDIF Out port	✓
audio connectors	2

The onboard audio supports a 5.1-channel configuration with a signal-to-noise ratio of 130 dB on the DAC, indicating a clean analog output stage. Two audio connectors are available on the rear panel, and an S/PDIF Out 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 a range of setups suited to performance, redundancy, or a combination of both. RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The ASRock Z890 Taichi is a well-specified ATX motherboard that covers a broad range of connectivity and storage needs within the LGA 1851 platform. Its six M.2 sockets, Thunderbolt 4 support, and overclocked DDR5 headroom up to 9200 MHz make it a capable choice for builders who prioritize expandability and performance tuning. Some rear I/O limitations — notably the absence of USB-C ports and a single video output — mean it suits a specific kind of builder rather than every use case, and the lack of ECC support places it firmly outside server or data-critical environments. For those whose needs align with its strengths, the Z890 Taichi delivers a well-rounded feature set backed by a three-year warranty.