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Colorful WS W790E Pro V20 specifications and in-depth review

Colorful WS W790E Pro V20

Manufacturer: Colorful

The Colorful WS W790E Pro V20 is a workstation-class E-ATX motherboard designed around Intel's W790 chipset. It carries a 3-year warranty and includes RGB lighting, easy overclocking support, and a single CPU socket configuration suited to demanding single-processor builds. Without integrated graphics or a built-in CPU, it is clearly aimed at users pairing it with a discrete GPU and a compatible Xeon W processor.

On the memory side, the board accommodates up to 2048GB of DDR5 RAM across 8 slots and 8 channels, with a maximum rated speed of 4800 MHz and full ECC support. Expansion options are extensive, with four PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, and one PCIe x4 slot. Storage connectivity includes 8 SATA 3 connectors, 4 M.2 sockets, and support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10. The rear I/O provides 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C, 4 USB 2.0 ports, and 3 RJ45 network ports, while the onboard audio delivers a 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio with 7.1-channel output and S/PDIF.

Pros
  • Supports up to 2048GB of DDR5 RAM across 8 slots and 8 channels, allowing for extremely large memory configurations
  • ECC memory support adds a layer of data integrity suited to workstation and server workloads
  • Four PCIe 5.0 x16 slots provide substantial multi-card expansion headroom
  • Three RJ45 ports enable multiple simultaneous wired network connections from a single board
  • Eight SATA 3 connectors combined with four M.2 sockets offer considerable storage flexibility
  • Onboard audio delivers a 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio with 7.1-channel output and S/PDIF support
Cons
  • No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth means wireless connectivity requires additional hardware
  • The easy CMOS reset feature is absent, making BIOS recovery less convenient
  • No TPM connector onboard, which may limit certain security configurations
  • Lacks USB 4, Thunderbolt 3, and Thunderbolt 4 ports, limiting high-speed peripheral options
  • No dual BIOS means there is no built-in fallback in case of a corrupted firmware
Who is this for?

This board is well-matched to professionals running workstation and server workloads that demand large memory pools, with support for up to 2048GB of DDR5 ECC RAM across 8 channels. The four PCIe 5.0 x16 slots make it a strong fit for multi-GPU or multi-accelerator compute setups, while the three RJ45 ports and broad RAID support (0, 1, 5, 10) cater to users who need reliable, redundant multi-network or high-availability storage configurations. System integrators and data center builders working with W790-platform hardware will find the E-ATX layout and deep connectivity options align well with their requirements.

Who is this NOT for?

This board is a poor fit for users looking to build a compact or home desktop system, as the E-ATX form factor demands a large chassis and the feature set far exceeds typical consumer needs. The absence of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth makes it impractical for environments where wireless connectivity is expected without adding separate hardware. Users who rely on Thunderbolt 4 or USB 4 for high-speed peripheral workflows — such as video editors connecting external NVMe drives or audio interfaces — will find those options entirely absent here.

General info:

chipset W790
form factor E-ATX
supports Wi-Fi ✕
Has Bluetooth ✕
Easy to overclock ✓
has RGB lighting ✓
Easy to reset BIOS ✕
Has dual BIOS ✕
CPU sockets 1
Has integrated graphics ✕
warranty period 3 years
height 330 mm
width 305 mm
Has integrated CPU ✕

The Colorful WS W790E Pro V20 is built around the W790 chipset and adopts the E-ATX form factor, measuring 330 mm in height and 305 mm in width. It features a single CPU socket and has no integrated CPU or integrated graphics. The board supports easy overclocking and includes RGB lighting, though it lacks Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a dual BIOS setup, and a one-step CMOS reset function. There is no integrated wireless connectivity of any kind. A 3-year warranty is included with the board.

Memory:

maximum memory amount 2048GB
RAM speed (max) 4800 MHz
memory slots 8
DDR memory version 5
memory channels 8
Supports ECC memory ✓

The board offers 8 DDR5 memory slots across 8 channels, supporting a maximum capacity of 2048GB and a top rated speed of 4800 MHz. ECC memory is fully supported, making the configuration well-suited for workloads where data integrity is a priority.

Ports:

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

The rear I/O includes 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port, and 4 USB 2.0 ports, with no USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, USB 4, Thunderbolt 3, or Thunderbolt 4 connectivity present. Three RJ45 ports provide wired network connectivity. There are no video outputs of any kind — HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, and VGA are all absent — nor are there any eSATA or PS/2 ports.

Connectors:

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

Internal connectivity is well-provisioned, with 8 SATA 3 connectors and 4 M.2 sockets available for storage, while SATA 2, U.2, and mSATA are not present. USB expansion headers include 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, 2 USB 3.0 ports, and 4 USB 2.0 ports, all accessible through internal connectors. The board also provides 6 fan headers for cooling management. There is no TPM connector onboard.

Expansion slots:

PCIe 4.0 x16 slots 1
PCIe 5.0 x16 slots 4
PCIe 3.0 x16 slots 1
PCIe x1 slots 0
PCI slots 0
PCIe 2.0 x16 slots 0
PCIe x4 slots 1
PCIe x8 slots 0

The board offers a generous expansion slot layout, headlined by four PCIe 5.0 x16 slots alongside one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot. A single PCIe x4 slot is also present, while PCIe x1, PCIe x8, PCIe 2.0 x16, and legacy PCI slots are not included.

Audio:

Signal-to-Noise ratio (DAC) 120 dB
audio channels 7.1
Has S/PDIF Out port ✓
audio connectors 5

The onboard audio supports 7.1-channel output and delivers a DAC signal-to-noise ratio of 120 dB. Five audio connectors are available on the rear panel, and an S/PDIF Out port is included 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 broad range of storage redundancy and performance setups. RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The Colorful WS W790E Pro V20 is a purpose-built workstation motherboard that makes few compromises in its target domain. Its support for up to 2048GB of ECC DDR5 memory across 8 channels, combined with four PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and extensive storage connectivity, positions it firmly within professional and compute-intensive environments rather than mainstream desktop use. The absence of wireless connectivity and Thunderbolt support narrows its appeal, but for system builders and professionals working within the W790 ecosystem who prioritize memory capacity, multi-card expansion, and data integrity, the WS W790E Pro V20 delivers a coherent and well-specified platform.