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Maxsun iCraft Z890 Arctic specifications and in-depth review

Maxsun iCraft Z890 Arctic

Manufacturer: Maxsun

The Maxsun iCraft Z890 Arctic is an ATX form factor motherboard built around the Z890 chipset and LGA 1851 socket, designed to accommodate Intel's current processor lineup. It includes integrated Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) along with Bluetooth 5.4, and features RGB lighting across the board. A three-year warranty accompanies the unit, and the board measures 305 mm by 245 mm, conforming to standard ATX mounting dimensions.

Memory support extends to four DDR5 slots across two channels, with a rated maximum of 6400 MHz and overclocked speeds reaching 8000 MHz, while the total addressable capacity tops out at 256GB. Storage connectivity includes four M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors, with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations. The rear I/O provides nine USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, two USB 4 40Gbps ports, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, alongside HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort output. Expansion is handled by one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, complemented by two PCIe x4 slots. The onboard audio section delivers a 7.1-channel configuration with a 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio and an S/PDIF output.

Pros
  • Supports Wi-Fi 7 alongside four earlier Wi-Fi generations, providing broad wireless compatibility out of the box
  • Four M.2 sockets offer ample high-speed storage expansion without relying solely on SATA connections
  • Nine USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports on the rear I/O provide extensive high-speed connectivity for peripherals
  • Two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB 4 40Gbps ports add fast data transfer and versatile device support
  • DDR5 memory can be overclocked up to 8000 MHz across four slots, with a maximum capacity of 256GB
  • Onboard audio delivers a 7.1-channel setup with a 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio and an S/PDIF output for digital audio
Cons
  • No dual BIOS means there is no automatic fallback if a firmware update fails or the BIOS becomes corrupted
  • The absence of an easy CMOS reset option makes recovering from a failed overclock or BIOS misconfiguration more involved
  • ECC memory is not supported, limiting the board's suitability for workloads that require error-corrected RAM
  • No TPM connector is present, which may complicate hardware-based security implementations
  • There are no USB 3.2 Gen 1 or USB 2.0 rear ports, which could be restrictive for users with older peripherals
Who is this for?

This board is well-suited to enthusiast desktop builders working with Intel's current LGA 1851 platform who want room to push their system further through overclocking, given the support for DDR5 memory up to 8000 MHz and an overclocking-friendly feature set. Users who rely on high-speed peripheral connectivity will appreciate the generous rear I/O, which includes nine USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and two USB 4 40Gbps ports. The four M.2 sockets and support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 also make it a solid fit for those managing multiple fast storage drives, while built-in Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 suit users who prefer a cable-free network setup.

Who is this NOT for?

This board is not a good match for users who need ECC memory support, such as those running workloads that demand error-corrected RAM for data integrity, including certain professional or server-adjacent tasks. The absence of a dual BIOS and an easy CMOS reset option makes it less forgiving for less experienced builders who may encounter issues during firmware updates or overclocking attempts. It is also unsuitable for anyone requiring legacy connectivity such as PS/2, VGA, DVI, or USB 2.0 rear ports, or for environments where a TPM connector is a hardware requirement for security policy compliance.

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 245 mm
width 305 mm
Has integrated CPU ✕

The Maxsun iCraft Z890 Arctic is an ATX motherboard measuring 305 mm by 245 mm, built around a single LGA 1851 socket and compatible with the Z890 chipset. It supports overclocking and includes RGB lighting, while lacking a dual BIOS setup and an easy CMOS reset option. Wireless connectivity spans Wi-Fi 4 through Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), paired with Bluetooth 5.4, though aptX audio codec support is not present. Video output is handled through HDMI 2.1, and the board does not feature integrated graphics or an integrated CPU. There is no integrated CPU socket redundancy, as the board carries a single CPU socket. The unit comes with a 3-year warranty, and does not support ECC memory at the general hardware level as noted within this section.

Memory:

maximum memory amount 256GB
RAM speed (max) 6400 MHz
overclocked RAM speed 8000 MHz
memory slots 4
DDR memory version 5
memory channels 2
Supports ECC memory ✕

This motherboard supports DDR5 memory across four slots arranged in a dual-channel configuration, with a maximum capacity of 256GB. The standard rated speed tops out at 6400 MHz, while overclocked operation can push memory frequencies up to 8000 MHz. ECC memory is not supported on this board.

Ports:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) 9
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A) 0
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C) 0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C) 0
USB 2.0 ports 0
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 1
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 panel provides a substantial USB presence, led by nine USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports alongside two USB 4 40Gbps ports and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, all of which also carry USB Type-C connectivity. There are no USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 2.0, USB 4 20Gbps, Thunderbolt 3, or eSATA ports present. Display output is covered by one HDMI port and one DisplayPort output, with no DVI or VGA connectors available. Networking is handled through a single RJ45 port, and legacy PS/2 connectivity is absent.

Connectors:

USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion) 3
USB 2.0 ports (through expansion) 2
SATA 3 connectors 4
fan headers 5
USB 3.0 ports (through expansion) 3
M.2 sockets 4
Has TPM connector ✕
U.2 sockets 0
Has mSATA connector ✕
SATA 2 connectors 0

Internal connectivity includes four M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors for storage, with no SATA 2, U.2, or mSATA options present. Expansion headers allow for three additional USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, three USB 3.0 ports, and two USB 2.0 ports. Cooling is supported through five fan headers, while a TPM connector is not included on this board.

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 2
PCIe x8 slots 0

The board offers four expansion slots in total: one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, and two PCIe x4 slots. There are no PCIe 5.0, 3.0, 2.0, x8, or x1 slots beyond what is listed, and no legacy PCI slots are present.

Audio:

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

The onboard audio supports a 7.1-channel configuration and delivers a DAC signal-to-noise ratio of 120 dB. Five audio connectors are available on the board, and a S/PDIF Out port is included for digital audio output.

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 (1+0) configurations, covering a range of common storage array setups. RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The Maxsun iCraft Z890 Arctic is a feature-dense ATX motherboard that caters clearly to enthusiast builders on Intel's LGA 1851 platform who want a well-connected, overclocking-capable system. Its standout strength lies in its exceptionally broad connectivity, combining nine USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, four M.2 sockets, and integrated Wi-Fi 7 into a single board, while DDR5 support with overclocked speeds up to 8000 MHz adds meaningful headroom for performance-focused configurations. The absence of dual BIOS, ECC memory support, and a TPM connector does narrow its appeal for certain professional or safety-conscious use cases, but for the intended audience of desktop enthusiasts seeking a capable and well-equipped Z890 platform, it presents a cohesive and substantive package.

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