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Maxsun iCraft Z890 Pacific specifications and in-depth review

Maxsun iCraft Z890 Pacific

Manufacturer: Maxsun

The Maxsun iCraft Z890 Pacific is an ATX-form-factor motherboard designed around Intel's LGA 1851 platform and the Z890 chipset. It supports overclocking and features RGB lighting, along with built-in Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) and Bluetooth 5.4, making wireless connectivity a core part of its feature set. A three-year warranty accompanies the board.

Memory support extends to DDR5 across four slots, with a standard ceiling of 6400 MHz and an overclocked ceiling of 8800 MHz, for a maximum capacity of 256 GB across two channels. Connectivity on the rear panel includes two USB 4 40Gbps ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, nine USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort output, and a single RJ45 jack. Internally, four M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors handle storage, with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10. Expansion is handled by two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, while the onboard audio section delivers a 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio with 7.1-channel output and an S/PDIF port.

Pros
  • Four M.2 sockets provide ample high-speed storage expansion without relying solely on SATA connections
  • Wi-Fi 7 support covers every major wireless standard from Wi-Fi 4 through 802.11be, ensuring broad compatibility
  • Two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots offer substantial expansion headroom for cards and add-in devices
  • Nine USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports on the rear panel reduce the need for hubs in connectivity-heavy setups
  • DDR5 memory can be overclocked up to 8800 MHz across four slots, with a total capacity ceiling of 256 GB
  • The onboard audio section delivers a 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio with 7.1-channel output and S/PDIF support
Cons
  • No dual BIOS means there is no automatic fallback if a firmware update goes wrong
  • The absence of an easy CMOS reset mechanism can make BIOS recovery more cumbersome
  • ECC memory is not supported, limiting use in workloads that require error-correcting RAM
  • No TPM connector is present, which may complicate hardware-based security configurations
  • There are no USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports on the rear panel, leaving only Gen 2 and higher options for rear USB-A connectivity
Who is this for?

This board is a strong fit for users building high-end desktop systems around Intel's LGA 1851 platform who want room to grow. The combination of four M.2 sockets, four SATA 3 connectors, and support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 makes it well-suited to content creators, video editors, and data-intensive workflows that benefit from fast, redundant storage configurations. The extensive rear USB connectivity — including nine USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and two USB 4 40Gbps ports — also makes it a practical choice for users who regularly connect many peripherals or high-bandwidth external devices. Those looking to push memory performance will appreciate DDR5 overclocking headroom up to 8800 MHz, and the two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots leave plenty of room for current and future expansion cards.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who prioritize system resilience and firmware safety will find some notable gaps here, as the board lacks both a dual BIOS and an easy CMOS reset mechanism, meaning a failed update or misconfigured BIOS requires a more involved recovery process. It is also a poor match for workstation or server-adjacent use cases that depend on ECC memory support, since error-correcting RAM is not compatible with this board. Additionally, the absence of a TPM connector makes it less appropriate for environments with strict hardware-level security requirements, and the lack of integrated graphics means it cannot function as a display-capable system without a dedicated GPU installed.

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 Pacific is a single-socket ATX motherboard built around the LGA 1851 socket and the Z890 chipset, measuring 305 mm × 245 mm. It supports overclocking and includes RGB lighting, while integrated Wi-Fi covers a wide range of standards from Wi-Fi 4 through Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), complemented by Bluetooth 5.4, though aptX is not supported. Video output is handled via HDMI 2.1, and the board carries a three-year warranty. It does not feature dual BIOS, an easy CMOS reset option, integrated graphics, or an integrated CPU.

Memory:

maximum memory amount 256GB
RAM speed (max) 6400 MHz
overclocked RAM speed 8800 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, supporting up to 256 GB in total. The standard maximum RAM speed sits at 6400 MHz, while overclocked configurations can reach 8800 MHz. ECC memory is not supported.

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 offers a substantial USB lineup, led by nine USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports alongside two USB 4 40Gbps ports and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, all with Type-C connectors; no USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 2.0, USB 4 20Gbps, or Thunderbolt 3 ports are present. Display outputs consist of one HDMI and one DisplayPort, with no DVI or VGA connectors available. Networking is handled by a single RJ45 port, and there are no eSATA or PS/2 ports.

Connectors:

USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion) 2
USB 2.0 ports (through expansion) 2
SATA 3 connectors 4
fan headers 5
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

Storage connectivity is well-covered with four M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors on board, while SATA 2, U.2, and mSATA connections are absent. For USB expansion headers, the board provides two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and two USB 2.0 ports through internal headers. Cooling is supported by five fan headers, and there is no TPM connector present.

Expansion slots:

PCIe 4.0 x16 slots 2
PCIe 5.0 x16 slots 2
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 four full-length PCIe expansion slots in total: two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots. There are no PCIe 3.0, PCIe 2.0, PCIe x8, PCIe x4, PCIe x1, or legacy PCI slots of any kind.

Audio:

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

The onboard audio section supports 7.1-channel output and delivers a DAC signal-to-noise ratio of 120 dB. Five analog 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 (1+0) configurations, covering a practical range of striping, mirroring, and combined redundancy setups. RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The Maxsun iCraft Z890 Pacific is a well-specified ATX motherboard that covers most of the key bases for a high-end Intel LGA 1851 build. Its extensive connectivity — spanning four M.2 sockets, nine USB 3.2 Gen 2 rear ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and Wi-Fi 7 — positions it firmly toward users who demand flexibility and bandwidth across storage, peripherals, and wireless alike. DDR5 overclocking support up to 8800 MHz and dual PCIe 5.0 x16 slots add meaningful headroom for demanding workloads. That said, the absence of dual BIOS, ECC memory support, and a TPM connector means it is better matched to enthusiast desktop builders than to workstation or security-focused deployments. For users whose priorities align with its strengths, the iCraft Z890 Pacific represents a capable and feature-rich foundation for a modern Intel platform build.

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