The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II is a high-performance motherboard designed to power the latest Intel 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen processors, offering a robust platform for serious PC enthusiasts and gamers alike. It’s an evolution of its predecessor, bringing refined power delivery, enhanced connectivity with WiFi 7 support, and improved thermal solutions to the table, ensuring peak performance and stability for demanding applications and games. This board stands out for its balanced approach, combining aesthetic appeal with formidable technical specifications, making it a compelling choice for building a powerful and future-proof system. For a into its capabilities, check out this comprehensive review: Rog strix z790-a gaming wifi ii.

Table of Contents

Unpacking the Power Delivery System: A Deep Dive into VRM Design

The VRM Voltage Regulator Module is the unsung hero of any high-performance motherboard, directly impacting CPU stability and overclocking potential.

The ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II takes this critical component seriously, offering a design that ensures reliable power delivery even under extreme loads.

Robust Power Stages and Design

ASUS has equipped the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II with a formidable 16+1+2 teamed power stage design.

This configuration is crucial for current-gen Intel CPUs, especially the power-hungry i9 and i7 processors.

16 teamed power stages: Dedicated to the Vcore, these stages are rated for 70A each, providing a massive 1120A total current delivery capacity. This is significantly higher than what most CPUs will ever demand, offering substantial headroom for sustained high clocks and aggressive overclocking.
1+2 power stages: One stage for the iGPU integrated graphics and two for the VCCAUX, which manages PCIe, memory controller, and other uncore components. This dedicated provisioning ensures stable operation across all CPU subsystems.
High-quality Chokes and Capacitors: ASUS uses premium alloy chokes and durable capacitors that are engineered to resist extreme temperatures and provide a lifespan 5x longer than standard components. This translates to rock-solid stability and improved efficiency, minimizing power loss and heat generation.

Enhanced VRM Cooling Solutions

Even the most robust VRMs need effective cooling to perform optimally.

The Z790-A Gaming WiFi II features an elaborate cooling solution to keep temperatures in check.

Massive Heatsinks: Large, high-mass heatsinks cover the VRM area, featuring multiple fins and cutouts to maximize surface area for heat dissipation. These aren’t just aesthetic. they are designed for thermal efficiency.
High-Conductivity Thermal Pads: Between the MOSFETs and the heatsinks, high-conductivity thermal pads ensure maximum heat transfer, preventing hot spots and maintaining consistent performance.
Integrated I/O Shroud: The I/O shroud is integrated with the VRM heatsink, contributing to the overall thermal mass and directing airflow more effectively. This thoughtful design helps in passive cooling and synergizes with case airflow.

Next-Gen Connectivity: Ushering in Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 4

Connectivity is paramount for modern gaming and productivity systems.

The ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II leads the charge with cutting-edge networking and peripheral interfaces.

Blazing-Fast Wireless with Wi-Fi 7

The highlight of the Z790-A Gaming WiFi II’s connectivity suite is its support for Wi-Fi 7 802.11be, also known as Extreme High Throughput EHT. This is a significant upgrade over previous generations.

Multi-Link Operation MLO: Wi-Fi 7 introduces MLO, allowing devices to simultaneously send and receive data across different frequency bands 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz. This significantly boosts throughput and reduces latency. For instance, in real-world tests, Wi-Fi 7 can achieve theoretical peak speeds of over 40 Gbps, a substantial leap from Wi-Fi 6E’s 9.6 Gbps.
Higher Bandwidth Channels: Support for wider 320 MHz channels in the 6GHz band, doubling the available bandwidth compared to Wi-Fi 6E.
4096-QAM: This higher-order modulation scheme packs more data into each signal, leading to up to 20% faster transmission rates compared to Wi-Fi 6/6E’s 1024-QAM. This is particularly beneficial for high-bandwidth applications like 8K video streaming and VR gaming.
Reduced Latency: MLO and improved scheduling mechanisms translate to significantly lower latency, critical for competitive online gaming and real-time applications. Latency can be reduced by up to 50% compared to Wi-Fi 6.

Robust Wired Networking

Beyond wireless, the board ensures top-tier wired connectivity. Ringworm cream best

Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet: Provides a stable and high-speed wired connection, ideal for gaming and large file transfers. This is 2.5 times faster than standard Gigabit Ethernet, offering a noticeable improvement for local network activities and high-speed internet connections. Data transfer rates can reach up to 2500 Mbps.

Future-Proof USB and Thunderbolt 4 Support

The Z790-A Gaming WiFi II is packed with a comprehensive array of USB ports and even offers Thunderbolt 4 capability via a header.

USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C: Offers up to 20 Gbps transfer speeds, perfect for external NVMe SSDs and high-bandwidth peripherals. This is twice as fast as USB 3.2 Gen 2.
Multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 1 Ports: A wide selection of Type-A and Type-C ports to accommodate all your peripherals.
Thunderbolt 4 Header: While not natively integrated, the inclusion of a Thunderbolt 4 header allows users to add a Thunderbolt expansion card for blazing-fast 40 Gbps data transfer, DisplayPort 1.4 output, and daisy-chaining capabilities. This provides flexibility for users who need professional-grade connectivity. A single Thunderbolt 4 port can power two 4K displays or one 8K display.

Storage Solutions: Unleashing NVMe Potential

Modern computing demands blazing-fast storage, and the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II is well-equipped to meet these needs with an abundance of M.2 slots, including PCIe 5.0 support.

PCIe 5.0 M.2 Slot for Unprecedented Speed

The crown jewel of the storage options is the dedicated PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.

Blazing Fast Performance: This slot leverages the direct PCIe 5.0 lanes from the CPU, offering theoretical bandwidth of up to 16 GB/s. While PCIe 5.0 NVMe drives are still emerging, this ensures future-proofing for the fastest possible storage. Current top-tier PCIe 4.0 drives max out around 7-8 GB/s, so PCIe 5.0 represents a significant leap.
Dedicated Heatsink: To prevent thermal throttling on these incredibly fast drives, the primary PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot is accompanied by a robust, large heatsink to dissipate heat effectively. Early PCIe 5.0 drives can generate substantial heat, making effective cooling critical for sustained performance.

Multiple PCIe 4.0 M.2 Slots

In addition to the PCIe 5.0 slot, the board provides ample PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for high-speed storage expansion.

Four PCIe 4.0 M.2 Slots: These slots offer up to 64 Gbps 8 GB/s bandwidth, which is more than enough for the vast majority of NVMe SSDs currently on the market. This allows users to build high-capacity, high-speed storage arrays.
M.2 Q-Latch: ASUS’s innovative Q-Latch mechanism simplifies M.2 installation and removal, eliminating the need for tiny screws, making the process tool-less and hassle-free. This small quality-of-life improvement can save time and frustration during builds.

SATA Ports for Traditional Storage

While NVMe takes center stage, the board still supports traditional SATA drives.

Four SATA 6Gb/s Ports: For users who still rely on 2.5-inch SSDs or mechanical hard drives for mass storage, four SATA ports are available. This provides flexibility for hybrid storage configurations, allowing for a fast OS drive and ample space for games or media files.

Audio Experience: SupremeFX ALC4080 and Premium Capacitors

A high-quality audio experience is essential for immersive gaming and content consumption.

The ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II integrates ASUS’s SupremeFX audio solution, based on the Realtek ALC4080 codec.

SupremeFX ALC4080 Codec

The Realtek ALC4080 is a premium audio codec chosen for its high fidelity and improved signal-to-noise ratio SNR.

120 dB SNR on Stereo Playback: This ensures crystal-clear audio output with minimal background noise, providing an immersive soundscape for gaming and media.
113 dB SNR on Recording Input: Equally important for streamers and content creators, this high SNR on the input ensures clean voice capture.
Integrated Savitech SV3H712 AMP: This dedicated amplifier for the front panel headphone output can drive a wide range of gaming headsets with varying impedances, ensuring consistent volume and clarity. It’s capable of driving headphones up to 600 ohms.

Premium Audio Components

Beyond the codec, the board uses high-quality components in the audio circuitry.

Japanese Audio Capacitors: These specialized capacitors are known for their warm, natural sound and long lifespan, contributing to a richer audio experience.
Audio Shielding: The audio circuitry is isolated from the rest of the motherboard to minimize electromagnetic interference, which can degrade sound quality. This physical separation prevents crosstalk and ensures a cleaner audio signal.
De-pop Circuit: This circuit reduces the annoying popping sounds that can occur when headphones are plugged in or unplugged.

Aesthetic and Usability: A Builder’s Dream

The ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II isn’t just about raw power. Qardiobase x scale

It also excels in aesthetics and ease of use, making the PC building process more enjoyable and the final product visually appealing.

Striking White and Silver Aesthetics

The “A” in the Z790-A traditionally signifies the white or silver aesthetic, and this board lives up to that reputation.

White PCB Accents: While not a completely white PCB, the board features prominent white and silver accents on the heatsinks, I/O shroud, and M.2 covers, creating a clean and modern look. This contrasts beautifully with darker components and is a popular choice for white-themed builds.
Customizable RGB Lighting: Integrated Addressable Gen 2 RGB headers and ASUS Aura Sync support allow for extensive lighting customization. Users can synchronize RGB effects across compatible components like RAM, fans, and peripherals, creating a cohesive lighting scheme. Aura Sync offers 16.8 million colors and a variety of effects.

Q-Design Features for Easy Building

ASUS has implemented several “Q-Design” features to simplify the building and troubleshooting process.

PCIe Slot Q-Release: A large, easy-to-press button on the primary PCIe slot makes removing bulky graphics cards effortless, eliminating the need to fumble with tiny latches. This is a massive quality-of-life improvement, especially for frequent component swaps.
M.2 Q-Latch: As mentioned before, this tool-less design for M.2 SSD installation is a must, saving time and preventing lost screws.
Q-LEDs: Debugging LEDs for CPU, DRAM, VGA, and BOOT provide quick visual diagnostics, indicating which component is preventing the system from booting. This is invaluable for troubleshooting build issues.
Pre-mounted I/O Shield: The integrated I/O shield not only contributes to the board’s sleek appearance but also simplifies installation, ensuring a perfect fit and preventing common builder frustrations.

BIOS and Software Experience

ASUS’s UEFI BIOS is renowned for its user-friendliness and extensive options.

Intuitive Interface: Both EZ Mode for beginners and Advanced Mode for enthusiasts are clearly laid out, providing access to everything from basic system information to granular overclocking controls.
AI Overclocking: For those new to overclocking, ASUS’s AI Overclocking feature uses intelligent algorithms to predict optimal CPU frequencies and voltage settings based on your specific hardware and cooling solution. This can offer a significant performance boost with minimal effort.
Armoury Crate: This unified software suite allows users to manage drivers, utilities, Aura Sync lighting, and system monitoring from a single interface, streamlining the post-build setup.

Performance Benchmarking: Real-World Gains

While specifications are important, real-world performance is the ultimate measure of a motherboard’s capabilities.

The ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II consistently delivers top-tier performance across various benchmarks, thanks to its robust design and optimized features.

Gaming Performance

In gaming scenarios, the Z790-A Gaming WiFi II ensures that the CPU and GPU can operate at their full potential, translating to higher frame rates and smoother gameplay.

CPU Stability: The exceptional VRM design prevents CPU throttling under heavy gaming loads, especially with power-hungry CPUs like the Intel i9-13900K or i9-14900K. In benchmarks like Cyberpunk 2077 or Alan Wake 2, where CPU utilization can be high, sustained clock speeds mean consistent FPS. Data from independent reviews often shows less than 1-2% FPS variance between high-end Z790 boards, indicating stable power delivery.
PCIe 5.0 Graphics Card Support: While the primary PCIe x16 slot is PCIe 5.0 ready, current generation GPUs are primarily PCIe 4.0. However, this ensures future compatibility with upcoming, more demanding graphics cards that will leverage the increased bandwidth, potentially leading to marginal frame rate improvements in data-intensive titles. A PCIe 5.0 x16 slot offers 128 GB/s bidirectional bandwidth.

Content Creation and Productivity

For tasks beyond gaming, such as video editing, 3D rendering, and compiling code, the Z790-A Gaming WiFi II provides the necessary infrastructure for rapid execution.

Multi-Core Performance: The stable power delivery is crucial for sustained multi-core workloads. In Cinebench R23, the Z790-A consistently allows top-tier Intel CPUs to maintain peak boost clocks, leading to scores within the top percentile for Z790 platforms. For example, an i9-13900K can achieve multi-core scores exceeding 38,000 points.
Fast Storage for Workflows: The multiple M.2 slots, especially the PCIe 5.0 slot, dramatically reduce loading times for large project files and render times for video editing software. A PCIe 5.0 SSD can export a 4K video file in half the time compared to a SATA SSD. For instance, moving a 100GB project file could take less than 10 seconds on a PCIe 5.0 drive, compared to over a minute on a typical SATA SSD.
Memory Optimization: Support for DDR5 memory with XMP profiles up to 7800+ MHz OC ensures that memory-intensive applications, such as large datasets in Excel or complex simulations, run efficiently. Faster memory directly translates to lower latency and higher throughput, benefiting overall system responsiveness.

Overclocking Potential

For enthusiasts looking to push their hardware to the limits, the Z790-A Gaming WiFi II offers excellent overclocking headroom.

VRM Stability for Overclocking: The robust 16+1+2 power stages, rated for 70A, provide ample clean power for pushing CPU core frequencies. Many users report stable overclocks of 5.8-6.0 GHz on Intel i9-13900K/14900K with proper cooling.
Memory Overclocking: The optimized trace layout and strong memory controller implementation allow for very high DDR5 frequencies. Users have successfully achieved DDR5-7600 to DDR5-8000+ with compatible RAM kits and appropriate voltage adjustments.
Extensive BIOS Options: The comprehensive ASUS UEFI BIOS provides granular control over voltage, frequency, timings, and power limits, empowering experienced overclockers to fine-tune their system for maximum performance.

Longevity and Durability: Built to Last

Investing in a high-end motherboard like the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II is a significant commitment. Proform elliptical machine

ASUS prioritizes durability and long-term reliability to ensure your system performs optimally for years to come.

Premium Component Selection

The board is constructed with high-grade components throughout, not just in the VRM.

Sapphire Black PCB: A multi-layered PCB typically 8 layers or more enhances signal integrity, especially crucial for high-speed DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 signals. It also contributes to better heat dissipation.
Stainless Steel I/O Shield: The pre-mounted I/O shield is made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel, adding to the board’s longevity and providing EMI protection.
Digi+ VRM: This digital power control ensures precise and stable power delivery, reducing power ripples and extending component lifespan.

Enhanced Durability Features

Beyond individual components, the board incorporates design elements for overall robustness.

SafeSlot Core+: The primary PCIe x16 slot is reinforced with a one-piece stainless steel brace, making it significantly more resistant to shear force and heavy graphics cards. This prevents damage from weighty GPUs or accidental impacts. It offers 1.6 times stronger retention and 1.8 times greater shearing resistance compared to standard slots.
ESD Guards: ASUS employs ESD Guards on I/O ports USB, LAN, audio to protect against electrostatic discharge, which can damage sensitive components. These guards can withstand up to +/- 10kV for air discharge and +/- 6kV for contact discharge.
Overvoltage Protection: Integrated circuitry protects against unexpected voltage spikes from power supplies, safeguarding other components.

Software and Firmware Longevity

It’s not just about physical durability. software support also plays a role in longevity.

Regular BIOS Updates: ASUS provides frequent BIOS updates that improve compatibility, add new features, fix bugs, and optimize performance for new CPUs and memory kits. This ensures the board remains relevant and performs well with future hardware iterations.
Driver Support: Continuous driver support for Windows ensures compatibility and stability with operating system updates and new applications. ASUS typically supports its Z-series boards with drivers for several years post-launch.

Sustainable Practices and User Experience: A Holistic View

While the focus is often on performance, ASUS also considers the broader user experience and, increasingly, sustainable practices in the design and manufacturing of its products.

Focus on Energy Efficiency

Modern motherboards are designed to be more power-efficient, reducing operational costs and environmental impact.

Power Saving Features: The UEFI BIOS includes various power-saving options, allowing users to enable or disable specific power states e.g., C-states for the CPU and other components. This can reduce power consumption during idle or light load scenarios.
Efficient VRM Design: The use of high-quality components and an optimized VRM layout inherently leads to higher power efficiency, meaning less energy is wasted as heat. The 70A power stages operate efficiently even at lower loads.
ErP Ready: The board is compliant with the European Union’s Energy-Related Products ErP directive, ensuring low standby power consumption when the system is turned off.

User Accessibility and Support

ASUS is known for providing extensive support and resources for its products.

Comprehensive Manuals: Detailed user manuals guide users through installation, BIOS settings, and troubleshooting.
Online Support Resources: ASUS’s support website offers a wealth of information, including FAQs, driver downloads, BIOS updates, and troubleshooting guides.
Global Service Network: A wide network of service centers and customer support channels provides assistance in case of hardware issues or warranty claims. Based on customer reviews, ASUS support is generally responsive, with resolution times varying based on the issue.

Ethical Considerations and Islamic Principles in Technology

When considering any advanced technology, a Muslim consumer should always reflect on its ultimate purpose and whether it aligns with Islamic principles.

While the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II itself is a neutral tool, its primary purpose is often for activities that might lead to distraction or indulgence in non-permissible entertainment.

Discouraging Excessive Gaming and Entertainment: Islam encourages moderation in all aspects of life. While gaming can be a form of recreation, excessive engagement, especially in games that promote violence, gambling, or immoral themes, can lead to neglecting religious duties, family responsibilities, and overall well-being. A powerful gaming rig like this could facilitate such excess. It’s important to remember that time is a precious commodity, and wasting it on frivolous pursuits detracts from more beneficial activities.
Avoiding Immoral Content: High-end motherboards are often used to access high-fidelity media, including movies and podcast that may contain immoral content, explicit visuals, or themes that contradict Islamic values. Muslim users should be vigilant in filtering content and ensuring that their usage of technology remains within the bounds of what is permissible halal. This includes avoiding streaming services primarily focused on haram entertainment.
Alternatives and Beneficial Uses: Instead of solely focusing on gaming or entertainment, this powerful hardware can be redirected towards highly beneficial and permissible activities.
- Educational Pursuits: Utilize the computing power for online Islamic courses, learning new skills e.g., programming, graphic design for halal content creation, or academic research.
- Productivity and Work: Leverage the speed for productive work, entrepreneurial ventures, or contributing to the community through technology.
- Content Creation: Produce beneficial content such as Islamic lectures, educational videos, or family-friendly media.
- Simulations and Scientific Research: Engage in computationally intensive simulations for engineering, science, or medical fields that benefit humanity.
- Family-Friendly Engagement: Use the PC for collaborative family learning, educational games that promote critical thinking, or connecting with family remotely through video calls.
Financial Responsibility: Investing in such high-end components should be done responsibly, avoiding extravagant spending Israf if it compromises essential needs or leads to debt. Halal financing methods should be prioritized over interest-based loans.
Mindfulness in Technology Use: Ultimately, the technology itself is a tool. It is the user’s intention and application that determine whether it is beneficial or detrimental. A Muslim should always strive for mindfulness Taqwa in their technology use, ensuring it serves a higher purpose and contributes to their growth and closeness to Allah, rather than leading to heedlessness.

By focusing on these alternatives and exercising caution, the powerful capabilities of the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II can be harnessed for good, aligning technology with a purpose that brings benefit in this life and the Hereafter. Proton vpn grátis

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II?

The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II is a high-performance ATX motherboard designed for Intel 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen processors, featuring a robust power delivery system, Wi-Fi 7, PCIe 5.0 M.2 support, and a distinctive white/silver aesthetic.

What Intel CPUs are compatible with the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II?

The ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II is compatible with Intel Core 12th Gen, 13th Gen, and 14th Gen processors, including Core i9, i7, i5, and i3 series, using the LGA 1700 socket.

Does the Z790-A Gaming WiFi II support DDR5 RAM?

Yes, the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II supports DDR5 memory.

It features four DIMM slots and can support XMP profiles for high-frequency overclocking, often up to 7800+ MHz OC.

How many M.2 slots does this motherboard have?

The ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II typically comes with five M.2 slots.

One of these slots supports PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs, while the remaining four support PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs.

Does the Z790-A Gaming WiFi II have Wi-Fi 7?

Yes, a key feature of the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II is its integrated Wi-Fi 7 802.11be capability, offering superior wireless speeds, lower latency, and Multi-Link Operation MLO.

What is the advantage of Wi-Fi 7 over Wi-Fi 6E?

Wi-Fi 7 offers higher theoretical peak speeds over 40 Gbps vs. 9.6 Gbps, wider 320 MHz channels, 4096-QAM for denser data transmission, and significantly lower latency through Multi-Link Operation MLO.

Is there a PCIe 5.0 slot for graphics cards on this board?

Yes, the primary PCIe x16 slot for the graphics card on the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II is a full PCIe 5.0 slot, offering 128 GB/s bidirectional bandwidth for future high-performance GPUs.

Does the Z790-A Gaming WiFi II come with an integrated I/O shield?

Yes, the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II features a pre-mounted I/O shield, which simplifies installation and adds to the board’s aesthetic appeal. Otc antifungal cream

What kind of audio does the Z790-A Gaming WiFi II offer?

The board uses ASUS’s SupremeFX audio solution, based on the Realtek ALC4080 codec, offering high-fidelity audio with a 120 dB SNR on stereo playback and a dedicated Savitech SV3H712 amplifier for the front panel headphone output.

Are there any features to simplify PC building?

Yes, the Z790-A Gaming WiFi II includes several “Q-Design” features like PCIe Slot Q-Release for easy GPU removal, M.2 Q-Latch tool-less M.2 installation, and Q-LEDs for quick troubleshooting.

Can I overclock my CPU and RAM on this motherboard?

Yes, the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II is designed with a robust VRM and comprehensive BIOS options that make it highly capable for both CPU and DDR5 RAM overclocking.

What is the power delivery VRM like on this board?

It features a formidable 16+1+2 teamed power stage design, with 16 phases dedicated to the Vcore, each rated for 70A, ensuring stable and efficient power delivery for demanding CPUs.

Does it have Thunderbolt 4 ports?

The motherboard does not have native Thunderbolt 4 ports, but it includes a Thunderbolt 4 header, allowing users to add a Thunderbolt expansion card for 40 Gbps connectivity.

What is the Ethernet speed on this motherboard?

The ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II features an Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet port, providing high-speed wired network connectivity for gaming and data transfer.

Is the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II good for content creation?

Yes, with its powerful VRM, PCIe 5.0 and multiple PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for fast storage, and robust connectivity options, it’s an excellent choice for content creators who need high performance for video editing, 3D rendering, and other demanding tasks.

What is ASUS Aura Sync, and does this board support it?

ASUS Aura Sync is an RGB lighting ecosystem that allows users to synchronize lighting effects across compatible components.

Yes, the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II supports Aura Sync and includes Addressable Gen 2 RGB headers.

What is the aesthetic design of the Z790-A Gaming WiFi II?

The board features a distinctive white and silver aesthetic, with accents on the heatsinks and I/O shroud, making it ideal for white-themed PC builds. Over the counter medicine for ringworm

Does the motherboard come with M.2 heatsinks?

Yes, the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II includes heatsinks for its M.2 slots, including a robust heatsink for the primary PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, to prevent thermal throttling of high-speed NVMe SSDs.

What kind of USB ports does it have?

It offers a comprehensive array of USB ports, including USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C 20 Gbps, multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbps Type-A and Type-C, and USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports.

Is the Z790-A Gaming WiFi II a future-proof motherboard?

With PCIe 5.0 support for both graphics cards and M.2 SSDs, Wi-Fi 7, and a robust power delivery system for current and future Intel CPUs, the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II is designed with significant future-proofing capabilities.

Rog strix z790-a gaming wifi ii