A Closer Look – Features
In terms of the features, we get just two x16 PCI-Express slots, of which both operate at x16 speeds, though the top, reinforced slot utilises PCIe Gen 5 bandwidth, while the secondary slot operates at Gen 4 speeds.
Talking of Gen 5, we also have a single Gen 5 M.2 connector under the singular M.2 heatsink which is also tool-less for easy installation, along with 5 more M.2 slots, of which 4 operate at Gen 4×4 speeds and the other at Gen 3 speeds, and it is worth noting that if the secondary PCI-Express slot is in use, then the 4th M.2 slot will be disabled as it shares its bandwidth.
All M.2 slots also include latch systems for installing your drives, again making installation and removal easy with no need for any tools.
There’s also 4 SATA ports too, for those using older style drives, and this is something ASRock are always good at, while other similar boards may only have a maximum of 2 SATA ports instead.
When it comes to connectors, that’s pretty plentiful too with ARGB and RGB headers scattered around the board, a ton of fan headers of which multiple can power devices like pumps up to 3A and have smart fan speed control. There’s also USB 2.0 legacy headers at the bottom, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 header on the right, and a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C header as well.
Towards the bottom we also find a total of 3 Thermistor cable headers, of which the cables come included, which is nice to see, along with some nifty features for overclocking and troubleshooting. It’s in the top-right where we find a debug LED, along with power and reset buttons. Something pretty typical for a high-end board of this nature and a welcomed addition.
The rear I/O has a lot of connectivity too. Along with a small area that incorporates some ventilation, which should allow for a small amount of cross breeze from your system’s fans to help keep things cool, we also find USB ports ranging from legacy USB 2.0 speeds, to USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Type-A ports, and those all-important Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports giving us up to 40Gb/s bandwidth for the fastest possible speeds. There’s also 2 RJ45 connectors, of which one operates at 2.5G speeds, while the other bumps that up to 5G speeds, along with the WiFi 7 connectors, a single HDMI port, audio including SPDIF optical out and a clear CMOS and BIOS flashback button. Again, some handy features when overclocking or troubleshooting issues you may encounter.
