ASROCK W790 WS User manual

Contact Information
If you need to contact ASRock or want to know more about ASRock, you’re welcome
to visit ASRock’s website at http://www.asrock.com; or you may contact your dealer
for further information. For technical questions, please submit a support request
form at https://event.asrock.com/tsd.asp
ASRock Incorporation
e-mail: [e-mail]
ASRock EUROPE B.V.
e-mail: [e-mail]
ASRock America, Inc.
e-mail: sa[email protected]
Scan the QR code to view more manuals and documents.

Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
1.1 Package Contents 1
1.2 Specications 2
1.3 Motherboard Layout 6
1.4 I/O Panel 8
1.5 Block Diagram 10
1.6 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E Module and ASRock WiFi 2.4/5/6 GHz
Antenna 11
Chapter 2 Installation 12
2.1 Installing the CPU and Heatsink 13
2.2 Installing Memory Modules (DIMM) 19
2.3 Connecting the Front Panel Header 21
2.4 Installing the Motherboard 22
2.5 Installing SATA Drives 23
2.6 Installing a Graphics Card 25
2.7 Connecting Peripheral Devices 27
2.8 Connecting the Power Connectors 28
2.9 Power On 29
2.10 Jumpers Setup 30
2.11 Onboard Headers and Connectors 31
2.12 Smart Buttons 47
2.13 Dr. Debug 51

2.14 M.2 SSD Module Installation Guide (M2_1) 57
2.15 M.2_SSD (NGFF) Module Installation Guide (M2_2 and
M2_3) 61
2.16 M.2_SSD (NGFF) Module Installation Guide (M2_4) 64

1
W790 WS
Chapter 1 Introduction
ank you for purchasing ASRock W790 WS motherboard, a reliable motherboard
produced under ASRock’s consistently stringent quality control. It delivers excellent
performance with robust design conforming to ASRock’s commitment to quality
and endurance.
1.1 Package Contents
• ASRock W790 WS Motherboard (EATX Form Factor)
• ASRock W790 WS User Manual
• 4 x Serial ATA (SATA) Data Cables (Optional)
• 1 x ASRock WiFi 2.4/5/6 GHz Antenna (Optional)
• 4 x Screws for M.2 Sockets (Optional)
• 2 x Standos for M.2 Sockets (Optional)
Because the motherboard specications and the BIOS soware might be updated, the
content of this documentation will be subject to change without notice. In case any modi-
cations of this documentation occur, the updated version will be available on ASRock’s
website without further notice. If you require technical support related to this mother-
board, please visit our website for specic information about the model you are using. You
may nd the latest VGA cards and CPU support list on ASRock’s website as well. ASRock
website http://www.asrock.com.

2
1.2 Specications
Platform • EATX Form Factor
• 14 Layer PCB
CPU • Supports 4th Gen Intel® Xeon® W-3400 and W-2400
Processors (LGA4677)
• Supports Intel® Optane™ Persistent Memory
• Supports Intel® Boot Guard
• Supports Intel® Trusted Execution Technology (Intel® TXT)
• Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
• Supports Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT)
• Supports Intel® Hyper-reading Technology (Intel® HT
Technology)
• Supports Intel® Data Streaming Accelerator (Intel® DSA)
• Supports ASRock Hyper BCLK Engine
Chipset • Intel® W790
• Supports Intel® vPro® Technology
• Supports Intel® Active Management Technology
Memory • Quad Channel DDR5 Memory Technology
• 8 x DDR5 DIMM Slots
• Supports DDR5 ECC, buered memory (RDIMM/ RDIMM-
3DS/ RDIMM-9x4) up to 6800+(OC)*
1DPC Up to 6800+ MHz (OC), 4800 MHz Natively for Xeon
W9, Xeon W7 and Xeon W5.
2DPC Up to 6000+ MHz (OC), 4400 MHz Natively for Xeon
W9, Xeon W7 and Xeon W5.
Supports 4400 MHz Natively for Xeon W3, W5-3423 and
W5-3433. Overclocking is not supported.
* Actual support may vary by CPU
• Max. capacity of system memory: 2TB
* Please refer to Memory Support List on ASRock's website for
more information. (http://www.asrock.com/)

3
W790 WS
Expansion
Slot
CPU:
• 4 x PCIe 5.0 x16 Slots (PCIE1/PCIE3 at x16; PCIE2/PCIE5 at
x8)*
Chipset:
• 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 Slot (PCIE4), supports x4 mode*
• 1 x Vertical M.2 Socket (Key E), supports type 2230 WiFi/BT
PCIe WiFi module
* Supports NVMe SSD as boot disks
• 15μ Gold Contact in VGA PCIe Slots
Audio • 7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC897 Audio Codec)
• Nahimic Audio
LAN 2 x 10 Gigabit LAN 100/1000/2500/5000/10000 Mb/s (Marvell
(Aquantia) AQC113CS)
• Support Wake-On-LAN
• Support PXE
1 x 2.5 Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000/2500 Mb/s (Intel® I225LM)
• Support Wake-On-LAN
• Support PXE
• Supports Intel® vPro® Technology
Wireless
LAN
• 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E Module
• Supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax
• Supports Dual-Band 2x2 with extended 6GHz band*
* Wi-Fi 6E (6GHz band) will be supported by Microso®
Windows® 11. e availability will depend on the dierent
regulation status of each country and region. It will be ac-
tivated (for supported countries) through Windows Update
and soware updates once available.
* A 6GHz compatible router is required for 6E functionality.
• 1 antenna to support 2 (Transmit) x 2 (Receive) diversity
technology
• Supports Bluetooth 5.3 + High speed class II
• Supports MU-MIMO

4
USB • 2 x USB4 underboltTM 4 Type-C (Rear)
• 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C (Front)
• 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (Rear)
• 8 x USB 3.2 Gen1 (4 Rear, 4 Front)
• 3 x USB 2.0 (Front)
* All USB ports support ESD Protection
Rear Panel
I/O
• 2 x Antenna Ports
• 1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port
• 2 x USB4 underboltTM 4 Type-C Ports*
• 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A Ports (10 Gb/s)
• 4 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Ports
• 3 x RJ-45 LAN Ports
• 1 x BIOS Flashback Button
• 1 x Line Out Jack (Gold Audio Jack)
• 1 x Microphone Input Jack (Gold Audio Jack)
* Supports USB PD 3.0 up to 9V@3A (27W) / 5V@3A (15W)
charging
Storage CPU:
• 1 x Blazing M.2 Socket (M2_1, Key M), supports type
2230/2242/2260/2280 PCIe Gen5x4 (128 Gb/s) mode*
• 2 x Blazing M.2 Sockets (M2_2 and M2_3, Key M), support
type 2260/2280 PCIe Gen5x4 (128 Gb/s) mode*
• 1 x Blazing M.2 Socket (M2_4, Key M), supports type
2260/2280 PCIe Gen5x4 (128 Gb/s) mode*
Chipset:
• 8 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s Connectors
• 1 x U.2 Connector, supports PCIe Gen4x4 (64 Gb/s) mode
* Supports Intel® Volume Management Device (VMD)
* Supports NVMe SSD as boot disks
RAID • Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 for SATA
storage devices
• Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 for M.2
NVMe storage devices*
* Requires additional M.2 NVMe expansion cards to support
RAID 10

5
W790 WS
Connector • 1 x Virtual RAID On CPU Header
• 1 x SPI TPM Header
• 1 x Chassis Intrusion and Speaker Header
• 1 x CPU Fan Connector (4-pin)*
• 1 x CPU/Water Pump Fan Connector (4-pin) (Smart Fan
Speed Control)**
• 3 x Chassis/Water Pump Fan Connectors (4-pin) (Smart Fan
Speed Control)***
• 1 x 24 pin ATX Power Connector (Hi-Density Power Con-
nector)
• 2 x 8 pin 12V Power Connectors (Hi-Density Power Connec-
tor) (for Motherboard)
• 1 x 6 pin 12V Power Connector (Hi-Density Power Connec-
tor) (for Motherboard)****
• 2 x 8 pin 12V Power Connectors (Hi-Density Power Connec-
tor) (for PCIe card)*****
• 1 x Front Panel Audio Connector
• 2 x USB 2.0 Headers (Support 3 USB 2.0 ports)
• 2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Headers (Support 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 ports)
• 1 x Front Panel Type C USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Header (20 Gb/s)
• 1 x Clear CMOS Button
• 1 x Dr. Debug with LED
• 1 x Power Button with LED
• 1 x Reset Button with LED
* CPU_FAN1 supports the fan power up to 1A (12W).
** CPU_FAN2/WP_3A supports the fan power up to 3A (36W).
*** CHA_FAN1~3/WP support the fan power up to 2A (24W).
*** CPU_FAN2/WP_3A and CHA_FAN1~3/WP can auto detect
if 3-pin or 4-pin fan is in use.
**** It is optional to connect an ATX 12V 6-pin cable to
ATX12V3, which provides more power for overclocking.
***** Use either GTX_12V1 or GTX_12V2 when you install one
or two PCIe card(s). Use both connectors when you install more
than two PCIe cards. Otherwise, the system may not boot up
properly.
BIOS
Feature
• AMI UEFI Legal BIOS with GUI support

6
Please realize that there is a certain risk involved with overclocking, including adjusting
the setting in the BIOS, applying Untied Overclocking Technology, or using third-party
overclocking tools. Overclocking may aect your system’s stability, or even cause damage to
the components and devices of your system. It should be done at your own risk and expense.
We are not responsible for possible damage caused by overclocking.
* For detailed product information, please visit our website: http://www.asrock.com
OS • Microso® Windows® 10 64-bit / 11 64-bit
• Linux
* Linux supported by Intel via the upstreaming of Intel Linux
drivers to the Linux Open Source Community. Adoption into
individual Linux distributions is dependent upon the OS vendor
Certica-
tions
• FCC, CE
• ErP/EuP ready (ErP/EuP ready power supply is required)
• CEC Tier II ready