Asus PRIME Z790-A WIFI User manual

Motherboard
PRIME
Z790-A WIFI

ii
E21270
Revised Edition V3
October 2022
Copyright © 2022 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced,
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such repair, modification of alteration is authorized in writing by ASUS; or (2) the serial number of the
product is defaced or missing.
ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS
DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS,
LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OR DATA, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE),
EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM
ANY DEFECT OR ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT.
SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR
INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE,
AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. ASUS ASSUMES NO
RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR INACCURACIES THAT MAY APPEAR IN
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Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or
copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identification or explanation and to the
owners’ benefit, without intent to infringe.

iii
Contents
Safety information...................................................................................................... iv
About this guide.......................................................................................................... v
PRIME Z790-A WIFI specifications summary .......................................................... vi
Package contents....................................................................................................... xi
Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1.1 Before you proceed ................................................................................... 1-1
1.2 Motherboard layout.................................................................................... 1-2
Chapter 2: Basic Installation
2.1 Building your PC system...........................................................................2-1
2.1.1 CPU installation...........................................................................2-1
2.1.2 Cooling system installation..........................................................2-3
2.1.3 DIMM installation.........................................................................2-6
2.1.4 M.2 installation ............................................................................2-7
2.1.5 Motherboard installation............................................................2-13
2.1.6 ATX power connection..............................................................2-14
2.1.7 SATA device connection...........................................................2-15
2.1.8 Front I/O connector ................................................................... 2-16
2.1.9 Expansion card installation .......................................................2-17
2.1.10 Wi-Fi moving antenna installation ............................................. 2-20
2.2 Motherboard rear and audio connections ............................................. 2-21
2.2.1 Rear I/O connection .................................................................. 2-21
2.2.2 Audio I/O connections...............................................................2-23
2.3 Starting up for the first time.................................................................... 2-25
2.4 Turning off the computer ........................................................................ 2-25
Chapter 3: BIOS and RAID Support
3.1 Knowing BIOS ............................................................................................ 3-1
3.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................................. 3-2
3.3 ASUS EZ Flash 3 ........................................................................................ 3-3
3.4 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3............................................................................3-4
3.5 RAID configurations .................................................................................. 3-5
Appendix
Notices .................................................................................................................... A-1
Warranty................................................................................................................. A-12
ASUS contact information.................................................................................... A-14
Service and Support ............................................................................................. A-14

iv
Safety information
Electrical safety
• To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical
outlet before relocating the system.
• When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables
for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible,
disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.
• Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all
power cables are unplugged.
• Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord. These
devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.
• Ensure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not
sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power
company.
• If the power supply is broken, do not try to fix it by yourself. Contact a qualified service
technician or your retailer.
Operation safety
• Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the
manuals that came with the package.
• Before using the product, ensure all cables are correctly connected and the power
cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.
• To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors,
slots, sockets and circuitry.
• Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area
where it may become wet.
• Place the product on a stable surface.
• If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualified service
technician or your retailer.
• Your motherboard should only be used in environments with ambient temperatures
between 0°C and 40°C.
Button/Coin Batteries Safety Information
WARNING
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
Swallowing can lead to chemical burns,
perforation of soft tissue, and death. Severe
burns can occur within 2 hours of ingestion.
Seek medical attention immediately.

v
About this guide
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and configuring the
motherboard.
How this guide is organized
This guide contains the following parts:
• Chapter 1: Product Introduction
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it
supports. It includes description of the switches, jumpers, and connectors on the
motherboard.
• Chapter 2: Basic Installation
This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when
installing system components.
• Chapter 3: BIOS and RAID Support
This chapter tells how to boot into the BIOS, upgrade BIOS using the EZ Flash Utility
and support on RAID.
Where to find more information
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software
updates.
1. ASUS website
The ASUS website (www.asus.com) provides updated information on ASUS hardware
and software products.
2. Optional documentation
Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty flyers,
that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the
standard package.
Conventions used in this guide
To ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used
throughout this user guide.
CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components and injuries to
yourself when trying to complete a task.
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.

vi
PRIME Z790-A WIFI specifications summary
CPU
Intel®Socket LGA1700 for 13th Gen Intel®Core™ Processors & 12th Gen
Intel®Core™, Pentium®Gold and Celeron®Processors*
Supports Intel®Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and Intel®Turbo Boost Max
Technology 3.0**
* Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support list.
** Intel®Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 support depends on the CPU types.
Chipset Intel®Z790 Chipset
Memory
4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR5 7000(OC) / 6800(OC) / 6600(OC) /
6400(OC) / 6200(OC) / 6000(OC) / 5800(OC) / 5600 / 5400 / 5200 /
5000 / 4800 Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory*
Dual Channel Memory Architecture
Supports Intel®Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
OptiMem II
* Supported memory types, data rate(Speed), and number of DRAM modules
vary depending on the CPU and memory configuration, for more information
refer to www.asus.com for memory support list.
* Non-ECC, un-buffered DDR5 memory supports On-Die ECC function.
Graphics
1 x DisplayPort**
1 x HDMI®port***
* Graphics specifications may vary between CPU types. Please refer to
www.intel.com for any updates.
** Supports DisplayPort 1.4 with max. resolution of 8K@60Hz. Please refer to
www.intel.com for any updates.
*** Supports HDMI®2.1 with max. resolution of 4K@60Hz. Please refer to
www.intel.com for any updates.
**** VGA resolution support depends on processors’ or graphic cards’
resolution.
Expansion Slots
Intel®13th & 12th Gen Processors*
1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot
Intel®Z790 Chipset
1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (supports x4 mode)
1 x PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
2 x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots
* Please check the PCIe bifurcation table on the support site
(https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1037507/).
Note: To ensure compatibility of the device installed, please refer to
https://www.asus.com/support/ for the list of supported peripherals.
Storage
Total supports 4 x M.2 slots and 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports*
Intel®13th & 12th Gen Processors
M.2_1 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280/22110
- Intel®13th & 12th Gen processors support PCIe 4.0 x4 mode.
Intel®Z790 Chipset
M.2_2 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)
M.2_3 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280/22110
(supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode)
M.2_4 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280
(supports PCIe 4.0 x4 & SATA modes)
4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
* Intel®Rapid Storage Technology supports PCIe RAID 0/1/5/10, SATA RAID
0/1/5/10.
(continued on the next page)

vii
PRIME Z790-A WIFI specifications summary
Ethernet 1 x Intel®2.5Gb Ethernet
ASUS LANGuard
Wireless & Bluetooth®
Wi-Fi 6E
2x2 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Supports 2.4/5/6GHz frequency band*
Bluetooth®v5.3**
* WiFi 6E 6GHz regulatory may vary between countries.
** The Bluetooth version may vary, please refer to the Wi-Fi module
manufacturer’s website for the latest specifications.
USB
Rear USB (Total 8 ports)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port (1 x USB Type-C®)
3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (2 x Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C®)
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (4 x Type-A)
Front USB (Total 7 ports)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 connector (supports USB Type-C®)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header supports 2 additional USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
2 x USB 2.0 headers support 4 additional USB 2.0 ports
Audio
Realtek S1220A 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC*
- Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs
- Internal audio Amplifier to enhance the highest quality sound for
headphone and speakers
- Supports: Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
- High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 113 dB SNR
recording input (Line-in)
- Supports up to 32-Bit/192 kHz playback*
Audio Features
- Audio Shielding
- Power pre-regulator reduces power input noise to ensure consistent
performance
- Premium audio capacitors
- Dedicated audio PCB layers
- Audio cover
- Unique de-pop circuit
* Due to limitations in HDA bandwidth, 32-Bit/192 kHz is not supported for 7.1
Surround Sound audio.
** A chassis with an HD audio module in the front panel is required to support
7.1 Surround Sound audio output.
Back Panel I/O Ports
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port (1 x USB Type-C®)
3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (2 x Type-A, 1 x Type-C®)
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (4 x Type-A)
1 x DisplayPort
1 x HDMI®port
1 x Wi-Fi Module
1 x Intel®2.5Gb Ethernet port
3 x Audio jacks
(continued on the next page)

viii
PRIME Z790-A WIFI specifications summary
Internal I/O connectors
Fan and Cooling related
1 x 4-pin CPU Fan header
1 x 4-pin CPU OPT Fan header
1 x 4-pin AIO Pump header
4 x 4-pin Chassis Fan headers
Power related
1 x 24-pin Main Power connector
2 x 8-pin +12V Power connectors
Storage related
4 x M.2 slots (Key M)
4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
USB
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 connector (supports USB Type-C®)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header supports 2 additional USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
2 x USB 2.0 headers support 4 additional USB 2.0 ports
Miscellaneous
3 x Addressable Gen 2 headers
1 x Aura RGB header
1 x Clear CMOS button
1 x COM Port header
1 x CPU Over Voltage jumper
1 x Front Panel Audio header (AAFP)
1 x Power button
1 x SPI TPM header (14-1pin)
1 x 20-3 pin System Panel header with Chassis intrude function
1 x Thunderbolt™ (USB4®) header
Special Features
ASUS 5X PROTECTION III
- DIGI+ VRM (- Digital power design with DrMOS)
- ESD Guards
- LANGuard
- Overvoltage Protection
- SafeSlot
- Stainless-Steel Back I/O
ASUS Q-Design
- M.2 Q-Latch
- PCIe Slot Q-Release
- Q-Connector
- Q-DIMM
- Q-LED (CPU [red], DRAM [yellow], VGA [white], Boot Device [yellow
green])
- Q-Slot
ASUS Thermal Solution
- M.2 heatsink
- VRM heatsink design
(continued on the next page)

ix
PRIME Z790-A WIFI specifications summary
Special Features
ASUS EZ DIY
- Box Headers
- Clear CMOS button
- CPU socket lever protector
- ProCool
- Pre-mounted I/O shield
Aura Sync
- Aura RGB header
- Addressable Gen 2 headers
Software Features
ASUS Exclusive Software
Armoury Crate
- Aura Creator
- Aura Sync
- Fan Xpert 4 (with AI Cooling II)
- Power Saving
- Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation
AI Suite 3
- TurboV EVO
- DIGI+ VRM
- PC Cleaner
ASUS CPU-Z
DTS:X®Ultra
MyASUS
Norton 360 Deluxe (60 Days Free Trial)
WinRAR
UEFI BIOS
ASUS EZ DIY
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 3
- ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode
MemTest86
BIOS 256 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS
Manageability WOL by PME, PXE
Operating System Windows®11
Windows®10 64-bit
Form Factor ATX Form Factor
12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )

x
• Specifications are subject to change without notice. Please refer to the ASUS
website for the latest specifications.
• MyASUS offers a variety of support features such as helping to troubleshoot issues,
optimizing product performance, integrating ASUS software, and recovery drive
creation. Please scan the QR Code for installation guide and FAQ.