Not the most equipped motherboards Z790, this variation of the PG Riptide is a hit with video game enthusiasts.
Earlier this week, we echoed a motherboard bearing the image of SEGA’s mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog. A map that we were able to have in our hands for the time of a few photos and benchs.
A nice design, but nothing “goofy”
Anyone familiar with ASRock cards quickly realizes that there is no question for the manufacturer to offer an ultra high-end model with this reference stamped Sonic. Indeed, the card is clearly based on the Riptide design and not on the Taichi one.
Even the protective cover of the socket bears the image of Sonic © Nerces
However, there is no need to feel cheated, the Riptides are already very good models, rich in many features, especially in their Z790 version. Basic, we find of course the LGA 1700 socket and the Z790 chipset which accompanies the latest Raptor Lake.
Logically, four DDR5 DIMM ports are of course on the menu knowing that the motherboard accepts up to DDR5-6800… if you can find modules capable of holding! Two PCIe x16 slots are present, the first in PCIe 5.0 and the second in PCIe 4.0.
He is everywhere the hedgehog! © Nerces
ASRock still makes a point of offering an x1 slot, wired in PCIe 3.0, but is even more distinguished by the number of M.2 ports. Two are managed by the processor, one of which is PCIe 5.0 and three others are managed by the chipset (in PCIe 4.0).
The audio part is left to the discretion of a Realtek ALC897 Audio Codec component (7.1) while the network is based on a Killer E3100G in order to offer 2.5 GbE LAN. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 are possible, but you have to add an M.2 card, all slots are provided.
Anecdotal for some, the hologram is successful © Nerces
Finally, note the presence of DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 connectors for good management of the iGPU of Intel processors. In addition to some not necessarily very original LEDs, ASRock has decorated its card with a “ring” hologram in the style of Sonic.
BIOS and performance
The BIOS also involves a skin like the hedgehog from SEGA, but apart from this aesthetic artifice, it is strictly the same as on the brand’s other models, in particular the Z790 PG Riptide. We find the same options, the same settings.
Nothing very original on the BIOS side, but all the functions are there © Nerces
Nothing extraordinary to mention here except, perhaps, the option of managing the cooling system: it is indicated whether it is a cooler or an AiO 120/140, 240/ 280, 360/480. The motherboard then adjusts the CPU power limits on its own.
Limits which will obviously have an impact on performance, but which can fortunately be modified at will, the dissipation capacity of a Noctua NH-D15 cooler having nothing to do with what a first model can do price.
…supported by the equally indispensable CPU-Z © Nerces
Since we are talking about performance, there are hardly any complaints against this Z790 PG Sonic. We will obviously have the opportunity to come back to the results of several motherboards soon, but know that the Z790 behaves at least as well as the Z690.
The results recorded on the AIDA64 memory module do not reveal a huge optimization knowing all the same that the chipset now officially manages DDR5-5600 with much higher speeds to boot.
We also invite you to discover the PCMark results obtained with an Intel Core i7-13700K processor, the test of which should not take too long. Again, nothing to report. The Z790 PG Sonic is not a monster of power, but it does its job perfectly.
“Basic” software support
There is one point, however, that disappointed us a little: the software part. Indeed, if materially it was probably not easy to do something very “Sonic”, we realize that ASRock has finally much more careful this aspect of its product.
The four panels are identical to those of the Riptide version © Nerces
The “ring” hologram is successful and the different prints with the image of the hedgehog are quite nice. On the other hand, on the two essential software of the ASRock suite – Motherboard Utility and Polychrome RGB – the manufacturer was satisfied with the union minimum.
The integration of Sonic on the LED management tool is not very successful © Nerces
Unsurprisingly, the options are strictly identical to what is offered on the Z790 PG Riptide, but the program interface simply has a “Sonic” skin. To make matters worse, the skin in question is not always very visible.
We didn’t intend to thoroughly test a motherboard that could quickly disappear from the shelves. On the other hand, it seemed interesting to us to share our impressions with you as marketing seems to be conquering a new market segment.
Finally, what to compare the Z790 PG Riptide and the Z790 PG Sonic © Nerces
Technically, the Z790 PG Sonic is a carbon copy of the Z790 PG Riptide. We will therefore regret the additional cost of around thirty euros requested by ASRock to attach the hedgehog of SEGA and to revise the design of its product a little. A modest overbilling despite everything and then, when you love, you don’t count it seems…
Source: Clubic
2