The ASUS ProArt Z890-Creator Wi-Fi is a motherboard designed with a content creator focus, distinguishing itself from typical gaming-centric motherboards. The ProArt range offers a clean, smart, and understated aesthetic design. While the board is aimed at content creation, it is noted to also have elements that appeal to PC enthusiasts.
For users building systems around the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 (Arrow Lake) CPUs, the motherboard features the Intel Z890 chipset. The architecture is described as being near the end of the road for CPU upgrades on LGA1851.
Performance specifications include a robust power design, featuring 16-phase CPU Power and dedicated power systems for iGPU, VCCSA, and VNNAON. The board supports up to 256 GB of memory using four DIMMs and features two single-rank DDR5-9066 (OC) slots.
Connectivity is a key feature, boasting 80 Gbps Thunderbolt 5 ports and a passthrough for Thunderbolt-enabled displays. The rear I/O panel includes two Thunderbolt 5 (Type-C) ports, one Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C) port, six USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A) ports, and one USB 2.0 (Type-A) port. Furthermore, networking options are extensive, providing both 10 Gbps Ethernet and 2.5 Gbps Ethernet, along with Intel BE200 Wi-Fi 7 support.
The physical layout is ATX Form Factor, and storage options include one M.2 slot (PCIe Gen 5 x4) and four M.2 slots (PCIe Gen 4 x4), complemented by four SATA 6 Gb/s ports. Audio is managed by a Realtek ALC1220 Codec, and the board includes 8 fan/thermistor headers.
In terms of features, the board includes several unique ASUS designs such as M.2 Q-Latch and M.2 Q-Slide. From a performance standpoint, the board’s cooling configuration was reported as excellent, with the top heatsink managing a double-sided PCIe Gen 5 SSD, and both upper and lower heatsinks handling the Samsung 990 Pro under extreme conditions without throttling. The board’s EFI offers top-class control over fan and lighting options.
While highly functional, the article notes a few drawbacks. Specific concerns raised include the inclusion of only a single PCIe Gen 5 M.2 port, which may be limiting for users needing multiple cutting-edge SSDs. Additionally, the board features seven Type-A USB ports, which was described as feeling somewhat lacking on the rear I/O panel.
Comparatively, the article suggests that while the combination of 10 Gbps Ethernet and Thunderbolt 5 is rare at this price point, there are alternative motherboards available with better-rounded feature sets. For instance, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Hero is mentioned as an alternative that offers multiple PCIe Gen 5 M.2 SSD slots and 60 W Type-C header power delivery, while still providing dual Thunderbolt 4 ports for less than $360.
Despite the high cost due to features like Thunderbolt 5 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet, the ASUS ProArt Z890-Creator Wi-Fi is considered an attractive option for users building high-end content creation systems with Core Ultra 9 285K or Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, provided they plan for an extended use period on the LGA1851 platform.
Source: TechPowerUp