Biostar Z790-A Silver Motherboard Review – $200 US Mainstream Board

Gaming Performance Tests

Biostar has been around in the PC components for a long time and has a diverse range that caters to various audiences. The manufacturer is mostly known for its commercial offerings but their DIY segment also has some interesting options. We were recently approached by Biostar who gave us the opportunity to test out their entry-level Z790 motherboard, the Z790-A Silver. The Z790-A Silver retails for $250 US which is the MSRP but it actually retails close to $200 US which is around where we should expect such designs.

The Intel LGA 1700 Platform

Intel's Raptor Lake-S desktop CPUs feature support on LGA 1700 socket which is also used by the Alder Lake CPUs. The Raptor Lake-S CPUs launched alongside the 700-series motherboards. You can expect all the top-notch specs from the Z790 motherboards with the best overclocking & fine-tuning capabilities.

Another interesting thing to talk about the Z790 PCH is its process node and dimensions. The Z790 PCH is based on the 14nm node and measures at 98mm2 which is slightly larger than the Z590 PCH featured on LGA 1200 socket motherboards.

Intel Desktop Platform Chipset Comparison

Chipset Name	Arrow Lake-S (ARL-S) PCH / 800 Series (Z890)	Raptor Lake-S (RPL-S) PCH / 700 Series (Z790)	Alder Lake-S (ADL-S) PCH / 600 Series (Z690)	Rocket Lake-S (RKL-S) PCH / 500 Series (Z590)	Comet Lake-S (CML-S) PCH / 400 Series (Z490)	Coffee Lake S (CFL-S) PCH / 300 Series (Z390/H370, B360, Q370, H310)	Coffee Lake S (KBL-R) PCH / Z370 Platform
Process Node	7nm	14nm	14nm	14nm	14nm	14nm	22nm
Processor	24C, 20C, 14C, 12C, TBD)	24,16C,12C,10C,6C,4C	16C,12C,10C,6C,4C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)	8C, 6C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)	10C, 8C, 6C, 4C, 2C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)	8C, 6C, 4C, 2C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)	8C, 6C, 4C (6 Consumer SKUs at Launch)
Memory	Up To DDR5-6400 (Native)	Up To DDR5-5600 (Native) Up To DDR4-3200 (Native)	Up To DDR5-4800 (Native) Up To DDR4-3200 (Native)	Up To DDR4-3200 (Native)	Up To DDR4-2933 (Native)	Up To DDR4-2666 (Native)	Up To DDR4-2666 (Native)
Media, Display & Audio	eDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Display Capabilities	eDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Display Capabilities	eDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Display Capabilities	DP 1.2 & HDMI 2.0, HBR3 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) 12-bit AV1/HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP With USB Audio offload SoundWire Digital Audio Interface	DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP SoundWire Digital Audio Interface	DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP SoundWire Digital Audio Interface	DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP
I/O & Connectivity	Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20G) Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ 7 BT CNVio) with Gig+ Integrated SDXC 4.0 Controller Thunderbolt 4.0	Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20G) Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ 7 BT CNVio) with Gig+ Integrated SDXC 4.0 Controller Thunderbolt 4.0	Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20G) Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ 7 BT CNVio) with Gig+ Integrated SDXC 4.0 Controller Thunderbolt 4.0	Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20G) Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ BT CNVi) Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller Thunderbolt 4.0 (Maple Ridge)	Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2 Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi / BT CNVi) Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller Thunderbolt 3.0 (Titan Ridge) w/ DP 1.4	Integrated USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi / BT CNVi) Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller Thunderbolt 3.0 (Titan Ridge) w/ DP 1.4	Integrated USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Thunderbolt 3.0 (Alpine Ridge)
Storage	PCIe 5.0 (CPU Lanes), 8x SATA 3.0	Next-Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 5.0 (CPU Lanes), 6x SATA 3.0	Next-Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 5.0, 6x SATA 3.0	Next-Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 4.0, 6x SATA 3.0	Next-Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0	Next Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0	Next Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0
Max PCH PCIe Lanes	Up To 24 (Gen 4)	Up To 20 (Gen 4) Up To 8 (Gen 3)	Up To 12 (Gen 4) Up To 16 (Gen 3)	Up To 24 (Gen 3)	Up To 24 (Gen 3)	Up To 24 (Gen 3)	Up To 24 (Gen 3)
Max CPU PCIe Lanes	Up To 20 (Gen 5) Up To 4 (Gen 4)	Up To 16 (Gen 5) Up To 4 (Gen 4)	Up To 16 (Gen 5) Up To 4 (Gen 4)	Up To 20 (Gen 4)	Up To 16 (Gen 3)	Up To 16 (Gen 3)	Up To 16 (Gen 3)
Max USB Ports	Up To 5 (USB 3.2 Gen 2z2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 5 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 4 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 3 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 10 (USB 3.2) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 10 (USB 3.1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 10 (USB 3.0) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)
Security	Intel TET Intel Boot Guard	N/A	N/A	N/A	Intel SGX 1.0	Intel SGX 1.0	Intel SGX 1.0
Power Management	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C8 Support
Launch	2024	2022	2021	2021	2019	2018	2017

The LGA 1700 socket is here now. The new socket adds more pins to the socket and changes the dimensions entirely. The new LGA 1700 socket offers 500 more pin connections to the CPU, allowing for more communication channels with the board itself and accommodating electrical pin configurations that are required to support 14th, 13th & 12th Gen CPUs.

So as for the socket details, Intel has gone with an asymmetrical design since the Alder Lake CPUs are no longer square-shaped. The latest desktop CPUs will come in a 37.5x45.0mm package and are supported by the 'V0' socket which we know as LGA 1700.

The socket also changes the mounting positions to a 78x78mm grid rather than a 75x75mm grid. The Z-height has also changed to 6.529mm compared to 7.31mm on the previous LGA 12**/115* sockets.

Cooler Compatibility With LGA 1700 Socket

To make their existing coolers compatible with Intel's Raptor Lake & Alder Lake CPU lineup, many cooling brands have released LGA 1700 upgrade kits which feature mounting hardware for the new socket. But the Intel Raptor Lake and the Alder Lake CPU platform aren't just featuring a brand new mounting design but the CPU dimensions themselves have changed too.

The LGA 1700 (V0) socket not only has an asymmetrical design but also comes with a lower Z-stack height. This means that proper mounting pressure is needed to make full contact with the Intel Alder Lake IHS. Certain cooler manufacturers have already been using larger cold plates for Ryzen and Threadripper CPUs to make proper contact with the IHS but these are mostly higher-end and new cooling designs. Those who are still running older AIOs with round cold plates could have trouble maintaining the required pressure distribution which could lead to inadequate cooling performance.

The Biostar Z790-A Silver motherboard comes in a large cardboard package. The front is themed in silver and black. The front gives you a hint of the design language of this motherboard and while it lists down 12th & 13th Gen CPU support, the motherboard has received BIOS updates that allow 14th Gen CPU support too.

The backside of the package lists the specifications and special features of the motherboard such as PCIe 5.0, PCIe M.2 4.0, DDR5, 2.5Guard, Dr.MOS, and a Digital PWM design.

The motherboard itself is packaged in an anti-static wrap and held in a cardboard package which keeps it stable during shipping.

Underneath the motherboard, and container are where you will find a range of accessories that are bundled with the package.

Following is the full list of accessories in the package:

• 4 x SATA Cable
• 1 x I/O Shield
• 1 x DVD Driver
• 1 x User Manual

With all the accessories done, it's time to put that box aside and take the motherboard out of its package.

Biostar has just two motherboards within its Z790 lineup as the company focuses on budget and more mainstream products such as the B760 series. The Valkyrie is the top product while A-Silver serves the budget segment. As such, the design of this specific motherboard may feel a bit lacking but it's still very functional as a Z790 motherboard even if it doesn't have the looks of a Z790 board.

The Biostar Z790-A Silver motherboard comes in a black and silver color layout with a matte black PCB and a dual-tone silver/black heatsink design. The PCB also has hints of silver colors and it is an ATX design.

The board uses the LGA 1700 socket to support Intel Core processors. The socket is compatible with Intel's 14th, 13th & 12th Generation core family. The socket has a protective cover on top of it that points out the exclusivity with Raptor Lake 13th Gen & Alder Lake 12th Gen CPUs, refraining users from running older 11th and 10th generation CPUs as they won't fit in the socket at all and forcing them in the socket is only going to cause permanent damage to your motherboard.

Next to the socket are four DDR5 DIMM slots that can support up to 192 GB of dual-channel memory.

These slots are rated to support XMP profiles up to 7200 MT/s (OC Plus). Each slot is labeled, making it easier to install DIMMs in the proper orientation. DDR5 memory comes with a different latch position so forcing a DDR4 module into a DDR5 slot will cause permanent damage. You can find the full QVL list here.

The Biostar Z790-A Silver motherboard features a 17-phase digital power delivery that utilizes the 90A SPS power stages (ISL99390) for both the Vcore and VccGT. The main PWM controller is a Renesas RAA 229131 PWM controller

For cooling the VRMs, Biostar has equipped the motherboard with two sets of heatsinks which are very basic with a smaller one covering the top portion and a larger over covering the VRMs on the side and also extending over the I/O ports.

The CPU is supplied power through an 8+8 pin power connector configuration. This will feed the CPU with up to 300 Watts of power. The Intel 14th 13th & 12th Gen Unlocked CPUs are very power-hungry with the maximum turbo power rated at 253W for the Core i9-14900K and more if you are planning to overclock these chips.

Expansion slots include two PCI Express x16 (1 x Gen 5.0 x16 / 1x Gen 4.0 x4 / 1x Gen 3.0x1), two PCIe 3.0 x1 and three M.2 slots.

The top-most PCIe 5.0 x16 slot operates at x16 full-mode or x8/x8 mode. It uses a metallic shielding known as Iron Slot Protection which reinforces the slot to prevent it from bending or strain when using a high-end graphics card.

The Z790-A Silver comes packed with three M.2 slots, all of which are rated at Gen4 x4. There's no lane splitting to enable a Gen5 x4 slot and it makes sense since those drives are aimed at high-end enthusiasts while this motherboard caters towards budget audiences. The topmost M.2 slot is also covered by a heatsink.

CPU:

• 1 x M.2 (M Key) Socket (M2M_CPU) / Supports PCIe 4.0 x4 (64Gb/s) - NVMe SSD

Chipset:

• 1 x M.2 (M Key) Socket (M2M_SB1): Supports PCIe 4.0 x4 (64Gb/s) - NVMe SSD
• 1 x M.2 (M Key) Socket (M2_SB2): Supports PCIe 4.0 x4 (64Gb/s) - NVMe/ AHCI SSD & SATA lll (6Gb/s) SSD

An M.2 WiFi Key-E slot can be found under the M.2 heatsink too. Now while the motherboard does not come with an M.2 WIFI card, Biostar does provide users the extension antennas to attach one though it is situated on the same placement as the top M.2 SSD so attaching a new SSD or WIFI module means that you will need to remove the heatsink. But devices can be held under the same M.2 screw and the M.2 heatsink comes attached with a thermal pad.

The Z790 PCH is housed under a very tiny heatsink with a Biostar label and is attached using two push-and-pull screws.

While there's no LED lighting on the Biostar Z790-A motherboard, it does come with a trio of LED headers that support all the latest RGB Sync software from various brands.

Storage options include six SATA III ports rated to operate at 6 GB/s. These can support 6 different storage devices at once. There are also 3 USB 3.2 front panel connectors (1 x Gen 2x2 Type-C + 4 x Gen 1). 2 USB 2.0 (4 USB 2.0 ports) front panel connectors are also included.

Biostar uses the Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec to drive the 7.1 channel HD Audio on the board. The audio components are separated on their own PCB segment and support Impedance sensing on the rear-out port.

The DEBUG LED is missing on the motherboard which is a bit of a disappointment, to say the least. I did check up other $200 US options in the Z790 category and this seems to be a thing across all of those models too.

The full list of connectors on the motherboard is listed as follows.

• 6x SATA III Connector (6Gb/s)
• 1x M.2 (E Key) Socket: Supports 2230 type Wi-Fi & Bluetooth module and Intel CNVi
• 2 x USB 2.0 Header (each header supports 2 USB 2.0 ports)
• 1 x USB 3.2 (Gen1) Header (each header supports 2 USB 3.2 (Gen1) ports)
• 1 x USB 3.2 (Gen2) Type C Header.
• 1 x 4-pin Power Connector
• 1 x 8-pin Power Connector
• 1 x 24-pin Power Connector
• 1 x CPU Fan Connector
• 1 x CPU water cooling connector (CPU_OPT)
• 4 x System Fan Connectors
• 1 x Front Panel Header
• 1 x Front Audio Header
• 1 x Internal Stereo Speaker Header
• 1 x Clear CMOS Header
• 1 x COM Port Header
• 1 x TPM Header
• 1 x Thunderbolt Header
• 2 x LED Header (5V)
• 1 x LED Header (12V)
• * M.2 (E key) Wi-Fi card is not provided

Networking on the Biostar Z790-A Silver motherboard includes a single Realtek RTL8125B 2.5 GbE LAN connector.

The motherboard comes with the following I/O connectors:

• 2 x WIFI Antenna Port
• 1 x HDMI Port (HDMI2.1)
• 1 x DP Port (DP1.2)
• 1 x USB 3.2 (Gen2) Type-C Port
• 5 x USB 3.2 (Gen2) Port
• 2 x USB 2.0 port
• 1 x LAN port
• 3 x Audio Jack
• 1 x SMART BIOS UPDATE Button
• 1 x SMART BIOS USB Port

For testing, I used the Intel Core i9-13900K which was sent to us by Intel on a range of Z790 motherboards.

Intel Z790 Motherboards Test Platform:

Processors	Intel Core i9-13900K
Motherboard	Maxsun iCraft B760M Cross Gigabyte Z790 AORUS PRO X (F5) Biostar Z790A-Silver (Z79BCC13.BST) ASRock Z790 Phantom Gaming NOVA (2.01) Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master X (Launch) MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX (Launch) MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WIFI (7E25vA0) ASRock Z790 Taichi LITE (1.06) MSI MEG Z790 ACE (7D86v164) ASRock Z790 Taichi Carrara (7.04) ASRock Z790 Steel Legend (8.05) Gigabyte Z790 AERO G (F5) ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 HERO (0904)
Power Supply	MSI MEG Ai1300P 1300W PSU
Solid State Drive	T-Force A440 Pro 2 TB (Gen4x4)
Memory	G.SKILL Trident Z5 32 GB (2 x 16GB) CL34 7200 Mbps
Video Cards	MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X
Cooling Solutions	Corsair H150i (With LGA 1700 Mounting Kit)
OS	Windows 11 64-bit

Our test rig includes the T-Force A440 Pro 2 TB Gen4x4 SSD that boots up our main OS. In addition to these, we are running an MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X graphics card and an MSI MEG Ai1300P 1300W PSU. For this specific review, we used G.Skill's latest Trident Z5 DDR5-7200 memory kit running at CL34 timings.

3DMark Time Spy CPU Performance

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Blender

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Cinebench R20

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Cinebench R23

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CPU-Z

CPUz is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system such as the Processor name and number, codename, process, package, cache levels, Mainboard, chipset, Memory type, size, timings, and module specifications (SPD), and Real-time measurement of each core's internal frequency, memory frequency.

Geekbench 5

Geekbench 5, the latest major upgrade to Primate Labs’ easy-to-use cross-platform benchmark, is now available for download. Geekbench 5 allows you to measure your system’s power more accurately than ever before.

HandBrake

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PCMark 10

PCMark 10 is a complete PC benchmarking solution for Windows 10. It includes several tests that combine individual workloads covering storage, computation, image and video manipulation, web browsing, and gaming. Specifically designed for the full range of PC hardware from netbooks and tablets to notebooks and desktops, PCMark 10 offers complete Windows PC performance testing for home and business use.

POV-Ray

The POV-Ray package includes detailed instructions on using the ray-tracer and creating scenes. Many stunning scenes are included with POV-Ray so you can start creating images immediately when you get the package.

SuperPI

Super PI is used by many overclockers to test the performance and stability of their computers. In the overclocking community, the standard program provides a benchmark for enthusiasts to compare “world record” pi calculation times and demonstrate their overclocking abilities. The program can also be used to test the stability of a certain overclock speed.

WinRAR

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V-Ray Render Benchmark

V-Ray  Benchmark is a free standalone application to test how fast your system renders. Three custom-built test scenes are also included to put each V-Ray 5 render engine through its paces.

Battlefield V

Battlefield V brings back the action of the World War 2 shooter genre. Using the latest Frostbite tech, the game does a good job of looking gorgeous in all ways possible. From the open-world environments to the intense and gun-blazing action, this multiplayer and single-player FPS title is one of the best-looking Battlefields to date. The game was tested at max settings at 1440p.

DOOM Eternal

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GTA V

GTA V is one handsomely optimized title for the PC audience. It's scalable across various PC configurations and delivers an impressive frame rate. Rockstar did an amazing job with the PC build of GTA V and it comes with a large array of settings that can be configured by PC gamers. We tested the title at 1440P with everything set to Ultra and 4x MSAA.

Metro Exodus

Metro Exodus continues the journey of Artyom through the nuclear wasteland of Russia and its surroundings. This time, you are set over the Metro, going through various regions and different environments. The game is one of the premier titles to feature NVIDIA’s RTX technology and does well in showcasing the ray-tracing effects in all corners. The game was tested at Ultra setting with RTX settings turned off at 1440p.

Shadow of The Tomb Raider

Sequel to The Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of The Tomb Raider is visually enhanced with an updated Foundation Engine that delivers realistic facial animations and the most gorgeous environments ever seen in a Tomb Raider Game. The game is a technical marvel and really shows the power of its graphics engine in the latest title.

Sid Meier's Civilization VI

Civilization VI is the pinnacle of the series. It features huge, sweeping changes, and nothing was left out. Everything has found a purpose, they all work together in tandem but also have a reason to stand alone. It uses a more fleshed-out engine that now supports DirectX 12 capabilities. We tested the game with every setting maxed out (4x MSAA, 4096x4096 shadow textures) at 1440P in DirectX 12.

The Intel Raptor Lake CPUs feature the brand new hybrid architecture approach composed of Raptor Cove and Gracemont cores. The chip also relies on a brand new 10nm Enhanced SuperFin process node which delivers up to 6.0 GHz clock speeds on the flagship Core i9-13900KS.

The faster clocks along with the addition of more cores should lead to more power consumption but Intel is also touting increased efficiency per watt thanks to the overall performance increases we get this generation.

In terms of packaging, Intel's Raptor Lake Desktop CPUs ship with a Solder TIM interface and higher-quality gold plating under the IHS. The thermal testing was carried out with the Corsair H150i AIO liquid cooler:

The Biostar Z790-A Silver is one of the several Z790 motherboard options that you can find in the $180-$200 US price segment. These options each have their benefit but ultimately, a Z790 board should be the definition of high-end designs with mainstream and budget users targeting the B760 or the much lower-end H610 segments. Biostar made a good decision keeping its Z790 lineup very simple with just two offerings and I think they could've done things better by making the A-Silver a slightly better product but I guess this is the limit of what they can achieve with the production costs of such boards.

So coming to the performance aspect, the Intel Core i9-13900K ran well at stock with a few minor hiccups in multi-threaded workloads since the VRMs were being pushed a bit too hard and getting really hot. The two standard heatsinks can only offer so much cooling. The memory support of up to 7200 MT/s is good but the majority in the QVL list are sub 7000 MT/s speeds which I don't find that much of an issue since that is what most users buying this tier of board will be getting anyway.

In terms of storage options, three M.2 slots are good enough with a heatsink dedicated to your primary storage and six SATA III ports are also good. USB support is good with Type-C on the front and back and a 2.5 GbE LAN port is also decent but the older ALC1220 code is a bit of a bummer. While there is no WIFI card on the board, it does offer an additional M.2 Key-E slot to support add-in cards but the dual M.2 mechanism is a bit weird. Some users may also be put off by the lack of RGB on this board but there are enough LED headers to customize your build and there's support for a variety of RGB sync software.

Other standard features such as a lack of I/O shield and a very modest-looking design are a downside but if you are looking for a very basic Z790 motherboard, then the A-Silver can be considered a choice. The pricing is around $200 US at retailers but I'd suggest that you look out for price drops around $179-$189 US for this motherboard as that makes a lot more sense for the features it has on offer. With the Z790-A Silver, you would get a decent experience from a high-end Intel Core K-series CPU (unless you are overclocking it).

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