Question z790m v z790

[knght990]

I'm having trouble finding the difference in the chipset.
Some boards have Z790 and some say Z790m. There is also a D4 and non-D4.
Can you point me to a chart or something that is descriptive of the differences?
I've compared them on newegg but it isn't clear to me what the naming conventions indicate.

https://www.newegg.com/maxsun-terminator-z790/p/1JW-00NN-00018?Item=9SIAUNCK0V7890

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813162093?Item=N82E16813162093

mATX size

 

[igor_kavinski]

There is only one Z790. Ignore the m.

D4 means DDR4 support only.

Without D4 or with D5 in model name, it requires DDR5 RAM.

The ASROCK is the much better buy over the MAXSUN (first time seeing that brand. Maybe Chinese import).

 

[Tech Junky]

Matx boards fit in smaller cases and have less slots and pcie lanes to play with.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/VIA_Mini-ITX_Form_Factor_Comparison.jpg/400px-VIA_Mini-ITX_Form_Factor_Comparison.jpg

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/motherboard/#f=7&c=162

 

[igor_kavinski]

Ah. Didn't notice that mobo makers seem to be using the M next to the chipset model to indicate mATX form factor.

 

[Iron Woode]

Ah. Didn't notice that mobo makers seem to be using the M next to the chipset model to indicate mATX form factor.

it has been a common practice to use M to indicate micro ATX boards. Just as I is used for mini-ITX boards.

 

[igor_kavinski]

it has been a common practice to use M to indicate micro ATX boards. Just as I is used for mini-ITX boards.

I've been more accustomed to just looking at pics or specs to identify the mobo size. But yeah, the M thing is easier and quicker to decode.

 

[knght990]

🤦‍♂️ I should have realized...

soooo obvious now that you've said it

 

[Tech Junky]

@igor_kavinski

r

You're well versed but, now you have one more thing to make spec'ing a build easier. Though the board size difference is only a couple of inches and the case options aren't that big of a difference either. But, if you like lots of drives it can get you into s Node 804 which has 8 spots and is more compact than mid/large towers. Some of the NAS centric cases as well fit a max matx board. The downside though is the lanes/slots go down in count.

 

[Shmee]

I have also seen uATX used before to stand for micro ATX.

 

[Iron Woode]

I have also seen uATX used before to stand for micro ATX.

I remember that from way back in the day.

We debated how to pronounce that symbol here. People just gave up and went with m.

 

[bba-tcg]

This was the original symbol used for microATX boards, at least in electronics: μATX.

 

[Hotrod2go]

Matx boards fit in smaller cases and have less slots and pcie lanes to play with.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/VIA_Mini-ITX_Form_Factor_Comparison.jpg/400px-VIA_Mini-ITX_Form_Factor_Comparison.jpg

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/motherboard/#f=7&c=162

Regardless of socket type, they also have inferior VRMs because of size constraints. So if the OP is serious about OC, I would never recommend a mATX board.

 

[Tech Junky]

Regardless of socket type, they also have inferior VRMs because of size constraints. So if the OP is serious about OC, I would never recommend a mATX board.

No one even touched on OC.

If someone is OC'ing then they have put in more research into which platform size to go with for the best performance. Personally I don't se the point of the idea if you use the right CPU / GPU to begin with there shouldn't be a need to do so. OC to me is usually someone taking an old 7700 and trying to make it appear as a RPL by manipulating the power to get the same performance. Obviously not the case here if the OP is looking at 790's .

 

[Hotrod2go]

No one even touched on OC.

If someone is OC'ing then they have put in more research into which platform size to go with for the best performance. Personally I don't se the point of the idea if you use the right CPU / GPU to begin with there shouldn't be a need to do so. OC to me is usually someone taking an old 7700 and trying to make it appear as a RPL by manipulating the power to get the same performance. Obviously not the case here if the OP is looking at 790's .

old 7700? what is this?

 

[Shmee]

Eh, it depends on the setting on the OC. These days, a lot of tweaks done are not necessarily just increasing voltage for higher frequencies(which would draw more power), but it could involve undervolting on a curve, and actually using less power in general. There is also memory OC/tweaking to take into account as well.

So one could OC just fine on a Z790m, but it depends on what type of OC we are talking about. For extreme overclocking, yeah, not an ideal board. Even for high power 24/7 OCs, not ideal, one would want a full tower with lots of cooling anyway for that. But if one could overclock a bit, while also undervolting, or limiting power usage and keeping VRMs cool, then a good mATX board could work. Again, depends on tweaks applied.

So while both of you are partially correct, in spirit, both of you are pretty much wrong because you are missing out on the big picture of overclocking.