Colorful has had a strong portfolio of Z790 motherboards which are mostly overlooked since they are limited to the Asian markets. More recently, the company showcased its high-end Vulcan Z790 designs which were going to be used in pre-built PCs but they are also releasing as a DIY solution. These motherboards are premium, top-of-the-line, and quality products as you can see from their design and a true showcase of the Vulcan element on motherboards. We were excited when we first saw these motherboards at Computex 2024 and asked the company to send us a sample to try out and well here it is, our look at the iGame Z790D5 Vulcan W V20 motherboard.
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 Colorful iGame Z790D5 VULCAN W V20 motherboard comes in a large cardboard package. The front is themed in black/silver which sticks to the Vulcan design language. The packaging has a very premium feeling to it which we will detail below.
The backside of the package lists the specifications and special features of the motherboard such as the 19+1+1 Phase DrMos Solution, iGame Design Armor, RGB Light Customization, strong IO & connectivity features and a lot more.
The unboxing experience is very nice with the inside tray lifting as you open the front two covers. The motherboard itself is held beneath two pieces of foam to prevent it from damage during shipping.
Inside the package is another box that contains the accessories and is located right below the box holder for the board itself. You get several cables, M.2 screws, Thermistors, a WIFI antenna colored in white and you also get a nice iGame screw kit.
With all the accessories done, it's time to put that box aside and take the motherboard out of its package.
The Colorful iGame Z790D5 VULCAN W V20 is a massive E-ATX motherboard that measures 305 x 277mm. The motherboard has a very futuristic tone and stands out on its own. Colorful also offers the same board in a black variant which also looks phenomenal.
The motherboard features the iGame Vulcan Thermal Armor design which offers full coverage and you can note that almost the entirety of the motherboard except the CPU socket and the memory slots are hidden beneath either heatsinks or plastic shrouds.
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. For its iGame series, you don't need to upgrade your BIOS as a prerequisite to installing a 14th-generation CPU as it already comes with the latest one out of the factory.
Next to the socket are four DDR5 DIMM slots that can support up to 192 GB of dual-channel (24/48 GB modules) memory.
These slots are rated to support XMP profiles up to 7800 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. Each slot is also combined with a reinforced design to make sure signal integrity remains good while keeping the slots durable for long-term usage. The full QVL list can be found here. While 7800 MT/s is listed, the actual QVL lists up to 7600 MT/s speeds.
The iGame Z790D5 VULCAN W V20 features a 19+1+1 (VCore/ VccGT/VccAUX) phase digital power delivery that utilizes the Renesas 229131 PWM controller and Renesas RAA22010540 (105A) stages for the VCore.
The Vcc GT MOSFET (DRPS) uses the Renesas ILS99360 (60A) chip.
The VRMs receive ample cooling from the Vulcan Thermal Armor heatsinks which feature an integrated thermal heatpipe to transfer heat across the two large blocks.
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.
Getting a closer look at the VRM heatsinks reveals an aluminum fin design on both heatsinks. Each heatsink has thermal pads located underneath for efficient transfer of heat. The motherboard also makes use of an 8-layer server-grade PCB and leverages Polymer capacitors.
The Vulcan Thermal Armor includes a protective backplate and a heatsink design that is enhanced for thermal efficiency. You can see the various heatsink fins, the thermal padding and the heatpipe in the heatsink teardown below:
Expansion slots include three PCI Express x16 (1 x Gen 5.0 x16/8 / 1x Gen 4.0 x4 / 1x Gen 4.0x4) and four M.2 slots.
- 1×PCIe 5.0 x16 slot (supports x16 mode or x8/x8 mode)
- 1×PCIe x16 slot (supporting PCIe 4.0 x4 specification)
- 1×PCIe 4.0 x4 slot
- (When the M.2_1 slot is using an M.2 hard drive, the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot will run at x8 mode)
The motherboard utilizes a full metallic slot and the last two PCIe connectors are hidden beneath a plastic cover which is easy to remove and connect back to the motherboard. It makes for a very neat design when the additional slots are not being utilized.
We will get to the main M.2 slot in a bit but the rest of the three slots feature a one-piece vulcan M.2 thermal armor which not only improves the looks of the motherboard but comes with single sided thermal pads and can support up to 2280 form factor storage devices. All three of these M.2 slots are rated at Gen4 x4 speeds.
Moving over to the primary M.2 slot, here we see the use of a large "Infinite Boundary" heatsink which adopts an aluminum-fin design. It has a white cover which features a magnetic connection and is super easy to remove and connect. This large heatsink is great for cooling Gen5 M.2 SSDs which it supports. Do note that the large heatsink might become an issue when connecting an air cooler since it takes up a large amount of space leading to clearance issues on certain CPU heatsinks.
- 4 M.2 slots and 6 SATA 6Gb/s hard disk interfaces, Support the creation of RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10 disk arrays using SATA or M.2 NVMe hard disk devices (SATA_ 5 and SATA_ 6-interface does not support RAID disk arrays)
- M.2_1 slot: support 2242/2260/2280/22110 M 2 SSD (PCIe 5.0 x4, CPU channel)
- M.2_2 slot: support 2242/2260/2280/22110 M.2 SSD (PCIe 4.0 x4, PCH channel)
- M.2_3 slot: support 2242/2260/2280/22110 M.2 SSD (PCIe 4.0 x4, PCH channel)
- M.2_4 slot: support 2242/2260/2280/22110 M.2 SSD (PCIe 4.0 x4/SATA, PCH channel)
- (When the M.2_1 slot is using an M.2 hard drive, the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot will run at x8 mode)
The Z790 PCH is housed beneath a large heatsink with the Vulcan "X" logo etched over it which lights up with RGB.
The motherboard offers three RGB accent zones. First is the I/O cover which has the "Vulcan" logo, the second is the PCH which has the "iGame" and "X" logo and there's also a side-mounted RGB LED array which runs beneath the 24-pin ATX connector.
Storage options include four SATA III ports rated to operate at 6 GB/s. These can support 4 different storage devices at once. There are also 3 USB 3.2 front panel connectors (1 x Gen 2x2 + 2 x Gen 1). 2 USB 2.0 front panel connectors are also included.
Colorful uses a 7.1 CH HD audio design with the latest Realtek ALC1220 CODEC.
Colorful has a massive amount of fan headers which include 2 CPU fans, 4 system fans, and 3 and 3 cooling pumps while RGB support includes 3 5V 3-pin ARGB headers and a single 12V 4-pin RGB header. There are also some nice diagnostic features such as BCLK (+/-) adjustment buttons, LN2 / Slow Mode switches, Safe Boot Button, Demo Mode, and RGB Mode switches and the best part is that the 24-pin ATX connector along with the 6-pin header for PD is right-angled, making for neat cable management.
The full list of connectors on the motherboard is listed as follows.
- 2×USB 2.0 pins can expand 4 USB 2.0 Type-A interfaces
- 2×USB 3.2 Gen 1 pin can expand 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A interfaces
- 1×USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C slot can expand 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C interface (support PD3.0 @60W)
- 2×CPU fan pins
- 4×System fan pins
- 2×Water cooling pump pin
- 3×5V 3-pin ARGB pins
- 1×12V 4-pin RGB pin
- 1×Front audio pin
- 1×Front panel pin
- 1×BIOS burner pin
Colorful is using Intel's WiFi 6E "BE200" Module to power wireless connectivity and Bluetooth 5.3. In terms of Ethernet, there are two LAN ports with one powered by the 5GbE RTL8126 controller and the other powered by the 2.5 GbE RTL8125BG controller.
The motherboard comes with the following I/O connectors:
- 4×USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A interfaces
- 2×USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A interfaces
- 2×USB4 Type-C interfaces (Supports video output, up to 4K 60Hz resolution)
- 1×DP 1.4 interface, Supports up to 8K 60Hz resolution
- 1×HDMI 2.0 interface, Supports up to 4K 60Hz resolution
- 1×2.5G network interface
- 1×5G network interface
- 5×Audio interfaces
- 1×S/PDIF audio interface
- 2×Wi-Fi 7 antenna interfaces
- 1×BIOS update button
- 1×CMOS clearing key
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
3DMark Time Spy is a widely popular video card benchmark test for Windows that is designed to measure your PC’s gaming performance. While the overall benchmark is great, the utility also provides a good indication of the CPU performance.
3DMark TimeSpy CPU (Higher is Better)
Blender
Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, and even video editing and game creation.
Blender 2.8 (Lower is Better)
Cinebench R20
Cinebench is a real-world cross-platform test suite that evaluates your computer’s hardware capabilities. Improvements to Cinebench Release 20 reflect the overall advancements to CPU and rendering technology in recent years, providing a more accurate measurement of Cinema 4D’s ability to take advantage of multiple CPU cores and modern processor features available to the average user.
Cinebench R20 (Higher is Better)
Cinebench R23
Cinebench is a real-world cross-platform test suite that evaluates your computer’s hardware capabilities. Improvements to Cinebench Release 20 reflect the overall advancements to CPU and rendering technology in recent years, providing a more accurate measurement of Cinema 4D’s ability to take advantage of multiple CPU cores and modern processor features available to the average user.
Cinebench R23 (Higher is Better)
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.
CPU-z (Higher is Better)
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.
Geekbench 5 (Higher is Better)
HandBrake
HandBrake is a tool for converting video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported codecs.
Handbrake (Higher is Better)
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.
PCMark 10 (Higher is Better)
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.
POV-Ray 3.7 (Higher is Better)
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.
SuperPi 32M (Lower is Better)
WinRAR
WinRAR is a powerful archive manager. It can back up your data and reduce the size of email attachments, decompress RAR, ZIP, and other files downloaded from the Internet, and create new archives in RAR and ZIP file format.
Winrar (Lower is Better)
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.
V-Ray (Higher is Better)
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.
Battlefield V (4K)
Battlefield V (4K) 5.7 GHz Overclocked
DOOM Eternal
DOOM Eternal brings hell to earth with the Vulkan-powered idTech 7. We test this game using the Ultra Nightmare Preset and follow our in-game benchmarking to stay as consistent as possible.
DOOM (2K)
DOOM (2K) 5.7 GHz Overclocked
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.
GTA V (2K)
GTA V (2K) 5.7 GHz Overclocked
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.
Metro Exodus (2K)
Metro Exodus (2K) 5.7 GHz Overclocked
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.
Shadow of The Tomb Raider (2K)
Shadow of The Tomb Raider (2K) 5.7 GHz Overclocked
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.
Sid Meier's Civilization VI (2K)
Sid Meir's Civilization VI (2K) 5.7 GHz Overclocked
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.
Power Consumption (Stock) Stress Test
Power Consumption (Stock) Gaming Test
Power Consumption 5.7 GHz Overclocked
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. We additionally used the AORUS Waterforce II 360 ICE for the AORUS motherboard tests which you can compare below:
Temperatures (Stock)
Temperatures 5.7 GHz Overclocked
Having tested Colorful's iGame Vulcan GPUs in the past, my expectations for the Z790D5 Vulcan were high and oh boy this motherboard didn't disappoint me. Right off the bat, you're met with a stunning white design in a premium finish with the white looks. Z790D5 is a stupidly high-end and feature-rich motherboard that would've been on the top of my list if it wasn't for its super late introduction.
In terms of performance, the motherboard offers superb capabilities. Out of the box, you have performance that matches other high-end Z790 motherboards and with its strong 21-phase VRM, you can expect some serious overclocking. I had no trouble pushing the 13900K through its paces and there's even more headroom which will require some OC expertise given that LN2 mode and BCLK buttons are featured on the motherboards. You can expect solid performance with 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen CPUs and the company even says that you can enjoy "Fearless" full-core overclocking on a top-of-the-line 14900KS.
In terms of storage options, you are getting four M.2 slots, three of which sit under the same heatsink, and one Gen5 x4 with a dedicated and massive aluminum-finned heatsink. This heat sink will ensure around 50-60C operating temperatures running the fastest 14 GB/s+ NVMe drives so you don't have to worry about heat accumulation. The PCIe slot configuration includes three slots with 1 Gen5x4 and 2 Gen 4x4 options. There's enough space to run two dedicated GPUs which is good for AI setups and having metallic shielding means that you can ensure your PCIe slots don't wear away over time.
Colorful's iGame motherboards also ship with a very sleek BIOS which has all the essential tools though it does lack a bit in terms of technicality. There's a lot to be desired given the enthusiast positioning of this motherboard though we can expect the company can offer more advanced tuning features in future BIOS updates. But for 90% of the audiences, the BIOS is still packed with a lot of features and is snappy.
USB support is good with a total of 17 ports available (8 front panel and 9 on the back) and dual LAN ports (2.5 GbE + 5.0 GbE) are also great plus there's also the ALC1220 codec for audio. There are 6 fan headers, 2 pump headers, 3 ARGB headers, and one RGB header on the motherboard. Wireless connectivity also exists with a WiFi 6E and BT5.3 solution. You also get 60W power delivery through the USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port on the front, an essential in modern times for charging your daily devices such as smartphones or powerbanks. There are also an ample amount of fan & RGB headers which are enough for your cooling and lighting needs.
Coming to the pricing, the $499 US price tag is a bit on the high-side but we have seen other Z790 motherboards in the high-end category past the $500 US mark. Also, I would've wished the motherboard launched earlier this year as we are on the verge of the launch of a new motherboard generation in the form of Z890 which will be introduced alongside Intel's latest Arrow Lake Desktop CPUs. The motherboard is a great enthusiast option and is a looker, it has the core Vulcan DNA fused within it and for the design itself, this is one of the best Z790 motherboards out there. We hope that Colorful can offer a similar enthusiast product within its next-gen lineup to flex its muscles.
