Building on the success of their hybrid architecture Alder Lake (12th Gen) Core series chips, Intel last year released the upgraded Raptor Lake core with a similar core architecture and design with performance (P) cores and efficiency (E) cores. While we've reviewed and put Intel's 13th Gen Core series chips through their paces, it's been a while since we tested out the platforms that not only unleash that multi-threaded and single-core IPC performance but add all of the features associated with each chipset. In a series of relative socket LGA 17000 motherboard reviews, we're looking at perhaps one of the most interesting models for Intel's 13th Gen Core series.
ASRock has added 'Carrara' to the mix, adding to their already popular Taichi series of motherboards that blend cogwheel-inspired aesthetics with a premium selection of controllers and features. Sometimes referred to as Luna marble by the Romans, the ASRock Z790 Taichi Carrara edition boasts a white Carrara marble-inspired design while retaining all the exact specifications and features of the regular Z790 Taichi. Some of the most prominent features include an advertised 27-phase (24+1+2) power delivery, support for DDR5-7400 memory, as well as dual Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports on the rear panel.
ASRock loves to be different with its offerings, aka the Aqua series of motherboards. Still, the Taichi Carrara is different in that it celebrates ASRock's 20th anniversary at the upper echelon of PC components and hardware. We take a closer look to see if the Z790 Taichi Carrara's premium standing in ASRock's Z790 line-up represents what we've come to like about the Taichi series over the years and, more importantly, how it performs against other LGA 1700 motherboards.
