Performance
All tests were performed on the ASRock Z690 Extreme motherboard, Intel i9-12900K processor, ASUS Strix RTX3070 8GB graphics card, 16GB Team Group Dark Z FPS DDR4-4000 CL16 memory kit, Crucial P5 Plus 1TB PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 SSD, and Team Group Delta MAX 1TB SATA SSD on which was installed Windows 11. Everything else will be mentioned during the tests.
Memory performance
The motherboard has no problem handling memory up to DDR4-5000. However, the most interesting for most users will be DDR4-4000 at Gear 1. This setting provides the best balance between latency and bandwidth and runs at full memory controller speed. Some competitive motherboards can’t handle it while all our tests were made using Team Group RAM at DDR4-4000 CL16-18-18 and Gear 1.
As you can see in the AIDA64 benchmark, results are great even without further tuning the RAM settings. More advanced users already see there is headroom for much more.
Processor performance and mixed load tests
The performance and stability of our processor are excellent. There were no problems reaching its rated frequency, and in various tests, we could see the i9-12900K processor go up to 5.2GHz. Moreover, ASRock Z690 Extreme has improved power management and sets lower CPU voltage than on some competitive motherboards. As a result, the CPU more often runs at the maximum specified frequency and keeps lower temperatures.
PCMark 10
PCMark results are essential as they show how all components work with each other in a mixed load environment. It can be translated into regular daily work, so what we all do and expect good results.
Our PCMark10 results are exceptional. So far, it’s probably the highest result we’ve seen in this benchmark and about 500 marks better than the result on the ASRock Z590 Extreme and i7-11700K CPU.
Storage performance
Results in storage tests based on SATA SSD are also very high. We could reach nearly the maximum possible bandwidth on the Team Group Delta MAX SSD.
Tests based on M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD are again great. The used Crucial P5 Plus SSD could reach its declared maximum bandwidth.
PCMark 10 Storage tests on the Crucial P5 Plus SSD gave us results as high as expected.
Network performance
ASRock Z690 Extreme is equipped with two LAN cards. The first is 1Gb Intel LAN, and the second one is 2.5Gb Realtek. I wish to see 10Gb more often, but it seems to be dedicated to the workstation and server environment.
Our results on the 1Gb Intel LAN are pretty good. We could reach nearly the maximum bandwidth.
Worse present 2.5Gb LAN results as we couldn’t come close to the maximum declared bandwidth. In the mixed LAN environment, other devices could interfere, and we were limited to the maximum of about 2Gbps.
Let’s move to some 3D benchmarks and games.
