NZXT N7 Z690 Review: ‘The Most Stylish Z690 Board Has Substance, Too’

NZXT N7 Z690 REVIEW.

NZXT is back at it again in tandem with ASRock to deliver motherboards for the latest Intel 12th Gen CPUs. With both an N7 Z690 and N5 Z690 available at launch, NZXT is offering both a more premium and more budget option. The latter is great news for those on a tighter budget who don’t want to compromise on style, while the former’s flagship features take aim at performance enthusiasts. With two weeks spent with the N7 version, combined with NZXT’s new H7 Elite case, it’s time to give my verdict.

Welcome to Z690

As usual, NZXT hasn’t skimped on the packaging of its motherboards. The N7 Z690 comes in a bigger-than-you’d-expect box, providing ample protection. After removing the motherboard from the box, I readied it for installation.

My i7-12700K, 16 GB of RAM, and RTX 3070 joined the board and other components inside of the H7 Elite case without issue. Ports are placed thoughtfully and I was especially happy with the generous number of fan headers. After the installation was complete, I was left with a very good-looking system.

Visual flair

Though some may disagree, I think there’s definitely value in having a system that is aesthetically pleasing. As gaming and work setups become generally cleaner and tidier, often with a focus on minimalism, NZXT’s products work incredibly well in these environments.

In terms of design, the main standout is the metal cover that NZXT uses to set its motherboards apart from the competition. These combine with magnetic cover pieces that can be removed when access to M.2 slots is required. These covers help to maintain a consistent, semi-seamless design.

Go, go RGB!

For those who want to add RGB into the mix, there are two headers for NZXT RGB, one header for 5V 3-pin ARGB, and another header for 12V 4-pin RGB. This means users can mix and match RGB products from various manufacturers, which is a nice touch. These, in addition to the fan controllers, can all be fine-tuned in NZXT’s CAM software.

The more features, the better

Of course, looking good might be important, but it’s not the most important aspect of a PC. Performance and features matter, too, and I’m happy to say that the NZXT N7 Z690 delivers.

As expected from a higher-end Z690 board, it offers PCIe Gen 5.0 support, WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, and solid rear I/O that includes a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C. There’s also a Clear CMOS button on the N7, which is also great to see. Another highlight is the 12+1 DrMOS Power Phase Design, which is one of its main performance upgrades over the Z5 variant.

Navigating the BIOS will be simple enough for anyone familiar with ASRock’s user interface. It’s basically the ASRock layout and naming, though with a bit of NZXT flair slathered on top.

In use, the N7 Z690 has worked flawlessly for both work and play. With my usual testing of streaming, video rendering, and gaming, I had zero issues with NZXT’s latest flagship Intel motherboard. It’s great to be able to point towards NZXT as not just a great brand for fantastic-looking products, but also solid-performing ones, too.

NZXT N7 Z690 Review: The final verdict

At $299.99, NZXT’s N7 Z690 is priced higher than many competitors, but it looks to offer a fairly comprehensive collection of features coupled with the clean aesthetic that the brand is renowned for. The white version is especially unique and will combine well with the new range of H7 cases.

If a penny shy of $300 is too big of an investment for you, but your heart is still set on that NZXT design, then the N5 N690 at $239.99 may make more sense to your wallet.

All things considered, NZXT has worked with ASRock to create a solid Z690 option that delivers both style and substance for the current generation of Intel 12th Gen processors.

N7 Z690 review unit was provided by NZXT.