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ASRock B650 PG Lightning vs ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi: Comparison
B650 PG Lightning vs Z890 Steel Legend WiFi chipset compared
Chipset is the dividing line, B650 PG Lightning B650 against Z890 Steel Legend WiFi Z890. They differ on memory type too, 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, dual-channel, DDR5-7200+ ,... on the B650 PG Lightning versus 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, up to 9466+... on the Z890 Steel Legend WiFi. There is a split on oldest cpu family supported as well, Ryzen 7000 on the B650 PG Lightning versus Core Ultra Series 2 on the Z890 Steel Legend WiFi. Wi-fi onboard is not the same on both, No on the B650 PG Lightning versus Yes on the Z890 Steel Legend WiFi.
B650 PG Lightning vs Z890 Steel Legend WiFi: which one fits your build
The B650 PG Lightning is the one to take for the most budget-conscious full-ATX AM5 builds and builders who don't need built-in WiFi, though it is the wrong buy for anyone who wants WiFi included without buying the separate variant and builds that want more than two M.2 slots. The Z890 Steel Legend WiFi suits memory overclockers who want a high single-DIMM OC rating and builders who want distinctive Steel Legend styling on Z890, though it is not built for builders who need more than three M.2 slots and enthusiasts who want 5G or 10G LAN.
Where the two are identical
Everything else lines up. Memory slots, max memory, max memory capacity, m.2 slots and m.2 slots onboard read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 9 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the B650 PG Lightning and Z890 Steel Legend WiFi differ on socket?
Yes. Socket reads AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series on the B650 PG Lightning versus Intel Core Ultra Processors on the Z890 Steel Legend WiFi.
Is the Form Factor the same on the B650 PG Lightning and Z890 Steel Legend WiFi?
It is. Both are listed at ATX, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Platform
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- AMD
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- Intel
Model Number
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- B650 PG Lightning
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
Socket
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
Form Factor
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- ATX
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- ATX
Chipset
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- B650
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- Z890
Newest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- Ryzen 9000
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
Memory Type
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, dual-channel, DDR5-7200+ (OC), XMP/EXPO
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, up to 9466+ MHz (OC, single-DIMM)
Oldest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- Ryzen 7000
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- Core Ultra Series 2
CPU Overclocking Supported
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- Yes
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- Yes
Memory Slots
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 4
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
Max Memory
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 256 GB
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 256 GB
M.2 Slots
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 3
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3
PCIe 5.0 Support
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- Yes
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- Yes
Wi-Fi Onboard
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- No
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- Yes
Max Memory Capacity
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 256 GB
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 256 GB
Max Rated Memory Speed
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 7200 MT/s
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 9466 MT/sBest
M.2 Slots Onboard
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 3
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3
M.2 PCIe 5.0 Slots
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 1
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
M.2 PCIe 4.0 Slots
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 2
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2
SATA Ports
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 4
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
Primary Graphics Slot Gen
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- PCIe 4.0
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
Rear USB 5Gbps Ports
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 7
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4
Rear USB 2.0 Ports
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 4
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2
Vcore Power Stages
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 14
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 18
EPS 12V Configuration
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- Two 8-pin
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- Two 8-pin
Max Ethernet Speed
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 2.5 Gbps
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
Ethernet Port Count
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 1
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 1
Wi-Fi Standard
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- None
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- Wi-Fi 7
Audio Codec
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- Realtek ALC897, 7.1-channel HD Audio with Nahimic
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- Realtek ALC1220, Nahimic
Expansion
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 2x PCIe 4.0 x16 (2nd slot at x2), 2x PCIe 4.0 x1; 1x M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4, 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x2; 4x SATA III; 1x M.2 Key-E (Wi-Fi)
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- PCIe 5.0 x16 + PCIe 4.0 x16 (x4) + PCIe 4.0 x4
Connectivity
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 1x Rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C (20Gbps), 7x Rear USB 3.2 Gen1 (5Gbps), 4x Rear USB 2.0
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 4x SATA3, Nahimic audio software
Networking
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5GbE LAN (no built-in Wi-Fi)
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Special Features
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 3x M.2 total (1x Gen5, 1x Gen4, 1x Gen4x2)
- ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi
- 3x M.2 (1x Gen5 Blazing, 2x Gen4 Hyper)
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASRock B650 PG Lightning if you want the higher memory slots (4 vs 4), the higher max memory (256 GB vs 256 GB) and the higher M.2 slots (3 vs 3).
Choose ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASRock B650 PG Lightning | ASRock Z890 Steel Legend WiFi |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.