NZXT N5 Z690 Review

1. Introducing the NZXT N5 Z6902. Testing and Performance: CPU3. Testing and Performance: Gaming4. Testing and Performance: Technical5. Closing Thoughts6. View All Pages

There is an outside chance that you are unaware that NZXT sells motherboards, in which case you might find our previous N7 Z590 review useful so do please take a look. The main appeal of NZXT motherboards is that they look immaculate inside NZXT cases such as the H7 Flow, however here at KitGuru we also demand features and performance. Did the NZXT N5 Z690 really make me smile or is that a grimace of pain?

Key features of NZXT N5 Z690

• Designed with Intel Z690 Chipset
• Compatible with Intel 12th Generation Core i9, Core i7, Core i5 processors
• 8+1 DrMOS Power Phase Design
• Intel Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity and Bluetooth V5.2
• Four M.2 connectors for storage devices
• Supports DDR4 memory overclocking speeds of up to 5000MHz and XMP
• 8-channel high-definition audio

Specification NZXT N5 Z690

• Socket LGA 1700 for Intel 12th Generation Core i9/ Core i7/ Core i5 Processors
• Supports Intel Turbo Boost Max 3.0 Technology
• Chipset Intel Z690
• Memory 4 x DIMM slots, Max. 128GB, Dual-channel
• Supports DDR4 Non-ECC, Unbuffered Memory up to 5000+ (OC)
• 8+1 50A DrMOS Power Phase Design, Richtek RT3628AE controller

Expansion Slots:

• 3 x PCIe ×16 slots (Gen 5 ×16, Gen 4 ×4, Gen 3 ×1)
• 2 x PCIe Gen 3 ×1 slots
• Supports AMD Quad CrossFireX and CrossFireX
• 1 x M.2 Socket (Key E), supports Type 2230 Wi-Fi/BT module, Intel CNVio

Storage:

• 3x M.2 2280 Gen 4 x4
• 1x M.2 22110 Gen 4 x4
• 4x SATA 6Gbps

Networking:

• Realtek 2.5G LAN
• Wi-Fi 6E Dual Band

Rear I/O:

• 1x HDMI
• 2x USB 2.0
• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
• 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
• Surround sound audio jacks

Internal I/O:

• 7x fan headers
• 2x NZXT RGB, 1x 5V ARGB, 1x 12V RGB
• 2x USB 2.0 headers (up to four Type-A ports)
• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header (up to two Type-A ports)
• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 header (for Type-C)

Test System:

• Processor: Intel Core i9-12900K (16 cores/24 threads)
• CPU Cooler: Corsair H150i Elite LCD
• Motherboard: NZXT N5 Z690 and N7 Z690
• Memory: 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3600
• Graphics card: Palit RTX 3080 Gaming Pro 10GB
• Power supply: Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
• SSD: 500GB Sabrent Rocket 4.0 M.2 NVMe
• OS: Windows 11

Cinebench R23 Multi Core

in Cinebench R23 Multi Core, the NZXT N5 Z690 performed reasonably well however it did not extract the maximum from our Core i9-12900K.

Cinebench R23 Single Core

In Cinebench R23 Single Core, the two NZXT motherboards run our CPU at 5.2GHz and take top honours.

Blender 3.0 Classroom

Blender is a repeat of the Cinebench R23 Multi Core test with mediocre performance that fails to impress.

BAPCo CrossMark

BAPCo CrossMark is a system test that shows the NZXT N5 Z690 in a good light.

3DMark Time – CPU Score

In 3DMark Time we see a CPU Score that trails the competition by a distance.

Far Cry 6 at 1080p

Far Cry 6 throws up a surprise as the NZXT N5 Z690 is impressively high on our chart.

Far Cry New Dawn at 1080p

In Far Cry New Dawn the NZXT N5 Z690 soars to the the top of the chart by a clear margin.

Watch Dogs: Legion at 1080p

In Watch Dogs: Legion we again see the NZXT N5 Z690 hit the top of the chart.

AIDA64 Memory Bandwidth

The NZXT N5 Z690 and N7 Z690 motherboards run on DDR4 memory and as a result they are demolished in this test as they are pitched against a series of motherboards running much faster DDR5 memory.

Power Consumption

The NZXT N5 Z690 delivers a mere 180W to our Core i9-12900K and as a result the system power draw is very low indeed.

CPU Temperature

The combination of lower CPU power levels and a large 360mm Corsair CPU cooler delivers an impressively low CPU temperature.

We began this review of the NZXT N5 Z690 knowing full well the hardware is based on an ASRock Phantom Gaming 4 motherboard with the addition of some NZXT cosmetic touches.

This meant we had no expectations of any radical innovations but instead were keen to see how the N5 Z690 performed and, yes, whether it looks suitably pleasing to the eye. Let's get that part out of the way first; yup, the N5 Z690 looks fine and will smarten your PC build nicely.

When it comes to usability and performance it is slightly more of a mixed bag. We are confident that many customers buying the N5 Z690 will leave everything on Auto and will not dabble with the settings in the BIOS.

That means they will get Auto performance that delivers a decent gaming experience, while dedicated CPU tasks such as Blender and video editing are likely to suffer. From our perspective as hardware enthusiasts, that is clearly less than ideal – but realistically it is unlikely to be a problem for NZXT's target audience and that is the main priority.

We don't yet have a buy link for the NZXT N5 Z690 but we have been told the MSRP is £209.99.

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Pros:

• Smart styling.
• Good support for M.2 storage.
• DDR4 support helps you save money.
• Performance is decent.

Cons:

• CAM software can be flaky.
• The VRMs will not appeal to overclockers.
• Another 5V ARGB header would be useful.
• Single internal USB 2.0 header.

KitGuru says: NZXT N5 Z690 is cheap, cheerful and looks neat and tidy.

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