ASRock expanded the capabilities of Mini‑ITX by adding support for 256 GB of memory using CQDIMM DDR5‑7400 on the Z890I Nova WiFi R2.0 board.

ASRock expands the capabilities of its Z890I Nova WiFi R2.0 motherboard

What’s new? How it works
Support for CQDIMM memory The board can now use DDR5 modules up to 128 GB each, allowing a maximum of 256 GB of RAM. Working speed Maximum frequency – 7400 MT/s. Compatibility check Two 128 GB Kingston modules were tested; compatibility confirmed.

What is CQDIMM?
CQDIMM (Clocked Unbuffered DIMM) is a modification of the standard CUDIMM, but with a four‑rank design that increases capacity without sacrificing performance. This type of module allows you to achieve:

- 128 GB on one DDR5 chip;
- 256 GB of RAM when using only two DIMM slots.

How ASRock implemented support
1. Hardware changes – redesigning the connectors and power circuitry of the board to handle the higher currents from 128‑GB modules.

2. Software optimization – updating BIOS/UEFI for proper operation at high DDR5‑7400 frequencies.

As a result, the board can be used both on workstations with maximum memory and in regular desktop PCs that require large amounts of RAM.

Who will benefit?
- Professionals: AI developers, machine learning specialists, content creators (video/3D) – all often need large memory volumes as well as high bandwidth.

- Budget‑constrained scenarios: although 256 GB at this speed is rare for consumer platforms, the price of modules of that capacity remains quite high. In most cases it’s more economical to install four standard modules (e.g., 32–64 GB each), even if they run slightly slower.

Conclusion: ASRock has opened a new path to maximum DDR5 memory without sacrificing speed, but the economic viability of such a configuration depends on the user’s specific tasks and budget.