| | Price (approx.) | VRM Phases | PCIe 5.0 M.2 | Wi-Fi | |-----------|--------------------|----------------|------------------|------------| | Xtm Avengers Main 1.8 | $279 | 18+2+2 | 1 slot | Wi-Fi 6E | | ASUS ROG Strix Z790-A | $329 | 16+1 | 1 slot | Wi-Fi 6E | | MSI MPG Z790 Carbon | $359 | 19+1 | 2 slots | Wi-Fi 6E | | Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master | $399 | 20+1+2 | 2 slots | Wi-Fi 6E |
One of the biggest selling points of the Main 1.8 system is its mandrel bent tubing. Unlike crush bending (which reduces pipe diameter at curves), mandrel bending keeps the entire 1.8-inch diameter consistent throughout the exhaust path. This is crucial for turbocharged engines, as any restriction post-turbine can increase backpressure and raise exhaust gas temperatures (EGTs).