GIGABYTE Z690

Even though simply being SFF compliant is the biggest selling point, the board still has to meet certain requirements to be considered a good option. By providing the latest technologies, Gigabyte has done just that, even if some of these features may be underutilized for a number of years. In any case, providing support for PCIe Gen5 is just part of the LGA 1700 package, and will likely never be fully utilized on this specific Intel platform. However, the inclusion of Wi-Fi 6E and a number of high speed USB ports gives it more versatility and has a likely real use-case. Desktop computers are pretty much only in one place, while SFF computers can be moved freely with limited hassle. To wrap this review up, the Gigabyte Z690I AORUS Ultra Plus DDR4 overall, is far from perfect, but many users will find the potential pitfalls a non issue for them. As with all SFF systems, use case varies wildly and so does cost. This is one of the better priced Z690 based ITX motherboards which gives Gigabyte a lead amongst the competition.

We will be covering the Gigabyte Z690 AORUS ELITE AX DDR4 motherboard in this review. If you are familiar with Gigabyte’s naming scheme, then you might know that they offer several different branding styles. UltraDurable, AORUS, Gigabyte and AERO to name them. Some are geared towards a different user type. Like the AORUS, the one we have in front of us today. It will have more RGB and be more of a style a gamer would want. The Z690 is the chipset that offers the most when it comes to features. Most motherboard manufactures designate their motherboards by the chipset model. So now that we know we an AROUS Z690 in front of us I am expecting top of the line specifications and performance. Lets not waste anymore time because motherboard review tend to be on the lengthy side due to so many features and specifications to list out. So, lets get to it!

Als allererstes LGA1700-Mainboard hatten wir zum Alder-Lake-S-Launch Gigabytes Z690 AORUS Master im Test (Hardwareluxx-Test), das in vielen Punkten überzeugend war. Direkt unterhalb des Master-Modells angesiedelt, ist das Z690 AORUS Ultra aus der oberen Mittelklasse, das wir von Gigabyte für einen Testbericht erhalten haben. Kann auch das Z690 AORUS Ultra überzeugen?

The Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Ultra is a solid performer that comes packed with some great features. I like the full cover heat shield with Fins Array II, and I also like the 16+1+2 direct digital VRM design, along with their SMD design which is found on the PCIE 5.0 x16 slot, as well as on the reinforced DDR5 slots.

It's easy when looking at the various motherboard options available to you with the Z690 chipset to get carried away investigating the minutae of every result and convincing yourself that you need to push your budget to unsustainable levels to make the most from your latest investment.

Mit rund 250 Euro wird Gigabytes B660 AORUS Master DDR4 recht hoch bepreist und soll den Mainstream-Nutzer mit gehobenen Ansprüchen bedienen. Die Frage, die sich am Ende logischerweise stellt, ist, ob das B660 AORUS Master DDR4 diese Ansprüche erfüllt. Unsere Antwort lautet: teilweise. Dass die Mainboard-Hersteller bei den kleinen B660-Chipsätzen natürlich nicht auf die leistungsstärksten und effizientesten Spannungswandler setzen, dürfte verständlich sein. So ist die CPU-Übertaktung auf offizieller Seite ausschließlich mit einem Z690-Mainboard möglich. Beim Onboard-Komfort hatten wir stets das Gefühl, dass sich Gigabyte nicht sicher ist, ob sie nun in die Vollen gehen sollen

Mit Intels 12. Core-Generation und dem neuen Sockel LGA1700 sind wieder einmal neue Mainboards notwendig. Dies liegt jedoch nicht nur am um 500 Pins gewachsenen CPU-Sockel, sondern auch an der PCIe-5.0- und DDR5-Unterstützung. Der passende Flaggschiff-Chipsatz hört auf die Bezeichnung Z690. Das erste Mainboard im Test ist Gigabytes Z690 AORUS Master.

Gigabyte has created a product that is designed for those who want these extra enthusiast-grade features without the extra premium cost of stylish designs and additional non-essential add-ons commonly included with the ultra-high end. Even though the BIOS is severely flawed in my opinion, the Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Master is something to seriously consider because of the extensive feature set you get at a reasonable price. Just be warned that some oddities may linger in the BIOS and not work as intended until Gigabyte sorts those out eventually.

We appreciate the company-wide effort Gigabyte went to in reorganising themselves and returning with the Aorus range of high-end hardware, and how successful that reorganisation was. The Z690 Aorus Master is the latest in a now long line of high quality products and wins our OC3D Performance Award.

We have reached the end of the review, and it is once again time to consolidate everything and summarize what this motherboard has to offer. As with previous reviews, I will start with what I think Gigabyte could improve upon before finishing on a positive note. The Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Xtreme WaterForce is not a run-of-the mill product. It represents Gigabyte's entire Z690 product line as the flagship motherboard designed around giving users a premium experience without compromise. This of course extends to the price of entry. When it comes to the ultra-high-end, If you think the Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Xtreme WaterForce costs too much, you are not the targeted consumer.