Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 vs Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4: An In-Depth Comparison for Motherboard Enthusiasts
What To Know
- The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 and the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 are two of the most popular motherboards on the market for Intel’s 13th and 12th generation processors, respectively.
- The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has a Realtek ALC4080 audio codec, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has a Realtek ALC1220 audio codec.
- The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has RGB lighting on the motherboard, the I/O panel, and the DIMM slots, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has RGB lighting on the motherboard and the I/O panel.
The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 and the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 are two of the most popular motherboards on the market for Intel’s 13th and 12th generation processors, respectively. Both motherboards offer a wide range of features and capabilities, but there are some key differences between them. In this blog post, we will compare the two motherboards side-by-side and help you decide which one is right for you.
Chipset and Socket
The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 is based on Intel’s Z790 chipset, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 is based on the Z690 chipset. The Z790 chipset supports Intel‘s 13th generation processors, while the Z690 chipset supports Intel’s 12th generation processors.
Memory Support
The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 supports up to 128GB of DDR4 memory, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 supports up to 128GB of DDR5 memory. DDR5 memory is faster than DDR4 memory, but it is also more expensive.
Expansion Slots
The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has four PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has three PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot. PCIe 5.0 is the latest generation of PCIe technology, and it offers twice the bandwidth of PCIe 4.0.
Storage Options
The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has six SATA 6Gb/s ports and four M.2 slots, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has six SATA 6Gb/s ports and three M.2 slots. M.2 slots are used for connecting NVMe SSDs, which are much faster than traditional SATA SSDs.
Networking
The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has a 2.5GbE LAN port and a Wi-Fi 6E module, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has a 2.5GbE LAN port and a Wi-Fi 6 module. Wi-Fi 6E is the latest generation of Wi-Fi technology, and it offers faster speeds and lower latency than Wi-Fi 6.
Audio
The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has a Realtek ALC4080 audio codec, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has a Realtek ALC1220 audio codec. The ALC4080 is a newer codec than the ALC1220, and it offers better sound quality.
RGB Lighting
The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has RGB lighting on the motherboard, the I/O panel, and the DIMM slots, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has RGB lighting on the motherboard and the I/O panel. Both motherboards support RGB Fusion 2.0, which allows you to customize the lighting effects.
Price
The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 is priced at around $300, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 is priced at around $250. The Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 is more expensive than the Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4, but it also offers more features and capabilities.
In a nutshell: Which Motherboard is Right for You?
The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 and the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 are both excellent motherboards. The Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 is the better choice if you want the latest and greatest features, such as support for Intel’s 13th generation processors, PCIe 5.0, and DDR5 memory. The Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 is the better choice if you want a more affordable motherboard that still offers excellent performance.
Top Questions Asked
Q: Which motherboard has more PCIe slots?
A: The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has more PCIe slots than the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4. The Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has four PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, while the Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has three PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot.
Q: Which motherboard has better audio quality?
A: The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has better audio quality than the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4. The Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has a Realtek ALC4080 audio codec, while the Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 has a Realtek ALC1220 audio codec. The ALC4080 is a newer codec than the ALC1220, and it offers better sound quality.
Q: Which motherboard is more expensive?
A: The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 is more expensive than the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4. The Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 is priced at around $300, while the Z690 Aorus Elite AX DDR4 is priced at around $250.
