The Intel Z690 Motherboard Overview (DDR4): Over 30+ New Models
by Gavin Bonshor on November 24, 2021 2:00 PM ESTGIGABYTE Z690I Aorus Ultra (DDR4)
Providing options for small form factor users, there is always a large gap between the number of ATX and smaller form factors at any given chipset launch. The GIGABYTE Z690I Aorus Ultra DDR4 is the smaller sibling of the ATX sized Z690 Ultra, and as such, follows a similar principle in terms of its controller set and aesthetic. Along the right-hand side of the PCB creating an underglow effect is a strip of RGB LEDs, while the board has a black and silver theme with a grey and black patterned PCB. GIGABYTE is also advertising a 10-phase design for the CPU, with the latest 105 A premium power stages.
As this is a mini-ITX sized motherboard, the Aorus Z690I Ultra has just one full-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, with dual PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots. For conventional storage, GIGABYTE includes just two SATA ports, with support for RAID 0, and 1 array. Located to the right-hand side of the LGA1700 socket is a pair of memory slots, which can support up to DDR4-5333, with a combined capacity of up to 64 GB.
Looking at rear panel connectivity, GIGABYTE includes one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, three USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Users looking to use Intel's integrated graphics can do so via one HDMI and one DisplayPort video output pairing, while onboard audio support consists of two 3.5 mm audio jacks powered by a Realtek ALC4080 HD audio codec. Finishing off the rear panel is a single Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller and Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 CNVi pairing, while GIGABYTE also includes a small Q-Flash BIOS Flashback button.
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ikjadoon - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
Gigabyte has done a better job this time around with mini-ITX DDR4. $290 for a very well-rounded board—shame HiCookie lied so blatantly in all their 8 GHz marketing.ASRock mini-ITX: people still use type-A ports. 5x ports only?!
Windows 11, DDR5 availability & perf-price, and hybrid quirks make ADL a much better 2022 purchase for me. DDR4 price-perf + availability are nice, but not enough to overcome Panos’ major missteps on his first (and hopefully last) Windows launch.
DigitalFreak - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
Why does anyone pay attention to these "extreme overclockers"? He hit (or didn't in this case) 8Ghz. Big deal. You can't actually do anything with the CPU at that speed aside from run an e-peen benchmark.ikjadoon - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
Nobody paid attention until.... Gigabyte plastered his faked validations all over their Z690 marketing material. Nobody cares what any "overclocker" does these days and that's why they got jobs with motherboard vendors: the only people that can still sell a motherboard for $$$ with exaggerated hardware.https://www.techradar.com/news/no-gigabyte-didnt-s...
0ldman79 - Tuesday, December 14, 2021 - link
5 ports is a bad idea but type-A?Yeah, like 99% of USB accessories use type-A. That is still the *primary* interface for USB devices.
StormyParis - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
That last page is very useful, thank you. Wish I had a table to sum up the info ;-pFordGT550 - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
I can't find the Z690 Aorus Pro DDR4 in stock anywhere.bug77 - Friday, November 26, 2021 - link
I don't think it's available yet. Notice there's no price listed for it either (yeah, I've got my eyes on the same board).HLuna52180 - Friday, November 26, 2021 - link
Agreed! This is the model mobo that I want. It best fits my needs yet it's currently only available in Australia. Hope they make it into the states. I have all the other parts on order or with me already to make my Alder Lake build. Frustrating!MatarM0 - Saturday, November 27, 2021 - link
i see it in stock but it seems like it cant run any memory with 1.42v or higher depending on what newegg reviewer said and some others in the internet so hopefully they can fix it and it will be a good dealmeacupla - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
I can understand mobo makers not wanting to allocate too many resources into the dead end DDR4 platform, but these lineups seem excessively weak to me.Like, really? there's not a single Z690 DDR4 mobo with thunderbolt?
And then with Z690 DDR5 mobos, there's way too much overlap in features and functionalities.