The Intel Z590 Motherboard Overview: 50+ Motherboards Detailed
by Gavin Bonshor on January 19, 2021 10:15 AM ESTGIGABYTE Z590 Aorus Elite & Elite AX
Representing the mid-range of Intel's Z590 chipset is the GIGABYTE Z590 Aorus Elite, and the Wi-Fi 6 enabled Z590 Aorus Elite AX. Aside from the Intel Wi-Fi 6 CNVi, both models are identical in design and aesthetics, with an advertised 12+1 phase power delivery, with support for 128 GB of DDR4-5000 on an ATX PCB. The design follows a simple black and silver color scheme, with RGB LEDs built into the Aorus logo at the bottom of the chipset heatsink.
The GIGABYTE Z590 Aorus Elite and Elite AX include two full-length PCIe slots, the top one supporting up to PCIe 4.0 x16, while the bottom slot is locked to PCIe 3.0 x4, with one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot also present. For storage, the Elite pairing includes two M.2 slots, one PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot with a heatsink, and a second slot supporting both PCIe 3.0 x4, and SATA drives. GIGABYTE also includes six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays for more conventional storage devices. A total of four memory slots located in the top right-hand corner allow for up to DDR4-5000, with a combined total capacity of up to 128 GB.
The GIGABYTE Z590 Aorus Elite (top) and Z590 Aorus Elite AX (bottom) rear panels
Both the GIGABYTE Z590 Aorus Elite and Elite AX models include one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, five USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports, with a single DisplayPort 1.2 video output. A Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec powers five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output, while GIGABYTE includes a Realtek RTL8125 2.5 GbE controller. On the Z590 Aorus Elite AX, GIGABYTE uses an Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 CNVi with support for BT 5.1 devices. The middle red bottom USB port, with what says BIOS next to it, would be the BIOS flashing port.
At the time of writing, GIGABYTE hasn't shared any details on its Z590 models' pricing.
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WaltC - Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - link
If my x570 Aorus Master fan is "active", it has sure fooled me...;) It is not audible.Makaveli - Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - link
I'm on a Asus Prime X570-Pro for just over a year now and I've not heard the chipset fan once totally overblown issue. Drama queens!Samus - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link
I think it's impressive Intel kept a PCIe4.0 chipset down to 6w TDP. Definitely doesn't need active cooling.Slash3 - Sunday, January 24, 2021 - link
The chipset isn't Gen4.Spunjji - Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - link
Not surprised if they're expecting users to overclock chips that will exceed 200W at stock settings. 😬YB1064 - Thursday, January 21, 2021 - link
Is it just me or are the MSRPs listed utterly insane? Intel has been relegated to a poor man's AMD, yet these crazy prices? As they say, a fool and his money are soon parted.Samus - Saturday, January 23, 2021 - link
I don't think it's actually the chipset costs that are inflating the price of the boards, but the ridiculous power circuit and components required to deliver over 200w of power to the CPU's in order for these board makers to take advantage of PL2.fundead - Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - link
I thought the active fan is for the 10 gig networking chip. It is facing that heatsink which is right next to the vrm heatsink.damianrobertjones - Tuesday, January 19, 2021 - link
Looking at the prices, I'm really, REALLY glad that I bought an AORUS Z490 Elite (£154, new) from eBay. I just don't understand the prices.aidan - Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - link
I've just done exactly the same, no regrets whatsoever