The Intel Z690 Motherboard Overview (DDR5): Over 50+ New Models
by Gavin Bonshor on November 9, 2021 9:00 AM ESTGIGABYTE Z690 UD AX, Z690 UD AC & Z690 UD (DDR5)
Moving onto GIGABYTE's entry-level Z690 models with support for DDR5 memory, we have three near-identical representatives from its Ultra Durable series (UD). All three GIGABYTE Z690 UD models feature the same black and grey aesthetic, as well as the same core feature set. The only difference between the three comes in the level of wireless CNVi it includes.
- GIGABYTE Z690 UD AX = Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 CNVi
- GIGABYTE Z690 UD AC = Intel Wi-Fi AC 9560 CNVi
- GIGABYTE Z690 UD = No CNVi
Other than the wireless networking configuration, all three GIGABYTE Z690 UD models are exactly the same.
Looking at the expansion slot support of all three models, GIGABYTE includes one full-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, one full-length PCIe 3.0 x4 slot, one full-length PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, with three smaller PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. Storage options consist of three M.2 slots, with all three conforming to PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2, while a total of six SATA ports include support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. The DDR5 versions of the Z690 UD AX, Z690 UD AC, and Z690 UD all come with four memory slots, with support for DDR5-6000, with a combined capacity of up to 128 GB.
As mentioned at the top of the page, the only difference between the three UD models is the level of Wi-Fi CNVi included, although the regular Z690 UD omits any form. Across all three models are one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports. There are three 3.5 mm audio jacks powered by an unspecified Realtek HD audio codec, while GIGABYTE does include a DisplayPort and HDMI video output for users planning on using Intel's integrated graphics. All three models include one Realtek RTL8125 2.5 GbE controller, while a PS/2 combo port for legacy peripherals finishes off the modest rear panels.
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Duwelon - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
Asus' prices are completely bananas. If I build a new rig with Z690 it'll probably be my first non-Asus build in a very long time.Sivar - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
That caught my eye, too. I bought an Asus Hero-branded board for my current system last year at approximately $200 USD.I suspect Asus is shifting their marketspeak because the word "Maximus" (used for the z690 board but not mine) usually applies to their most expensive boards.
blppt - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
This. $2000 for a consumer grade motherboard? WTF are they smoking?Also, I'm pretty sure ASUS will be releasing some TUF Z690s at some point, probably at a lower price point than the primes. My experience with the TUF series has been very positive for the price.
DigitalFreak - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
They know they're not going to sell many of those. Those boards are either for LN2 e-peen competitions or people with more money than sense.Wrs - Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - link
TUF is historically just a bit more expensive than Prime. They already have a TUF DDR4 version - ordered the Wifi one for $290 the other day. If worried about price DDR5 is the first mistake.blppt - Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - link
The X570 TUF was cheaper than the X570 Prime when I went shopping for an AMD board.COtech - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
Subtitle - "Intel Z690 Chipset: Like Z590, But Now With Native PCIe 4.0"I think "But Now With Native PCIe 5.0" is intended.
gavbon - Thursday, November 18, 2021 - link
The Z690 chipset doesn't have PCIe 5.0, this comes from the CPU. The Z690 chipset does, however, now include PCIe 4.0 lanes, whereas Z590 did not.Someguyperson - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
I don't get the "DP IN" ports on the ASUS ProArt Z690 Creator WIFI. I see the author just wrote what was on the ASUS website, but that doesn't really explain anything. Are they passthrough to the Thunderbolt out ports? Is there a capture card built into this motherboard? I'm very confused by the labeling here.uwsalt - Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - link
Those are passthrough to the Thunderbolt port. Add-in Thunderbolt cards work the same way. You slot in your discrete GPU, send the output from both DP ports to the Thunderbolt controller, and then use Thunderbolt to output to a Thunderbolt monitor or hub.