The Intel Z690 Motherboard Overview (DDR5): Over 50+ New Models
by Gavin Bonshor on November 9, 2021 9:00 AM ESTGIGABYTE Z690 Aero G (DDR5)
Similar to GIGABYTE's Z690 Aero D, GIGABYTE has also launched a content-creator-focused model for users on a tighter budget and without the need for Thunderbolt 4. The GIGABYTE Z690 Aero G has a more simplistic design, with a contrasting black and silver look throughout. The Z690 Aero G does include integrated RGB LED lighting, including a strip built into the rear panel cover, and more RGB LED lighting going diagonally across the chipset heatsink.
Focusing on PCIe support, the GIGABYTE Z690 Aero G includes one full-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, with two full-length PCIe 3.0 x4 slots. Storage options include three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, with six SATA ports capable of supporting Intel RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays. In terms of memory support, there are four memory slots located in the top right-hand corner, which can support up to DDR5-6000, with a combined capacity of up to 128 GB.
The rear panel of the GIGABYTE Z690 Aero G is spearheaded by dual USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, two USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Networking options consist of an Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller and Intel AX-AX201 Wi-Fi 6 CNVi, with two 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output providing basic audio access. Finishing off the rear panel is a single HDMI 2.1 video output and a DisplayPort video input.
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Oxford Guy - Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - link
Creating more fiat bills has consequences. Congress literally printed money to give to lobbyists as part of ‘Covid relief’.fcth - Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - link
Sad to see only one mATX board, though at least it looks like a decent (if expensive) option.Mite - Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - link
Can ASUS Z690 Maximus Extreme run PCIe 5.0 x16 GPU and PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 SSD concurrently? Will the GPU (PCIe 5.0 x16 slot 1) drop to PCIe 5.0 x8 instead when SSD is installed on the PCIe 5.0 x4 (M2 slot)?Kakkoii - Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - link
MSI does show the Audio Codec... just not on the simplified summary. You guys have to click the "Detail" tab on the Specifications page for a given board. All the boards show which audio they're using.The Carbon for example has ALC4080.
gavbon - Thursday, November 18, 2021 - link
At the time of writing, even the detail sections of the specifications didn't show them. On top of this, all of the information we received prior to launch mentioned no specific HD audio codecs. I will update this though :)JackNJ - Friday, November 12, 2021 - link
The GIGABYTE Z690I Aorus Ultra is not DDR5 I think?chavv - Friday, November 12, 2021 - link
5 m2 slots?How is this useful for a normal user?!
Or 600$ mobo for desktop usage?!
World gone mad
mode_13h - Saturday, November 13, 2021 - link
For RAID, obviously. That borderline makes sense. If you're running a 4 or 5-drive RAID of SSDs in a consumer rig, it's more cost-effective and still plenty fast to use SATA. And I think it's not unreasonable to expect anyone using M.2 drives to put them in a PCIe carrier card, which will have better cooling potential anyhow.sunmobo - Friday, November 12, 2021 - link
You've included MSI's ITX variant in the list (MEG Z690I Unify) but I can't seem to find it on their website. Although if you google you'll find a few mentions on some shops, without pics. Is this because MSI is still working on the board, or?gavbon - Thursday, November 18, 2021 - link
It's likely to launch soon, but it does and will exist.