Motherboard Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX LGA1700 DDR5

Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX is an ATX motherboard for LGA1700, aimed at mid/high-end gaming and enthusiast configurations with DDR5. It combines a modern Intel Z790 chipset with support for 13th and 12th generation Intel Core processors and high DDR5 frequencies up to 7600 MHz OC. You also get a serious disk subsystem with several M.2 slots and six SATA ports, suitable for a combination of NVMe and large HDD/SSD. The built-in WiFi 6E, 2.5GbE LAN, and rich USB configuration make it a good base for a long-term build.

What you get

The LGA 1700 socket with Intel Z790 chipset gives you full compatibility with 13th and 12th generation Intel Core, so you can easily plan from a more affordable CPU to a more serious i7/i9 without changing the motherboard. The four DDR5 slots with a maximum of 128 GB and frequencies up to 7600 MHz OC are ideal if you combine gaming with heavy multitasking, streaming, or working with many tabs, projects, and virtual machines. The four M.2 connectors (PCIe 4.0 and SATA support depending on the slot) plus 6 x SATA 6Gb/s allow you to build both a fast system NVMe disk and a large array for gaming/multimedia, including with RAID 0/1/5/10. Network-wise, you are covered by Realtek 2.5GbE LAN for low ping and high speeds, while WiFi 6E + Bluetooth 5.2 save you the need for separate cards. The built-in 7.1-channel Realtek High Definition Audio is more than enough for gaming headsets and standard speakers.

• LGA 1700 socket and Intel Z790 chipset provide support for 13th and 12th generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron, giving you flexibility in CPU choice.
• Support for DDR5 memory with up to 128 GB in 4 slots and frequencies up to 7600 MHz OC, suitable for high FPS gaming and heavy applications.
• Four M.2 connectors: 3 x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 and 1 x M.2 with PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 and SATA, allowing flexible combinations of fast NVMe and more affordable SATA SSDs.
• 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports with RAID 0/1/5/10 support – convenient for NAS-like storage, large game libraries, or archives.
• Network connectivity with Realtek 2.5GbE LAN and wireless WiFi 6E plus Bluetooth 5.2 for stable connections both wired and wireless.
• Expansion slots with 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 for modern GPU and 2 x PCIe 4.0 x4 for additional cards – capture, network, storage, etc.
• A rich set of USB: rear USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2x2, internal USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, plus numerous USB 3.2 Gen 2/Gen 1 and USB 2.0 for all peripherals and front panel.
• Built-in High Definition Audio with support for 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel sound – sufficient for gaming, movies, and voice chat without an external sound card.
• Power connectors 1 x 24-pin + 2 x 8-pin for stable power delivery to the CPU under higher loads and overclocking.

Who it is suitable for

This motherboard is a good choice if you are planning a serious gaming build on Intel with DDR5, especially for 1440p and above, streaming, or productivity with many open applications. It is also suitable for power users who want a lot of fast storage plus reliable network connectivity. If you are looking for a very budget configuration with minimal extras, WiFi 6E, PCIe 5.0, and so many M.2 slots may be unnecessary for you.

The combination of Z790, PCIe 5.0 x16, fast DDR5 support, and four M.2 slots makes the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX a stable foundation for a powerful and long-term configuration without compromising on connections and expansions.