GIGABYTE
Z790 AORUS Elite AX
A solid mid-range motherboard for PC builders, leading with Z790.
59/100
Z790LGA 170016+1+2ATXDDR5Wi-Fi 6E
£161best price at Amazon
In stock at 2 retailers
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Why we rate it
- BIOS flashback
- Debug LED / postcode display
- Above-average m.2 slots (total)
- Above-average m.2 pcie 5.0 slots
- Below-average max ram
Score profile
Scored against the motherboards classWhere the Z790 AORUS Elite AX wins and loses
Full specification
Grouped · supported features marked in blueSpecifications
Platform
SocketLGA 1700
ChipsetZ790
Form factorATX
Supported CPU generationsIntel Core 14th Gen, 13th Gen, 12th Gen
Memory
RAM typeDDR5
RAM slots4
Max RAM128 GB
Max memory speed (OC)7600 MT/s
XMP / EXPO supportYes
Power delivery
VRM phases16
VRM heatsinkYes
Expansion slots
PCIe 5.0 x16 slots1
PCIe 4.0 x16 slots4
M.2 slots (total)5
M.2 PCIe 5.0 slots2
M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots4
M.2 heatsinks1
SATA ports6
Rear I/O
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gb/s)1
USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gb/s)1
Rear USB-C1
HDMI1
DisplayPort1
Internal headers
Front USB-C headerYes
Front USB-C generation10
Networking
Ethernet2.5
Ethernet ports1
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth5.2
Audio
Audio codecRealtek ALC4080
Audio channels7.1
Features
BIOS flashbackYes
Debug LED / postcode displayYes
Fan headers6
More specs
M2 slots5
PCIE 5 count1
Ethernet gbps2.5
Head to head
Highlighted cell = better in that rowZ790 AORUS Elite AX vs ASUS ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi
Z790 AORUS Elite AXASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi
| GIGABYTEZ790 AORUS Elite AXThis page | ASUSASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 59 /100 | 59 /100 |
| Chipset | Z790 | Z790 |
| Socket | LGA 1700 | LGA 1700 |
| Form factor | ATX | ATX |
| Max RAM speed | 7600 MT/s | — |
| RAM slots | 4 | 4 |
| M2 slots total | 5 | 5 |
Who it's for
Is the Z790 AORUS Elite AX right for you?
Buy it if
Buyers on a budget
Anyone who needs a dependable motherboard for the essentials without overspending.
Skip it if
Skip it if
You need flagship-tier performance, in which case a higher-tier motherboard is the better call.
Performance builder
Chasing frames and headroom in a high-end rig.
okay
Mainstream builder
Wants strong value in a balanced build.
good
Budget builder
Stretching every pound in an entry rig.
excellent
Common questions
Before you buy
Is the Z790 AORUS Elite AX worth it?
It depends on what you need. It scores 56/100 against other motherboards, a solid mid-range result where the class average is around 51.
What stands out on the Z790 AORUS Elite AX?
Its bios flashback stands out, a genuinely useful feature if your setup calls for it.
How does it compare to the ASUS ROG STRIX X870E-A GAMING WIFI7?
The ASUS ROG STRIX X870E-A GAMING WIFI7 scores 57/100 versus this one at 56/100, so it is the step up on the spec sheet.
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