Gigabyte

Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX

The Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX lands as a solid mid-range motherboard, built around Z790.

59/100
Solid pick
Overall score · how we rate
Z790LGA 17007600 MT/s16+2+1ATXDDR5
£227best price at Amazon
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Why we rate it

  • XMP / EXPO support
  • VRM heatsink
  • Front USB-C header
  • Above-average pcie 4.0 x16 slots
  • Below-average max ram
Score profile

Where the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX wins and loses

Scored against the motherboards class
MemoryPowerExpansionRearInternalNetworkingFeatures71846639843978
Memory
71
Power delivery
84
Expansion slots
66
Rear I/O
39
Internal headers
84
Networking
39
Features
78
Full specification

Specifications

Grouped · supported features marked in blue

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

Watch it in action

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Head to head

Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX vs ASUS ASUS ROG Strix X870-F Gaming WiFi

Highlighted cell = better in that row
MemoryPowerExpansionRearInternalNetworkingFeatures
Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AXASUS ROG Strix X870-F Gaming WiFi
 GigabyteGigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AXThis pageASUSASUS ROG Strix X870-F Gaming WiFi
Overall score59 /100Better58 /100
ChipsetZ790X870
SocketLGA 1700AM5
Form factorATXATX
Max RAM speed7600 MT/s
RAM slots44
M2 slots total5Better4
Who it's for

Is the Gigabyte 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.
good
Mainstream builder
Wants strong value in a balanced build.
good
Budget builder
Stretching every pound in an entry rig.
good
Common questions

Before you buy

Is the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX worth it?

It depends on what you need. It scores 59/100 against other motherboards, a solid mid-range result where the class average is around 51.

What stands out on the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX?

Its xmp / expo support stands out, a genuinely useful feature if your setup calls for it.

How does it compare to the ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi?

The ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi scores 60/100 versus this one at 59/100, so it is the step up on the spec sheet.