We kick off motherboard specifications starting with the Intel LGA1200 socket and behind it the Z490 chipset. This platform is compatible with an entire range of processors from 10th Gen Core i3 to Core i9 and even Pentium Gold and Celeron. Memory support includes speeds up to DDR4400 with overclocking and 2933MHz in JEDEC timing mode. Four slots support 32GB DIMMS offering a peak capacity of 128GB.
Audio is next in line with the ALC1220VB Codec supporting 8 channels and DTS:X Ultra. Networking is two part, one being 2.5Gbe powered by the Intel i225 with a second Intel Gbe controller for backup. Wi-Fi 6 is included on this platform with the AX201 from Intel offering Wi-Fi 6 and BT5.1 connectivity.
The motherboard has a very neutral aesthetic appeal, with a nice black and gunmetal color theme. Most of the motherboard’s shields are actually made of actual metal instead of the typical plastic we see most of the time. There are eight fan headers located on the motherboard, including two pump headers that probably operate at full speed by default, and a CPU_OPT header. There are also two external temperature sensors circled in green, and there are included temperature probes that you can stick in a GPU or near an exhaust or intake vent in the case.
We kick off motherboard specifications starting with the Intel LGA1200 socket. This platform is compatible with an entire range of processors from 10th Gen Core i3 to Core i9. This board’s power design is thoroughly overkill, even for the enthusiast overclocker, offering a doubled seven-phase design for the Vcore with Intersil ISL99390 stages at 90A each. SOC is powered by a single Vishay SIC651 50A stage and Intersil ISL69269 PWM controller behind it all.
The Gigabyte W480 Vision D is a striking motherboard. Gigabyte has done a good job of creating a white theme that stands out visually, but still fits a wide array of components. While the RGB LED implementation lags behind some other boards in terms of complexity and customization, diffusion is excellent, and the placement blends in seamlessly with the board’s theme.
Out of the box, performance was excellent for the Gigabyte W480 Vision D. Memory overclocking was good as well, as I reached 4000 MHz CL16 stable with my Trident Z Neo kit. CPU overclocking is locked down on the W480 chipset, but VRM thermals were great when running Prime95 at stock settings, never exceeding 45 °C.
The GIGABYTE B550 Aorus Master is based on AMD’s B550 chipset which is compatible with AMD’s socket AM4 CPU’s. The B550 Aorus Master is built using a 2oz. copper, 6-layer PCB and has a VRM sporting 16 power phases with 70A power stages. Very quickly you figure out that despite the semi-budget chipset, this isn’t a budget motherboard offering at all. GIGABYTE made some interesting design choices which seem to be designed to make the B550 Aorus Master something of a poor man’s X570 motherboard.
The Aorus Z590 Master sits nearer the top of the stack and is priced at £410. Though it looks very similar to the Z490 version now on sale for around £330, there are key differences to be aware of, and it’s those we’ll focus on. The primary M.2 slot, closest to the CPU, only works if you have an 11th Gen Core chip in the socket – and no-one does right now – so if using 10th Gen chips it is redundant and you are left with the two slots to the left, underneath the heatsinks.
“The A520 AORUS ELITE occupies the high-end of A520 based motherboards, yet is still affordable. I picked this one up for a mere $89.99, a relative steal in comparison to most B550 motherboards, and still cost effective over B450 boards carrying a $30-40+ premium. Yes, it gives up overclocking support of the processor. If you’re looking to overclock your CPU, A520 is not the place to be. However, that doesn’t mean you’re entirely limited to stock performance.”
Taipei, Taiwan, January 14th, 2021 – GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced the new Z590 VISION series motherboards for creators which power the 11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors. The exclusive design of VisionLINK and VisionLINK TB enables the simple connection to pen displays with only one USB Type-C® cable, releasing creators from the mess of transmission cables and switches to a neat space. Featuring an optimized power design, thermal design, superior connectivity and high quality components, GIGABYTE Z590 VISION series motherboards provide the remarkable platform for creators.
The VisionLINK technology allows for data and video transmission based on USB Type-C® Interface and it provides power delivery up to 60W. VisionLINK technology lets creators not only without cable clutter, but also the benefit of data, video, and power charging at the same time. One USB Type-C® cable connected, turn the workspace into neat and tidy. VisionLINK TB is an advanced version of VisionLINK technology. It is based on Thunderbolt™ 4 delivers 40Gb/s high-bandwidth speeds, data transferring, video signal, 60W power charging, and daisy chain function to support up to 10 devices connection.
The Z590 VISION series motherboards keep the VISION white styling with exclusive hardware design to provide creators with an improved working efficiency. The Z590 VISION series motherboards inherit GIGABYTE’s leadership in motherboard power design and VRM thermal design, using up to 12-phase direct power design paired with highly durable DrMOS to provide the best power delivery. Solid power pin connectors on the Z590 VISION series motherboards ensure that the power delivery is stable while reducing excess heat during high workload to prevent throttling, and make the processor more stable to avoid downtime due to an unstable power supply. With the new design of the fins-array, direct-touch heat-pipe, large heat sinks and Smart Fan 6, it not only strengthens the thermal effect, but also takes into account the appearance design, allowing the GIGABYTE Z590 VISION motherboards to be both stylish and thermally efficient.
The memory circuits of GIGABYTE Z590 VISION motherboards are embedded within the PCB ground layers while the metal outer layer of the PCB reduces electromagnetic interference so those using dual channel configuration can enjoy high-speed, stable overclocked RAM performance boost above XMP 4800MHz. GIGABYTE Z590 VISION motherboards use PCIe 4.0 grade of PCBs, PCIe slots, M.2 slots, and controllers for the highest bandwidth quality. The select Z590 VISION motherboards equip with three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots which the trace layout comes directly from CPU for the NVMe M.2 SSD, and offers and extreme sequential read speed of more than 20000 MB/s in Windows RAID 0 mode.
Besides taking the lead to implement Thunderbolt™ 4 onboard, GIGABYTE Z590 VISION motherboards also adopt robust expansion for content creators , which includes SuperSpeed USB3.2 Gen2x2, Intel® 2.5G Ethernet, and High Fidelity audio output expansion interface. The Intel® 2.5Gbps Ethernet controller brings ultra-fast connectivity that is 2.5X faster than Gigabit Ethernet. Also, the lineup implements an Intel® WiFi 6 802.11ax network adapter to provide Gigabit level wireless network, and paired with high-gain Wi-Fi smart antenna to deliver up to 2.4Gbps transmission speed which offers smoother streaming videos, fewer dropped connections, and more stability. To feature with dual Ethernet LAN and WiFi for creators to have a flexible configuration with high bandwidth and low latency access connectivity. The newest GIGABYTE VISION DRIVE perfectly matches the 20 Gbps high speed transfer of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 to meet the needs of ultra-fast storage from creators.
GIGABYTE Z590 VISION series motherboards are equipped with the high SNR audio engine ALC4080 and the WIMA FKP2 studio-grade audio capacitors to deliver studio-grade audio. GIGABYTE’s exclusive design with DTS：X® Ultra technology delivers high fidelity audio for the most immersive sound experience whether it’s for work or entertainment. From video editing to listening to music, the audio quality is indispensable.
Z590 VISION G features three PCIe x16 slots with one Gen4 x16 and two Gen3 x4 supported. There are four M.2 slots with PCIe 4.0/3.0 interface, and six SATA 6Gb/s ports. With the VisionLINK for connection of pen displays and the DP_In interface, the 3D performance of VGA cards can be shared to pen displays, which is suitable for enabling 2D design and entry-level 3D modeling.
Z590 VISION D holds two PCIe 4.0 slots of x16 and x8 interface, two PCIe 3.0 expansion slots of x4 and x1, three M.2 slots with PCIe 4.0/3.0 interface, and six SATA 6Gb/s ports. With the VisionLINK TB for connection of pen display and the DP_In interface, the performance of VGA cards can be shared to pen displays, which is more suitable for VFX, 3D compilation, 3D CAD, AI development, and edge deployment.
Z590I VISION D is the first ITX size motherboard of VISION series which is the top choice for mini PC to handle 2D and light-duty 3D computer-aided workloads in fields such as architecture and engineering. In addition to one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, two PCIe 4.0/3.0 M.2 slots, and four SATA 6Gb/s ports onboard, Z590I VISION D also equips two Thunderbolt™ 4 ports which can deliver 40Gb/s high-bandwidth speeds, data transferring, video signal, 60W power charging, USB4™ specification compliance, and daisy chain function to support up to 10 devices connection. Heat dissipation is very critical to the mini PC. Z590I VISION D thermal’s solution provides a perfect balance between style and performance.
Z590 VISION series also implement the highly recognized durability and stability of GIGABYTE motherboards. The exclusive Q-Flash Plus feature allows users to flash a BIOS file without installing a CPU, RAM, GPU, and other peripherals. Creators now can concentrate on their creation under a stable system.
GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced the new Z590 AORUS motherboards which support the 11th Gen Intel Core processors. The new motherboards feature up to 20-phase digital power VRM design and an improved Fins-Array II heatsink design. GIGABYTE’s Z590 AORUS lineup is geared with the best power design and thermal management to optimize overclocking performance on the upcoming 11th Gen Intel Core processors. GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS motherboards adopt up to 10 layers PCB, on the high-end models, for better heat dissipation. Moreover, the use of Daisy Chain memory routing with an anti-interference design improves the memory overclocking, stability, and overall memory performance. Selected GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS motherboards offer feature-rich I/O with an integrated I/O shield as well as the newest Thermal Guard II design, Smart Fan 6 and much more. Performance, power management, thermals, audio, GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS motherboards check all the boxes for users seeking to take their computing firepower to the next level.
With PCIe 4.0 support, users can enjoy the high bandwidth, the ultra-high transfer speed, and improved CPU performance on Intel platform. GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS motherboards use PCIe 4.0 grade PCBs, PCIe slots, M.2 slots, and controllers for the highest bandwidth quality, which enabling speeds up to 7000 MB/s. Z590 AORUS motherboards equip up to three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots with direct connection to the CPU for the highest bandwidth possible. RAID configurations are possible and they could provide access rate of more than 20000 MB/s. GIGABYTE’s patent, Thermal Guard II, is a double sided heat dissipation solution that provides optimal cooling to the PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD modules to prevent thermal throttling under high-speed operation.
GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS motherboards pack features such as the advanced power design which can deliver up to 2100 Amps and provide the best power balance, with up to 20+1 phases which each of them can hold up to 100 amps with its DrMOS power stages design. The diverse power designs can unleash the extreme overclocking performance and unlock the full potential of the new processors. Furthermore, the addition of Tantalum Polymer capacitors improves the transient response of the VRM between high and low loads, increasing the stability and purity of the processor so that users won’t have to worry about overlocking failures caused by unstable power.
GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS motherboards are designed with a renewed focus on heat dissipation. The Fins-Array II design features a redesigned stacked fin heatsink which enlarges the surface area up to 3 times compared to traditional heatsinks and it introduces newly reshaped fins that allow for superior heat dissipation. Direct-Touch Heatpipe II design features a larger, 8mm direct touch heatpipe with shortened distance and increased contact area between the heatpipe and heatsink to speed up heat transfer from the VRM to the heatsink, lowering the temperatures significantly.
GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS motherboards implement a new generation LAIRD 7.5W/mK thermal pad which offers 4x the heat dissipation compared to traditional thermal pads. The metal backplate adds extra sturdiness and rigidity to the motherboard while its nanocarbon coating quickly dissipates heat away from the backside components and the PCB. Reactive Armor is featured on selected GIGABYTE Z590 motherboards. The multiple skived fins and grooved surface provide two times larger dissipation area than traditional design that improves dramatically the heat convention and conduction by allowing more airflow pass through the heatsink.
Aside from power and thermal management, GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS motherboards boast an impressive memory configuration with support for single-slot 32GB memory capacity. The memory circuits are embedded within the PCB ground layers while the metal outer layer of the PCB reduces electromagnetic interference so those using dual channel configuration can enjoy high-speed, stable overclocked RAM performance boost above XMP 5000MHz. GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS XTREME features the exclusive SMT Memory DIMM design which utilizes surface adhesion welding technology so that the solder joints of the memory slots are smoothly fixed onto the PCB. This reduces signal interference between the open fiber cloths of the PCB and the memory wiring. The signal stabilizing function of the tantalum Polymer capacitors at the base of the memory slots further enhance the stability of the board especially when overclocking at XMP high frequencies.
GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS motherboards are equipped with the latest technologies from all the aspects. USB4, 3.2 Gen2x2, 3.2 Gen2 slots, 2.5G and 10G Ethernet, audio jacks, and Thunderbolt 4 expansion interface are some of them. The Intel 2.5Gbps Ethernet controller brings ultra-fast connectivity that is 2.5 faster than Gigabit Ethernet. Also, the lineup implements an Intel WiFi 6E 802.11ax network adapter with new exclusive 6GHz frequency band to lessen surrounding Electromagnetic Interference and to provide Gigabit level wireless network. The latest AORUS triple-band (2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz) high-gain WiFi smart antenna can deliver up to 2.4Gbps transmission speed which offers smoother steaming videos, gaming performance, and more stability. The addition of QFLASH and Clear CMOS buttons makes it much easier and more convenient for users to troubleshoot their systems or update their BIOS without installing a processor.
User customization is where the GIGABYTE Z590 motherboards thrive. The redesigned Smart Fan 6, the multiple temperature sensors, Hybrid fan design, noise detection, and increased fan control points from 5 to 7 and more give users the absolute system control and customization.. Users can now switch quickly between Slope mode and Stair mode by their demands. Slope mode is the traditional linear fan speed curve, and Stair mode is a newly introduced mode to maintain the same fan speed within a specified interval which can avoid the annoying noise from the sudden speed-up or down of the fan RPM. EZ Tuning features the friendly adjustment and advanced manual setting mode, which enabling users to control the system temperature setting for the optimal balance among silent, cool, and high performance.
When it comes to audio, GIGABYTE is always on top of the game. The top of GIGABYTE Z590 lineup utilizes a high SNR audio engine and pairs it with the WIMA FKP2 studio-grade audio capacitors to deliver studio-grade and high-fidelity audio. The GIGABYTE exclusive audio design integrates ESS SABRE DAC as well as DTS：X Ultra to deliver high fidelity audio for the most immersive sound experience whether it’s for gaming or watching movies/listening to music. The flagship Z590 AORUS XTREME motherboard introduces the ESSential USB DAC, a USB Type C interface with built-in ESS SABRE HiFi ES9280C PRO.
Moreover, GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS motherboards support technologies such as LED lighting and Q-Flash Plus which allow users to flash a BIOS file without installing a CPU, RAM, GPU, and other peripherals. GIGABYTE BIOS has been completely revamped with a new graphical interface that displays key information such as clock speeds, memory, storage devices, fan statuses/settings, and other important hardware information in a more intuitive and user friendly manner.
GIGABYTE motherboards are highly recognized for their durability and stability by overclockers. The GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS TACHYON is the much anticipated overclocking motherboard of Z590 lineup, featuring 12+1-phase digital power design with phases rated for up to 100 Amps each. The exclusive Overclocking kit of robust overclocking buttons and detection features allow overclockers to break through the limits with ease. The persistence of GIGABYTE’s R&D team makes the Z590 AORUS TACHYON the successor of SOC series for overclockers, who want to reach the highest CPU and DRAM frequencies.
GIGABYTE Z590 AORUS motherboards offer a diverse range of enticing features to be the best choice for high-end computing and gaming platform. For more information and news, please visit the GIGABYTE AORUS website: https://www.aorus.com
The AORUS line from Gigabyte spans a broad range of products—laptops, peripherals, and core components. Across the enthusiast spectrum, the AORUS name denotes Gigabyte’s gaming-focused products. The AORUS motherboard range features a consistent naming scheme that includes the Pro, Elite, Ultra, Master, and Extreme motherboards. Within this line up, the Master serves as the high-end mainstream option offering prime features at a high, but attainable price point.
The Gigabyte Z490I AORUS Ultra features a robust VRM utilizing 90 A power stages, along with Q-Flash for a redundant safety net for ambitious overclocking. The Gigabyte Z490I AORUS Ultra also offers a full-coverage aluminium backplate for added rigidity and additional VRM cooling. This little board should pack a punch, so let’s see how the Gigabyte Z490I AORUS Ultra stacks up against the competition.
