Intel has launched its 14th Technology desktop processors. The “Raptor Lake Refresh” chips do not characterize an all-new structure however a refinement of their thirteenth Gen predecessors, with barely increased increase clock speeds and assist for DDR5-6000 versus DDR5-5600 reminiscence. Motherboard producers are prepared, prepared, and in a position to assist the brand new CPUs—and throwing within the newest Wi-Fi 7 networking whereas they’re at it. That brings us to the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite X Wi-Fi 7, an up to date model of the Aorus Elite Wi-Fi for purchasers who do not wish to fuss with the BIOS flashing course of to improve older motherboards (it is easy, actually). The brand new motherboard is not low-cost at $299.99—Gigabyte has extra inexpensive alternate options such because the Aorus Elite X AX with out Wi-Fi 7—however it’s a full-featured and engaging platform for builders who crave the newest and biggest Intel silicon.
Intel’s 14th Gen and Board Design
As I stated, the brand new processors aren’t radically totally different from the outdated—the flagship Core i9-14900K has the identical variety of cores and threads because the Core i9-13900K, with a max turbo clock of 6.0GHz versus 5.8GHz and a barely bumped base clock. To get probably the most out of the brand new CPUs, you may want ample cooling, as many motherboards take some liberties with default energy targets and lift them to get the higher hand over their rivals. A 360mm AIO works finest for the high-end processors, whereas a few of the inexpensive CPUs within the product stack can get away with a smaller AIO and even air cooling.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)Moreover native assist for 14th Gen chips, the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite X Wi-Fi 7 and different new motherboards boast built-in Wi-Fi 7, a notably quicker protocol with extra channels within the 320MHz vary, although you may want a router and units that assist the brand new spec to see any profit. Most new boards have additionally acquired a mid-gen facelift to set them other than their predecessors. The Gigabyte’s design modifications are engaging however delicate, with a impartial black-on-black aesthetic that ought to match most construct themes.
Just like the earlier model, the motherboard sits on an 8-layer matte black PCB with black heatsinks. The VRMs are cooled by a big heatsink that covers the I/O portion of the board, adorned with the Aorus falcon emblem and branding, just like the chipset and M.2 heatsink masking the decrease portion. The highest M.2 socket options an EZ Latch (just like the chipset/M.2 heatsink under) and appears giant sufficient to maintain PCIe 4.0 modules operating with out throttling. Hidden beneath the underside heatsink is a small RGB LED strip.
CPU and Reminiscence
The Z790 Aorus Elite X Wi-Fi 7 helps Intel’s twelfth, thirteenth, and 14th Technology LGA1700 processors out of the field. The VRMs are comprised of 16 phases devoted to the Vcore (processor) and 90A SPS MOSFETs. The massive heatsinks saved the VRM temperatures inside spec, even throughout long-running multithreaded benchmarks with our flagship-class CPU. The default setting of Gigabyte’s handy Perf Drive one-click overclocking software is “Optimization,” setting all cores to the turbo max clock. On this (and most) settings, you are primarily restricted by the processor cooling technique, since Perf Drive lets it run on the 253W restrict set by Intel. The higher your cooling, the extra these CPUs can stretch their legs.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)Reminiscence assist improves even past the “Raptor Lake Refresh” bump to DDR5-6000, with Gigabyte itemizing speeds as much as DDR5-8266 (OC), the very best for the platform to this point. The value/efficiency candy spot for this platform stays across the DDR5-6400 mark for customers not made of cash. The up to date BIOS presents a plethora of choices to tweak reminiscence timings, appropriate for individuals who wish to squeeze each scrap from their {hardware}. 4 unreinforced DRAM slots assist as much as 192GB of RAM; you most likely wish to take a look at workstation-class programs in case you want greater than that.
Our Kingston Fury Beast DDR5-6000 and Crew Group TForce DDR5-7200 kits labored by merely enabling their XMP profiles. This was the anticipated consequence, contemplating each kits are on Gigabyte’s reminiscence QVL listing and nicely under the DDR5-8266 restrict.
Format and Inner Connectors
Trying on the prime half of the motherboard, within the left nook we spot twin 8-pin EPS connectors (one required) to energy the processor. Surrounding these energy leads is the VRM heatsink. The black ribbed look provides approach to a darkish gray with a “Crew Up, Combat On” mantra under. Subsequent, we see 4 DRAM slots with locking mechanisms on either side.
Above these are the primary two of six 4-pin fan/pump headers. Every header helps PWM and DC-controlled units and outputs as much as 2A/24W, which ought to be loads even when powering a customized water loop. Do not overload these headers, as it could possibly trigger everlasting harm. Management over the hooked up units comes from the BIOS or the Fan Management portion of the Gigabyte Management Middle app.
Subsequent is the primary RGB header, on this case a 3-pin ARGB. You will discover the others, two 4-pin RGB and one other 3-pin ARGB, alongside the underside fringe of the board. The RGB lighting is delicate in comparison with another boards. Management over built-in and hooked up RGB units is dealt with by Gigabyte Management Middle’s RGB Fusion app. It gives loads of canned lighting patterns and lets you customise modes as you want.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)Touring down the proper edge, we first discover the 24-pin ATX connector to energy the board. That is adopted by two USB headers: one 19-pin USB Kind-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) and one USB Kind-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps), each for the entrance panel. Final on this space is the Standing LED function, 4 LEDs (CPU, DRAM, VGA, and Boot) that gentle up throughout the POST course of. If there’s an issue in one in all these areas, the corresponding LED stays lit, providing you with an concept of the place the difficulty is.
Audio, Growth, Storage, and Rear I/O
Within the backside left-hand nook is the audio part. Gigabyte upgraded the codec from the earlier model, going with the Realtek ALC1220. Beneath the chip are WIMA audio caps (pink) and different capacitors (yellow) devoted to audio part. Whereas it does not have a flowery DAC or amplifiers, most customers shall be glad with the up to date audio answer.
In the midst of the board are three full-length PCI Specific slots and 4 M.2 sockets. Beginning with the PCIe slots, the highest slot makes use of Gigabyte’s new PCIe S Slot X, a chunk of steel that surrounds the slot and screws into the board, defending the first graphics slot. I am unsure that is totally mandatory, however it’s one other function that units the Elite X other than the unique. That slot sources lanes from the CPU and runs at as much as PCIe 5.0 x16 speeds. The underside two PCIe slots join by the chipset and run at PCIe 4.0 x4.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)All 4 M.2 sockets on the board assist as much as 110mm modules and peak at PCIe 4.0 x4 speeds. The underside socket, M2M_SB, additionally helps SATA-based modules. I wish to see a PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket, however the 4 PCIe 4.0 x4 sockets ought to be sufficient each in quantity and pace for nearly all customers. One other nice function that makes its approach to all 4 sockets is EZ-Latch Click on with EZ Latch Plus, making securing your SSDs a lot simpler than utilizing tiny screws.
Cruising previous the chipset, alongside the proper fringe of the board are USB4/TB4 headers and the reset and clear CMOS buttons. Between the 2 buttons are six SATA ports supporting RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 modes. In different phrases, this board has each storage choice may you need besides PCIe 5.0.
Alongside the underside fringe of the board are a number of headers. From left to proper, these are front-panel audio, three RGB headers (one 4-pin and two 3-pin), the TPM header, two USB 2.0 headers, the QFlash Plus button, 4 4-pin system fan headers, and the front-panel header.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)Our tour of the format concludes with the rear I/O space. Gigabyte makes use of a preinstalled I/O plate with gentle grey labels on a black background. In whole, there are 10 USB ports round again—4 USB 2.0, three USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps), two USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps), and one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps). That ought to be loads for many customers. Within the center, you may discover the ultra-fast Wi-Fi 7 antenna connections, a 2.5GbE networking port, and DisplayPort and HDMI ports for built-in video. Lastly, the audio stack incorporates two 3.5mm analog plugs and the SPDIF.
A Temporary Have a look at the UEFI BIOS and Utilities
The UEFI BIOS of the brand new Z790 Aorus Elite X Wi-Fi 7 is laid out the identical as different Z790 boards’, however will get a pleasant facelift and alter of colour. You continue to begin with a reconfigured Simple Mode that is primarily informational, itemizing the standing of the CPU, RAM, followers, peripherals, and extra. The colour scheme has modified from Aorus orange to black with blue and purple highlights and white textual content. Alongside the underside are a number of choices you possibly can allow together with reminiscence tweaks and QFlash. It is easy to learn, logically laid out, and pleasing to the attention.
(Credit score: Gigabyte)The superior portion of the BIOS presents an ordinary configuration with main headings throughout the highest, together with Favorites (customizable), Tweaker, Settings, and System Data. You will discover all of the superior performance on this far more complete mode.
(Credit score: Gigabyte)The Tweaker part incorporates all of the choices to fine-tune and overclock your system. Right here you possibly can modify voltages, RAM speeds and timings, and overclocking choices for the CPU.
(Credit score: Gigabyte)Contained in the Settings part are a number of sub-headings the place you possibly can modify platform energy, configure I/O ports, and PC Well being, which reveals system data together with voltages and temperatures. Right here you may discover choices to allow or disable audio and built-in graphics, allow Resizable BAR, and configure USB, NVMe, SATA, audio, and community {hardware}.
(Credit score: Gigabyte)Gigabyte’s UEFI is laid out logically and simple to get round. The Z790 model, just like the X670, gives a full array of tweaks together with overclocking the CPU and RAM. In contrast to different BIOSes, you possibly can’t play with the RGB lighting from right here however should use Home windows and the Gigabyte Management Middle app. Total, the BIOS gives all of the choices you want and our model (F4) proved steady in our time with the board.
On the software program aspect, Gigabyte Management Middle gives Home windows-based monitoring and management over RGB lighting, followers, driver updates, and efficiency/overclocking. It is a light-weight app that matches the black and orange Aorus theme and is straightforward to work with. On startup, it polls the system for software program and driver variations and updates or downloads as wanted (together with your approval). The screenshot under reveals the touchdown web page, all of the {hardware} it could possibly management on our take a look at system, and the capabilities corresponding to fan management and RGB under.
(Credit score: Gigabyte)There are alternatives to manage any RGB lights, followers, and overclocking. The RGB Fusion software program contains eight LED results (Static, Pulse, Flash, DFlash, Cycle, Wave1, Wave2, and Off) and choices to vary results’ brightness and pace.
(Credit score: Gigabyte)For fan management, you get three canned choices (silent, regular, and full pace) plus the flexibility to make guide changes and customized curves. The software program learn all our take a look at system followers, PWM, and DC and managed them with out subject.
(Credit score: Gigabyte)Overclocking the processor and reminiscence through the software program is easy. There are drop-downs to pick out the CPU multiplier (for P and E cores; BCLK is just not obtainable), in addition to reminiscence pace (however not timings) and voltage.
(Credit score: Gigabyte)Verdict: A Strong Choice within the $300 Area
Over the following few weeks, we’ll see a number of up to date Z790 (and B760) boards attain retailer cabinets. Gigabyte’s updates, at the least throughout this and the premium midrange Aorus Grasp board, are vital sufficient to warrant the slight worth enhance, particularly in case you’re averse to BIOS flashing to assist your fancy new 14th Gen CPU. Efficiency utilizing Intel’s new Core i9-14900K wasn’t considerably totally different from that we have seen beforehand with the Core i9-13900K, as cooling is a extra vital limitation than turbo clock pace.
Relating to the competitors, MSI presents the MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX Wi-Fi (additionally $299.99) whereas ASRock counters with the Z790 Nova and Asus with the Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II. Every board has options or aesthetic causes to purchase or skip relying on private choice, however I discover myself gravitating towards this Gigabyte because it packs extra variations from its predecessor at what’s nonetheless an affordable worth level.
(Credit score: Joe Shields)The Z790 motherboard market is frankly overpopulated, however the Gigabyte Aorus Elite X Wi-Fi 7 is a strong new choice. Not solely does it provide native 14th Gen assist and ultra-fast Wi-Fi 7 (which, to be sincere, most customers will not be capable of use), however you get an up to date BIOS, improved audio, EZ Latches on all M.2 sockets, and even some heatsinks to make constructing simpler. If you wish to drop in a 14th Gen CPU with out trouble, this board ought to be in your brief listing.
