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Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Elite (Intel LGA1151/Z390/ATX/2xM.2/Realtek ALC1220/RGB Fusion/Gaming Motherboard)

Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Elite (Intel LGA1151/Z390/ATX/2xM.2/Realtek ALC1220/RGB Fusion/Gaming Motherboard)

Bottom line: The Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Elite: Robust 12+1 phase DrMOS VRM for stable 8th/9th Gen Core overclocking; main trade-off: LGA1151 socket tops out at 9th Gen Core; no 10th Gen+ path.

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Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014, focused on GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. Synthesises community benchmarks, manufacturer specs, and public forum data into actionable buying guides.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Robust 12+1 phase DrMOS VRM for stable 8th/9th Gen Core overclocking
  • ✓ Dual PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe M.2 slots, Intel Optane Memory ready
  • ✓ ALC1220-VB audio with WIMA caps, 114dB rear microphone SNR
  • ✓ RGB Fusion drives addressable and standard RGB LED strips

Cons

  • ✗ LGA1151 socket tops out at 9th Gen Core; no 10th Gen+ path
  • ✗ No onboard Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on this Elite trim
  • ✗ Intel Gigabit LAN only, no 2.5GbE at this price tier
  • ✗ DDR4 non-ECC only across four DIMM slots, no ECC support

Manufacturer description

Supports 9th and 8th Intel Core processors Dual Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs integrated I/O shield Intel Octane Memory Ready 12+1 phases digital VRM solution with DrMOS advanced thermal design with screw mounted heatsinks ALC1220-VB enhance 114dB(Rear)/110dB(Front) SNR in microphone with WIMA audio capacitors Intel Gigabit LAN with cFosSpeed RGB FUSION with Multi-Zone LED light Show design, support addressable LED & RGB LED strips Smart Fan 5 features Multiple Temperature Sensors and Hybrid Fan Headers with FAN STOP front USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C Header dual Ultra-Fast NVMe PCIe Gen3…

SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Elite using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the motherboards category. Compare with similarly-priced alternatives in the motherboards category before committing. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for motherboards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Key Features

  • Supports 9th and 8th Intel Core processors
  • Dual Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
  • Intel Optane Memory Ready
  • 12+1 Phases digital VRM solution with DrMOS
  • Advanced thermal design with screw mounted heatsinks
  • Alc1220-vb enhance 114db(rear)/ 110db(front) SNR in microphone with WIMA Audio Capacitors

Full Specifications

BrandGIGABYTE
PlatformWindows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8.1
CPU ModelCore i9
CPU SocketLGA 1151
Model NameZ390 AORUS ELITE
Chipset TypeIntel Z390
ConnectivityUSB
Model NumberZ390 AORUS ELITE
Built-In Mediamotherboard, users manual
Item Type NameGIGABYTE Z390 AORUS ELITE (Intel LGA1151/Z390/ATX/2xM.2/Realtek ALC1220/RGB Fusion/Motherboard)
Mfr Part NumberZ390 AORUS ELITE
Number of Items1
Number of Ports16
Total Usb Ports8
Processor SocketLGA 1151
Total PCIe Ports5
Total SATA Ports6
Compatible DevicesPersonal Computer, Desktop
Memory Clock Speed4400 MHz
Warranty Description3

Ready to buy?

Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Elite (Intel LGA1151/Z390/ATX/2xM.2/Realtek ALC1220/RGB Fusion/Gaming Motherboard) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

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