[Hardware] Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro

[Mr.ShoK]

link: https://www.pcgamer.com/best-gaming-motherboards/

SPECIFICATIONS
CPU support: Intel 12th GenSocket: LGA 1700Size: ATXMemory support: 4x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR5-6400 (OC)Expansion slots: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 2x PCIe 4.0 x16 (running at x4)Video ports: 1x DisplayPort 1.4USB: Up to 2x USB 3.2 Gen2x2, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 6x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 8x USB 2.0Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA 6GbpsNetwork: Intel Wi-Fi 6; Intel i225V 2.5G LAN

 

REASONS TO BUY
+Four M.2 slots
+13 rear USB ports
+Strong VRM
REASONS TO AVOID
-Lots of grey metal might not blend into your build
-WiFi 6 only
It was almost inevitable that the top-end chipset for Intel's next-gen Alder Lake CPUs would end up being super-expensive. That is compounded by the premium attached to anything which mentions DDR5, but Gigabyte's Z690 Aorus Pro is almost bucking that trend by offering a rounded feature set along with DDR5 support. Sure, in the last CPU generation $300+ was seen as high-end, but for the 12th Gen platform that's positively mid-range.

There are cheaper DDR4 boards around—Gigabyte also makes an Aorus Pro in DDR4 flavor, too, though that's not sold in the US or EU—but if you want to get the absolute most out of the new Intel platform you want DDR5. Well, when you can actually buy some anyway...

Gigabyte has been smart about the way it's specced out the Aorus Pro. By limiting it to 'just' Wi-Fi 6 wireless and 2.5G Intel wired networking connections, and eschewing such unnecessary luxuries as Thunderbolt 4 or another M.2 slot, it has managed to keep the price at least relatively sensible.

And it's a great performer, too, delivering system and gaming performance easily on par with the far more expensive boards we've also tested. The BIOS is maturing regularly as well, which makes us completely confident in recommending the Gigabyte board as our pick of the Z690 bunch.