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The latest Intel 12th generation Core processors offer impressive performance gains, but harnessing their full potential requires a robust motherboard. While many Z690 motherboards allow for basic operation, only a select few are designed to truly maximize these high-end CPUs. This is due to the increasing power demands of modern processors with higher core counts and clock speeds, necessitating advanced power delivery and cooling solutions. The Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Master aims to address these demands, providing a premium platform for gamers and professionals.

Z690 AORUS Master – Overview

Design and Packaging: A Modern Aesthetic

The Z690 AORUS Master arrives in premium packaging, reflecting its high-end positioning. The redesigned box features a sleek black background and a vibrant, stylized AORUS logo, a departure from the minimalist design of previous generations. The rear of the box highlights key technical specifications, emphasizing support for the cutting-edge PCIe 5.0 standard, a significant leap forward from the previous generation’s PCIe 4.0 and a considerable advantage over competing platforms. This forward-thinking design future-proofs the motherboard, ensuring compatibility with next-generation graphics cards and storage devices while maintaining backward compatibility with existing PCIe 4.0 hardware.

Z690 AORUS Master – Box Rear

Power Delivery and Cooling: Built for High Performance

The Z690 AORUS Master features a robust 19+1+2 direct power design with a 105A capacity, ensuring stable power delivery for sustained boost clocks, even under heavy load. The redesigned heatsinks covering the VRMs are larger and flatter, maximizing surface area for efficient heat dissipation. While the heatsinks are substantial, pairing them with an AIO cooler with a VRM cooling fan is recommended for optimal thermal performance, particularly for extended gaming sessions or demanding workloads.

Z690 AORUS Master – Heatsink Design

Memory Support: Pushing the Limits of DDR5

The Z690 AORUS Master embraces the latest DDR5 memory technology, featuring four reinforced DIMM slots that support overclocked speeds up to 6400MHz. This allows for seamless integration with high-performance memory kits like the T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 6400MHz, enabling users to take full advantage of Intel’s XMP 3.0 overclocking profiles. This high memory speed support places the AORUS Master among the top performers in the current motherboard market.

Z690 AORUS Master – DDR5 Support

Expansion Slots: Ample Space and Reinforced Design

All PCIe slots on the Z690 AORUS Master are reinforced with metal shielding, preventing bending and damage when using large graphics cards like the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Vision OC 10G. Gigabyte has also increased the spacing between the primary PCIe slot and the second slot to 8cm, allowing for ample clearance for dual-GPU configurations or the addition of expansion cards like the AORUS XTREME Gen4 AIC SSD without interference from the graphics card.

Z690 AORUS Master – PCIe Slots and M.2

Storage: Blazing Fast with Multiple M.2 Slots

The Z690 AORUS Master boasts five M.2 slots, four of which utilize the ultra-fast PCIe 4.0 4x interface, and one with PCIe 3.0 4x. This provides ample high-speed storage capacity for even the most demanding users. Each M.2 slot is equipped with double-sided thermal heatsinks to prevent throttling and maintain peak performance during prolonged use.

Z690 AORUS Master – M.2 Heatsinks

Connectivity and Audio: Cutting-Edge Features

For enthusiasts, the Z690 AORUS Master includes onboard power and reset buttons along with a debug LED display, simplifying system diagnostics and overclocking. The audio solution is powered by ESS Tech, featuring a dedicated audio circuit and integrated amplifier, capable of driving even high-impedance headphones. Connectivity options include the latest Wi-Fi 6E, a high-speed 2.5G LAN port, and USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports offering transfer speeds up to 20Gbps, catering to the needs of both gamers and professionals.

Z690 AORUS Master – Debug LED and Power Button

Z690 AORUS Master – Rear IO

Conclusion: A Premium Choice for Demanding Users

The Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Master packs a comprehensive suite of high-end features, including a robust power delivery system, extensive cooling solutions, support for the latest DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0, ample storage options, and cutting-edge connectivity. While it carries a premium price tag, the Z690 AORUS Master offers a compelling platform for users seeking to maximize the performance of their 12th Gen Intel CPUs.