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GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£920
  • Avg. price in US: ~$900
  • CPU socket: LGA 1151
  • Chipset: Intel Z390
  • Form factor: E-ATX

GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

7.4

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

7.6

Technical Score

10.0%

5.8

User score

Very good
7.6

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

6.9

Memory

16.0%

9.0

Platform & Features

16.0%

7.3

Storage

15.0%

8.9

Network

13.0%

7.3

Ports & USB

8.0%

4.1

Expansion

8.0%

7.9

Power & Cooling

5.0%

9.3

Audio

Very good
5.8

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

6.9

User reviews

30.0%

3.2

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.6
(21)
amazon
3.2
(10)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.6
(21)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Good
  • 6.6
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    7.6

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    7.8

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    10

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    4.9

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Xtreme Waterforce is a flagship E-ATX motherboard designed for 8th and 9th Gen Intel processors, distinguished by its massive all-in-one monoblock that liquid-cools the CPU, 16-phase digital VRM, and Z390 chipset. It boasts elite connectivity including dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, Aquantia 10GbE LAN, and Intel 802.11ac Wi-Fi, alongside a high-fidelity ESS SABRE 9018K2M DAC for premium audio. Key pros include exceptional thermal management for extreme overclocking, a robust power delivery system, and extensive RGB customization via RGB Fusion 2.0. However, its primary drawbacks are the extremely high price point, large E-ATX footprint that limits case compatibility, and the necessity of a custom liquid cooling loop for operation.

Technical Specifications of GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

6.9

Memory

16.0%

9.0

Platform & Features

16.0%

7.3

Storage

15.0%

8.9

Network

13.0%

7.3

Ports & USB

8.0%

4.1

Expansion

8.0%

7.9

Power & Cooling

5.0%

9.3

Audio

7.6
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a technical score of 7.62 points, which is higher than that of 74.3% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

6.9

User reviews

30.0%

3.2

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.6
(21)
amazon
3.2
(10)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.6
(21)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

5.8
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a user score of 5.81 points, which is lower than that of 95.9% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
3.2
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a popularity of 3.2 points, which is lower than 57.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

7.4

Overall score

40.0%

5.7

Price

6.9
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.9 points, which is lower than 66.6% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

Gigabyte
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

LGA 1151
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce uses the LGA 1151 CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 70.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 13.8% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

Intel Z390
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce uses the Intel Z390 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 60.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.1% of motherboards.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

E-ATX
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has the E-ATX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 92% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.8% of motherboards.
Show more
DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR4
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce uses DDR4 memory, which is newer than that of 13.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 51% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

4
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

128 GB
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce supports up to 128 GB of memory, which is more than 40.4% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
capacity depends on supported CPU
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

4,400 MT/s
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce supports memory speeds up to 4400 MT/s, which is lower than that of 51.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 3% of motherboards.
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N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

3
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 3 M.2 sockets, which is more than 65.4% of motherboards and equal to 18.6% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

1x PCIe 3.0 x4, 2x PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce offers 1x PCIe 3.0x4, 2x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA for M.2 slot interfaces, which is slower than that of 55.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.3% of motherboards.
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

6
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 6 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 52.6% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
JBOD excluded from RAID-level set
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

yes
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce supports NVMe RAID. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

3
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 3 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 82.8% of motherboards and equal to 11.1% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

x16/x8/x4
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce uses x16/x8/x4 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is more flexible than that of 88.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.2% of motherboards.
Depends on slot/M.2 population.
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
x8/x8.
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Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

10
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 10 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 75.6% of motherboards and equal to 15.7% of motherboards.
includes USB4 / Thunderbolt ports.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

17
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 17 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 72.1% of motherboards and equal to 10.8% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

2
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 2 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 84.3% of motherboards and equal to 12.3% of motherboards.
Thunderbolt / USB4 Type-C ports counted.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

3
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 3 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 84.6% of motherboards and equal to 11.1% of motherboards.
includes internal USB-C header.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
Thunderbolt excluded.
Show more
LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

10 Gbps
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce supports LAN speeds up to 10 Gbps, which is higher than that of 95.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 4.2% of motherboards.
also includes 1GbE secondary port
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

?
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

2
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 2 RJ45 ports, which is more than 85.6% of motherboards and equal to 13.5% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.9% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), which is newer than that of 49.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.7% of motherboards.
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek ALC1220-VB
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce uses the Realtek ALC1220-VB audio codec, which is more advanced than that of 80% of motherboards and equal to that of 4% of motherboards.
with ESS DAC.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

127 dB
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has an audio SNR of 127 dB, which is higher than that of 97.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.3% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

yes
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
headphone amp on front panel.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

5
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 5 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 49.8% of motherboards and equal to 36.8% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

16
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 16 VRM phases, which is more than 78.4% of motherboards and equal to 3.2% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

2
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.3% of motherboards.
Dual 8-pin CPU power.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

8
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has 8 fan headers, which is more than 82.3% of motherboards and equal to 15.2% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a pump header. 23.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

2 A
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce supports up to 2 A on the pump header, which is higher than that of 43.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 33.4% of motherboards.
Show more

GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce vs the average motherboard

  • 3 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster USB-A ports for storage or accessories.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.4 vs 1
  • 2 more rear USB ports
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (10 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    includes USB4 / Thunderbolt ports.
    What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=8

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (10 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.10 vs 8
  • 1 more M.2 sockets
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.3 vs 2
  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
    What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.2 vs 1
  • 4x higher LAN speed
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a higher LAN speed than the average motherboard (10 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    also includes 1GbE secondary port
    What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 2.5GbE

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a higher LAN speed than the average motherboard (10 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.10 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • 1 more rear USB-C ports
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
    Thunderbolt / USB4 Type-C ports counted.
    What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=1

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.2 vs 1
  • Integrated I/O shield
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
    What it is: Shows whether the rear I/O shield comes pre-mounted on the motherboard instead of being installed separately.
    When it matters: When you want an easier motherboard installation process.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • Includes POST code display
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
    What it is: Shows whether the board includes a diagnostic POST code readout for boot troubleshooting.
    When it matters: When you troubleshoot boot issues and want clearer error information.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Integrated I/O shield
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • Includes POST code display
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • Includes onboard power button
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • 1 more M.2 sockets
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x8/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 2 more PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
  • 3 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • 2 more rear USB ports
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (10 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 1 more rear USB-C ports
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 2 more total USB-C connections
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 2 more total USB connections
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (17 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 header/s.
  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
  • 4x higher LAN speed
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a higher LAN speed than the average motherboard (10 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • 12 dB higher audio SNR
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a higher audio SNR than the average motherboard (127 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
  • More VRM phases
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (16 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 3 more fan headers
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more fan headers than the average motherboard (8 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • 1 more RGB headers
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.

Total
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z390 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4, 2x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
  • 2 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
  • Older HDMI version
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has older HDMI version than the average motherboard (1.4 vs 2.1). The average motherboard supports HDMI 2.1.
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
  • Older Bluetooth version
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (5 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
  • More basic chipset cooling
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more basic chipset cooling than the average motherboard (liquid vs Passive). The average motherboard uses Passive chipset cooling.
    integrated monoblock
  • 61 mm wider
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce is wider than the average motherboard (305 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z390 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z390 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel Z390 vs Intel B860
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4, 2x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
    What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

    Importance: HIGH

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 3.0x4, 2x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.1x PCIe 3.0x4, 2x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • More basic chipset cooling
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more basic chipset cooling than the average motherboard (liquid vs Passive). The average motherboard uses Passive chipset cooling.
    integrated monoblock
    What it is: The cooling method used for the motherboard chipset, such as passive or active cooling.
    When it matters: When chipset noise or thermal behavior matters to you.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has more basic chipset cooling than the average motherboard (liquid vs Passive). The average motherboard uses Passive chipset cooling.liquid vs Passive
  • 2 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more standard USB ports with faster transfer speeds.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=4

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.2 vs 4
  • 5.75x more expensive
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce is more expensive than the average motherboard (£920 vs £160).
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce is more expensive than the average motherboard (£920 vs £160).£920 vs £160
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    What it is: The number of DisplayPort video outputs on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to connect compatible displays through the rear I/O.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=1

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.0 vs 1
  • 37.7% lower user score
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a lower user score than the average motherboard (5.81 vs 8.000).
    What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has a lower user score than the average motherboard (5.81 vs 8.000).5.81 vs 8
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
    What it is: The number of PS/2 ports on the motherboard rear I/O.
    When it matters: When you want support for older keyboards or mice.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.0 vs 1
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Storage
Ports & USB
Network
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
3.6
21 Reviews
amazon
3.2
10 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.6
21 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce?

  • Exceptional thermal performance with an AIO monoblock covering the CPU, VRM, and chipset
  • Robust 16-phase digital VRM design highly capable of extreme overclocking
  • High-end connectivity features including dual Thunderbolt 3 ports and 10GbE LAN
  • Advanced leak detection sensors that automatically shut down the system if coolant is detected
  • Extensive and customizable RGB lighting through the included RGB Fan Commander
  • Excellent onboard audio quality utilizing an ESS SABRE DAC

What customers dislike about GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme Waterforce?

  • Extremely high price point that is difficult for most users to justify
  • Installation can be frustrating due to an 'unbearably short' RGB cable on the monoblock
  • Requires a custom water cooling loop, making it unusable with standard air or AIO coolers
  • Large E-ATX form factor may not fit in standard mid-tower cases
  • Lack of a PLX chip limits the number of available PCIe lanes for multi-GPU setups
  • Memory overclocking configuration can be finicky compared to some competitors

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