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GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£160
  • Avg. price in US: ~$180
  • CPU socket: LGA 1200
  • Chipset: Intel Z490
  • Form factor: ATX

GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

6.3

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%

6.1

Technical Score

10.0%

7.6

User score

Good
6.1

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%

6.7

Memory

16.0%

7.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

6.0

Storage

15.0%

5.3

Network

13.0%

3.4

Ports & USB

8.0%

4.6

Expansion

8.0%

7.9

Power & Cooling

5.0%

7.5

Audio

Good
7.6

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%

8.8

User reviews

30.0%

4.8

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(83)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(81)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Very good
  • 4.5
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    6.4

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    5.5

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    2.9

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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Best prices in UK

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 Z490 Gaming X is an ATX motherboard designed for 10th and 11th Gen Intel Core processors on the LGA 1200 socket, featuring a robust Direct 11+1 phase digital VRM solution with DrMOS and an enlarged heatsink for stable power delivery. It supports up to 128GB of dual-channel DDR4 memory with XMP speeds reaching 4600MHz+, alongside dual M.2 PCIe Gen3 x4 slots (one with a Thermal Guard), Intel Gigabit LAN with cFosSpeed, and Realtek ALC1200 high-definition audio. Key pros include its high-quality power design for overclocking, Q-Flash Plus for easy BIOS updates without a CPU, and an integrated I/O shield for simplified building. However, potential cons include the lack of built-in Wi-Fi on the standard model, the absence of an optical S/PDIF out port on the rear, and limited PCIe 4.0 functionality that is only fully unlocked with 11th Gen CPUs.

Technical Specifications of GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X

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%

6.7

Memory

16.0%

7.9

Platform & Features

16.0%

6.0

Storage

15.0%

5.3

Network

13.0%

3.4

Ports & USB

8.0%

4.6

Expansion

8.0%

7.9

Power & Cooling

5.0%

7.5

Audio

6.1
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has a technical score of 6.11 points, which is lower than that of 54.6% 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%

8.8

User reviews

30.0%

4.8

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(83)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(81)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

7.6
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has a user score of 7.61 points, which is lower than that of 60.9% 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.
4.8
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has a popularity of 4.8 points, which is higher than 54.5% 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%

6.3

Overall score

40.0%

9.7

Price

7.3
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has a quality-to-price ratio of 7.3 points, which is higher than 46.1% 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 1200
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X uses the LGA 1200 CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 61.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 8.8% 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 Z490
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X uses the Intel Z490 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 56.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.9% 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

ATX
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has the ATX form factor, which is more versatile than that of 47.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 52.2% of motherboards.
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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 Z490 Gaming X 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 Z490 Gaming X 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 Z490 Gaming X supports up to 128 GB of memory, which is more than 40.4% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
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 Z490 Gaming X 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

2,933 MT/s
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X supports memory speeds up to 2933 MT/s, which is lower than that of 75% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.3% of motherboards.
maximum depends on CPU configuration
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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

2
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has 2 M.2 sockets, which is more than 30.8% of motherboards and equal to 34.6% 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

2x PCIe 3.0 x4/SATA
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X offers 2x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA for M.2 slot interfaces, which is slower than that of 67.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 3.8% 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 Z490 Gaming X 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 Z490 Gaming X supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
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 Z490 Gaming X supports NVMe RAID. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
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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 Z490 Gaming X 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 Z490 Gaming X 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

2
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has 2 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 67.4% of motherboards and equal to 15.4% of motherboards.
runs at x4 mode
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/x4/x1/x1/x1
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X uses x16/x4/x1/x1/x1 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is more flexible than that of 83.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.9% of motherboards.
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

?
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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

8
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has 8 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 40.3% of motherboards and equal to 30.7% of motherboards.
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

12
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has 12 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 72.4% of motherboards and equal to 16.6% 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

0
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has 0 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.6% of motherboards and equal to 35.4% of motherboards.
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

0
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has 0 USB-C ports (including headers), which is fewer than 69.6% of motherboards and equal to 30.4% of motherboards.
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 Z490 Gaming X has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
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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

1 Gbps
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.1% of motherboards.
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

Intel I219-V
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X uses the Intel I219-V LAN controller, which is more advanced than that of 41% of motherboards and equal to that of 14.2% of motherboards.
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

1
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has 1 RJ45 ports, which is equal to 85.6% 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

no
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 49.1% 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)

N/A
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 ALC1200
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X uses the Realtek ALC1200 audio codec, which is more advanced than that of 62.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.4% of motherboards.
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 Z490 Gaming X 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

110 dB
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has an audio SNR of 110 dB, which is lower than that of 55.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 5.7% 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

no
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X does not support a headphone amp. 63% of motherboards support this feature.
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

6
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has 6 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 86.6% of motherboards and equal to 13.4% 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

11+1
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has 11+1 VRM phases, which is more than 53.4% of motherboards and equal to 0.1% 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 Z490 Gaming X has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.3% of motherboards.
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

5
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has 5 fan headers, which is more than 35.8% of motherboards and equal to 14.5% 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 Z490 Gaming X 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

0 A
GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X supports up to 0 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 74.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 25.7% of motherboards.
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GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X vs the average motherboard

  • Integrated I/O shield
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X 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 Z490 Gaming X has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 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

    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.2 vs 1
  • 1 more PCIe x4 slots
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more PCIe x4 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe x4 slot/s.
    Physical x4 slot present.
    What it is: The number of PCIe x4 slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you need more mid-bandwidth expansion slots.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more PCIe x4 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe x4 slot/s.1 vs 0
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x4/x1/x1/x1 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane 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

    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x4/x1/x1/x1 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.x16/x4/x1/x1/x1 vs x16/x1
  • 2 more PCIe x1 slots
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe x1 slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want space for smaller add-in cards.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2

    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.3 vs 1
  • 2 more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB4 or Thunderbolt header/s.
    supports Thunderbolt add-in card
    What it is: The number of internal USB4 or Thunderbolt headers on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you plan to add high-speed front USB-C or Thunderbolt connections.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB4 or Thunderbolt header/s.2 vs 0
  • 1 more RGB headers
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
    What it is: The number of 4-pin RGB headers available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to connect more standard RGB lighting devices.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=2

    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.2 vs 1
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (5 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 Z490 Gaming X has more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (5 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.5 vs 4
  • Integrated I/O shield
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • Newer CPU socket
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,200 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • 1 more PCIe x4 slots
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more PCIe x4 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe x4 slot/s.
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x4/x1/x1/x1 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 2 more PCIe x1 slots
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 2 more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB4 or Thunderbolt header/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (5 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • Better audio codec
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has better audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC1,200 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • 1 more 3.5mm audio jacks
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
  • 1 more RGB headers
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • More VRM phases
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (11+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.

Total
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Audio
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z490 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • No debug LED indicators
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.8% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
  • 36.2% lower maximum RAM speed
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (2,933 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
    maximum depends on CPU configuration
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (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.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 3 fewer total USB connections
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (12 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
  • Older HDMI version
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has older HDMI version than the average motherboard (1.4 vs 2.1). The average motherboard supports HDMI 2.1.
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • No headphone amp support
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
  • 5 dB lower audio SNR
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (110 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • No optical S/PDIF out
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.7% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • 2 A lower pump header current limit
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has a lower pump header current than the average motherboard (0 A vs 2 A). The average motherboard provides pump header current of 2 A.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z490 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 Z490 Gaming X has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z490 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel Z490 vs Intel B860
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    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 Z490 Gaming X has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (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 Z490 Gaming X has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (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.2x PCIe 3.0x4/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
    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 Z490 Gaming X has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.0 vs 1
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
    What it is: Shows whether the external Wi-Fi antenna is included with the motherboard package.
    When it matters: When the board has Wi-Fi and you want it ready to use right away.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 3 fewer total USB connections
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (12 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
    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

    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (12 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.12 vs 15
  • No headphone amp support
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
    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

    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
  • No debug LED indicators
    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.8% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes status LEDs that help identify boot or hardware problems.
    When it matters: When you want quicker help finding boot or hardware issues.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.8% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
83 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
81 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X?

  • Competitive pricing for a Z490 motherboard
  • Effective 11+1 phase VRM design for stable power delivery
  • Clean, subtle aesthetic with functional heatsink designs
  • Includes Q-Flash Plus for BIOS updates without a CPU installed
  • Solid selection of features including Dual M.2 slots and RGB Fusion 2.0
  • Future-proof hardware design with potential PCIe 4.0 support for 11th Gen CPUs

What customers dislike about GIGABYTE Z490 Gaming X?

  • BIOS interface is often considered less intuitive than competitors like ASUS or MSI
  • Lacks integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (standard on the AX model)
  • Reports of memory instability when using high-speed XMP profiles with certain CPUs
  • Limited high-speed USB-C connectivity compared to premium boards
  • Third M.2 slot is physically present but 'reserved for future' and unusable on 10th Gen

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