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GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£330
  • Avg. price in US: ~$350
  • CPU socket: LGA 1700
  • Chipset: Intel Z690
  • Form factor: ATX

GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

8.4

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%

8.3

Technical Score

10.0%

9.1

User score

Excellent
8.3

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%

7.8

Memory

16.0%

9.0

Platform & Features

16.0%

8.8

Storage

15.0%

9.2

Network

13.0%

7.6

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.5

Expansion

8.0%

9.1

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.8

Audio

Excellent
9.1

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%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(458)
amazon
4.1
(37)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(144)
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(37)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Exceptional
  • 9.1
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    8.2

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    10

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    10

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    7.5

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    10

    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 Z690 Aorus Ultra is a high-performance ATX motherboard designed for 12th Gen Intel Core processors, featuring a robust 16+1+2 phase direct digital VRM with 105A power stages and an advanced Fins-Array II thermal design for stable overclocking. It supports dual-channel DDR5 memory up to 6200MHz (OC), PCIe 5.0 connectivity for next-gen graphics cards, and offers expansive storage via four NVMe PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots with enlarged thermal guards. Key pros include its exceptional rear I/O with 13 USB ports (including USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C), integrated Wi-Fi 6, 2.5GbE LAN, and high-fidelity ALC4080 audio. However, some users have noted cons such as the lack of PCIe 5.0 support on any of the M.2 slots, the absence of a dedicated rear Clear CMOS button, and reported BIOS stability issues during early 13th Gen transitions.

Technical Specifications of GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra

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%

7.8

Memory

16.0%

9.0

Platform & Features

16.0%

8.8

Storage

15.0%

9.2

Network

13.0%

7.6

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.5

Expansion

8.0%

9.1

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.8

Audio

8.3
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has a technical score of 8.31 points, which is higher than that of 86.8% 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%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(458)
amazon
4.1
(37)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(144)
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(37)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

9.1
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has a user score of 9.13 points, which is higher than that of 85.6% 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.
10
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 79.9% 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%

8.4

Overall score

40.0%

8.8

Price

8.5
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has a quality-to-price ratio of 8.5 points, which is higher than 85.7% 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 1700
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra uses the LGA 1700 CPU socket, which is more advanced than that of 55% of motherboards and equal to that of 22.7% 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 Z690
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra uses the Intel Z690 chipset, which is more advanced than that of 68.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 3.8% 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra 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.
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

DDR5
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra uses DDR5 memory, which is newer than that of 64.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 35.3% 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra supports up to 128 GB of memory, which is more than 40.4% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
requires BIOS update for full capacity
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 Z690 AORUS Ultra 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

6,200 MT/s
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra supports memory speeds up to 6200 MT/s, which is higher than that of 72.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.2% 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

4
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has 4 M.2 sockets, which is more than 84% of motherboards and equal to 10.7% 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

3x PCIe 4.0 x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4/x2/SATA
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra offers 3x PCIe 4.0x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/x2/SATA for M.2 slot interfaces, which is faster than that of 78.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra 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

1
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has 1 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is more than 68.6% of motherboards and equal to 26.6% 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
runs at x4 mode
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 Z690 AORUS Ultra 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/x4
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra uses x16/x4/x4 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is more flexible than that of 85.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.7% 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

yes
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
x8/x8.
Show more
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

13
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has 13 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 98.5% of motherboards and equal to 0.7% 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

?
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

1
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has 1 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 35.4% of motherboards and equal to 48.8% 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

2
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has 2 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 51.8% of motherboards and equal to 32.8% 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

1
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is more than 81.7% of motherboards and equal to 18.1% of motherboards.
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

2.5 Gbps
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra supports LAN speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, which is higher than that of 49.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 41.5% 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 I225-V
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra uses the Intel I225-V LAN controller, which is more advanced than that of 86.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 5.7% 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra 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

yes
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra 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 6 (802.11ax)
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), which is newer than that of 60.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 11.6% 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 ALC4080
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra uses the Realtek ALC4080 audio codec, which is more advanced than that of 90.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.4% 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

2.0
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra offers 2.0 audio channels, which is fewer than 99.4% of motherboards and equal to 0.6% of motherboards.
stereo rear output; surround via S/PDIF.
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

120 dB
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has an audio SNR of 120 dB, which is higher than that of 55% of motherboards and equal to that of 41.5% 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
Smart Headphone Amp.
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

2
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has 2 3.5mm audio jacks, which is fewer than 88.6% of motherboards and equal to 11.1% of motherboards.
also has optical S/PDIF out
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+1+2
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has 16+1+2 VRM phases, which is more than 88.9% of motherboards and equal to 1.4% 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra 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

8
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra 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.
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GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra vs the average motherboard

  • 2 more M.2 sockets
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (4 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.4 vs 2
  • 5 more rear USB ports
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (13 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    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 Z690 AORUS Ultra has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (13 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.13 vs 8
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    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

    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR5 vs DDR4
  • 3 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra 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
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
    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

    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.1 vs 0
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C port/s.
    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

    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C port/s.1 vs 0
  • Newer CPU socket
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 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

    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.LGA 1700 vs LGA 1151
  • More VRM phases
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (16+1+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    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

    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (16+1+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.16+1+2 vs 10
  • Newer CPU socket
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Integrated I/O shield
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Includes onboard power button
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 34.8% higher maximum RAM speed
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has a higher maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (6,200 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 2 more M.2 sockets
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x4/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 5 more rear USB ports
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (13 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 3 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra 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.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C port/s.
  • 2 more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra 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 Gen2 headers
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra 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 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 header/s.
  • 1 more total USB-C connections
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • Better audio codec
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has better audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC4,080 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • 5 dB higher audio SNR
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has a higher audio SNR than the average motherboard (120 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • More VRM phases
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (16+1+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
  • 3 more fan headers
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more fan headers than the average motherboard (8 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • 1 more RGB headers
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 61 mm shorter
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra is shorter than the average motherboard (244 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.

Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (3x PCIe 4.0x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/x2/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 PCIe x1 slots
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
  • 1 fewer HDMI outputs
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer HDMI outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 HDMI outputs.
    other video outputs only
  • Older Bluetooth version
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (5.2 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
  • Fewer audio channels
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer audio channels than the average motherboard (2 vs 7.1). The average motherboard has 7.1 audio channel/s.
    stereo rear output; surround via S/PDIF.
  • 3 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (2 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
    also has optical S/PDIF out
  • No rear microphone input
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra does not have a dedicated rear microphone input, while the average motherboard does. 97.3% of motherboards include a dedicated rear microphone input.
    rear audio uses combo jack
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel Z690 vs Intel B860
  • Fewer audio channels
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer audio channels than the average motherboard (2 vs 7.1). The average motherboard has 7.1 audio channel/s.
    stereo rear output; surround via S/PDIF.
    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

    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer audio channels than the average motherboard (2 vs 7.1). The average motherboard has 7.1 audio channel/s.2.0 vs 7.1
  • 3 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (2 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
    also has optical S/PDIF out
    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

    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (2 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.2 vs 5
  • 2.06x more expensive
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra is more expensive than the average motherboard (£330 vs £160).
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra is more expensive than the average motherboard (£330 vs £160).£330 vs £160
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (3x PCIe 4.0x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/x2/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 Z690 AORUS Ultra has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (3x PCIe 4.0x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/x2/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.3x PCIe 4.0x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/x2/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 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 Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer HDMI outputs
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer HDMI outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 HDMI outputs.
    other video outputs only
    What it is: The number of HDMI outputs on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you plan to use integrated graphics with one or more HDMI displays.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra has fewer HDMI outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 HDMI outputs.0 vs 1
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
458 Reviews
amazon
4.1
37 Reviews
United States
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4.3
144 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
37 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra?

  • Excellent value for a Z690 DDR5 motherboard compared to competitors
  • Robust thermal design with 'Fins-Array II' heatsinks that keep VRMs and M.2 SSDs cool
  • Copious amount of rear I/O connectivity, including 13 total USB ports and a 20Gbps Type-C port
  • Features four M.2 slots for high-speed storage expansion
  • Includes convenient hardware extras like diagnostic LEDs, a power button, and a Q-Flash Plus button for BIOS updates without a CPU
  • Solid 105A power stage VRM design capable of handling high-end Intel i9 processors

What customers dislike about GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Ultra?

  • Reported system instability and PCIe 4.0/5.0 riser cable compatibility issues (largely affecting the Z690I ITX version, leading to a recall/replacement program)
  • Finicky BIOS and reported memory overclocking difficulties with certain DDR5 kits
  • Lack of integrated RGB lighting on the board itself, though headers are provided
  • Physical design quirks, such as using different screw sizes for different M.2 heatsinks and lacking an included screwdriver
  • Slightly higher idle power consumption compared to some peer Z690 boards
  • Limited onboard audio connections (only two analog jacks and SPDIF) compared to high-end alternatives

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