GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme Review | 107 Data compared

Avg. price in UK:~£800Avg. price in US:~$900CPU socket:LGA 1700Chipset:Intel Z690Form factor:E-ATX

GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme Review: Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Motherboards category and whether it is worth buying.

8.6

Overall score

Score
8.6/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

90%

8.8

Technical Score

10%

6.8

User score

â–²Better than 88% of motherboards
8.8

Technical Score

Technical score
8.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Motherboards category across these key areas: Platform & Features, Memory, Storage, Expansion, Ports & USB, Network, Audio, Power & Cooling.
When it matters
When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

19%

8.9

Memory

16%

9.3

Platform & Features

16%

9.3

Storage

15%

9.6

Network

13%

8.1

Ports & USB

8%

6.6

Expansion

8%

9.4

Power & Cooling

5%

7.5

Audio

★Better than 90% of motherboards
6.8

User score

User score
6.8/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

7.4

User reviews

30%

5.3

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.5
(22)
amazon
5.0
(2)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.6
(25)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

â–¼Worse than 92% of motherboards
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Verdict

The Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Xtreme is an enthusiast-grade E-ATX motherboard designed for 12th Gen Intel Core processors, featuring a monstrous 20+1+2 phase digital VRM with 105A power stages for extreme overclocking. Key specifications include support for DDR5 memory up to 6600MHz+, dual PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, four M.2 slots (PCIe 4.0), and cutting-edge connectivity such as dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, 10GbE Aquantia LAN, and Wi-Fi 6E. Main pros include its revolutionary right-angled connector design for clean cable management, advanced Thermal Reactive Armor with NanoCarbon coating, and high-fidelity audio via the bundled ESSential USB HEX DAC. However, its massive E-ATX footprint may limit case compatibility, and the high premium price and proprietary RAM cover—which can interfere with taller RGB memory modules—are notable drawbacks for some users.

Technical Specifications of motherboard GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme

Technical Score
Technical score
8.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Motherboards category across these key areas: Platform & Features, Memory, Storage, Expansion, Ports & USB, Network, Audio, Power & Cooling.
When it matters
When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components:

19%

8.9

Memory

16%

9.3

Platform & Features

16%

9.3

Storage

15%

9.6

Network

13%

8.1

Ports & USB

8%

6.6

Expansion

8%

9.4

Power & Cooling

5%

7.5

Audio

8.8
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme has a technical score of 8.8 points, which is higher than that of 90.1% of products in this category.
User score
User score
6.8/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

7.4

User reviews

30%

5.3

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.5
(22)
amazon
5.0
(2)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.6
(25)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

6.8
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme has a user score of 6.77 points, which is lower than that of 92.5% of products in this category.
Popularity
Popularity
5.3/ 10
✕
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.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Popularity:
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme has a popularity score of 5.3 points, which is lower than that of 59.8% of products in this category.
5.3
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme has a popularity score of 5.3 points, which is lower than that of 59.8% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price
Value for money
7.9/ 10
✕
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 distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components:

60%

8.6

Overall score

40%

6.3

Price

7.9
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme has a value-for-money score of 7.9 points, which is higher than that of 62.2% of products in this category.
Brand name
Gigabyte
CPU socket
LGA 1700
CPU socket
LGA 1700
This motherboard uses the LGA 1700 CPU socket, which is more advanced than that of 55% of motherboards and equal to that of 22.6% of motherboards.
CPU platform
Intel
CPU platform
Intel
This motherboard is built for the Intel CPU platform, which is more versatile than that of 31.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 68.4% of motherboards.
Chipset
Intel Z690
Chipset
Intel Z690
This motherboard 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
E-ATX
Form factor
E-ATX
This motherboard 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
DDR5
DDR memory version
DDR5
This motherboard uses DDR5 memory, which is newer than that of 64.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 35.7% of motherboards.
Memory slots
4
Memory slots
4
This motherboard has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
192 GB
Maximum memory capacity
192 GB
This motherboard supports up to 192 GB of memory, which is more than 72.4% of motherboards and equal to 10.5% of motherboards.
higher limit with high-density DIMMs
Memory channels
2
Memory channels
2
This motherboard supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.6% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
6,600 MT/s
Maximum RAM speed
6,600 MT/s
This motherboard supports memory speeds up to 6,600 MT/s, which is higher than that of 76.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.2% of motherboards.
Show more
N. of M.2 sockets
4
N. of M.2 sockets
4
This motherboard has 4 M.2 sockets, which is more than 84.1% of motherboards and equal to 10.7% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 2x PCIe 4.0 x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4/x2/SATA
M.2 slot interface per slot
1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 2x PCIe 4.0 x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4/x2/SATA
This motherboard offers 1x PCIe 4.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/x2/SATA for M.2 slot interfaces, which is faster than that of 78.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% of motherboards.
N. of SATA 3 connectors
4
N. of SATA 3 connectors
4
This motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 5.6% of motherboards and equal to 46.2% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
0/1/5/10
Supported RAID levels
0/1/5/10
This motherboard supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 32% of motherboards and equal to 68% of motherboards.
JBOD excluded from RAID-level set
NVMe RAID support
yes
NVMe RAID support
yes
This motherboard supports NVMe RAID. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
2
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
2
This motherboard has 2 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is more than 95.2% of motherboards and equal to 4.3% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
0
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
0
This motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 44.5% of motherboards and equal to 55.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
1
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
1
This motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 40.5% of motherboards and equal to 26.8% of motherboards.
runs at x4 mode
PCIe slot electrical configuration
x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4
PCIe slot electrical configuration
x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4
This motherboard uses x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is more flexible than that of 62.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 12.4% of motherboards.
PCIe bifurcation support
yes
PCIe bifurcation support
yes
This motherboard supports PCIe bifurcation. 40.4% of motherboards support this feature.
x8/x8.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
12
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
12
This motherboard has 12 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 92.6% of motherboards and equal to 5.7% of motherboards.
includes USB4 / Thunderbolt ports.
Total USB ports (including headers)
20
Total USB ports (including headers)
20
This motherboard has 20 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 91.3% of motherboards and equal to 2.9% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
2
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
2
This motherboard has 2 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 84.2% of motherboards and equal to 12.3% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
3
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
3
This motherboard has 3 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 84.6% of motherboards and equal to 11% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
0
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
0
This motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is fewer than 18.3% of motherboards and equal to 81.7% of motherboards.
Thunderbolt excluded.
Show more
LAN speed
10 Gbps
LAN speed
10 Gbps
This motherboard 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.
dual 10GbE ports
LAN controller
Marvell AQtion AQC113C + Intel I225-V
LAN controller
Marvell AQtion AQC113C + Intel I225-V
This motherboard uses the Marvell AQtion AQC113C + Intel I225-V LAN controller, which is more advanced than that of 99.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.6% of motherboards.
dual LAN
N. of RJ45 ports
2
N. of RJ45 ports
2
This motherboard has 2 RJ45 ports, which is more than 85.7% of motherboards and equal to 13.4% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
yes
Wi-Fi connectivity
yes
This motherboard supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 50% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Wi-Fi version
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
This motherboard supports Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), which is newer than that of 72.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 16.6% of motherboards.
Show more
Audio codec
?
Audio channels
2
Audio channels
2
This motherboard offers 2 audio channels, which is fewer than 99.4% of motherboards and equal to 0.6% of motherboards.
stereo onboard output; surround needs external audio.
Audio SNR
118 dB
Audio SNR
118 dB
This motherboard has an audio SNR of 118 dB, which is higher than that of 55.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.2% of motherboards.
via ESS DAC.
Headphone amp support
yes
Headphone amp support
yes
This motherboard supports a headphone amp. 40.8% of motherboards support this feature.
Smart Headphone Amp.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
2
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
2
This motherboard has 2 3.5mm audio jacks, which is fewer than 88.6% of motherboards and equal to 11.1% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
20+1+2
VRM phases
20+1+2
This motherboard has 20+1+2 VRM phases, which is more than 96.9% of motherboards and equal to 0.5% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
2
N. of CPU power connectors
2
This motherboard has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.1% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
10
N. of fan headers
10
This motherboard has 10 fan headers, which is more than 97.9% of motherboards and equal to 1.5% of motherboards.
Pump header
yes
Pump header
yes
This motherboard has a pump header. 21.9% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
2 A
Pump header max current
2 A
This motherboard supports up to 2 A on the pump header, which is higher than that of 45.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 32.4% of motherboards.
Show more

GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme vs the average motherboard

246810TotalPlatform & FeaturesMemoryStorageExpansionPorts & USBNetworkAudioPower & Cooling
  • 2 more M.2 sockets
    N. of M.2 sockets
    4
    This motherboard has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    4 vs 2
  • 9 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    N. of USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (USB-A)
    10
    This motherboard has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (10 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
    10 vs 1
  • More advanced LAN controller
    LAN controller
    Marvell AQtion AQC113C + Intel I225-V
    This motherboard has better LAN controller than the average motherboard (Marvell AQtion AQC113C + Intel I225-V vs Killer + Intel + Realtek). The average motherboard uses Killer + Intel + Realtek LAN controller.
    dual LAN
    Marvell AQtion AQC113C + Intel I225-V vs Killer + Intel + Realtek
  • 2 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
    2
    This motherboard has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
    2 vs 0
  • 4 more rear USB ports
    Total USB ports (rear I/O)
    12
    This motherboard has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (12 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    includes USB4 / Thunderbolt ports.
    12 vs 8
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    DDR memory version
    DDR5
    This motherboard has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    DDR5 vs DDR4
  • More VRM phases
    VRM phases
    20+1+2
    This motherboard has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (20+1+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    20+1+2 vs 10
  • Newer CPU socket
    CPU socket
    LGA 1700
    This motherboard has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1700 vs LGA 1151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1151 CPU socket.
    LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151
  • Newer CPU socket
    CPU socket
    LGA 1700
    This motherboard has newer CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1700 vs LGA 1151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1151 CPU socket.
    LGA 1,700 vs LGA 1,151
  • Integrated I/O shield
    Integrated I/O shield
    yes
    This motherboard has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • Includes POST code display
    POST code display
    yes
    This motherboard has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    yes
    This motherboard has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.7% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
    Rear-panel Clear CMOS button.
  • Includes onboard power button
    Onboard power button
    yes
    This motherboard has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    Onboard reset button
    yes
    This motherboard has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    DDR memory version
    DDR5
    This motherboard has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    DDR5 vs DDR4
  • 50% more maximum memory capacity
    Maximum memory capacity
    192 GB
    This motherboard has more maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (192 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    higher limit with high-density DIMMs
    192 GB vs 128 GB
  • Supports ECC memory
    ECC memory support
    yes
    This motherboard supports ECC memory, while the average motherboard does not. 21% of motherboards support ECC memory.
  • 39.4% higher maximum RAM speed
    Maximum RAM speed
    6,600 MT/s
    This motherboard has a higher maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (6600 MT/s vs 4733 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4733 MT/s.
    6,600 MT/s vs 4,733 MT/s
  • 2 more M.2 sockets
    N. of M.2 sockets
    4
    This motherboard has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    4 vs 2
  • 2 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
    2
    This motherboard has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
    2 vs 0
  • 9 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    N. of USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (USB-A)
    10
    This motherboard has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (10 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
    10 vs 1
  • 4 more rear USB ports
    Total USB ports (rear I/O)
    12
    This motherboard has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (12 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
    includes USB4 / Thunderbolt ports.
    12 vs 8
  • 1 more rear USB-C ports
    Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
    2
    This motherboard 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
  • 5 more total USB connections
    Total USB ports (including headers)
    20
    This motherboard has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (20 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
    20 vs 15
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    N. of USB 3.2 Gen1 headers (USB-A)
    2
    This motherboard has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.
    two internal headers
    2 vs 1
  • 2 more total USB-C connections
    Total USB-C ports (including headers)
    3
    This motherboard has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
    3 vs 1
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers
    N. of USB 3.2 Gen2 headers (USB-C)
    1
    This motherboard 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.
    Gen 2x2 Type-C header
    1 vs 0
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers
    N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers (USB-C)
    1
    This motherboard 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 vs 0
  • More advanced LAN controller
    LAN controller
    Marvell AQtion AQC113C + Intel I225-V
    This motherboard has better LAN controller than the average motherboard (Marvell AQtion AQC113C + Intel I225-V vs Killer + Intel + Realtek). The average motherboard uses Killer + Intel + Realtek LAN controller.
    dual LAN
    Marvell AQtion AQC113C + Intel I225-V vs Killer + Intel + Realtek
  • 4x higher LAN speed
    LAN speed
    10 Gbps
    This motherboard 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.
    dual 10GbE ports
    10 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • Newer Wi-Fi standard
    Wi-Fi version
    Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
    This motherboard has newer Wi-Fi standard than the average motherboard (Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average motherboard supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) Wi-Fi.
    Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • Supports Bluetooth
    Bluetooth connectivity
    yes
    This motherboard supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 48.9% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • More VRM phases
    VRM phases
    20+1+2
    This motherboard has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (20+1+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    20+1+2 vs 10
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    N. of CPU power connectors
    2
    This motherboard has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
    2 vs 1
  • 4.5 more fan headers
    N. of fan headers
    10
    This motherboard has more fan headers than the average motherboard (10 vs 5.5). The average motherboard has 5.5 fan header/s.
    10 vs 5.5
  • 1 more RGB headers
    N. of RGB headers (4-pin)
    2
    This motherboard has more RGB headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
    2 vs 1
  • 4 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    N. of USB 3.2 Gen1 ports (USB-A)
    0
    This motherboard has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
    0 vs 4
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    Chipset
    Intel Z690
    This motherboard 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
    Audio channels
    2.0
    This motherboard has fewer audio channels than the average motherboard (2 vs 7.1). The average motherboard has 7.1 audio channel/s.
    stereo onboard output; surround needs external audio.
    2.0 vs 7.1
  • 3 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
    2
    This motherboard 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
  • 5x more expensive
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme is more expensive than the average motherboard (£800 vs £160).
    £800 vs £160
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    N. of DisplayPort outputs
    0
    This motherboard has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer USB 2.0 headers
    N. of USB 2.0 headers (USB-A)
    1
    This motherboard has fewer USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
    1 vs 2
  • No front-panel audio header
    Front-panel audio header
    no
    This motherboard does not have a front-panel audio header, while the average motherboard does. 99.7% of motherboards include a front-panel audio header.
  • 5x more expensive
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme is more expensive than the average motherboard (£800 vs £160).
    £800 vs £160
  • 18.2% lower user score
    User score
    6.8/ 10
    ✕
    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 distribution
    â–¼
    â–¼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme
    the average motherboard
    GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme has a lower user score than the average motherboard (6.77 vs 8.000).
    6.77 vs 8
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    Chipset
    Intel Z690
    This motherboard 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
  • Less versatile form factor
    Form factor
    E-ATX
    This motherboard has less versatile form factor than the average motherboard (E-ATX vs ATX). The average motherboard comes in ATX form factor.
    E-ATX vs ATX
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    M.2 slot interface per slot
    1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 2x PCIe 4.0 x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4/x2/SATA
    This motherboard has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 4x4, 2x PCIe 4x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4x4/x2/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5x4, 2x PCIe 4x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
    1x PCIe 4.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/x2/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    N. of PCIe x1 slots
    0
    This motherboard 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 PCIe x8 slots
    N. of PCIe x8 slots
    1
    This motherboard has fewer PCIe x8 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe x8 slot/s.
    1 vs 0
  • 4 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    N. of USB 3.2 Gen1 ports (USB-A)
    0
    This motherboard has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
    0 vs 4
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    N. of DisplayPort outputs
    0
    This motherboard has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    0 vs 1
  • 1 fewer USB 2.0 headers
    N. of USB 2.0 headers (USB-A)
    1
    This motherboard has fewer USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
    1 vs 2
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    N. of PS/2 ports
    0
    This motherboard 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 HDMI outputs
    N. of HDMI outputs
    0
    This motherboard has fewer HDMI outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 HDMI outputs.
    0 vs 1
  • 2 fewer USB 2.0 ports
    N. of USB 2.0 ports
    0
    This motherboard has fewer USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
    0 vs 2
  • 1 fewer RJ45 ports
    N. of RJ45 ports
    2
    This motherboard has fewer RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
    2 vs 1
  • Older Bluetooth version
    Bluetooth version
    5.2
    This motherboard has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (5.2 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
    5.2 vs 5.4
  • Fewer audio channels
    Audio channels
    2.0
    This motherboard has fewer audio channels than the average motherboard (2 vs 7.1). The average motherboard has 7.1 audio channel/s.
    stereo onboard output; surround needs external audio.
    2.0 vs 7.1
  • 3 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
    2
    This motherboard 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
  • No front-panel audio header
    Front-panel audio header
    no
    This motherboard does not have a front-panel audio header, while the average motherboard does. 99.7% of motherboards include a front-panel audio header.
  • No rear line-out
    Line-out (rear, 3.5mm)
    no
    This motherboard does not have rear line-out, while the average motherboard does. 99.4% of motherboards include rear line-out.
    audio via external USB DAC
  • 41 mm wider
    Width
    285 mm
    This motherboard is wider than the average motherboard (285 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
    285 mm vs 244 mm

Graphic comparison of GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme and other products in the Motherboards category

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Third-party reviews

United States

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme?

  • Premium build quality with a massive, visually stunning design and full-coverage backplate
  • Excellent connectivity options including dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, 10GbE LAN, and WiFi 6E
  • Extremely capable 20+1+2 phase VRM design (105A) providing top-tier power delivery for overclocking
  • Smart layout featuring horizontal connectors that significantly improve cable management and system aesthetics
  • Robust thermal management with a heavy-duty heatsink array and NanoCarbon baseplate
  • Generous storage potential with four PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots

What customers dislike about GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme?

  • Extremely high price point that makes it hard to justify for anyone but the most hardcore enthusiasts
  • Frequent reports of early BIOS stability issues, particularly regarding M.2 drive recognition and XMP memory profiles
  • Memory armor/cover can be restrictive, often not fitting taller high-performance DDR5 kits or those with RGB
  • Large EATX form factor may cause compatibility issues with many standard mid-tower cases
  • Lack of integrated front-panel HD audio connector, requiring users to rely on the included external USB DAC
  • Over-volted 'out-of-the-box' settings can lead to higher temperatures unless manually tuned in the UEFI

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Compare GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme with other products in the Motherboards category

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