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GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£260
  • Avg. price in US: ~$290
  • CPU socket: LGA 1700
  • Chipset: Intel Z690
  • Form factor: Mini-ITX

GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

6.5

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%

6.6

Technical Score

10.0%

5.7

User score

Good
6.6

Technical Score

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

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

Score components:

19.0%

4.0

Memory

16.0%

8.6

Platform & Features

16.0%

6.2

Storage

15.0%

9.3

Network

13.0%

5.9

Ports & USB

8.0%

4.5

Expansion

8.0%

6.3

Power & Cooling

5.0%

9.3

Audio

Good
5.7

User score

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

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

Score components:

70.0%

6.2

User reviews

30.0%

4.5

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.2
(56)
amazon
1.9
(9)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.3
(61)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Good
  • 6.9
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    6.6

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    5.5

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    10

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    3.3

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    10

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • gigabyte-z690i-aorus-ultra-ddr4
gigabyte-z690i-aorus-ultra-ddr4

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

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

Verdict

The Gigabyte Z690I Aorus Ultra DDR4 is a high-performance Mini-ITX motherboard designed for 12th and 13th Gen Intel Core processors, featuring a robust direct 10+2+1 phase VRM with 105A power stages and support for dual-channel DDR4 memory up to 5333MHz (OC). Key characteristics include a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, dual NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots with advanced Thermal Guard III cooling, and high-speed connectivity via Intel 2.5GbE LAN and Wi-Fi 6. Its primary pros are its exceptional power delivery for overclocking in a compact form factor, premium ALC4080 audio, and comprehensive thermal management using Fins-Array II and a 10-layer PCB. However, significant cons include reported PCIe Gen 4 instability issues often requiring a manual downshift to Gen 3 (which led to a manufacturer recall/replacement program), a lack of post-debug LEDs for troubleshooting, and potential coil whine in some units.

Technical Specifications of GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4

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%

4.0

Memory

16.0%

8.6

Platform & Features

16.0%

6.2

Storage

15.0%

9.3

Network

13.0%

5.9

Ports & USB

8.0%

4.5

Expansion

8.0%

6.3

Power & Cooling

5.0%

9.3

Audio

6.6
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has a technical score of 6.61 points, which is higher than that of 55.2% of products in this category.
User score

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

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

Score components:

70.0%

6.2

User reviews

30.0%

4.5

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.2
(56)
amazon
1.9
(9)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.3
(61)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

5.7
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has a user score of 5.71 points, which is lower than that of 96.5% 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.
4.5
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has a popularity of 4.5 points, which is higher than 52.3% 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%

6.5

Overall score

40.0%

9.2

Price

7.3
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 1700
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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

Mini-ITX
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has the Mini-ITX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 84.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 7.3% 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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

2
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has 2 Memory slots, which is fewer than 78.6% of motherboards and equal to 21.4% 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

64 GB
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 supports up to 64 GB of memory, which is less than 62.6% of motherboards and equal to 24.3% 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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

3,200 MT/s
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 supports memory speeds up to 3200 MT/s, which is lower than that of 62.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.9% 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

2
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 4.0 x4
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 offers 2x PCIe 4.0x4 for M.2 slot interfaces, which is faster than that of 56.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 5.2% 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

4
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has 4 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 5.6% of motherboards and equal to 46.3% 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
JBOD excluded from RAID-level set
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

yes
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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

1
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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

0
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has 0 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 59.5% of motherboards and equal to 40.5% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

x16
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 uses x16 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is less flexible than that of 86.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 9.3% 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
x8/x8.
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Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

8
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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

15
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has 15 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 48.3% of motherboards and equal to 13.5% 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

1
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is more than 81.7% of motherboards and equal to 18.1% 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

2.5 Gbps
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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

?
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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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

7.1
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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

120 dB
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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

3
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has 3 3.5mm audio jacks, which is fewer than 50.3% of motherboards and equal to 38.2% 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

10+2+1
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has 10+2+1 VRM phases, which is more than 58.2% of motherboards and equal to 0.8% 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

1
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has 1 CPU power connectors, which is equal to 54.5% 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

4
GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has 4 fan headers, which is fewer than 64.3% of motherboards and equal to 12.3% 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 vs the average motherboard

  • 2 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (3 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.3 vs 1
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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
  • Integrated I/O shield
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • Better audio codec
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has better audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC4,080 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 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

    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has better audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC4,080 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.Realtek ALC4080 vs Realtek ALC898
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support 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

    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes built-in Bluetooth for wireless peripherals and accessories.
    When it matters: When you want to connect wireless peripherals without an adapter.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • Newer CPU socket
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has an integrated I/O shield, while the average motherboard does not. 46.1% of motherboards include an integrated I/O shield.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
  • 2 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 USB-C ports
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 total USB-C connections
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • Better audio codec
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has a higher audio SNR than the average motherboard (120 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • 135 mm shorter
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 is shorter than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
  • More VRM phases
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (10+2+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 74 mm narrower
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 is narrower than the average motherboard (170 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.

Total
Platform & Features
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • No TPM connector
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 does not have a TPM connector, while the average motherboard does. 86.7% of motherboards include a TPM connector.
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
  • 50% less maximum memory capacity
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • 30.4% lower maximum RAM speed
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (3,200 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4 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.
  • No multi-GPU support
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
    Single PCIe x16 slot only.
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • Less flexible PCIe lane configuration
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has less flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 1 fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
  • 2 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • 1 fewer USB 2.0 headers
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
  • Older Bluetooth version
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (5.2 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
  • 2 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • No optical S/PDIF out
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.7% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • No rear line-in
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 does not have rear line-in, while the average motherboard does. 95.5% of motherboards include rear line-in.
  • 1 fewer ARGB headers
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
    proprietary addressable header; adapter may be required
  • 1 fewer fan headers
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (4 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • 2 fewer memory slots
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.
    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

    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer memory slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 memory slot/s.2 vs 4
  • 50% less maximum memory capacity
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    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

    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.64 GB vs 128 GB
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has slower M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (2x PCIe 4.0x4 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 4.0x4 vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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 Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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
  • No multi-GPU support
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
    Single PCIe x16 slot only.
    What it is: Shows whether the board can run more than one graphics card in a supported multi-GPU configuration.
    When it matters: When you plan to run more than one graphics card.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
  • 2 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more standard USB ports with faster transfer speeds.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=4

    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.2 vs 4
  • 1 fewer USB 2.0 headers
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
    What it is: The number of internal USB 2.0 headers available for case connections.
    When it matters: When your case or accessories need internal USB connections.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 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
  • 2 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 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

    GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4 has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (3 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.3 vs 5
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
3.2
56 Reviews
amazon
1.9
9 Reviews
United States
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3.3
61 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4?

  • One of the few Z690 Mini-ITX boards with DDR4 support, saving users from the 'DDR5 tax'.
  • Robust 10+2+1 phase VRM with a real finned heatsink for efficient cooling.
  • Comprehensive connectivity for its size, including 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6, and multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports.
  • Support for dual PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives despite the small form factor.
  • Premium audio experience provided by the Realtek ALC4080 codec.
  • Competitive pricing compared to high-end ITX alternatives from ASUS and MSI.

What customers dislike about GIGABYTE Z690I AORUS Ultra DDR4?

  • Major stability issues reported with PCIe 4.0/5.0 signals, leading to a massive recall and rebranding as 'Lite' (limited to PCIe 3.0).
  • Frequent WHEA (Windows Hardware Error Architecture) errors and system crashes under load.
  • Tall VRM and M.2 heatsinks cause significant compatibility issues with many popular CPU air coolers and AIOs.
  • Poor memory overclocking stability, with some users unable to post at XMP speeds above 3600MHz.
  • Noticeable coil whine reported by numerous users under certain load conditions.
  • Longer than average boot times and a verbose BIOS startup process.

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