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GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£140
  • Avg. price in US: ~$150
  • CPU socket: LGA 1700
  • Chipset: Intel Z690
  • Form factor: microATX

GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

6.0

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%

5.9

Technical Score

10.0%

7.2

User score

Good
5.9

Technical Score

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

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

Score components:

19.0%

6.8

Memory

16.0%

7.7

Platform & Features

16.0%

6.2

Storage

15.0%

7.3

Network

13.0%

2.8

Ports & USB

8.0%

2.8

Expansion

8.0%

5.7

Power & Cooling

5.0%

5.4

Audio

Good
7.2

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%

9.2

User reviews

30.0%

2.5

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
(18)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(18)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Very good
  • 5.2
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    5.4

    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%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

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

Verdict

The Gigabyte Z690M DS3H DDR4 is a budget-friendly Micro-ATX motherboard built on the Intel Z690 chipset, supporting 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen Intel Core processors via the LGA 1700 socket. Key specifications include four DDR4 DIMM slots supporting up to 128GB at overclocked speeds of 5333MHz, dual PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots with a Thermal Guard, and a 6+2+1 phase hybrid digital VRM design. Notable pros include its 2.5 GbE LAN for fast networking, Q-Flash Plus for BIOS updates without a CPU, and diverse video outputs including HDMI, two DisplayPorts, and VGA. However, its primary cons are its entry-level VRM which may lead to thermal throttling under heavy sustained loads with high-end i7/i9 CPUs, the lack of integrated Wi-Fi, and limited expansion space typical of the Micro-ATX form factor.

Technical Specifications of GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H 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%

6.8

Memory

16.0%

7.7

Platform & Features

16.0%

6.2

Storage

15.0%

7.3

Network

13.0%

2.8

Ports & USB

8.0%

2.8

Expansion

8.0%

5.7

Power & Cooling

5.0%

5.4

Audio

5.9
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has a technical score of 5.91 points, which is lower than that of 58.9% 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%

9.2

User reviews

30.0%

2.5

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
(18)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(18)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

7.2
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has a user score of 7.2 points, which is lower than that of 72.3% 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.
2.5
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has a popularity of 2.5 points, which is lower than 64.5% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

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

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

Score components:

60.0%

6.0

Overall score

40.0%

9.8

Price

7.2
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has a quality-to-price ratio of 7.2 points, which is lower than 54% 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 Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H 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

microATX
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has the microATX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 52.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 32.4% 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 Z690M DS3H 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

4
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 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 Z690M DS3H DDR4 supports up to 128 GB of memory, which is more than 40.4% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H DDR4 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 Z690M DS3H DDR4 supports NVMe RAID. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
Intel VMD support
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N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

1
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has 1 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is more than 55.6% of motherboards and equal to 35.3% 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 Z690M DS3H 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/x1/x1
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 uses x16/x1/x1 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is less flexible than that of 61.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 8% 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

no
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not support PCIe bifurcation. 61% of motherboards support this feature.
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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

6
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has 6 USB ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.2% of motherboards and equal to 32.9% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

12
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has 12 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 72.4% of motherboards and equal to 16.6% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

1
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H 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

1
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has 1 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 30.5% of motherboards and equal to 21.3% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
10Gbps excluded.
Show more
LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

2.5 Gbps
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H 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

no
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 49.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

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

N/A
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek ALC897
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 uses the Realtek ALC897 audio codec, which is less advanced than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 29.3% 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 Z690M DS3H 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

90 dB
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has an audio SNR of 90 dB, which is lower than that of 94.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 3.6% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

no
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not support a headphone amp. 63% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

3
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H 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

6+2+1
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has 6+2+1 VRM phases, which is fewer than 69.1% of motherboards and equal to 2% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

1
GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H DDR4 vs the average motherboard

  • Newer CPU socket
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H 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
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster rear USB-C connectivity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=1

    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.1 vs 0
  • 1 more PCIe 4.0x16 slots
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more PCIe 4.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slot/s.
    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

    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more PCIe 4.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slot/s.1 vs 0
  • Includes VGA connector
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
    What it is: Shows whether the rear I/O includes an analog VGA display output.
    When it matters: When you need compatibility with older displays or projectors.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
    Onboard reset button.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a built-in reset button on the PCB itself.
    When it matters: When you test or troubleshoot the board outside a case.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 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 Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.2 vs 1
  • 61 mm shorter
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 is shorter than the average motherboard (244 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.
    What it is: The physical height of the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you check case fit or compare board size.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 is shorter than the average motherboard (244 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.244 mm vs 305 mm
  • 1 more DisplayPort outputs
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
    What it is: The number of DisplayPort video outputs on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want to connect compatible displays through the rear I/O.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=1

    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.2 vs 1
  • Newer CPU socket
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H 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.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • 1 more PCIe 4.0x16 slots
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more PCIe 4.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port/s.
  • Includes VGA connector
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has a VGA connector, while the average motherboard does not. 22% of motherboards include a VGA connector.
  • 1 more DisplayPort outputs
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
  • 61 mm shorter
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 is shorter than the average motherboard (244 mm vs 305 mm). The average motherboard height is 305 mm.

Total
Platform & Features
Expansion
Ports & USB
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z690 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • No debug LED indicators
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.8% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
  • Less versatile form factor
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has less versatile form factor than the average motherboard (microATX vs ATX). The average motherboard comes in ATX form factor.
  • 30.4% lower maximum RAM speed
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H 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 PCIe bifurcation support
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • No multi-GPU support
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
  • 1 fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H 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 rear USB ports
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 3 fewer total USB connections
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (12 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (3 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 25 dB lower audio SNR
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (90 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • No headphone amp support
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
  • More basic audio codec
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC897 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • 2 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.7% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (6+2+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 1 fewer ARGB headers
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • 1 fewer fan headers
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has fewer fan headers than the average motherboard (4 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • 2 fewer rear USB ports
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 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 Z690M DS3H DDR4 has fewer rear USB ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.6 vs 8
  • Slower M.2 slot interfaces
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H 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
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
    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

    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
    What it is: Shows whether the external Wi-Fi antenna is included with the motherboard package.
    When it matters: When the board has Wi-Fi and you want it ready to use right away.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 25 dB lower audio SNR
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (90 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
    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

    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (90 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.90 dB vs 115 dB
  • 3 fewer total USB connections
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (12 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
    What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
    When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=14

    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (12 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.12 vs 15
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H 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 Z690M DS3H 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
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (0 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 Z690M DS3H DDR4 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.0 vs 1
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
18 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
18 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4?

  • Competitive pricing; significantly cheaper than most other Z690 motherboards
  • Supports DDR4 memory, allowing users to save money by reusing older RAM or buying cheaper kits
  • Features dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for high-speed storage
  • Includes 2.5 GbE LAN for faster networking speeds compared to standard 1GbE
  • Q-Flash Plus allows for easy BIOS updates without needing to install a CPU or RAM
  • Equipped with a rear USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port for fast connectivity

What customers dislike about GIGABYTE Z690M DS3H DDR4?

  • Subpar VRM design (6+2+1 phases) may struggle or throttle with high-end CPUs like the i9-12900K
  • Lacks PCIe 5.0 support, which is a common feature on many other Z690 boards
  • Weak thermal management; limited heatsinks on the power delivery system
  • Micro-ATX form factor and lower-end power delivery system make it Gigabyte's 'bottom of the barrel' Z690 option
  • Poor placement of SATA ports; larger graphics cards can block access to some ports
  • Lacks built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the standard model

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