GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice Review | 107 Data compared
OVERALL
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
ALTERNATIVES

GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice Review | 107 Data compared

double-arrow
  • Avg. price in UK: ~£1,330
  • Avg. price in US: ~$1,310
  • CPU socket: LGA 1700
  • Chipset: Intel Z790
  • Form factor: E-ATX

GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Motherboards category and whether it is worth buying.

9.0

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%

9.2

Technical Score

10.0%

7.6

User score

Exceptional
9.2

Technical Score

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 components:

19.0%

9.6

Memory

16.0%

9.4

Platform & Features

16.0%

9.7

Storage

15.0%

9.8

Network

13.0%

8.3

Ports & USB

8.0%

6.8

Expansion

8.0%

9.3

Power & Cooling

5.0%

9.0

Audio

Exceptional
7.6

User score

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

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

Score components:

70.0%

10

User reviews

30.0%

1.9

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
5.0
(1)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Very good
  • 9.1
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    9.7

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    10

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    10

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    5.5

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    10

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme-x-ice
  • gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme-x-ice
  • gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme-x-ice
  • gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme-x-ice
  • gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme-x-ice
  • gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme-x-ice
gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme-x-ice
gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme-x-ice
gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme-x-ice
gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme-x-ice
gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme-x-ice
gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme-x-ice

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 Z790 Aorus Xtreme X Ice is an ultra-premium, limited-edition E-ATX motherboard featuring a gold-plated LGA 1700 socket, a unique crystallized titanium finish, and an exclusive serial plaque. Designed for extreme performance, it boasts a 24+1+2 phase digital VRM for Intel 14th Gen CPUs, supports DDR5 memory speeds up to 8266MHz, and includes five M.2 slots with a massive Gen5 Thermal Guard Xtreme heatsink. Key pros include its high-end networking (10GbE + 2.5GbE LAN and Wi-Fi 7), dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a built-in LCD Edge View screen for real-time monitoring. However, its main cons are the extremely high price tag, the massive size that may limit case compatibility, and its restricted availability as part of a limited 300-unit bundle.

Technical Specifications of motherboard GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice

Technical Score

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 components:

19.0%

9.6

Memory

16.0%

9.4

Platform & Features

16.0%

9.7

Storage

15.0%

9.8

Network

13.0%

8.3

Ports & USB

8.0%

6.8

Expansion

8.0%

9.3

Power & Cooling

5.0%

9.0

Audio

9.2
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has a technical score of 9.16 points, which is higher than that of 95.2% 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%

10

User reviews

30.0%

1.9

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
5.0
(1)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

7.6
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has a user score of 7.57 points, which is lower than that of 78.3% 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.
1.9
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has a popularity of 1.9 points, which is lower than 77.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

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

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

Score components:

60.0%

9.0

Overall score

40.0%

3.5

Price

7.3
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has a quality-to-price ratio of 7.3 points, which is lower than 52.7% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: LOW

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 Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice uses the LGA 1,700 CPU socket, which is more advanced than that of 55% of motherboards and equal to that of 22.6% of motherboards.
CPU platform
What it is: The processor platform supported by the motherboard, indicating compatibility with Intel or AMD processors.
When it matters: When choosing a motherboard to match your chosen processor brand (Intel or AMD).

Importance: LOW

Good value: Intel

Intel
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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
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 Z790
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice uses the Intel Z790 chipset, which is more advanced than that of 77.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.5% 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: LOW

E-ATX
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR5
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice uses DDR5 memory, which is newer than that of 64.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 35.7% 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: MEDIUM

Good value: >=4

4
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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

256 GB
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice supports up to 256 GB of memory, which is more than 82.9% of motherboards and equal to 16.4% of motherboards.
higher limit with high-density DIMMs
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: LOW

2
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.6% 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: LOW

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

4,800 MT/s
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice supports memory speeds up to 4,800 MT/s, which is higher than that of 51.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 5.1% of motherboards.
Show more
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

5
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has 5 M.2 sockets, which is more than 94.8% of motherboards and equal to 4.3% 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: MEDIUM

1x PCIe 5 x4/x2, 3x PCIe 4 x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4 x4/x2/SATA
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice offers 1x PCIe 5.0x4/x2, 3x PCIe 4.0x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/x2/SATA for M.2 slot interfaces, which is faster than that of 99% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% of motherboards.
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=6

4
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has 4 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 5.6% of motherboards and equal to 46.2% 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: LOW

0/1/10
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice supports RAID levels 0/1/10, which is narrower than 68.1% of motherboards and equal to 23.3% 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: MEDIUM

yes
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice supports NVMe RAID. 40.3% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=1

1
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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: LOW

Good value: >=1

0
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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
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: LOW

1
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 40.5% of motherboards and equal to 26.8% 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: LOW

x16/x0/x4
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice uses x16/x0/x4 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is more flexible than that of 51% of motherboards and equal to that of 9.6% of motherboards.
Depends on slot/M.2 population.
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: LOW

Good value: yes

yes
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice supports PCIe bifurcation. 40.4% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=8

12
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has 12 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 92.6% of motherboards and equal to 5.7% 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

19
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has 19 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 87% of motherboards and equal to 4.2% 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

2
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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)
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: LOW

Good value: >=2

4
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has 4 USB-C ports (including headers), which is more than 95.6% of motherboards and equal to 2.8% of motherboards.
includes internal USB-C header.
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: LOW

Good value: >=1

0
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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
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

10 Gbps
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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.
also includes 2.5GbE secondary port
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: MEDIUM

2
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has 2 RJ45 ports, which is more than 85.7% of motherboards and equal to 13.4% 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: LOW

Good value: yes

yes
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 50% 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: HIGH

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

Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice supports Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), which is newer than that of 88.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 11.3% 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

?
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 Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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: LOW

Good value: >=120 dB

118 dB
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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.
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

Good value: yes

yes
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice supports a headphone amp. 40.8% 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

2
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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
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: MEDIUM

Good value: >=12

24+1+2
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has 24+1+2 VRM phases, which is more than 99.2% of motherboards and equal to 0.3% 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: LOW

Good value: >=2

2
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.1% 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: LOW

Good value: >=6

6
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has 6 fan headers, which is more than 50% of motherboards and equal to 22.3% 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: LOW

Good value: yes

yes
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has a pump header. 21.9% 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 Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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 Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice vs the average motherboard

  • 3 more M.2 sockets
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (5 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3

    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (5 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.5 vs 2
  • 2x more maximum memory capacity
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (256 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    higher limit with high-density DIMMs
    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 Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (256 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.256 GB vs 128 GB
  • 9 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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.
    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 Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (12 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: HIGH

    Good value: >=8

    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (12 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.12 vs 8
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
    When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: DDR5

    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR5 vs DDR4
  • More VRM phases
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (24+1+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
    When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=12

    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (24+1+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.24+1+2 vs 10
  • Newer Wi-Fi standard
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has newer Wi-Fi standard than the average motherboard (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average motherboard supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) Wi-Fi.
    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: HIGH

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

    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has newer Wi-Fi standard than the average motherboard (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average motherboard supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) Wi-Fi.Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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: LOW

    Good value: >=1

    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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
  • Newer CPU socket
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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 Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.7% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • Includes onboard power button
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • 2x more maximum memory capacity
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (256 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • Newer DDR memory generation
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has newer DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR5 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 67.6% higher overclocked RAM speed
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has a higher overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (8,266 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • 3 more M.2 sockets
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (5 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • Faster M.2 slot interfaces
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has faster M.2 slot interfaces than the average motherboard (1x PCIe 5.0x4/x2, 3x PCIe 4.0x4/x2, 1x PCIe 4.0x4/x2/SATA vs 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4). The average motherboard uses 1x PCIe 5.0x4, 2x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2 slot interfaces.
  • 1 more PCIe 5.0x16 slots
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more PCIe 5.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 more PCIe x4 slots
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more PCIe x4 slots than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe x4 slot/s.
  • 9 more USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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.
  • 4 more rear USB ports
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more rear USB ports than the average motherboard (12 vs 8). The average motherboard has 8 rear USB port/s.
  • 1 more rear USB-C ports
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 4 more total USB connections
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (19 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 3 more total USB-C connections
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (4 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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.
  • 2 more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more USB 3.2 Gen2 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2 header/s.
  • 2 more USB 2.0 headers
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
  • 2 more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more USB 3.2 Gen2x2 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 header/s.
  • Newer Wi-Fi standard
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has newer Wi-Fi standard than the average motherboard (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) vs Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)). The average motherboard supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) Wi-Fi.
  • 4x higher LAN speed
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 48.9% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • More VRM phases
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (24+1+2 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
  • 1 more ARGB headers
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more ARGB headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.

Total
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z790 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • Less versatile form factor
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has less versatile form factor than the average motherboard (E-ATX vs ATX). The average motherboard comes in ATX form factor.
  • Fewer useful accessories
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer useful accessories than the average motherboard (SATA cables, Wi-Fi antenna, RGB cable, thermistor cable vs 2x SATA cables, Wi-Fi antenna, M.2 kit, front-panel adapter, RGB cable). The average motherboard comes with 2x SATA cables, Wi-Fi antenna, M.2 kit, front-panel adapter, RGB cable.
  • Fewer RAID options
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer RAID options than the average motherboard (0/1/10 vs 0/1/5/10). The average motherboard has 0/1/5/10 RAID level/s.
    JBOD excluded from RAID-level set
  • No multi-GPU support
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
  • 1 fewer PCIe x1 slots
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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 Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has less flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x4 vs x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4). The average motherboard uses x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4 PCIe slot lane configuration.
    Depends on slot/M.2 population.
  • 4 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
  • 2 fewer USB4 20Gbps ports
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer USB4 20Gbps ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB4 20Gbps port/s.
  • 1 fewer HDMI outputs
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer HDMI outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 HDMI outputs.
  • 2 fewer USB 2.0 ports
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • 1 fewer RJ45 ports
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
  • 3 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (2 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • No rear line-in
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice does not have rear line-in, while the average motherboard does. 94.7% of motherboards include rear line-in.
  • 61 mm wider
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice is wider than the average motherboard (305 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
  • 4 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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.
    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: LOW

    Good value: >=4

    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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
  • Fewer RAID options
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer RAID options than the average motherboard (0/1/10 vs 0/1/5/10). The average motherboard has 0/1/5/10 RAID level/s.
    JBOD excluded from RAID-level set
    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: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer RAID options than the average motherboard (0/1/10 vs 0/1/5/10). The average motherboard has 0/1/5/10 RAID level/s.0/1/10 vs 0/1/5/10
  • No multi-GPU support
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
    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

    Good value: yes

    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice does not support multi-GPU, while the average motherboard does. 54.6% of motherboards support multi-GPU.
  • 3 fewer 3.5mm audio jacks
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (2 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 Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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
  • 8.31x more expensive
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice is more expensive than the average motherboard (£1,330 vs £160).
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice is more expensive than the average motherboard (£1,330 vs £160).£1,330 vs £160
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 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: LOW

    Good value: >=1

    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.0 vs 1
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z790 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 Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z790 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel Z790 vs Intel B860
  • Less versatile form factor
    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice has less versatile form factor than the average motherboard (E-ATX vs ATX). The average motherboard comes in ATX 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: LOW

    GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice 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
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

Graphic comparison of GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice and other products in the Motherboards category

Attribute category
Attribute
No results found

Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
5.0
1 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice?

  • Premium limited edition design featuring a gold-plated CPU socket and crystallized titanium textures.
  • Outstanding connectivity with dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, 10GbE LAN, and Wi-Fi 7 support.
  • Exceptional thermal management including a massive M.2 heatsink and a nanocarbon backplate for heat dissipation.
  • High-end power delivery with a 24+1+2 phase digital VRM design optimized for extreme overclocking.
  • Integrated 5-inch LCD screen for real-time system monitoring and aesthetic customization.
  • Future-proof storage and expansion options with PCIe 5.0 support for both GPUs and M.2 NVMe drives.

What customers dislike about GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice?

  • Extremely high price point, often described as an 'overkill' luxury purchase compared to similar performing boards.
  • E-ATX form factor and side-mounted connectors may cause compatibility issues with many standard PC cases.
  • Requires the use of specialized 'dongle' adapter cables for several standard ports (fans, RGB, audio), which can be easily lost.
  • The PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot shares bandwidth with the primary GPU slot, potentially reducing graphics performance if both are used.
  • Heavy reliance on Gigabyte's software suite (GCC) for full functionality, which some users find disappointing or buggy.
  • Extremely limited availability with only 300 units produced as part of the 'Xtreme Prestige' bundle.

Video reviews

Best alternatives

asus-rog-maximus-z790-extreme
ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Extreme

Motherboards

9.1
msi-meg-z790-godlike
MSI MEG Z790 Godlike

Motherboards

9.2
msi-meg-z790-godlike-max
MSI MEG Z790 Godlike Max

Motherboards

9.1
gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme-x
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X

Motherboards

8.6
gigabyte-z790-aorus-xtreme
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme

Motherboards

8.8
asrock-z690-aqua
ASRock Z690 Aqua

Motherboards

8.6
asus-rog-maximus-z690-extreme
ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Extreme

Motherboards

8.8
gigabyte-z690-aorus-xtreme
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Xtreme

Motherboards

8.6
gigabyte-z790-aorus-tachyon-x
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Tachyon X

Motherboards

8.0
evga-z790-dark-kingpin
EVGA Z790 Dark Kingpin

Motherboards

7.7
gigabyte-z790-aorus-tachyon
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Tachyon

Motherboards

8.2
No image
MSI MPG Z790 Edge Monster Hunter Edition

Motherboards

9.5

Compare GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Xtreme X Ice with other products in the Motherboards category

VS
VS

Compare