Gigabyte reveals its Z390 Aorus gaming motherboards

Gigabyte has launched five new Aorus motherboards built around Intel’s newest Z390 chipset. The new boards are the Z390 Aorus Master, the Z390 Aorus Pro, Z390 Aorus Pro Wi-Fi, the compact Z390I Aorus Pro Wi-Fi, and the Z390 Aorus Elite. All the new motherboards can support Intel’s latest Core i9-9900K processors to 5GHz+ across all cores via overclocking.

The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Master is the flagship of this range and Aorus designers “went all out” on this design. The team even made a video to show off what the top of the range can offer you, so I’ve embedded that below.

On the product page you can see that this is the most fully featured Z390 Aorus board announced and it includes the following key features:

• Supports 9th and 8th Gen Intel Core Processors
• Dual Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
• Intel Optane Memory Ready
• 12 Phases IR Digital VRM Solution with PowIRstage
• Advanced Thermal Design with Fins-Array Heatsink and Direct Touch Heatpipe
• Onboard Intel® CNVi 802.11ac 2x2 Wave 2 Wi-Fi
• 125dB SNR AMP-UP Audio with ALC1220 & High-End ESS SABRE 9118 DAC with WIMA audio capacitors
• USB TurboCharger for Mobile Device Fast Charge Support
• Intel Gigabit LAN with cFosSpeed
• RGB FUSION with Multi-Zone Addressable LED Light Show Design, Supports Addressable LED & RGB LED Strips
• Smart Fan 5 features Multiple Temperature Sensors and Hybrid Fan Headers with FAN STOP
• Front USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C Header
• Triple Ultra-Fast NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2 with Triple Thermal Guard
• USB DAC-UP 2 with Adjustable Voltage
• CEC 2019 Ready, Save Power With a Simple Click

Other lower down the pecking order boards announced alongside the Master have cuts to one of more of the following feature areas; graphics/expansion slots, M.2 slots, USB ports (USB 3.1 gen2 Type C or A), Wi-Fi capabilities, Audio chipsets. The table below shows the most important differences between the three core Z390 Aorus designs (skipping no Wi-Fi equipped Pro, and the mini-ITX board).

Gigabyte is keen to point out that all its new Aorus Z390 boards feature a 12 phase digital VRM design with a PowIRstage controller or DrMOS module with MOSFETS, robust heat dissipation thanks to tech like Fins-Array heatsinks with direct touch heatpipes, Smart Fan 5 tech with hybrid connectors and Fan Stop, 1.5mm thicker thermal pads, 2x copper PCB design, USB quick charge front port capability, and exceptional power and temperature management. All the boards also feature RGB Fusion for easy and appealing lighting sync.

If you are thinking of getting aboard the Intel 9^th gen platform and like Gigabyte / Aorus motherboards have a look through the individual product links at the head of the page. These boards are said to be available immediately and if you live in the US or Canada, Gigabyte has published a blog post with direct purchase links from the likes of Newegg or Memory Express. For reference the top-end Z390 Aorus Master retails at approx US$290, and the cheapest new Aorus Z390 board is the mini ITX Z390I Aorus Pro Wi-Fi at approx $165.

[Update] A wide range of Gigabyte Z390 motherboards are now available to purchase from Scan Computers*.