Gigabyte has officially unveiled the X299 AORUS Gaming 7 Pro ATX motherboard. This is a high-end Intel X299 Express Chipset motherboard designed to make the best out of the recently released 18-Core Intel i9 7980XE processor and other Core-X Series LGA 2066 CPUs.
Key to this motherboard's design is its updated VRM design paired with Smart Fan 5 technology "to satiate the power demands of the new 18-core processor while keeping the system icy cool". Gigabyte refers to the VRMs as 'server grade' and adds that they are built in a digital power design with 12 power phases, each providing up to 60A. Furthermore, "a digital Intersil PWM controller has been implemented within the VRM to enhance the communication efficiency between the CPU and PWM". Good overclocking results should be able to be garnered thanks to this and the Turbo B-Clock tuning IC.
Cooling is extremely important on a motherboard like this and Gigabyte trumpets the use of its Smart Fan 5 tech (with FAN STOP) here. The cooling tech facilitates customised fan speeds, and temperature parameters being kept in check thanks to accurate temperature sensors around the motherboard. For example there is an Active Cooling fan which initiates to lower VRM temperatures once they surpass certain thresholds, mitigating the effects of excess heat on the VRM and CPU in overclocked systems. The Gigabyte UEFI DualBIOS with Q-Flash Plus USB port makes BIOS tinkering a cinch.
Other key specs of the X299 AORUS Gaming 7 Pro include; Quad Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4 8 DIMM sockets, Triple Ultra-Fast M.2 with PCIe Gen3 x4 interface and Thermal Guard, Intel Optane memory support, provision of USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A and Type-C ports, and the installation of Gigabyte's usual ultra-durable resistor and capacitor components.
Gamers should find the Gigabyte X299 AORUS Gaming 7 Pro motherboard rather attractive with its support for 3-Way SLI and CrossFire multi-graphics with dual-armour, Killer + Intel GbE LAN, Killer 2x2 802.11ac Wireless, ESS Sabre DAC enhanced audio, Sound BlasterX 720°, and RGB Fusion multi-zone RGB LED lighting.
Pricing and availability weren't shared by Gigabyte, but the non 'Pro' version of this motherboard costs nearly £400 here in the UK.
