GIGABYTE Z690 Aorus Pro DDR5 Intel Motherboard

The GIGABYTE Z690 Aorus Pro DDR5 is an ATX form-factor motherboard built on the Intel Z690 Express Chipset, designed to support 12th Generation Intel Core i5, i7, and i9 processors via the LGA1700 socket. It pairs those processors with a robust 16+1+2 phase direct digital VRM, leveraging 90A power stages for CPU cores and dedicated phases for integrated graphics and memory controllers to deliver stable power under sustained workloads. Memory support is a clear highlight: four DDR5 DIMM slots accommodate up to 128 GB of system memory (32 GB per DIMM) in a dual-channel configuration. The board supports XMP profiles and DDR5 speeds from 4800 MHz up to 6200 MHz via overclocking, aided by SMD DIMM slot reinforcement and shielded memory routing on a dedicated PCB layer to reduce signal interference. Storage options are generous. One M.2 slot is connected directly to the CPU (PCIe 4.0 x4), while three additional M.2 slots run through the chipset, all supporting type 2260, 2280, and 22110 drives. Six SATA 6 Gb/s ports complete the storage lineup, with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support across both M.2 NVMe and SATA devices. Enlarged Thermal Guard heatsinks sit over each M.2 slot to manage drive temperatures. Connectivity is wide-ranging. The back panel includes one USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port (20 Gb/s), four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (10 Gb/s), four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (5 Gb/s), and four USB 2.0 ports. Networking is handled by an Intel 2.5 GbE LAN chip and an Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 module (802.11ax, 2.4/5 GHz dual-band, Bluetooth 5.2). A single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot serves the primary GPU, supplemented by two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots running at x4 for additional cards. Audio is driven by a Realtek ALC4080 codec with WIMA capacitors, supporting 7.1-channel digital output and S/PDIF out. RGB FUSION 2.0 software controls onboard multi-zone addressable LEDs along with two ARGB and two RGB headers for strip lighting. Smart Fan 6 manages seven fan and pump headers using multiple temperature sensors, with automatic or manual control. The Q-Flash Plus feature allows BIOS updates via USB without installing a CPU, memory, or GPU — useful for initial platform setup. Key Specifications: – Socket: LGA1700 | Chipset: Intel Z690 Express – Memory: 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 128 GB, DDR5-4800 to DDR5-6200 (O.C.), Dual Channel, XMP support – Expansion: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 (at x4) – Storage: 4x M.2 PCIe 4.0 (type 2260/2280/22110), 6x SATA 6 Gb/s, RAID 0/1/5/10 – USB (back panel): 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 4x USB 2.0 – Networking: Intel 2.5 GbE LAN; Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.2 – Audio: Realtek ALC4080, 7.1-ch digital, S/PDIF out – Display Output: 1x DisplayPort (integrated graphics, max 4096×2304 @ 60 Hz) – Form Factor: ATX, 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm – Warranty: 3 Years