GIGABYTE Z690M Aorus Elite DDR4 Intel Motherboard

The GIGABYTE Z690M Aorus Elite DDR4 is a Micro ATX motherboard built on the Intel Z690 Express chipset, designed to support 12th Generation Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors via the LGA1700 socket. Its compact 244 × 240 mm footprint makes it a strong choice for space-conscious builds that still demand flagship-tier power delivery and connectivity. Power delivery is handled by a 12+1+2 phase digital VRM design using 60 A power stages paired with Tantalum Polymer capacitors, providing stable voltage regulation for demanding workloads. Comprehensive thermal coverage includes high-surface-area MOSFET heatsinks and M.2 Thermal Guards on all three NVMe slots, helping sustain sustained performance under load. Memory support extends to four DDR4 DIMM slots in dual-channel configuration, accommodating up to 128 GB of non-ECC unbuffered DDR4. Storage is served by three M.2 slots—each supporting NVMe PCIe 4.0/3.0 x4—alongside six SATA 6 Gb/s ports with RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support. Connectivity highlights include an Intel 2.5 GbE LAN chip (supporting 2.5 Gbps, 1 Gbps, and 100 Mbps), a rear-panel USB Type-C port with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (up to 20 Gb/s), one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, plus multiple USB 2.0 headers onboard. Display outputs cover one HDMI and one DisplayPort for integrated graphics use. A Realtek audio codec delivers up to 7.1-channel audio with S/PDIF output. Expansion slots include one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot for the primary GPU, two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, and one PCIe x4 slot. The pre-installed I/O shield simplifies installation, and Q-Flash Plus allows BIOS updates without a CPU, memory, or graphics card installed. RGB FUSION 2.0 provides multi-zone addressable LED control with support for ARGB and standard RGB LED strips. Smart Fan 6 fan management offers multiple temperature sensor inputs and FAN STOP capability for hybrid fan operation. Key Verified Specifications: • Form Factor: Micro ATX (244 × 240 mm) • Chipset: Intel Z690 • Socket: LGA1700 • CPU Support: 12th Gen Intel Core, Pentium Gold, Celeron • Memory: 4 × DDR4 DIMM, dual-channel, up to 128 GB • M.2 Slots: 3 × PCIe 4.0/3.0 x4 NVMe with Thermal Guard • SATA: 6 × SATA 6 Gb/s (RAID 0/1/5/10) • LAN: Intel 2.5 GbE (2.5 Gbps / 1 Gbps / 100 Mbps) • USB (Rear): 1 × USB-C Gen 2×2 (20 Gb/s), 1 × USB-A Gen 2 • Display: 1 × HDMI, 1 × DisplayPort • Audio: Realtek codec, 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel, S/PDIF out • VRM: 12+1+2 phase, 60 A power stages • Power: 24-pin ATX + 8-pin + 4-pin ATX 12V