Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master X Review – X Means Better!

Conclusion - Masterful Design Once Again!

Back in August, Gigabyte unveiled its refreshed Z790 X series motherboards which offered a range of upgrades over the existing Z790 Non-X motherboards. The primary goal of these motherboards was to offer something new to users who were looking to build new PCs, especially those who were going to purchase the newly released Intel 14th Gen CPUs.

On a technical level, the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS X motherboards have a lot going on with improved heatsinks, VRMs, I/O capabilities, and just the general look and feel has seen an update alongside the implementation of the latest WIFI 7 which is a major feature on these new refreshed products. For this review, we were sent the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master X motherboard for review which we used to test the trio of Intel 14th Gen CPUs that you can check out over here.

The Intel LGA 1700 Platform

Intel's Raptor Lake-S desktop CPUs feature support on LGA 1700 socket which is also used by the Alder Lake CPUs. The Raptor Lake-S CPUs launched alongside the 700-series motherboards. You can expect all the top-notch specs from the Z790 motherboards with the best overclocking & fine-tuning capabilities.

Another interesting thing to talk about the Z790 PCH is its process node and dimensions. The Z790 PCH is based on the 14nm node and measures at 98mm2 which is slightly larger than the Z590 PCH featured on LGA 1200 socket motherboards.

Intel Desktop Platform Chipset Comparison

Chipset Name	Arrow Lake-S (ARL-S) PCH / 800 Series (Z890)	Raptor Lake-S (RPL-S) PCH / 700 Series (Z790)	Alder Lake-S (ADL-S) PCH / 600 Series (Z690)	Rocket Lake-S (RKL-S) PCH / 500 Series (Z590)	Comet Lake-S (CML-S) PCH / 400 Series (Z490)	Coffee Lake S (CFL-S) PCH / 300 Series (Z390/H370, B360, Q370, H310)	Coffee Lake S (KBL-R) PCH / Z370 Platform
Process Node	7nm	14nm	14nm	14nm	14nm	14nm	22nm
Processor	24C, 20C, 14C, 12C, TBD)	24,16C,12C,10C,6C,4C	16C,12C,10C,6C,4C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)	8C, 6C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)	10C, 8C, 6C, 4C, 2C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)	8C, 6C, 4C, 2C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch)	8C, 6C, 4C (6 Consumer SKUs at Launch)
Memory	Up To DDR5-6400 (Native)	Up To DDR5-5600 (Native) Up To DDR4-3200 (Native)	Up To DDR5-4800 (Native) Up To DDR4-3200 (Native)	Up To DDR4-3200 (Native)	Up To DDR4-2933 (Native)	Up To DDR4-2666 (Native)	Up To DDR4-2666 (Native)
Media, Display & Audio	eDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Display Capabilities	eDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Display Capabilities	eDP / 4DDI (DP, HDMI) Display Capabilities	DP 1.2 & HDMI 2.0, HBR3 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) 12-bit AV1/HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP With USB Audio offload SoundWire Digital Audio Interface	DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP SoundWire Digital Audio Interface	DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP SoundWire Digital Audio Interface	DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP
I/O & Connectivity	Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20G) Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ 7 BT CNVio) with Gig+ Integrated SDXC 4.0 Controller Thunderbolt 4.0	Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20G) Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ 7 BT CNVio) with Gig+ Integrated SDXC 4.0 Controller Thunderbolt 4.0	Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20G) Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ 7 BT CNVio) with Gig+ Integrated SDXC 4.0 Controller Thunderbolt 4.0	Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20G) Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi6E/ BT CNVi) Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller Thunderbolt 4.0 (Maple Ridge)	Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2 Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi / BT CNVi) Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller Thunderbolt 3.0 (Titan Ridge) w/ DP 1.4	Integrated USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi / BT CNVi) Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller Thunderbolt 3.0 (Titan Ridge) w/ DP 1.4	Integrated USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Thunderbolt 3.0 (Alpine Ridge)
Storage	PCIe 5.0 (CPU Lanes), 8x SATA 3.0	Next-Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 5.0 (CPU Lanes), 6x SATA 3.0	Next-Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 5.0, 6x SATA 3.0	Next-Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 4.0, 6x SATA 3.0	Next-Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0	Next Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0	Next Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 3.0, 6x SATA 3.0
Max PCH PCIe Lanes	Up To 24 (Gen 4)	Up To 20 (Gen 4) Up To 8 (Gen 3)	Up To 12 (Gen 4) Up To 16 (Gen 3)	Up To 24 (Gen 3)	Up To 24 (Gen 3)	Up To 24 (Gen 3)	Up To 24 (Gen 3)
Max CPU PCIe Lanes	Up To 20 (Gen 5) Up To 4 (Gen 4)	Up To 16 (Gen 5) Up To 4 (Gen 4)	Up To 16 (Gen 5) Up To 4 (Gen 4)	Up To 20 (Gen 4)	Up To 16 (Gen 3)	Up To 16 (Gen 3)	Up To 16 (Gen 3)
Max USB Ports	Up To 5 (USB 3.2 Gen 2z2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 5 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 4 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 3 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) Up To 10 (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 10 (USB 3.2) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 10 (USB 3.1) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)	Up To 10 (USB 3.0) Up To 14 (USB 2.0)
Security	Intel TET Intel Boot Guard	N/A	N/A	N/A	Intel SGX 1.0	Intel SGX 1.0	Intel SGX 1.0
Power Management	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C8 Support
Launch	2024	2022	2021	2021	2019	2018	2017

The LGA 1700 socket is here now. The new socket adds more pins to the socket and changes the dimensions entirely. The new LGA 1700 socket offers 500 more pin connections to the CPU, allowing for more communication channels with the board itself and accommodating electrical pin configurations that are required to support 14th, 13th & 12th Gen CPUs.

So as for the socket details, Intel has gone with an asymmetrical design since the Alder Lake CPUs are no longer square-shaped. The latest desktop CPUs will come in a 37.5x45.0mm package and are supported by the 'V0' socket which we know as LGA 1700.

The socket also changes the mounting positions to a 78x78mm grid rather than a 75x75mm grid. The Z-height has also changed to 6.529mm compared to 7.31mm on the previous LGA 12**/115* sockets.

Cooler Compatibility With LGA 1700 Socket

To make their existing coolers compatible with Intel's Raptor Lake & Alder Lake CPU lineup, many cooling brands have released LGA 1700 upgrade kits which feature mounting hardware for the new socket. But the Intel Raptor Lake and the Alder Lake CPU platform aren't just featuring a brand new mounting design but the CPU dimensions themselves have changed too.

The LGA 1700 (V0) socket not only has an asymmetrical design but also comes with a lower Z-stack height. This means that proper mounting pressure is needed to make full contact with the Intel Alder Lake IHS. Certain cooler manufacturers have already been using larger cold plates for Ryzen and Threadripper CPUs to make proper contact with the IHS but these are mostly higher-end and new cooling designs. Those who are still running older AIOs with round cold plates could have trouble maintaining the required pressure distribution which could lead to inadequate cooling performance.

The Z690 AORUS Master X motherboard comes in the standard cardboard package. The front is themed in black and purple which has been part of the AORUS lineup for a while now. You can also note the AORUS Eagle logo on the front which looks great. The front side also lists down support for Intel's 14th generation Core processors while the motherboard is clearly labeled as a gaming product.

The backside of the package lists the specifications and special features of the motherboard such as the 20+1+2 Phase Digital VRM Solution, VRM Thermal Armor Fins Array heatsinks, PCIe 5.0 design, DDR5 & XMP 3.0 support, and WiFi 7 + Ultra-high gain antenna.

The motherboard itself is packaged in an anti-static wrap and held in a foam package which keeps it stable during shipping.

Inside the package is another box that contains the accessories and is located right below the box holder for the board itself. It is very easy to access and Gigabyte has included separate sections to make sure that the accessories remain tidy during shipping.

Following is the full list of accessories in the package:

• Quick Installation Guide, User's Manual
• 4 x SATA Cables
• 2 x Thermistors
• 3 x Screws for M.2 Sockets
• 3 x Standoffs for M.2 Sockets
• 1 x Gigabyte G-Connector
• 1 x Antenna (WiFi)

With all the accessories done, it's time to put that box aside and take the motherboard out of its package.

Gigabyte once again goes all out with its AORUS Master X. Despite being a tier below the Xtreme X, Master X offers its own visual appearance that sets it apart from the rest of the competition. The AORUS motherboards are known for using sleek and shiny textures and a very futuristic look that the Master X fully encapsulates.

The pricing and quality of this product make it feel more premium than the previous generation Master offerings from AORUS. The latest AORUS Master motherboards have also dropped the ATX design of previous generations and gone with an E-ATX layout, allowing the manufacturer to cram even more features into this series.

The board uses the LGA 1700 socket to support Intel Core processors. The socket is compatible with Intel's 14th, 13th & 12th Generation core family. The socket has a protective cover on top of it that points out the exclusivity with Raptor Lake 13th Gen & Alder Lake 12th Gen CPUs, refraining users from running older 11th and 10th generation CPUs as they won't fit in the socket at all and forcing them in the socket is only going to cause permanent damage to your motherboard. For its AORUS X series, you don't need to upgrade your BIOS as a prerequisite to installing a 14th-generation CPU as it already comes with the latest one out of the factory.

Next to the socket are four DDR5 DIMM slots that can support up to 192 GB of dual-channel memory.

These slots are rated to support XMP profiles up to 8266 MT/s (OC Plus). Each slot is labeled, making it easier to install DIMMs in the proper orientation. DDR5 memory comes with a different latch position so forcing a DDR4 module into a DDR5 slot will cause permanent damage. Each slot is also combined with a reinforced design to make sure signal integrity remains good while keeping the slots durable for long-term usage.

The Z790 AORUS Master X features a 20+1+2 (VCore/ VccGT/VccAUX)  phase digital power delivery that utilizes the RAA229131 PWM controller and RAA220105 (105A) MOSFETs for the VCore. The Vcc GT and Vcc AUX MOSFETs (DRPS) are spec'd at 105A & 60A respectively.

The VRMs receive ample cooling from the VRM Thermal Armor Fins-Array heatsinks that are both beefy in terms of size and feature actual cooling fins. This motherboard is designed for overclocking so expect a smooth & stable operation of the electrical circuitry when this board is running. The motherboard also comes with a backplate that features thermal pads for extra cooling performance.

The CPU is supplied power through an 8+8 pin power connector configuration. This will feed the CPU with up to 300 Watts of power. The Intel 14th 13th & 12th Gen Unlocked CPUs are very power-hungry with the maximum turbo power rated at 253W for the Core i9-14900K and more if you are planning to overclock these chips.

Getting a closer look at the VRM heatsinks reveals an aluminum fin design on both heatsinks. Each heatsink has thermal pads located underneath for efficient transfer of heat. The thermal pads on the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master X motherboard are rated at 12w/mK.

There's also a singular massive 8mm nickel-coated heat pipe that connects the two MOSFETs heatsinks for better heat dissipation. The heatsinks are coated in black color to enhance overall aesthetics and are very densely packed.

Expansion slots include three PCI Express x16 (1 x Gen 5.0 x16/8 / 1x Gen 4.0 x4 / 1x Gen 3.0x1) and five M.2 slots.

Gigabyte uses the PCIe UD Slot X and Memory UD Slot D5 design which includes metal shielding on the sides of all expansion and DDR5 DIMM slots, providing extra protection and durability. It adds more load-bearing capacity to protect that can sustain the load of modern-day graphics cards and also protect the PCB of your card from scratches. The DIMM slots provide a 1.3x increase in anti-plate bending and also offer reduced signal degradation through the use of SMD technology. The PCIe slot further comes with an EZ latch click feature which lets you remove the graphics card from the PCIe slot with relative ease.

All five M.2 slots are cooled off by the thermal pad and aluminum baseplate cooling which is part of the M.2 Thermal Guard design. This will ensure stable operation for M.2 storage devices. The thermal adhesive has a plastic cover over them which needs to be removed before using them with the storage devices. The topmost heatsink which has the bulkiest heatsink has a M.2 EZ-Latch Plus design for easy removal. Even the large M.2 heatsink and front cover plate can easily be removed with the M.2 EZ-Latch Click feature.

• CPU:
• - 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 25110/2280 PCIe 5.0 x4/x2 SSD support) (M2C_CPU)
• - 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 22110/2280 PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 SSD support) (M2A_CPU)
  Chipset:
• - 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 22110/2280 PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 SSD support) (M2Q_SB)
• - 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 SSD support)(M2P_SB)
• - 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 2280 SATA and PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 SSD support) (M2M_SB)
• - 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
• RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID5, and RAID 10 support for NVMe SSD storage devices
• RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID5, and RAID 10 support for SATA storage devices

The Z790 PCH is housed beneath a large heatsink with the AORUS Eagle logo etched over it and looks great.

The PCH cover and the AORUS logo on the I/O cover has an RGB accent plate that can be adjusted through the Gigabyte RGB Fusion software and there re plenty of ARGB/RGB headers that can also be used to adjust the appearance of the LEDs within your PC.

Storage options include four SATA III ports rated to operate at 6 GB/s. These can support 4 different storage devices at once. There are also 3 USB 3.2 front panel connectors (1 x Gen 2x2 + 2 x Gen 1). 2 USB 2.0 front panel connectors are also included.

Gigabyte is using its ESS Sabre HiFi system for audio which is a combination of various high-end hardware, and software audio solutions. 7.1 CH HD audio with the latest Realtek ALC1220-VB CODEC & ESS ES9118 DAC.

AORUS has a massive amount of fan headers along with RGB Enable/Disable and Dual-BIOS switches scattered at the bottom of the motherboard. There are also the Power On/Off and reset switches. It also comes with voltage reading, and measuring points near the DEBUG LED at the top right corner of the motherboard.

The full list of connectors on the motherboard is listed as follows.

• 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector
• 2 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connectors
• 1 x CPU fan header
• 1 x CPU fan/water cooling pump header
• 4 x system fan headers
• 4 x system fan/water cooling pump headers
• 3 x addressable RGB Gen2 LED strip headers
• 1 x RGB LED strip header
• 5 x M.2 Socket 3 connectors
• 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
• 1 x front panel header
• 1 x front panel audio header
• 1 x USB Type-C header, with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 support
• 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 headers
• 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers
• 1 x noise detection header
• 2 x Thunderbolt add-in card connectors
• 1 x Trusted Platform Module header (For the GC-TPM2.0 SPI/GC-TPM2.0 SPI 2.0/GC-TPM2.0 SPI V2 module only)
• 1 x power button
• 1 x reset button
• 1 x reset jumper
• 1 x Clear CMOS jumper
• 2 x temperature sensor headers
• Voltage Measurement Points

AORUS is using Intel's WiFi 7 Qualcomm QCNCM865 WiFi Module to power wireless connectivity with up to 5.8 Gbps data transfer rates, up to 320 MHz bandwidth, and Bluetooth 5.3. In terms of Ethernet, there is a single 10GbE LAN port powered by the Marvell AQtion AQC113C controller.

The motherboard comes with the following I/O connectors:

• 1 x Q-Flash Plus button
• 1 x Clear CMOS button
• 2 x SMA antenna connectors (2T2R)
• 1 x DisplayPort
• 1 x USB Type-C port, with USB 3.2 Gen 1 support
• 2 x USB Type-C ports, with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 support
• 7 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (red)
• 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
• 1 x RJ-45 port
• 1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector
• 2 x audio jacks

For testing, I used the Intel Core i9-13900K which was sent to us by Intel on a range of Z790 motherboards.

Intel Z790 Motherboards Test Platform:

Processors	Intel Core i9-13900K
Motherboard	Maxsun iCraft B760M Cross Gigabyte Z790 AORUS PRO X (F5) Biostar Z790A-Silver (Z79BCC13.BST) ASRock Z790 Phantom Gaming NOVA (2.01) Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master X (Launch) MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX (Launch) MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WIFI (7E25vA0) ASRock Z790 Taichi LITE (1.06) MSI MEG Z790 ACE (7D86v164) ASRock Z790 Taichi Carrara (7.04) ASRock Z790 Steel Legend (8.05) Gigabyte Z790 AERO G (F5) ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 HERO (0904)
Power Supply	MSI MEG Ai1300P 1300W PSU
Solid State Drive	T-Force A440 Pro 2 TB (Gen4x4)
Memory	G.SKILL Trident Z5 32 GB (2 x 16GB) CL34 7200 Mbps
Video Cards	MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X
Cooling Solutions	Corsair H150i (With LGA 1700 Mounting Kit)
OS	Windows 11 64-bit

Our test rig includes the T-Force A440 Pro 2 TB Gen4x4 SSD that boots up our main OS. In addition to these, we are running an MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X graphics card and an MSI MEG Ai1300P 1300W PSU. For this specific review, we used G.Skill's latest Trident Z5 DDR5-7200 memory kit running at CL34 timings.

3DMark Time Spy CPU Performance

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Blender

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Cinebench R20

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Cinebench R23

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CPU-Z

CPUz is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system such as the Processor name and number, codename, process, package, cache levels, Mainboard, and chipset, Memory type, size, timings, and module specifications (SPD), and Real-time measurement of each core's internal frequency, memory frequency.

Geekbench 5

Geekbench 5, the latest major upgrade to Primate Labs’ easy-to-use cross-platform benchmark, is now available for download. Geekbench 5 allows you to measure your system’s power more accurately than ever before.

HandBrake

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PCMark 10

PCMark 10 is a complete PC benchmarking solution for Windows 10. It includes several tests that combine individual workloads covering storage, computation, image and video manipulation, web browsing, and gaming. Specifically designed for the full range of PC hardware from netbooks and tablets to notebooks and desktops, PCMark 10 offers complete Windows PC performance testing for home and business use.

POV-Ray

The POV-Ray package includes detailed instructions on using the ray-tracer and creating scenes. Many stunning scenes are included with POV-Ray so you can start creating images immediately when you get the package.

SuperPI

Super PI is used by many overclockers to test the performance and stability of their computers. In the overclocking community, the standard program provides a benchmark for enthusiasts to compare “world record” pi calculation times and demonstrate their overclocking abilities. The program can also be used to test the stability of a certain overclock speed.

WinRAR

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V-Ray Render Benchmark

V-Ray  Benchmark is a free standalone application to test how fast your system renders. Three custom-built test scenes are also included to put each V-Ray 5 render engine through its paces.

Battlefield V

Battlefield V brings back the action of the World War 2 shooter genre. Using the latest Frostbite tech, the game does a good job of looking gorgeous in all ways possible. From the open-world environments to the intense and gun-blazing action, this multiplayer and single-player FPS title is one of the best-looking Battlefields to date. The game was tested at max settings at 1440p.

DOOM Eternal

DOOM Eternal brings hell to earth with the Vulkan-powered idTech 7.  We test this game using the Ultra Nightmare Preset and follow our in-game benchmarking to stay as consistent as possible.

GTA V

GTA V is one handsomely optimized title for the PC audience. It's scalable across various PC configurations and delivers an impressive frame rate. Rockstar did an amazing job with the PC build of GTA V and it comes with a large array of settings that can be configured by PC gamers. We tested the title at 1440P with everything set to Ultra and 4x MSAA.

Metro Exodus

Metro Exodus continues the journey of Artyom through the nuclear wasteland of Russia and its surroundings. This time, you are set over the Metro, going through various regions and different environments. The game is one of the premier titles to feature NVIDIA’s RTX technology and does well in showcasing the ray-tracing effects in all corners. The game was tested at Ultra setting with RTX settings turned off at 1440p.

Shadow of The Tomb Raider

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Sid Meier's Civilization VI

Civilization VI is the pinnacle of the series. It features huge, sweeping changes, and nothing was left out. Everything has found a purpose, they all work together in tandem but also have a reason to stand alone. It uses a more fleshed-out engine that now supports DirectX 12 capabilities. We tested the game with every setting maxed out (4x MSAA, 4096x4096 shadow textures) at 1440P in DirectX 12.

The Intel Raptor Lake CPUs feature the brand new hybrid architecture approach composed of Raptor Cove and Gracemont cores. The chip also relies on a brand new 10nm Enhanced SuperFin process node which delivers up to 6.0 GHz clock speeds on the flagship Core i9-13900KS.

The faster clocks along with the addition of more cores should lead to more power consumption but Intel is also touting increased efficiency per watt thanks to the overall performance increases we get this generation.

In terms of packaging, Intel's Raptor Lake Desktop CPUs ship with a Solder TIM interface and higher-quality gold plating under the IHS. The thermal testing was carried out with the Corsair H150i AIO liquid cooler:

Z790 AORUS Master X - A Masterful Refresh

Gigabyte's Z790 X Refresh series is a taste of things to come. While the Z790 platform is feature-rich, it was obvious from the start that most of the new motherboards would be an evolution of existing designs. This is the exact reason why Gigabyte isn't replacing the existing AORUS Master with the AORUS Master X. Both products have their own markets with the AORUS Master retailing for $449.99 US and the AORUS Master X retailing for $100 US more at $549.99 US.

In terms of design choices, the AORUS Master X has the same futuristic vibe that AORUS is known for with a very subtle RGB approach this time. The shiny mirror finish, & brushed grey plates with the nano-carbon heatsinks look great and the E-ATX form factor makes a lot of sense for a board of this tier. Having used the Z690 AORUS Master, I was able to see some big differences with the heat sink layout which has received a major upgrade with additional and larger fins array. Little things such as the M.2 and PCIe EZ mechanisms make building PCs more fun and less annoying since you can access the M.2 and GPU slots with ease.

For overclockers, the Z790 AORUS Master X gets a slightly improved 20+1+2 phase VRM delivery which can support the latest 14th Gen CPUs without any problem. In fact, I used this board to test those chips out which you can read here. Memory support is also great with up to 192 GB DRAM capacities and up to 8266 MT/s speeds (OC+). The extra cooling on the front and the back makes sure that those VRMs get less toasty compared to the other boards we tested.

I/O has seen a big upgrade with additional USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, and 5 M.2 slots (1 Gen 5 + 4 Gen 4), all of which are covered by heatsinks. The top most Gen5 M.2 slot has the larger heatsink which is perfectly suitable for Gen5 SSDs which can run hot. So you don't have to pay extra to get a Gen5 SSD with heatsink as most drives come with heatsink and non-heatsink options. You can save that money since the motherboard already provides great cooling on its own. WIFI-7 support, 10 GbE LAN, and the new antennas make a perfect trio for networking enthusiasts. My only complaints are that there are no Thunderbolt 4 ports on the motherboard and SATA connectivity feels rather limited with just 4 ports.

On the BIOS side, you are looking at a very intuitive design which Gigabyte has spent several years to refine. It's snappy and most of the tuning options are right at your fingertips. There are also plenty of fan and RGB/ARGB headers which are always a plus. Overall, the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master X is an impressive and eye-catching enthusiast-grade motherboard that definitely fulfills all the needs of gamers and overclockers who are looking to get the best features that a $500 US+ motherboard can offer.

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