This article covers 1700ギガバイトZ790 AORUS Elite AX。.
Overview
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX is an ATX motherboard built around the Intel Z790 chipset, supporting both 13th and 12th Gen Core processors (LGA 1700). It comes with DDR5 memory support, PCIe 5.0 slots, and integrated Wi-Fi 6E, making it a well-rounded choice for mid-to-high-end gaming and productivity builds. The board offers a solid VRM design and ample storage options, including one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot and three total M.2 slots. Its balanced feature set and competitive pricing position it as a strong contender in the Z790 motherboard market.
Compatibility Guide
The Z790 AORUS Elite AX uses LGA 1700 socket, compatible with Intel Core 13th Gen (Raptor Lake) and 12th Gen (Alder Lake) CPUs. It supports DDR5 memory only, up to 128 GB across four DIMM slots, with XMP 3.0 profiles for high-frequency kits. Expansion includes one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot (CPU), one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (chipset, x4 mode), and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. Storage consists of three M.2 slots (one PCIe 5.0, two PCIe 4.0) and six SATA 6 Gbps ports. Power is supplied via a 24-pin ATX connector and dual 8-pin EPS connectors. The board is standard ATX (305x244mm) and fits most mid-tower cases.
Product Info
Released in October 2022, this motherboard targets the mid-range enthusiast segment. The retail price hovers around ¥42,000, offering good value for a DDR5 Z790 board with Wi-Fi 6E and PCIe 5.0 M.2 support. The VRM consists of a 16+1+1 phase digital design, capable of handling high-end CPUs like the Core i7-13700K or i9-13900K under normal cooling. Audio is handled by Realtek ALC1220, and networking includes Intel 2.5GbE LAN along with Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3. Standard warranty is three years in Japan.
Best Use Cases
This motherboard is ideal for gamers building a high-performance rig with an RTX 4080/5070-class GPU and fast NVMe SSDs, leveraging PCIe 5.0 for both graphics and storage. Content creators editing 4K video or working with large 3D scenes will benefit from the DDR5 memory bandwidth and multiple M.2 slots for cached media projects. Additionally, it suits PC enthusiasts who plan incremental upgrades, as LGA 1700 motherboards can reuse coolers and other components when swapping to 13th Gen CPUs.
Things to Consider
Being DDR5-only means you cannot reuse existing DDR4 memory, which may raise the total build cost. If budget is tight, consider the DDR4 variant (Z790 AORUS Elite AX DDR4) instead. The single PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot works at full speed only with 13th Gen CPUs; 12th Gen drops it to PCIe 4.0. Using an i9-13900K with heavy multi-threaded loads requires adequate CPU cooling and case airflow, as the VRM heatsink is effective but not extreme. For typical gaming with an i5 or i7, this motherboard provides excellent stability and future-proofing without being overkill.
