Review Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Master Motherboard Review: ATX with 14 USB ports, incredibly fast memory support

[Admin]

Gigabyte’s Z890 Aorus Master ($599.99) bridges the gap between Extreme and enthusiast offering ample connectivity including 14 USB ports (2x 40 Gbps), Wi-Fi 7 and 10 GbE, plus several AI/EZ DIY features. It also has one of the highest supported memory speeds.

Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Master Motherboard Review: ATX with 14 USB ports, incredibly fast memory support : Read more

 

[8086]

Lots of USB is nice. But more PCI-e (non bifurcated) slots is even nicer. Because you can do what ever you want with it, like turn it in to an m.2 slot or add more usb ports.

So... Gigabyte, please give us less M.2 and more PCI-e please.

 

[newtechldtech]

missing PD charging should not be any cons, Motherboards are not chargers to say "Motherboard "lacks""

 

[HideOut]

$600 for a midrange board. That is rediculous. It costs more than the CPUs that go in it! ANY CPU in fact (until the 9950x3d hits). But hey, toms gets a cut if you purchase from the link.

 

[Notton]

Lots of USB is nice. But more PCI-e (non bifurcated) slots is even nicer. Because you can do what ever you want with it, like turn it in to an m.2 slot or add more usb ports.

So... Gigabyte, please give us less M.2 and more PCI-e please.

You can buy m.2 to PCIe adapters.
Actually, you can't do whatever you want with PCIe slots, unless it supports bifurcation. There is a reason 4-slot x16 PCIe to NVMe adapters don't work in any old mobo.
LGA1851+Z890 PCIe lane split off the CPU doesn't work like that anyways, and the best you can get is 3x8 slots.

 

[dwd999]

IDK the HDMI port is on the front of the motherboard. So if you have a problem and you need to diagnose whether its your gpu or mb by accessing the igpu you need to open the case to connect to that HDMI port in that location and hope that you don't accidentally break it off.

 

[thestryker]

LGA1851+Z890 PCIe lane split off the CPU doesn't work like that anyways, and the best you can get is 3x8 slots.

ARL has 24 usable lanes with the split from CPU being x16 5.0, x4 5.0 and x4 4.0. The x16 can also run x8/x8 or x8/x4x/x4. The two 4 lane splits seem to be mandated for M.2.

IDK the HDMI port is on the front of the motherboard. So if you have a problem and you need to diagnose whether its your gpu or mb by accessing the igpu you need to open the case to connect to that HDMI port in that location and hope that you don't accidentally break it off.

Thunderbolt ports carry video over DP alt mode so you can get an adapter either USB-C to DP or USB-C to HDMI.

 

[thestryker]

My main question is why a $600 board only has one PCIe 5.0 slot. While the Ace costs more it has two PCIe 5.0 slots and doesn't sacrifice anything to get it. The USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports on the back of the Master are not 20gb, but rather 10gb.

 

[Albert.Thomas]

This only supports display via USB-C? I'm not sure if I love that because it makes room for more USB ports, or hate that because I'll need to buy a USB-C to DisplayPort or HDMI cord if I ever get a motherboard like this.

EDIT: Apparently there's a HDMI port on the inside

IDK the HDMI port is on the front of the motherboard. So if you have a problem and you need to diagnose whether its your gpu or mb by accessing the igpu you need to open the case to connect to that HDMI port in that location and hope that you don't accidentally break it off.

 

[Phaaze88]

600 Buckaroos is mid-range now? Then again, I haven't purchased a motherboard in like, 7 years...

 

[thestryker]

This only supports display via USB-C? I'm not sure if I love that because it makes room for more USB ports, or hate that because I'll need to buy a USB-C to DisplayPort or HDMI cord if I ever get a motherboard like this.

EDIT: Apparently there's a HDMI port on the inside

All but 2 of Gigabyte's Z890 (ITX and Aero have back panel) boards have the inside connector and some have DP on the back panel. All but 2 of MSI's Z890 (Godlike/Unify-X) have HDMI ports on the back and some also have DP. I wish they'd just include USB-C to DP (or HDMI) dongles with the motherboards since all Z890 has TB4 and I can't imagine it would cost much at scale. I hadn't thought about it when getting mine, but couldn't justify the Unify-X so it didn't end up being a problem.

 

[thestryker]

600 Buckaroos is mid-range now? Then again, I haven't purchased a motherboard in like, 7 years...

I think it's a bit of a stretch to call $600 midrange. I'd say boards that fall into $300-500 could be considered midrange for Z890.

MSI: 5x in the $200-300 range, then models at $360, $490, $650, $700 and the Godlike will be over $1000.

Gigabyte: 6x in the $200-300 range, 4x $300-400, $180, $600 and a few which will cost more.

Asus: 3x $200-300, 3x $300-400, 3x $400-500, $700, $720, $1000.

ASRock: 4x $190-200, 7x $200-300, 2x $300-400, 2x $400-500, $600, $1000.

 

[Phaaze88]

I think it's a bit of a stretch to call $600 midrange.

Agreed. I was only repeating what the article said.

I'd say boards that fall into $300-500 could be considered midrange for Z890.

That certainly sounds reasonable.

 

[snapdragon-x]

At that price point I rather see two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots running at x8/x8 like the Z890 Aorus Xtreme AI TOP. With this generation two mechanical PCIe 5.0 x16 slots got quite expensive.