Z790 AORUS MASTER X & XTREME X: Ultimate Platform for Intel 14th-gen CPUs | Product Overview

Gigabyte is one of the leading motherboard manufacturers in the industry, offering a wide range of products for different platforms and budgets. For Intel’s 13th and 12th generation Core processors, Gigabyte has launched several Z790 motherboards, including two flagship models: the Z790 Aorus Master X and the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X. Both of these boards are designed to offer the best performance, features, and aesthetics for enthusiasts and gamers, but they also have some differences that may affect your buying decision. In this article, we will compare the Z790 Aorus Master X and the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X in terms of specifications, design, connectivity, and pricing, to help you choose the right one for your needs.

Specifications

Both the Z790 Aorus Master X and the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X are based on the Intel Z790 chipset, which supports PCIe 5.0, DDR5 memory, native USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, and Intel Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs. Both boards also feature a 10-layer PCB and a 24-phase power delivery with 105A power stages for overclocking. However, there are some differences in the memory support, expansion slots, and storage options between the two boards.

The Z790 Aorus Master X supports up to 192 GB of DDR5-8000 memory across four DIMM slots, while the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X supports up to 256 GB of DDR5-9000 memory across eight DIMM slots. The Z790 Aorus Master X has three PCIe x16 slots (one PCIe 5.0 x16 and two PCIe 4.0 x8/x4), while the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X has four PCIe x16 slots (one PCIe 5.0 x16 and three PCIe 4.0 x8/x4). The Z790 Aorus Master X has five M.2 sockets (one PCIe 5.0 x4 and four PCIe 4.0 x4), while the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X has six M.2 sockets (one PCIe 5.0 x4 and five PCIe 4.0 x4). The Z790 Aorus Master X has six SATA ports, while the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X has eight SATA ports.

Design

Both the Z790 Aorus Master X and the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X have a black and grey theme with RGB lighting effects on the heatsinks, IO cover, and chipset cover. Both boards also have a large passive heatsink that covers most of the PCB area, as well as a fan-assisted heatsink for the PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket. However, there are some differences in the design details between the two boards.

The Z790 Aorus Master X has a front panel USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C header, while the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X does not. The Z790 Aorus Master X has a built-in OLED screen that can display system information or custom images, while the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X does not. The Z790 Aorus Master X has a tool-free PCH cover that can be easily removed by turning a finger screw, while the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X has a fixed PCH cover that requires screws to be removed.

Connectivity

Both the Z790 Aorus Master X and the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X have plenty of connectivity options for both wired and wireless devices. Both boards have dual Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports that support up to 40 Gbps data transfer and DisplayPort output. Both boards also have Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) and Bluetooth 5.3 modules that support up to 3 Gbps wireless speed and multi-gigabit Ethernet connections.

However, there are some differences in the LAN and USB ports between the two boards. The Z790 Aorus Master X has one Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE LAN port and one Aquantia AQC113C 10 GbE LAN port, while the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X has two Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE LAN ports.

The Z790 Aorus Master X has 14 USB ports on the rear panel, including three USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and seven USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports. The Z790 Aorus Xtreme X has 12 USB ports on the rear panel, including two USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and six USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports.

More about Z790 AORUS MASTER X: www.gigabyte.com

More about Z790 AORUS XTREME X : www.gigabyte.com