In the world of desktop PCs and custom DIY market, choosing the right platform can be little confusing and in some cases, a real challenge. It all depends on what you will use the PC for … some like to play the latest games, while others need it for content creation or streaming. Whatever the use … PCs are here to stay, so don’t believe what people tell you when they say the PC market is dying. It isn’t … it’s very much alive and growing!
If you plan to build a desktop PC in the near future, and want to know which platform to go for … well, here’s some information which we think will help you decide.
Now, let’s talk about the different platforms that’s currently available for the PC. Well, there’s only 2 to choose from, it’s either AMD or Intel. A PC system consists of several components as listed below …
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AMD processors, along with there corresponding motherboards have traditionally been the choice for many gamers due its price and accessibility. But many users that I know, including high-end enthusiasts, overclockers, streamers, and content creators, prefer to use Intel based PCs due to its rock-solid stability, reliability and compatibility. Intensive applications such as Adobe Premier Pro, seem to work a lot better on an Intel based platform (in my opinion).
In this article, we’re going to focus on the Intel Z790, and why it’s the most powerful platform for Intel Core processors which includes the 14th, 13th, and 12th Gen. We’ll also give our thoughts on why the Gigabyte AORUS motherboard series, is the perfect match to highlight all the best features from an Intel Z790 chipset.
Although the Intel Z790 was launched two years ago back in September 2022, it is still the best platform for today’s current Intel 14th Gen processors. It’s so good in fact, I’ve been using a Z790 motherboard ever since its launch, and I’ve upgraded my processor from Intel’s 12th Gen all the way up to a 14th Gen (14900K) with no issues whatsoever!
Intel Z790 Chipset
Here’s a quick overview and block diagram of the Intel Z790 chipset taken from their website:
Intel Z790 Chipset: Delivering a Supercharged Experience for Enthusiasts
The Intel® Core desktop processors, when paired with the Intel Z790 chipset, deliver the breakthrough performance and features that gamers, creators, and professionals need to work at their best. Optimized for overclocking2 and precision tuning when paired with an unlocked processor, the Intel Z790 chipset empowers you with the control and confidence to choose the best performance and thermal characteristics for the task at hand. Harness the processing power, responsiveness, and connectivity of up to 38 high-speed I/O lanes—including 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes, 8 PCIe 3.0 lanes, and 5 USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20G) ports—as well as supporting Intel® Killer™ Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) and Intel® Wi-Fi 7 (5 Gig) for extreme gaming, content creation, and productivity to the next level.
Here are some of the main highlights which makes the Z790 chipset extremely attractive:
Support for Intel® Core™ desktop processors (14th, 13th, and 12th gen)
Cross-generation compatibility with additional PCIe lanes and USB ports.
Memory Overclocking Support
Enables memory overclocking so that new and experienced users can get more from their unlocked processors.
One of the best features I like about the Z790 is the ability to support XMP (Xtreme Memory Profiiles). Developed and created by Intel. it was a way to increase system performance by overclocking the memory. The profiles can be enabled by the user to select higher performing speeds or restore back to default speeds. Any memory kits that suppot Intel XMP, will run at the highest specified speed if XMP is enabled in the BIOS of the motherboard.
Supports PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for Next-Gen graphics cards
Compatible with the latest next-gen graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD.
Supports PCIe Gen5 x4 M.2 NVMe SSDs
PCIE Gen5 interface allows next-gen SSDs to produce phenomenal sequential read speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s, and lightning write speeds of up to 12,000 MB/s.
Intel® Wi-Fi 6E Support or Intel® Wi-Fi 7 (5 Gig)
Integrated Intel® Wi-Fi 6E or WiFi 7 so that you can enjoy wired and wireless connectivity at Gigabit Wi-Fi speeds.
Wi-Fi 7 can supports up to 320 MHz channels, providing a significant increase in bandwidth for faster data rates. With MLO (Multi-Link Operation) technology, you can simultaneously connect on two bands. This enables faster speeds through aggregation. Or, both bands can be used concurrently to share redundant/unique data for improved reliability with ultra-low and precise latencies.
Real-Use Case
As a content creator, having a reliable system is essential, especially when you’ve spent more than 1-2 hours editing a video. Video files can be extremely large, often reaching hundreds of megabytes, and in most cases gigabytes in size. So with that said, you’ll need a fast and stable PC to render those video files, and save it to a storage device that can offer fast read/write speeds.
Intel’s Z790 is the ideal platform for this type of work loads. It’s currently the most powerful platform for Intel Core processors, which includes the latest 14th Gen, 13th Gen, and 12th Gen processors. For starters, it supports high-speed DDR5 ram, plus if you pair it with an unlocked CPU, you can boost its performance with memory overclocking. It also comes with a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, which is compatible with the latest next-gen graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD. Furthermore, it supports PCIe Gen5 x4 M.2 NVMe SSDs for super fast read/write speeds, which is essential for saving large files. For connectivity, it can support WiFi 7, 2.5 Gigabit LAN and Bluetooth 5.2 or higher.
There’s no question in my mind … when it comes to important work loads, I prefer and choose to use an Intel based platform everytime.
Gigabyte AORUS X Gen Motherboards*
Not all motherboards are produced the same. Gigabyte differentiate themselves from other brands with some unique features, allowing user to build a PC much easier. Take for example their innovative EZ-Latch system, which is found on all of their AORUS Z790 X Gen motherboards …
- M.2 EZ-Latch Click – For screwless installation for M.2 heatsink
- M.2 EZ-Latch Plus – For screwless installation for M.2 SSDs
- PCIe EZ-Latch Plus – For easy detachment for graphics cards
- Sensor Panel Link – Featuring onboard video port for sensor panel setup
- LCD Edge View – Optional 5″ LCD display for real-time system info
The PCB plays an important role in the system capabilities, so when it comes to build quality and reliability, Gigabyte AORUS Z790 X Gen motherboards feature …
- 8-layer Server-grade PCB – Improves signal integrity and stability
- 2x Copper Enhancement – Improves heat dissipation
- Back Drilling Technology – Improves performance and reliability
GIGABYTE Ultra Durable Technology has been the mainstay with all of their motherboards. It’s durable and reliable, and ensures that their motherboards are built to last longer and stand stronger.
- PCIe UD Slot X – Up to 10x load-bearing capacity
- Memory UD Slot – Up to 5000+ times plug and unplug
- M.2 UD Slot – 1.3x stronger in X-axis and 1.5x in Y-axis
- UD Nanocarbon Backplate – 3x higher thermal conductivity
- UD Power Connectors – For superior conductivity and signal transmission
Gigabyte AORUS Z790 X Gen motherboards come with the most advanced, full metal thermal design. These solid heatsinks help to keep your system cool while running fast.
- VRM Thermal Armor – Designed for 6Ghz overclocking
- M.2 Thermal Guard – Up to 50x more surface
- Fins-Array Design – Up to 10x more surface
- Nanocarbon Coating – Up to 10% temperature reduction
- I/O Vent Design – Up to 7°C temperature reduction
For DDR5 memory performance, the Gigabyte AORUS Z790 X Gen motherboards are engineered with industry-leading technologies, to deliver the best-in-class DDR5 performance on the market. Please check Gigabyte’s QVL list here.
- Best-in-class Compatibility – Up to DDR5 XMP-8266 or higher support
- DDR5 XMP Booster – One click to boost by the highest profile
- XMP 3.0 User Profile – Optimizes memory settings and achieve the best performance for the system
- BIOS Engineering – Featuring rich DDR5 memory tweaking options
Connectivity is often over-looked, but essential. Gigabyte’s AORUS Z790 X Gen motherboards give you plenty.
- Wireless: WiF 7 with Ultra-high gain antenna
- Extended Connectivity: HDMI, Display Port, Front & Rear USB-C® 20Gb/s
- LAN: Intel 2.5GbE LAN or Realtek 5GbE LAN (subject to model/SKU)
The BIOS is another essential part of the motherboard, and thanks to the partnership from the community, Gigabyte can now improve performance via BIOS optimization in more intuitive ways.
- UC BIOS – Redesigned as user-centered and user-friendly interface
- HWiNFO Partnership – Innovative DDR memory features
- GIGABYTE Control Center – Easy to use unified software platform
(* Not all Gigabyte motherboards will come with the features mentioned above – Subject to model/SKU)
Final Thoughts
As I mentioned earlier, being a content creator I produce a lot of videos, and this requires some really high performance hardware. The Intel Z790 platform with its latest 14th Gen Core processors has given me what I need … a powerful and reliable system to complete my work heavy load.
And the best motherboard to bring this altogether, is the Gigabyte AORUS Z790 series. Not only do they offer good performance, stability and reliability, but the wealth of innovative features are second to none. Building your own desktop PC, using the Gigabyte AORUS Z790 series motherboards is simple and easy to set up, thanks to their EZ-Latch system, as well as their UC BIOS.
My current desktop PC features a Gigabyte Z790 AORUS PRO X Motherboard, with an Intel Core i9-14900K processor and 32GB of DDR5 ram, as well as 2 TB PCIE Gen5 SSD, and a GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. All-in-all, I can say I’m more than happy with the overall performance and features of the motherboard.
More information about Gigabyte’s AORUS motherboards can be found here.
| You can visit our system configurator Rig Builder™ … a simple, yet effective way to decide what components you’ll need to build your perfect system.
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