GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS ULTRA – Hardwareluxx

The Z690 AORUS Ultra comes with numerous USB and storage interfaces. There is also a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for a dedicated graphics card and two mechanical PCIe 3.0 x16 slots. There is also Wi-Fi 6, 2.5 GBit/s LAN and some onboard comfort. Realtek’s 4080 codec takes care of the sound and Gigabyte has also left a lot of headers for the cooling. All in all, the Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Ultra sounds like a pretty well-rounded package.

Read more @ Hardwareluxx (German)

GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS MASTER – PCWorld

Much like the Asus Hero lineup of motherboards, the Gigabyte Master aims to please the enthusiast crowd without breaking the bank. Sure, the company’s Xtreme variants pack more features, but they’re often overkill. Do note that most MSRPs have increased since the previous generation, but the Master still comes in at a reasonable $469 (especially considering the feature set, as you’ll find out below).  

Read more @ PCWorld

ASUS ProArt Z690-CREATOR WIFI – PC Inquisitor

Little on the hardware side to differentiates the $480 ProArt Z690 Creator WiFi from a $600 gaming motherboard such as ASRock’s previously-reviewed Taichi, but even minor interface changes are as important as the difference in price. We still start off with three x16-length slots on the surface, and the I/O panel still filled with dual networking plus Bluetooth-equipped WiFi 6E, six USB3 Type A ports, and two USB Type-C ports that are fed by Intel’s JHL8540 Thunderbolt 4 controller . The Creator’s additional Displayport throughputs for connecting discrete graphics to Thunderbolt 4 outputs merely reduces the number of cables that a few users would otherwise have strung across their desks. 

Read more @ PC Inquisitor

GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS TACHYON – Overclocking

We are coming to the end of this test, and it will not have been all rosy between the chaotic beginnings and the 7 memory kits tested on it. But ultimately, this Aorus Z690 Tachyon turns out to be a good vintage that gets better with time. We’ve got a motherboard that’s just as good for daily use as it is for competitive overclocking . And, unlike its competitors, it offers an HDMI socket. It will therefore be possible to test the overclocking of Intel IGP under DDR5 with a motherboard cut to reach high frequencies. However, we are aware of the price. But for less than €600, you’ll have the opportunity to fully enjoy Alderlake.

Read more @ Overclocking (French)

MSI MEG Z690 ACE – ThinkComputers

We are back with another Z690 motherboard review and this one comes from MSI and might be one of the best Z690 boards we’ve seen yet! It is the MEG Z690 ACE and it has everything that you would expect to find on the Alder Lake platform plus much more! You are going to get a 22-phase (19+1+2) power design, DDR5 and PCI-Express 5.0 support, Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 gen 2×2, five M.2 slots, WiFi 6E, dual 2.5G LAN, and lets not forget a very sleek and sexy look with mainly a black design with gold accents. 

Read more @ ThinkComputers

ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 APEX – HardwareInside

The release of the Alder-Lake CPUs was only 6 months ago and ASUS already released the ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 APEX, a high-end mainboard of the ROG series that was already the most well-known overclocking mainboard on the market at the time of the Z590. We are of course all the more pleased that we can test this high-end mainboard. With its 24+2 phase VRMs with 105 A power levels, it makes the heart of enthusiasts beat faster and is equipped with five M.2 slots, which will please memory fetishists. The list of equipment and features of the APEX is cubits long. In the following we don’t want to withhold the numerous features, the temperatures and the overclocking potential from you, you can read everything else in the following test. ASUS provided us with the test sample for our test.

Read more @ HardwareInside (German)

ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 EXTREME, ROG MAXIMUS Z690 EXTREME GLACIAL – Tom’s Hardware

Hardware-wise, both the Extreme and Extreme Glacial are the same. Both have the overbuilt 25-phase VRM, a PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket (plus four others), Wi-Fi 6E and 10 GbE connectivity, flagship-class audio, AniMe Matrix and LiveDash displays, and too many other features to list here. Although the E-ATX-size boards look different due to the water block, they both exude a premium appearance and style that works with most builds. If you’re into RGB LED lighting, both boards have you covered, with the Glacial using a lot more.

Read more @ Tom’s Hardware

ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-A GAMING WIFI D4 – Hardwareluxx

The DDR5 RAM modules are not only fairly new on the market, but also quite expensive depending on the clock speed and storage capacity. In order to still be able to enjoy Intel’s 12th core generation, many interested parties and DIY users continue to rely on the proven DDR4 main memory. The ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WiFi D4 is not only compatible with DDR4 UDIMM modules, but also comes with a comprehensive range of equipment. But ASUS also offers the ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WiFi for the new DDR5 modules, although the price is around 35 euros higher. We will now look at the details of the DDR4 model in detail.

Read more @ Hardwareluxx (German)

ASRock Z690 Taichi – PurePC

ASRock Z690 Taichi, as befits a motherboard occupying the highest position in the hierarchy, excluding the completely niche ASRock Z690 Aqua, received a very solid equipment. The manufacturer took care of a powerful power section, an efficient cooling system, impeccable appearance and solutions that make it easier for overclockers to play. In addition, the latest modules responsible for wireless connectivity and a high-quality sound system were also added.

Read more @ PurePC (Polish)