GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS XTREME motherboard Intel Z690 LGA 1700 Extended ATX

Z690 AORUS XTREME
THE NEW KING OF GAMING
Rule supreme with the Z690 AORUS gaming motherboards. The new king of gaming platform continues the legendary AORUS bloodline with the most robust power delivery and dominant thermal design, glorified with the complete memory overclocking technology to crown your PC with the best Alder Lake's performance in all its gaming glory.

UNPARALLELED PERFORMANCE
With technology moving so fast, GIGABYTE still keep up with the latest trends and provide our customers with advanced features and latest technology. GIGABYTE Z690 Series motherboards come with upgraded power solution, latest storage standards and outstanding connectivity to enable optimize performance for gaming.​

The more advanced manufacturing process and the higher core count on the new generation of CPUs, requires motherboards to utilize a more sophisticated VRM design to make CPUs run at their full potential. GIGABYTE uses fully DIRECT VRM DESIGN, high quality MOSFETs and tantalum polymer capacitors to achieve higher efficiency, lower voltage ripple and lower temperature than traditional parallel VRM design.

Tantalum Polymer Capacitor
- Lower impedance than regular capacitor to reduce voltage ripple​
- Stable capacitance under high temperature​
- Mounted right under the CPU area to stabilize CPU voltage during heavy loading

With DIRECT VRM DESIGN and TANTALUM POLYMER CAPACITOR, Z690 motherboards transient response, voltage ripple and stability is highly improved under overclocking and heavy loading condition.

GIGABYTE Z690 Motherboards are ready to work with the upcoming PCIe 5.0 devices which are expected to experience double bandwidth than the current PCIe 4.0 devices. To reach the high speed and maintain good signal integrity, Gigabyte R&D uses the low impedance PCB to provide the maximum performance.

Hybrid Cores Optimization
With new Intel Hybrid technology, GIGABYTE exclusively creates two new "CPU Upgrade" in BIOS profiles to meet different users’ scenarios by adjusting P-Core and E-Core activation and voltage policy.
- Deactivate all E-Core
- Zero compromise on gaming performance
- Up to 20% lower CPU package power
- Up to 5°C lower CPU temperature

XTREME MEMORY
GIGABYTE Z690 Motherboards feature the latest DDR5 architecture and XMP 3.0 capability. The new DDR5 memory technology brings 50% more bandwidth to the platform and increases the system performance drastically by implementing Unlocked Native DDR5 Voltage, Xtreme Memory Routing and reliable SMD slot. In addition to the hardware upgrades, the user friendly UI provides full functionality to overclock higher with exclusive DDR5 tuning capability.

Support for DDR5 XMP Up to 6600MHz and Beyond
AORUS is offering a tested and proven platform that ensures proper compatibility with profiles up to 6600MHz and beyond. All users need to do to attain this performance boost is to ensure that their memory module is XMP capable and that the XMP function is activated and enabled on their AORUS motherboard.

Unlock DDR5 Voltage
- GIGABYTE exclusive circuit design unlocks Native DDR5 voltage control
- Transforms Native DDR5 memory module to Overclocked DDR5 memory
- Increases DDR5 memory overclocking performance and capability
- Supports all PMIC vendors for maximum compatibility

Shielded Memory Routing
All memory routing is under the PCB inner layer shielded by a large ground layer to protect from external interference.

Ultra Durable™ SMD DDR5 Memory Armor
GIGABYTE's exclusive stainless steel shielding design.

THERMAL REACTIVE ARMOR
GIGABYTE Z690 Series Motherboards' Un-throttled performance is guaranteed by innovative and optimized thermal design to ensure the best CPU, Chipset, SSD stability and low temperatures under full load application and gaming.

Fins-Array III
GIGABYTE new generation Fins-Array III delivers the ultimate thermal performance by using Extended Irregular fins to fill all available space and vastly increases surface area. A piece of Fins-Array III heatsink surface area is larger than 2 full size ATX motherboard PCB, therefore it tremendously boost thermal efficiency and heat exchange performance.

Advanced internal fins construction
- 900% bigger surface.
- Extended Irregular design used all available space to dissipate heat.

Direct-Touch Heatpipe II
With an extra large 8mm heatpipe and made by a new manufacturing process which has narrow down the gap between the heatpipe and heatsink. The new Direct-Touch Heatpipe II greatly helps to dissipate the heat on MOSFETs.

NanoCarbon Baseplate
- Base plate made of aluminum instead of traditional iron ensures 3X thermal conductivity.
- A thin layer of NanoCarbon is coated on the base plate through electrostatic adhesion to enhance thermal radiation capability.
- Transfer heat from the back side PCB to the base plate so the NanoCarbon base plate can dissipate heat passively.
- Effectively lowers backside PWM component temperature by 10%.

NanoCarbon Coating
This specialized nanostructure of carbon molecules has extraordinary thermal conductivity.

Thermal Guard Xtreme
High speed M.2 SSD will generate tremendous heat during intense read/write operation. Thermal Guard XTREME is ultimate M.2 SSD thermal solution by equipping all GPU cooler level technology, including Fins-Array, Heatpipe, NanoCarbon to ensure SSD throttle-free performance.

3% Cooler by implementing
2X copper PCB Design
By adopting 2X copper on PCB inner layer, it lowers the components' temperature at least 3% by turning the PCB into a super thin PCB size copper heatsink to dissipate the heat from the components effectively, due to it’s high thermal conductivity and lower impedance.

Smart Fan 6 contains several unique cooling features that ensure gaming PC maintain its performance while staying cool and quiet. Multiple fan headers can support PWM/DC fan and pump, and users can easily define each fan curve based on different temperature sensors across the board via intuitive user interface.

- High Current Support
Each fan headers support PWM and DC fan and Water cooling Pump , and up to 24W (12V x 2A) with Over-Current Protection
- Precision Control
7 temperature/fan speed control points for precise fan curve
- Dual Curve Mode
Slope/Stair dual mode for different user scenario

Smart Fan 6 BIOS UI
Improve fan curve UI
We increase control points from 5 to 7 and larger fan speed graph for precise and easier fan curve control.
Slope/Stair dual graph mode
Fan curve can be quickly switch with Slope and Stair modes for different user scenario. Slope is traditional and intuitive linear fan speed curve. With newly added Stair non-linear mode, fan keeps at same speed between specified temperature interval.
Manual Input
For advanced users, we provide fan speed manual input for more precise control.
EZ Tuning
Use can place 4 EZ Tuning points at rough temperature/fan speed, and Smart Fan 6 can quickly generate a fan curve.
Fan curve profile
Fan curve profile can be saved in BIOS ROM, profile will be kept after updating BIOS.

CONNECTIVITY
GIGABYTE Z690 Series Motherboards let you experience ultimate connection flexibility and blazing data-transfer speed with next generation network, storage, and WIFI connectivity.

Next Generation Intel Thunderbolt™ 4
Dual Thunderbolt™ 4 – The fastest 40Gb/s single-wire connection
Powered by Intel's own Thunderbolt controller the new Thunderbolt™ 4 protocol, which is available over two USB Type-C® connectors on the back I/O of the GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS XTREME, brings an unprecedented single-wire bandwidth of up to 40 Gb/s -- twice more than USB3.2 Gen2x2! This incredible increase in bandwidth is also accompanied with support for different protocols such as DisplayPort 1.4a and compliant with USB4 standard, which is backwards compatible with USB 3.2 Gen1 and USB 2.0, opening up a world of new possibilities.

Daisy-chain Multiple Devices
Support for DisplayPort 1.4 makes Thunderbolt™ 4 a must have for any enthusiast. The Z690 AORUS XTREME is able to support two displays in 4K resolution at 60 FPS or one display in 8K resolution. In addition, Thunderbolt™ 4 over USB Type-C® has revolutionary industry-first features such as Power Delivery 2.0, USB4 specification compliance, and the ability to daisy-chain up to 10 devices thanks to the Z690 AORUS XTREME's dual USB Type-C® ports.

AQUANTIA® 10GbE BASE-T Networking
Next Generation Multi-Gig Gaming
The AQUANTIA® AQC113C is a high-performance, backward compatible with 10GBASE-T/ 5GBASE-T/ 2.5GBASE-T/ 1000BASE-T/ 100BASE-TX Ethernet Controller which is able to provide up to 10 GbE network connectivity, with 10 times faster transfer speeds compared to general 1GbE networking and is perfectly designed for media centers, workstations and gamers.

ESSential HEX USB DAC
Play it by ear
ESSential HEX USB DAC reduces the pre-ringing and provides higher reverberation strength to achieve width and depth on the sound stage. The sound is clearly portrayed making directional sounds clearer and more accurate when playing FPS games.

Deliver you a highly immersive listening experience with strong technical specifications.
- Cohesion up to 99.999% FreqAcc
- Recreation up to 117dB DNR
- Low Distortion up to -111dB THD+N
- Frequency Response up to -0.04dB @50kHz

Linear Apodizing
Utilizing the HyperStream® II by ESS and the innovated HEX DAC design, we immerse you into your favorite games or any sounding scenario like never before.

Experiencing more
Hi-Res Audio certified, meaning that the product is capable of reproducing frequencies up to 40kHz or above which ensures user with the best audio quality at all times. ESSential HEX USB DAC make you experiencing more.

ESSential USB DAC
Complete Digital to Analog Signal processing on front-access USB Type-C ports gets rid of any possibility of distortions and provides superb sound stage recreation so users can experience the vocal cohesion. Enjoy the depth of the music and the immersive sound profile.
USB Type-C for PC, Laptop and Android Devices
- Replace Ancient Front Audio Interfaces
- Powered by ESS SABRE HIFI DAC
- Premium Power Processing
- Left/Right Separation Routing
- Superior Sound Stage by WIMA Capacitors

Recreates an authentic, spatially accurate 3D audio experience for gaming over any headphones or speakers. Supports channel-based, scene based and object-based audio. Provides out-of-the-box calibration for a range of headphones and speakers. Provides post-processing enhancements and device level tuning for DTS® codecs.
DTS Sound Unbound leverage Microsoft Spatial, enabling the the most believable, 3D audio experience for games. Immersion through DTS Headphone:X means in the sonic landscape, stationary and moving sounds can be heard from above, below or around the listener. Sounds pass around the listener with amazing externalization and accurate localization.

PERSONALIZATION
GIGABYTE motherboards bundle several useful and intuitive software to help users to control every aspect of motherboard and provide customizable lighting effect with outstanding aesthetics to fit your unique personality.

Multi-Zone Light Show Design
Now offering more LED customizations than ever, users can truly adapt their PC to represent their lifestyle. With full RGB support and a redesigned RGB Fusion 2.0 application, the user has complete control over the LEDs which surround the motherboard. Note: Lighting effects depicted are for demonstration purposes only. Actual lighting effects may vary by model.

New User Interface
All new EASY MODE shows important hardware information in one page including CPU clock, Memory, Storage, Fan.
My Favorites
Add constantly used items into the favorite menu for quick access.
Storage Information
Show all kinds of storage information including SATA, PCIE and M.2 interface.
Changelog
List all changes before saving and exiting bios. Quickly review overall settings modification.
Intuitive Load Line Curve
Clearly show each loadline calibration setting in an intuitive curve graph.

MultiKey
A multi-function reset button that can be reconfigured to other function in BIOS for different user scenarios.
- RGB Switch
Turn off all lighting effect on motherboard.
- Direct-To-BIOS
Boot into BIOS menu directly without pressing any keyboard button.
- Safe Mode
Boot into BIOS safe mode to change specific option without losing other BIOS settings.

GIGABYTE's EasyTune™ is a simple and easy-to-use interface that allows users to fine-tune their system settings or adjust system and memory clocks and voltages in a Windows environment. With Smart Quick Boost, one click is all it takes to automatically overclock your system, giving an added performance boost when you need it the most.

ULTRA DURABLE
GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ features its product durability and high-quality manufacturing process. GIGABYTE motherboards use the best components and reinforce every slots to make each of them solid and durable.​

Q-Flash Plus
Update the BIOS easily without installing the CPU, memory and graphics card.
With GIGABYTE Q-Flash Plus, you don’t need to install the CPU, memory and graphics card nor enter the BIOS menu to flash the BIOS. Just download and save a new BIOS file (rename to gigabyte.bin) on the USB flash drive, then press the dedicated Q-Flash Plus button and you’re good to go!

Solid Pin Power Connectors
AORUS motherboards feature solid plated ATX 24pin & ATX 12V 8pin + 8pin power connectors to offer a stable power supply during CPU overloading.

Solid Pin Power connector advantages
- Larger contact area for electricity
- More metal quantity to sustain higher power and generated heat
- Ultra durable and longer lifespan