What to know
- The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X is an ATX motherboard, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G is an E-ATX motherboard.
- The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X has a black and gray color scheme, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G has a black and silver color scheme.
- 1 ports, 1 x HDMI port, 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x LAN port, 5 x 3.
The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X and Gigabyte Z690 Aero G are two high-end motherboards designed for Intel’s 12th-generation Alder Lake processors. Both motherboards offer a wide range of features for gamers, enthusiasts, and content creators. However, there are some key differences between the two boards that are worth considering before making a purchase.
Features
Form Factor and Aesthetics
The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X is an ATX motherboard, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G is an E-ATX motherboard. The ATX form factor is more common and fits in most standard cases, while the E-ATX form factor is larger and requires a case with more space. The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X has a black and gray color scheme, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G has a black and silver color scheme.
Chipset
Both the Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X and Gigabyte Z690 Aero G use the Intel Z690 chipset, which supports Intel’s 12th-generation Alder Lake processors. The Z690 chipset offers a wide range of features, including support for PCIe 5.0, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, and DDR5 memory.
CPU Socket
Both the Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X and Gigabyte Z690 Aero G have an LGA 1700 CPU socket, which is compatible with Intel’s 12th-generation Alder Lake processors.
Memory
The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X supports up to 128GB of DDR5 memory, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G supports up to 64GB of DDR5 memory. Both motherboards support dual-channel memory and have four memory slots.
Storage
The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X has four SATA 6Gb/s ports and three M.2 slots, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G has four SATA 6Gb/s ports and four M.2 slots. The M.2 slots on the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G support PCIe 4.0 and NVMe drives, while the M.2 slots on the Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X support PCIe 3.0 and NVMe drives.
Expansion Slots
The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X has three PCIe 4.0 x16 slots and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G has four PCIe 4.0 x16 slots and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. The PCIe 4.0 x16 slots on both motherboards can be used to install graphics cards, sound cards, and other PCIe devices.
Rear Panel I/O
The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X has a variety of rear panel I/O ports, including:
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port
- 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports
- 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
- 1 x HDMI port
- 1 x DisplayPort
- 1 x LAN port
- 5 x 3.5mm audio jacks
The Gigabyte Z690 Aero G has a variety of rear panel I/O ports, including:
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port
- 6 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports
- 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
- 1 x HDMI port
- 1 x DisplayPort
- 1 x LAN port
- 5 x 3.5mm audio jacks
Performance
The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X and Gigabyte Z690 Aero G both offer excellent performance for gaming, content creation, and other demanding tasks. The Z690 chipset provides a solid foundation for performance, and both motherboards have a variety of features that help to optimize performance.
Features Comparison
| Feature | Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X | Gigabyte Z690 Aero G |
| — | — | — |
| Form Factor | ATX | E-ATX |
| Color Scheme | Black and gray | Black and silver |
| Chipset | Intel Z690 | Intel Z690 |
| CPU Socket | LGA 1700 | LGA 1700 |
| Memory | Up to 128GB DDR5 | Up to 64GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports, 3 x M.2 slots | 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports, 4 x M.2 slots |
| Expansion Slots | 3 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x1 slot | 4 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x1 slot |
| Rear Panel I/O | 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports, 1 x HDMI port, 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x LAN port, 5 x 3.5mm audio jacks | 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, 6 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports, 1 x HDMI port, 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x LAN port, 5 x 3.5mm audio jacks |
Recommendations: Which Motherboard is Right for You?
The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X and Gigabyte Z690 Aero G are both excellent motherboards for gamers, enthusiasts, and content creators. The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X is a great choice for users who want a high-performance motherboard at a reasonable price. The Gigabyte Z690 Aero G is a great choice for users who want a top-of-the-line motherboard with all the latest features.
Common Questions and Answers
Q: What is the difference between the Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X and Gigabyte Z690 Aero G?
A: The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X is an ATX motherboard, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G is an E-ATX motherboard. The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X has four memory slots and supports up to 128GB of DDR5 memory, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G has four memory slots and supports up to 64GB of DDR5 memory. The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X has three M.2 slots, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G has four M.2 slots. The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X has three PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G has four PCIe 4.0 x16 slots.
Q: Which motherboard is better for gaming?
A: Both the Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X and Gigabyte Z690 Aero G are excellent motherboards for gaming. The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X is a great choice for users who want a high-performance motherboard at a reasonable price, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G is a great choice for users who want a top-of-the-line motherboard with all the latest features.
Q: Which motherboard is better for content creation?
A: Both the Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X and Gigabyte Z690 Aero G are excellent motherboards for content creation. The Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X is a great choice for users who want a high-performance motherboard at a reasonable price, while the Gigabyte Z690 Aero G is a great choice for users who want a top-of-the-line motherboard with all the latest features.