Quick summary
- The Gigabyte Z790 Aero G boasts a striking design with a black and silver color scheme and angular lines.
- The Z790 Aero G has a more robust power delivery system with 19+1+2 phases, while the Z790 Tomahawk has a 16+1+1 phase design.
- However, the Z790 Tomahawk provides excellent performance and value, with a more traditional ATX design and a focus on gaming features.
The Gigabyte Z790 Aero G and Z790 Tomahawk are two high-end motherboards from Gigabyte designed for the latest 13th Gen Intel Core processors. Both motherboards offer a comprehensive range of features and performance enhancements, but they also have some key differences that may influence your choice. In this blog post, we will delve into a detailed comparison of the Gigabyte Z790 Aero G vs. Z790 Tomahawk, examining their specifications, features, and performance to help you make an informed decision.
Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Gigabyte Z790 Aero G | Gigabyte Z790 Tomahawk |
| — | — | — |
| Socket | LGA 1700 | LGA 1700 |
| Chipset | Intel Z790 | Intel Z790 |
| Form Factor | ATX | ATX |
| Memory Slots | 4x DDR5 DIMM | 4x DDR5 DIMM |
| Maximum Memory Capacity | 128GB | 128GB |
| Storage Slots | 4x M.2 NVMe SSD slots | 3x M.2 NVMe SSD slots |
| Expansion Slots | 2x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 | 2x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Networking | 2.5GbE LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 6E | 2.5GbE LAN, Realtek Dragon LAN |
| Audio | Realtek ALC1220-VB | Realtek ALC1220-VB |
| USB Ports | 10x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 | 6x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
| RGB Lighting | ARGB headers, RGB Fusion 2.0 | ARGB headers, RGB Fusion 2.0 |
Design and Build Quality
The Gigabyte Z790 Aero G boasts a striking design with a black and silver color scheme and angular lines. Its large heatsinks and metal reinforcement provide excellent cooling and durability. The Z790 Tomahawk, on the other hand, has a more traditional ATX design with a black and red color scheme. It also features sturdy heatsinks and a reinforced PCB, ensuring reliability and longevity.
Features and Connectivity
Memory and Storage: Both motherboards support up to 128GB of DDR5 memory with speeds of up to 6400MHz. The Z790 Aero G offers four M.2 NVMe SSD slots, while the Z790 Tomahawk has three M.2 NVMe SSD slots.
Expansion Slots: The Z790 Aero G provides two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot for graphics cards and other expansion cards. The Z790 Tomahawk also has two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, but it only has one PCIe 4.0 x4 slot.
Networking: Both motherboards feature 2.5GbE LAN for high-speed wired connectivity. The Z790 Aero G also includes Intel Wi-Fi 6E for wireless connectivity, while the Z790 Tomahawk has Realtek Dragon LAN for enhanced gaming performance.
Audio: The Z790 Aero G and Z790 Tomahawk both utilize the Realtek ALC1220-VB audio codec, providing high-quality audio playback and recording capabilities.
BIOS and Software
The Z790 Aero G and Z790 Tomahawk come with Gigabyte’s UEFI BIOS, which offers a user-friendly interface and advanced overclocking options. Both motherboards also include Gigabyte‘s App Center software suite, which provides access to various utilities and overclocking tools.
Performance
In terms of performance, the Gigabyte Z790 Aero G and Z790 Tomahawk deliver excellent results. The Z790 Aero G has slightly better overclocking capabilities due to its enhanced power delivery system. However, both motherboards provide stable and reliable performance for gaming, content creation, and other demanding tasks.
Overclocking
The Z790 Aero G and Z790 Tomahawk are both excellent choices for overclocking. The Z790 Aero G has a more robust power delivery system with 19+1+2 phases, while the Z790 Tomahawk has a 16+1+1 phase design. Both motherboards offer comprehensive BIOS options for fine-tuning overclocking parameters.
Cooling
The Z790 Aero G features large heatsinks on the VRM and chipset, ensuring effective cooling even under heavy loads. The Z790 Tomahawk also has ample heatsinks, but they are slightly smaller than those on the Z790 Aero G.
RGB Lighting
Both motherboards offer RGB lighting options through their ARGB headers. The Z790 Aero G has more ARGB headers, providing greater flexibility for customizing the lighting effects.
Final Thoughts: Making the Choice
The Gigabyte Z790 Aero G and Z790 Tomahawk are both exceptional motherboards for high-end gaming and enthusiast builds. The Z790 Aero G offers a slightly more premium design, enhanced overclocking capabilities, and more RGB lighting options. However, the Z790 Tomahawk provides excellent performance and value, with a more traditional ATX design and a focus on gaming features. Ultimately, the choice between these two motherboards depends on your specific needs and preferences.
Answers to Your Most Common Questions
Q1: Which motherboard is better for overclocking, the Z790 Aero G or Z790 Tomahawk?
A: The Z790 Aero G has a more robust power delivery system and slightly better overclocking capabilities.
Q2: Which motherboard has more RGB lighting options?
A: The Z790 Aero G has more ARGB headers, providing greater flexibility for customizing the lighting effects.
Q3: Which motherboard is better for gaming?
A: Both motherboards offer excellent gaming performance, but the Z790 Tomahawk has a slight edge due to its dedicated gaming features and Realtek Dragon LAN.