Huge List of Close to 100 Upcoming Z690 Motherboards Leaks

[TheLostSwede]

If the amount of upcoming Z690 was anything to go by, one could presume that the motherboard makers are backing Intel's upcoming platform to the max, as a leaked list of what should be close to every Z690 that will hit the market, counts a total of 98 boards. The list covers ASRock, ASUS, Biostar, NZXT, Gigabyte and MSI, but not EVGA and some other smaller players.

ASUS is apparently planning no less than 30 different models/SKUs, since some are clearly DDR4/DDR5 SKUs of the same model or SKUs with or without Wi-Fi, but even so, that's a massive launch lineup. Gigabyte isn't far behind with 27, followed by MSI at 24 and ASRock at 14, if we didn't count wrong. There isn't much news in terms of details of each of the boards here though, but it's clear that the high-end SKUs are mostly DDR5, while the mid-range and standard models are mostly using DDR4. The only slight surprise here is that only ASRock has more DDR4 than DDR5 models, with ASUS having exactly half of each, but Gigabyte and MSI are going with a preference for DDR5. ASRock, ASUS and Gigabyte appear to have liquid cooled SKUs, but it's not clear if MSI will offer such a SKU of its Godlike board.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[AusWolf]

There's a very small number of micro-ATX or mini-ITX boards on the list, but the excess of (standard sized) ATX boards makes it look chaotic. Not a very nice list at all. Maybe when B660 (B650?) comes around...

I don't understand why we need 9 ASUS Prime and 10 ASUS Strix boards, for example. One with DDR4 and one with DDR5 would be enough.

 

[Dristun]

Wonder if there will be any midrange boards with Thunderbolt. I don't need 10GE lan, overkill VRM or 20 usb ports, I just need thunderbolt!

 

[TheLostSwede]

There's a very small number of micro-ATX or mini-ITX boards on the list, but the excess of (standard sized) ATX boards makes it look chaotic. Not a very nice list at all. Maybe when B660 (B650?) comes around...

I don't understand why we need 9 ASUS Prime and 10 ASUS Strix boards, for example. One with DDR4 and one with DDR5 would be enough.

As pointed out, some of those SKUs are with and without Wi-Fi as well.
But yes, it's all a bit mad.

Wonder if there will be any midrange boards with Thunderbolt. I don't need 10GE lan, overkill VRM or 20 usb ports, I just need thunderbolt!

USB4? Although it seems like we might not even see that, since there was a shortage of some component from TI that was needed or USB4 would only be Thunderbolt 3, or was it Thunderbolt 4 that couldn't be USB4? I'm really confused about the difference.
That said, you'd need to get USB4 Gen 3x2 to hit 40Gbps...

 

[AusWolf]

As pointed out, some of those SKUs are with and without Wi-Fi as well.
But yes, it's all a bit mad.

Well, that would give you 4 models: with DDR4 or DDR5 and with or without Wi-Fi. Instead, we have the Strix F, E, G, A and I, that I'm sure no one will know the difference of, even after release.

Also, if motherboards supported both DDR4 and 5 (like some DDR2/3 boards did back in the days), we would need even fewer models.

Edit: With the minimal price difference between Wi-Fi and non-Wi-Fi models of current generations, I also don't understand why they don't just include Wi-Fi in all models as standard.

 

[bug]

For the low, low price of an arm? A leg? Firstborn?

 

[TheLostSwede]

Well, that would give you 4 models: with DDR4 or DDR5 and with or without Wi-Fi. Instead, we have the Strix F, E, G, A and I, that I'm sure no one will know the difference of, even after release.

Yeah, they tend to be fairly similar, with one good model and a bunch of not so good ones. Same as with the Prime models.

For the low, low price of an arm? A leg? Firstborn?

Are we just talking the motherboards here, or an entire build? If it's the latter, then all of it, plus a kidney and a liver.

 

[Dristun]

USB4? Although it seems like we might not even see that, since there was a shortage of some component from TI that was needed or USB4 would only be Thunderbolt 3, or was it Thunderbolt 4 that couldn't be USB4? I'm really confused about the difference.
That said, you'd need to get USB4 Gen 3x2 to hit 40Gbps...

I want to swap my Behringer audio interface for a UA Apollo Twin and that one is on TB3. There is an affordable AM4 board (Asus B550 Creator) with TB4 but judging by the forums the experience people had with it was garbage so I'd be willing to rebuild around some midrange 12xxx Intel CPU just to have thunderbolt working without extra hassle. I'm not willing to pay 400$ for a motherboard though.

 

[bug]

Are we just talking the motherboards here, or an entire build? If it's the latter, then all of it, plus a kidney and a liver.

Motherboards. This is a thread about motherboards, isn't it?

 

[TheLostSwede]

Motherboards. This is a thread about motherboards, isn't it?

But you're still going to need all the other bits/body parts to make a system, no?

I want to swap my Behringer audio interface for a UA Apollo Twin and that one is on TB3. There is an affordable AM4 board (Asus B550 Creator) with TB4 but judging by the forums the experience people had with it was garbage so I'd be willing to rebuild around some midrange 12xxx Intel CPU just to have thunderbolt working without extra hassle. I'm not willing to pay 400$ for a motherboard though.

Right, well, we'll have to wait and see, but USB4 Gen 3x2 should be Thunderbolt 3 compatible so...
Doesn't seem to be many Thunderbolt 4 boards in the list, in fact, Thunderbolt seems to be far more popular on laptops than desktops, so that might be an alternative route?

 

[SIGSEGV]

I ain't surprised at all

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

but it's clear that the high-end SKUs are mostly DDR5, while the mid-range and standard models are mostly using DDR4.

This is BS, but I get it.. its about profits.

 

[TheLostSwede]

This is BS, but I get it.. its about profits.

Looks like ASRock is your brand of choice.

 

[docnorth]

That's not a leak, it's a menu to choose from.

Edit. Good (for me) to see many mid-range DDR5 boards.

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

There's a very small number of micro-ATX or mini-ITX boards on the list, but the excess of (standard sized) ATX boards makes it look chaotic. Not a very nice list at all. Maybe when B660 (B650?) comes around...

I don't understand why we need 9 ASUS Prime and 10 ASUS Strix boards, for example. One with DDR4 and one with DDR5 would be enough.

It's really a shame that in an era where dual GPU is beyond dead, sound cards are external USB devices, and front expansion bays are verboten, that we STILL insist on having ATX cases for some reason. Micro ATX is more then enough for a modern build.

 

[bug]

But you're still going to need all the other bits/body parts to make a system, no?

Not of I already have a working system.

I'm just curious if we're expected to once more fork ~$300 for a decent mid-range mobo.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Not of I already have a working system.

I'm just curious if we're expected to once more fork ~$300 for a decent mid-range mobo.

Most likely, yes.
Asus' top of the range model with the liquid cooling kit was listed at well over €1,600 somewhere and Gigabyte's Aorus Elite AX is said to retail for AU$440 or US$330.

@AusWolf seems to be a massive price gap between the Strix E and the Strix G.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1447943174995861509

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1448332711324631040

 

[bug]

Most likely, yes.
Asus' top of the range model with the liquid cooling kit was listed at well over €1,000 somewhere and Gigabyte's Aorus Elite AX is said to retail for AU$440 or US$330.

Yeah, well, liquid cooling and Asus will do that.
Too bad more mundane designs aren't coming down in price. I'm not even sure what to buy anymore, since I had to cross AsRock off my list
Then again, if going for Alder Lake, I probably won't need the Z690. Luckily, I'm not in any hurry.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Yeah, well, liquid cooling and Asus will do that.
Too bad more mundane designs aren't coming down in price. I'm not even sure what to buy anymore, since I had to cross AsRock off my list

Sorry, I was wrong, it was well over €1,600, corrected above with links to some European pricing.

 

[asdkj1740]

Wonder if there will be any midrange boards with Thunderbolt. I don't need 10GE lan, overkill VRM or 20 usb ports, I just need thunderbolt!

would you consider aero d as midrange mobo?

 

[blu3dragon]

There's a very small number of micro-ATX or mini-ITX boards on the list, but the excess of (standard sized) ATX boards makes it look chaotic. Not a very nice list at all. Maybe when B660 (B650?) comes around...

I don't understand why we need 9 ASUS Prime and 10 ASUS Strix boards, for example. One with DDR4 and one with DDR5 would be enough.

Based on their current ROG strix motherboards, I is ITX, G is mATX, F is the entry level, E is the upper end model (more overkill VRM, PCIe switch, more M.2), A is between E and F. I actually find it surprising that they don't offer the F with DDR4 and WIFI, or the F with DRR5 without WIFI, but I guess they are thinking those going for DDR4 are looking to save $ so will drop the WIFI, while those going for DDR5, won't think too much about spending the extra.
TUF is offered in all 4 combinations. If that has a good enough VRM it could be the sensible ATX choice.

That is a lot of boards though, especially when you have the overlapping set of prime boards and then the high end boards on top. In comparison, they only list ROG strix E, A and I for Z590, while F and G are B560 boards.

 

[Dristun]

would you consider aero d as midrange mobo?

the ITX version because it comes in around 300$. I wish ATX cost this much but it's almost 400$ and that's not midrange money (in my mind at least).

 

[TheLostSwede]

Based on their current ROG strix motherboards, I is ITX, G is mATX, F is the entry level, E is the upper end model (more overkill VRM, PCIe switch, more M.2), A is between E and F. I actually find it surprising that they don't offer the F with DDR4 and WIFI, or the F with DRR5 without WIFI, but I guess they are thinking those going for DDR4 are looking to save $ so will drop the WIFI, while those going for DDR5, won't think too much about spending the extra.
TUF is offered in all 4 combinations. If that has a good enough VRM it could be the sensible ATX choice.

That is a lot of boards though, especially when you have the overlapping set of prime boards and then the high end boards on top. In comparison, they only list ROG strix E, A and I for Z590, while F and G are B560 boards.

Keep in mind that this might not be a complete list, as it's based on leaked information, so there might in fact be even more models/SKUs.
Biostar is obviously not going to release just a single board.

Asus naming is really a mess though.

 

[AusWolf]

It's really a shame that in an era where dual GPU is beyond dead, sound cards are external USB devices, and front expansion bays are verboten, that we STILL insist on having ATX cases for some reason. Micro ATX is more then enough for a modern build.

I couldn't agree more.

As a personal preference, micro-ATX is my sweet spot. Normal ATX systems look empty without expansion cards, and as much fun as I have building mini-ITX rigs from time to time, sub-compact cases can be a bit difficult to work with.

Based on their current ROG strix motherboards, I is ITX, G is mATX, F is the entry level, E is the upper end model (more overkill VRM, PCIe switch, more M.2), A is between E and F.

That's not how it currently works. Now you have model names like "Prime B560M-K" where B560 is the chipset, M stands for micro-ATX and K suggests how equipped the model is.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I couldn't agree more.

As a personal preference, micro-ATX is my sweet spot. Normal ATX systems look empty without expansion cards, and as much fun as I have building mini-ITX rigs from time to time, sub-compact cases can be a bit difficult to work with.

ATX is the new mATX.