Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Master Review

Name: Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Master
Brand: GIGABYTE
Price: 490 USD

ir_cow

on Dec 30th, 2021,

in Motherboards.

Manufacturer: GIGABYTE

Board Software »

BIOS Overview

Clocks	Range	Interval
BCLK Frequency:	80 MHz ... 500 MHz	0.01 MHz
CPU P-core Ratio:	8–127	1
CPU E-core Ratio:	8–60	1
CPU Cache Ratio:	8–85	1
DRAM Frequency:	DDR5-800 - DDR5-10000	N/A
CPU Voltages	Range	Interval
CPU Voltage:	1.1–1.8 V	0.005 V
CPU Input Voltage:	1.6–2.1 V	0.010 V
VCCSA Voltage:	0.8–1.50 V	0.010 V
VDD2 Voltage:	0.80–1.6 V	0.010 V
DRAM Voltages	Range	Interval
DRAM VDD:	0.900–1.80 V	0.005 V
DRAM VDDQ:	0.900–1.80 V	0.005 V
DRAM VPP:	1.5–2.00 V	0.005 V

The Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Master has an easily understood BIOS EZ Mode that is the default landing screen. It gives you the ability to set the memory XMP profile and fan control without digging deeply into the sub-menus. On the right side is the list of sub-menus that can be accessed by pressing the corresponding F-key or using the mouse.

Switching to Advanced Mode, we are greeted by the familiar black and orange highlighted BIOS layout. Those familiar with Gigabyte should feel right at home. I am glad to see a Favorites menu, which allows the user to add and subtract commonly used settings for future convenience.

Unfortunately, the inclusion of this Favorites menu is offset by an overall lack-luster BIOS. A lot of features I expect to find at this product tier, like PWM Switching Frequency and individual E-core voltage offsets, are missing. I would even go as far as to say not allowing users to set the memory controller voltage (VDDQ TX) is quite disappointing considering this motherboard is designed around PC enthusiasts who want the ability to customize things the average user would not know about. Even small things, like disabling PCIe slots or forcing bandwidth limitations, are absent.