We have reached the end of the review, and it is once again time to consolidate everything and summarize what this motherboard has to offer. As with previous reviews, I will start with what I think Gigabyte could improve upon before finishing on a positive note.

Seemingly like clockwork with every chipset, the big four motherboard manufacturers put forth a product designed to push the limits of the capabilities of current the Intel or AMD platform. Gigabyte's prized entry for the Intel LGA 1700 socket is this AORUS Tachyon motherboard. This Z690 based motherboard is designed with extreme overclocking abilities as the key feature, which means everything else that isn't directly related has been given a lower priority. In past generations, vendors have stripped the motherboard of all premium features in favor of redirecting the overall cost to areas that matter in terms of overclocking potential. Gigabyte tip-toes this line by still offering mid-tier features, but prioritizing the intended market.

Browsing e-tailers, it is easy to see that an LGA 1700 based system can vary greatly in price. Entry-level motherboards based around the Intel B660 chipset exist for those who simply want a current-generation product without a substantial investment. That market's intended audience may have little to no desire to overclock or interest in accompanying premium features. For example, Intel B660 based motherboards do not support traditional overclocking methods with the CPU multiplier limited to the installed CPU's Turbo frequency. Other cost-cutting tactics include less M.2 sockets, weaker power delivery solutions, and basic memory support.

Gigabyte's Z690 AORUS Tachyon lands on the opposite end of the spectrum and is targeted towards PC enthusiasts, inside of which is even a tighter niche group of those who are passionate about maximizing hardware performance. With that in mind, this product's potential is absolutely wasted in the hands of a causal user. Even amateur overclockers may end up with similar results when using an entry midrange motherboard like the Gigabyte's Z690 AORUS Ultra. Buying the Z690 AORUS Tachyon without a desire to overclock or will to research problems that arise is not advisable. For example, an unwillingness to test cause and affect of the primary voltages used in everyday overclocking ultimately becomes money wasted. The commitment to learn new things must be continuous for one to reach the goal of having a top-tier system tuned for performance.

Those who are serious about getting their feet wet and learning the science of CPU and memory overclocking will find the Z690 AORUS Tachyon to be a great product. However, this is also my main complaint overall. Those with prior experience will have no problems either researching new techniques or already have the necessary resources at their disposal. It can be particularly challenging for newcomers as every vendors has variations of voltage naming and BIOS functionality.

Even though this product is mainly geared towards the PC enthusiast overclocking community, those who are just looking for a hassle-free plug and play system will find something here as well. Whether the motherboard is part of a hardware bundle or already selected in a pre-built system, it certainly isn't an inferior product to a majority of motherboards on the market. Gigabyte has of course equipped the Z690 AORUS Tachyon with a powerful VRM using 105 A power stages with fantastic memory support due to its overclocking roots. Without any doubt in my mind, up to DDR5-6600 memory is supported without any manual voltage intervention concerning system stability. It is also equipped with four M.2 sockets, all of which support Gen4 x4 bandwidth for up to 7 GB/s transfer rates. Gigabyte has done its due diligence concerning the everyday needs of consumers and included WiFi 6E, iGPU, and PCIe 5.0 support. It still provides the same functions as a mid-range Intel Z690, but with a few additions focusing on the intended audience.

What makes this appealing to both amateur and enthusiast overclockers alike is the pricing and availability. It is not a small limited production run like ASROCK's Z690 AQUA OC and isn't priced considerably higher than its contemporaries. The ASUS Z690 APEX and EVGA Z690 Kingpin motherboards may have more user-friendly overclocking guides and easier understood BIOS layouts, but those are priced in a tier of their own. Despite the Gigabyte Z690 AORUS Tachyon being rough around the edges in terms of user-friendliness, I still highly recommend this motherboard for those who enjoy tinkering or want to start overclocking like the pros. Just understand the learning curve can be dreadful at times, especially when multiple voltages are at play. However, with what Gigabyte offers, it is an attractive product for a wide range of users nonetheless.