Is Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro Worth It?

Both the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Elite and the Z390 Aorus Pro are excellent choices if your budget is up to $180. Priced at $190, the Pro version is $20 more than the standard model. While both boards support M.2 storage, the pro model adds USB Type-C to the expansion headers and thermal protection to both M.2 slots and PCIe expansion slots. The VRM thermal performance of both boards is excellent, surpassing that of Asus models costing $300 or more, according to our in-house testing.You can gigabyte z390 aorus pro review to know more about this. 

Gigabyte's latest motherboard, Aorus Pro, is packed with goodies. The Intel Z390 chipset, an 11-phase power architecture for stable overclocking, dual M.2, and more are all included. This motherboard has everything you could want: two slots for lightning-fast SSD/NVME storage solutions, two Gigabit Ethernet ports for lag-free gaming or streaming, an 8+4pin ATX12V connector to support up to 600W of total power output (not including CPU), and three RGB headers for LED lighting customization of your case interior or liquid cooling system bay reservoir components. If you want to construct a workstation PC that can handle any workload, this motherboard has you covered.

What Is The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro?

Out of the five Z390 motherboards tested, the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro is the priciest. It's not quite as inexpensive as the $140 MSI MAG Z390 Tomahawk, but it's only £7 more expensive than the ASRock Z390 Extreme4 and £12 more expensive than the Asus TUF Z390-PLUS Gaming.

Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro – Design And Features

The high price tag of the Z390 Aorus Pro is partially justified by its high quality design.

You get more RGB LEDs on this board than in any of its affordable competitors, and they can be found in the two major heatsinks, the audio circuitry, and between the memory slots, giving it a unique visual flair. The rear IO cover, the heatsink at the top of the board, and the southbridge heatsink all feature brushed metal and dramatic angles.

The Gigabyte board is attractive, and it has more desirable features and specifications than its slightly cheaper competitors.

It contains three PCI-E x1 slots and three PCI-E x16 slots, one of which can run at full speed, another at 8x speed, and a third at 4x speed. Both AMD and Nvidia dual-graphics systems can be used with the Gigabyte. As with the ASRock, and unlike the Asus and MSI boards, this one has a clean bill of PCI health.

The PCI and memory slots on the Gigabyte are reinforced with steel, and the board can accommodate 128GB of DDR4 RAM—more than twice as much as the ASRock—making it the only affordable board with such features.

Over the past few months, we've reviewed a plethora of high-end Z390 boards, so if you're prepared to spend a small fortune on a motherboard and want it to come in a massive box with enticing add-ons, you're in luck. Recent releases of sub-$200 motherboards from Asus (TUF Z390-Plus Gaming (WiFi)) and MSI show that you don't need to pay a fortune obtain a board capable to handle Intel's strong Core i9-9900K and contains several deluxe options like M.2 heatsinks, USB 3.1, or high-end audio (MAG Z390 Tomahawk). The Z390 Aorus Pro from Gigabyte is aimed squarely at this sector of the market, and can be had with or without wireless Internet connectivity. Here we have the no Wi-Fi version, which retails for $169 as of this writing and is what we've been testing.

Getting the WiFi model will set you back an extra ten pounds, which is more than the cost of a cup of coffee in the United States, but well worth it. The MSI board was the only one to slip below the $180 mark, and while Asus also did so, it did so by reducing features like audio and WiFi in favour of more USB 3 ports and more fan headers. Moreover, Asus prioritised the quality of its acoustics and included WiFi in its design.

Intel's desktop Z390 chipset supports about seven different ATX form factor motherboards at varying price points between $180 and $200. Because of this, businesses have to provide consumers a compelling package of quality services at a lower price than their rivals, while also standing out from the crowd with distinctive design elements like the plume of a peacock. The Z390 Aorus Pro WIFI from GIGABYTE costs $195. To put it bluntly, Aorus is a gaming brand. So, GIGABYTE hopes to establish itself in a competitive market with the Z390 Aorus Pro WIFI by offering a quality feature set at a reasonable price.

Two M.2 slots are provided, and unlike most competitors, heatsinks are included for both of them. Gigabyte's board contains the regular six SATA ports and an additional four-pin CPU power connector on top, just as ASRock's and MSI's boards. That's a big help if you want to overclock your CPU and send more power to the central processing unit.

Normal Gigabit Ethernet is included, and sound is provided by the Realtek ALC1220 chipset, which is a mainstream chip but slightly better than the audio hardware found on MSI and Asus boards.

The lack of a third M.2 slot for a wireless card is one of the few notable features seen on competing boards but not here.

There are a total of six PWM fan headers on the board, each of which is a four-pin connector. In addition, there are four lighting strip headers. Two USB 2.0 headers are included, and a USB 3.1 Type-C port may be found on the front panel of the case.

Even though there is only one USB 3.1 port on the motherboard, most cases that feature two USB 3.1 ports on the front panel will be compatible with this motherboard.

Rear IO has five full-size USB 3.1 connectors. The ASRock board only has one full-size port that employs the speedier Gen 2 protocol, but these two do. Also included are five audio connectors and four USB 2 ports, making this board the clear victor when it comes to USB connectivity.

Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro – Performance

Specifications

• Chipset Intel Z390
• CPU support Intel Socket LGA 1151-V2
• Form factor ATX
• Memory support Dual-channel, four slots, max 64GB
• Sound Eight-channel Realtek ALC 1220
• Ports 2 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 32Gbps/SATA 6Gbps (1 x up to 22110, 1 x up to 2280), , 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A, line in,6 x SATA 6Gbps, 1 x USB 3.0 Type-C header, 5 x USB 3.0 (2 via headers), 8 x USB 2.0 (4 via headers), 1 x LAN, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, audio out, mic, Optical S/PDIF out
• Extras RGB LED extension cables, M.2 heatsink, 2 x thermal probe cables.
• Networking 1 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet
• Dimensions (mm) 305 x 244

The Gigabyte's specs are impressive for the price, and it performs admirably, too.

The Gigabyte outperforms all of its cheap competitors in both the single-core and multi-core tests in Cinebench, scoring 210cb and 1506cb, respectively. Geekbench scores of 6032 and 28904 are also typically higher than those of this board's primary competitors.

When compared to the more expensive boards in the larger group, these scores fall short, but they're still the best available for this price.

The Gigabyte's respectable scores in storage and memory testing complemented its already impressive application performance. This board was never the worst on the market, and it was consistently better than the competition.

You may also use it to fantastic effect in video games. Scores of 7681 and 17847 on 3D Mark Time Spy and Fire Strike, respectively, surpass those of any other low-cost board. This meant it could hold its own against more expensive boards in games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, it even outperformed the more expensive boards.

An astonishing eight four-pin hybrid fan headers are provided, each capable of delivering up to 24W. Gigabyte's EFI and Windows software offer the greatest fan management available, allowing users to select from a wide range of temperature inputs and disable fans in response to low temperatures. Likewise, there are two thermal probes and two two-pin thermal probe headers on the board.

However, this does not rule out the possibility of other Core 9000 series CPUs being introduced, such as the 9100, 9400, and 9500. This particular launch, however, requires the use of three CPUs. In this review, we'll put the Core i9 9900K through its paces using its eight cores and sixteen threads. Your eight processor cores can be overclocked to at least 5.0 GHz with this motherboard.

Seven IR Digital ISL69138 VRMs, twelve SiC634 MOSFETs, and six ISL6617APhase Doublers make up the Z390 AORUS Pro. The AORUS Z390 Pro has been equipped with four DIMM slots for DDR4 memory running at speeds up to 4266 MHz (overclockable). There are two M.2 slots and six SATA III connections available for data storage. Each M.2 slot is protected by an attractive AORUS M.2 shield to keep it cool. There is only one Gigabit Ethernet port (Intel) built in. In any case, WIFI (A WIFI model is available for a tenner extra which is highly recommended to opt for). As mentioned, the board is aimed at the upper end of the mainstream desktop market. WIMA filters and an ESS Audio DAC are added to the capabilities of Realtek 1220.

The Z390 Aorus Pro WIFI also has a noteworthy memory system with four slots that enable for up to 128 GB of DDR4 RAM to be added, meaning that the newest 32 GB UDIMMs may be used. The Z390 Aorus Pro WIFI accepts ECC and non-ECC unbuffered memory at speeds up to DDR4-4266. With six SATA slots and two M.2 slots, this board provides ample storage space; each M.2 slot has its own heatsink. The Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec included on the Z390 Aorus Pro WIFI allows for five 3.5 mm audio ports and a S/PDIF optical output for your audio needs.

In terms of performance, the Z390 Aorus Pro WIFI is competitive with the GIGABYTE Z390 Aorus Master that we just reviewed. One of the fastest POST times we've encountered comes from the Z390 Aorus Pro WIFI, and it also held its own against other boards in our targeted computational tasks. The bad news is that it has the worst DPC Latency performance of any evaluated LGA1151 model. The GIGABYTE Z390 Aorus Pro WIFI isn't the most efficient motherboard when it comes to power usage. Even yet, there's no reason to panic; our test suite shows generally promising performance.

Should I Buy The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro?

The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro may cost more than its budget-friendly competitors, but it more than makes up for the difference in a number of key respects.

There is a lot of PCI expansion space, high-quality onboard connectors, and flexible back IO, making it a very capable piece of hardware. It's aesthetically pleasing, with more RGB LEDs and a more striking appearance than its competitors.

A few extra SATA ports or a third M.2 wireless connector on some competing boards may seem like nice to haves, but in reality, they're just minor nitpicks. The Gigabyte, however, is fully equipped with all of the standard functions.

Furthermore, it outperforms the competition in every way imaginable, running programmes and games at considerably higher speeds while maintaining a more constant level of performance.

Although this board is a bit more expensive, it is well worth the investment. If you're on a tight budget, the ASRock is the better choice for work, while the MSI is the better choice for gaming. However, the Gigabyte is the greatest budget all-around option.

The Gigabyte is slightly more expensive than competitors in the budget segment of the market, but it more than makes up for the difference with superior features and faster, more consistent performance across a wide range of apps and games. A great choice for most standard budget and middle-range constructions.

Conclusion

Motherboards with the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus brand name might set you back up to $180. In terms of temperature regulation, it outperforms Asus devices costing $300 or more. USB Type-C is included in the Pro model, allowing for faster expansion, and M.2 storage is also included. The Z390 Aorus Pro from Gigabyte is made for gamers in this category. Board contains M.2 heatsinks, USB 3.1, and high-end audio; it also supports Intel's Core i9-9900K processor (MAG Z390 Tomahawk).

There are eight USB 2.0 ports, five USB 3.1 ports, and six PWM fan headers. The audio quality of the Realtek ALC1220 chipset is better than that of the Asus chipset. There are eight 24-W hybrid fan headers on the Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Pro. Intel's Core i9 9900K can be overclocked to 5.0 GHz. Wi-Fi and a single Intel Gigabit Ethernet connector are included for under ten pounds.

Aorus Z390 Pro WIFI boots up quickly. The highest DPC Latency among all LGA1151 variants. The motherboard uses an excessive amount of energy. You can't go wrong with a Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro for a moderately priced system. Its competitors charge less, but it's not cheap. All of the apps and games now run faster.

Content Summary

• For $180, you may pick between the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Elite and the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro, both of which are excellent choices.
• The PCI and memory slots on the Gigabyte are reinforced with steel, and it can accommodate 128GB of DDR4 RAM—more than twice as much as the ASRock.
• Gigabyte's board shares similar features with those of ASRock and MSI, including six SATA ports and a four-pin CPU power connector.
• Time Spy and Fire Strike both receive a 3D Mark of 7681, whereas Fire Strike receives a 3D Mark of 17847.
• This review will put the Core i9 9900K's eight cores and sixteen threads to the test.
• DDR4-4266 unbuffered memory (both ECC and non-ECC) is supported on the Z390 Aorus Pro WIFI.
• In terms of overall performance, the Z390 Aorus Pro WIFI is on par with the GIGABYTE Z390 Aorus Master.
• Although more expensive than similar budget boards, the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro more than makes up for the difference in a number of key respects.
• In this respect, Gigabyte is no different from the norm.
• If you're on a tighter budget, Gigabyte is your best bet.
• The Gigabyte is more expensive than budget alternatives, but its higher price is justified by its higher quality and more rapid and stable performance in all apps and games.