Gigabyte unveiled its latest motherboards featuring the Z890 chipset on Thursday (October 10), specifically designed for the newly launched Intel Core Ultra 200S CPUs. The company showcased the various models during a live-streamed event and highlighted their key features.
The Z890 motherboards are tailored for power users seeking high performance with Intel’s Arrow Lake-S processors. Gigabyte offers a range of models, from “modest” ones equipped with Wi-Fi 6E to more advanced options that support Wi-Fi 7. Additionally, professional-grade models are designed for enthusiasts, featuring artificial intelligence capabilities and detailed controls for temperature, voltage, and BIOS settings.
A standout feature across all models is the D5 Bionic Corsa technology. This AI-driven functionality allows DDR5 RAM frequencies to be boosted to 9500 MT/s, enabling users to maximize their system’s performance. This impressive speed exceeds Intel’s official standard, which supports a maximum of 6400 MT/s for its processors.
Focus on high-speed connectivity.
The new motherboards with Gigabyte’s Z890 chipset reflect the manufacturer’s commitment to delivering high-speed connectivity and data transfer standards.
All models come with PCIe 5.0 compatibility and Thunderbolt 4 ports, ensuring rapid data transfer capabilities through compatible SSDs or by supporting up to five monitors with DisplayPort 1.4a at 4K/8K resolution.
Regarding wireless connectivity, the motherboards support at least Wi-Fi 6E, which offers impressive transfer speeds of up to 9.6 Gb/s. The more advanced models even feature compatibility with the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard, which provides enhanced bandwidth and ensures stable connections, even when multiple devices are connected to the network.
Facilities for the user
Gigabyte has also focused on enhancing the user experience while assembling its new motherboards.
One notable improvement is adding a visual LED indicator that lights up when a RAM module is installed in the wrong slot. This straightforward feature removes the hassle of consulting the manual to find the optimal configuration for installing memory sticks.
Another handy addition is the PCIe EZ-Latch Plus, which simplifies the installation of graphics cards in the new Gigabyte motherboards. This feature eliminates the need for screws when securing GPUs in the PCIe slot, making setup quicker and easier.
Additionally, the M.2 EZ-Latch Click and M.2 EZ-Latch Plus serve a similar purpose for SSDs and heatsinks, streamlining their installation.
Lastly, the WiFi EZ plug has been introduced to simplify the connection of Wi-Fi antennas. Rather than requiring users to screw each antenna onto the motherboard, this feature allows for a single connection through an adapter installed on the motherboard’s rear, replacing the traditional dual connection setup that resembles coaxial cables.
Thermal management
Gigabyte’s new motherboards designed for Intel Core Ultra 200S processors contain features to optimize thermal and voltage management.
The rear panel of these motherboards is equipped with strategically placed openings that allow airflow to cool the VRMs and M.2 slots. Combined with the innovative DDR Wind Blade technology, this design ensures effective heat dissipation, keeping components functional even during demanding workloads.
One notable feature is the VRM Thermal Balance, which addresses a challenge presented by the latest Intel CPUs: the main power supply point is located at the top of the VRMs, leading to potential heat buildup in that area. To combat this, Gigabyte has developed a heat pipe that helps balance the temperature across both sides of the regulator module, alongside optimizing the PWM firmware for efficient heat dissipation.
Additionally, the Reduced Load-Independent Loading Mechanism is another unique feature of Gigabyte’s motherboards that enhances thermal conductivity. This mechanism aims to lower the operating temperature of components by up to 4°C and prevents the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) from warping under high temperatures.
Together with the broad thermal envelope of the Core Ultra 200S processors and the eight-layer PCB design, these enhancements provide ample opportunities for overclockers to push the limits of their CPUs without excessive concern for overheating.
New BIOS Features
The motherboards unveiled by Gigabyte come equipped with new BIOS features designed to enhance the performance of PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra 200S processors.
One standout feature is NPU Overdrive, which allows artificial intelligence professionals and enthusiasts to boost the NPU’s performance by up to 23%. This gives users the power they need for demanding applications.
For those more focused on maintaining optimal operating temperatures, AI PerfDrive offers a solution. This BIOS feature thoroughly assesses the PC’s usage profile and leverages AI to optimize the system’s performance settings accordingly.
Additionally, AIO Fan Control assists users in identifying the best operating profile for their system’s fans. Utilizing AI, this feature evaluates the cooling requirements and determines the most effective cooling pattern to ensure efficient thermal management.
AI TOP: Gigabyte’s top-of-the-line Z890 motherboards
Gigabyte also highlighted its AI TOP series motherboards, designed to showcase the full capabilities of Intel’s Core Ultra 200S processors. This premium lineup includes three models:
- Z890 AORUS XTREME AI TOP
- Z890 AORUS MASTER AI TOP
- Z890 AI TOP
These motherboards are packed with top-tier features and share several impressive specifications, including support for two graphics cards running simultaneously, two high-performance 10 GbE Ethernet ports, and two Thunderbolt 5 USB ports that can achieve up to 120 Gbps.
With these advanced capabilities, Gigabyte’s Z890 AI TOP motherboards are poised to set new standards in the market, making them strong contenders for enthusiasts seeking maximum performance.
Price and availability
Gigabyte has confirmed that its new Z890 chipset motherboards are set to launch this October, likely around the 24th, which coincides with the release of the Core Ultra 200V processors. However, the company has not provided a specific release date or price estimate for these components.
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