The PCB and connectors:
Tools for clocking:
Let’s start with the elements inserted on the PCB which can be interesting tools for overclockers. They are quite varied on this motherboard considering its price.
- The Multi-Key button: once set in the Bios, allows either to restart the configuration, or to access directly to the Bios or to start in safe mode
- The Clear CMOS button : allows to erase the configuration of the Bios
- The Q-flash plus button : allows to flash the Bios without compatible CPU or RAM.
- Status LED : depending on their color, they allow you to identify a problem or to know the voltage level of the component (CPU – DRAM – VGA – BOOT).
PCB:
This Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX is quite simple at the PCB level, we are here on a well designed and well made motherboard but without more.
The power supply stage is based on a power supply whose part in charge of the CPU consists of 16 phases (in parallel 8+8).
The controller used would be an ONsemi NCP01530R capable of managing all phases. The 16 mosfets are all Onsemi FDMF5062 of 70A. What to have plenty of room for overclocking. Then we have a phase for the VCCGT (IGP) Onsemi NCP302455 of 55A. Finally, we have two Onsemi NCP303160 phases of 60A for the VCCAUX (PCIe and IMC).
Connectors:
The rear panel has the following elements. First of all, the USB 2.0 ports in the number of 4 to connect keyboard, mouse and other peripherals. We also have two USB 3.2 Gen 2 and three USB 3.2 Gen 1 in Type-A format and finally a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port. On the networking side, we have a 2.5GbE Ethernet port on a Realtek chip and Wi-Fi 6E on an Intel AX211 chip. The audio part has two jacks for microphone and line out as well as an SPDIF out on a Realtek ALC897 chip.
