Z690
Since we posted our previous motherboard guides, there has been a couple of notable processor launches. Perhaps one of the most impressive of the aforementioned launches is Intel's 13th Gen Core series, codenamed Raptor Lake. Not only is Intel's 13th Gen Core series powerful as we highlighted in our launch day review, but it offers multiple levels of affordability due to its support for both DDR5 and DDR4 memory. This means users can pair up the flagship Core i9-13900K with a premium Z790/Z690 motherboard and fast DDR5 memory for ultimate performance, or even go for the more affordable Core i5-13600K with DDR4 and a more modest motherboard model. We're focusing on Intel here and there are many chipsets that feature support for Intel's 13th Gen...
The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WIFI (DDR5) Motherboard Review: A Decent Mid-Ranged Z690
As we near the end of Intel's 12th Gen (Alder Lake) life cycle, its 13th Gen Core series is expected to be due by the end of the year...
18 by Gavin Bonshor on 9/8/2022ASRock Releases Raptor Lake BIOS Updates For Its 600 Series Motherboards
While Intel has yet to officially announce its next (13th) generation of Core processors, this isn't stopping motherboard manufacturers from releasing products for them. Always eager to slide ahead...
3 by Gavin Bonshor on 6/29/2022The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero Motherboard Review: A Solid Option For Alder Lake
Over the last six months since Intel launched its 12th Gen Core series of processors, we've looked at several Alder Lake desktop CPUs and seen how competitive they are...
40 by Gavin Bonshor on 6/15/2022NZXT Announce N7 and N5 Z690 Motherboards for Intel 12th Gen Core Processors
NZXT has announced a pair of new motherboards designed for Intel's 12th Gen Core processors: the N7 Z690 and N5 Z690. The N7 Z690 positions itself as the premium...
6 by Gavin Bonshor on 6/1/2022GIGABYTE Issues Recall on Z690I Aorus Ultra Motherboards, Citing PCIe Gen 4 Issues
GIGABYTE has officially announced that it is offering an RMA replacement service for users that have purchased one of its key mini-ITX models for Intel's 12th Gen Core series...
16 by Gavin Bonshor on 5/16/2022DDR5 Demystified - Feat. Samsung DDR5-4800: A Look at Ranks, DPCs, and Do Manufacturers Matter?
The hottest advancement in memory technology for desktop computers in recent years is undoubtedly the release of DDR5 memory and Intel's 12th Gen Core series of processors. Not only...
68 by Gavin Bonshor on 4/7/2022The GIGABYTE Z690 Aorus Master Mobo Review: 10GbE Rounds Out A Premium Board
The latest motherboard to grace our test bench is the GIGABYTE Z690 Aorus Master, which hails from its Aorus gaming series and sits just one step below its Aorus...
37 by Gavin Bonshor on 2/25/2022EVGA Unleashes Z690 Dark K|NGP|N Edition Motherboard: Alder Lake Goes Extreme
Although these long, cold, and dark nights are starting to come to an end, EVGA has launched its darkest and most devilish desktop motherboard to date, the EVGA Z690...
25 by Gavin Bonshor on 2/18/2022G.Skill Blitzes DDR5 World Record With Trident Z5 at DDR5-8888
For users buying a memory kit of DDR5, if they want to adhere to Intel specifications, will buy a DDR5-4800 kit. Though through XMP, there are other faster kits...
15 by Gavin Bonshor on 1/25/2022The MSI MEG Z690 Unify (DDR5) Motherboard Review: The All-Black Option
With the Unify, we are looking at a premium model with support for DDR5 memory, but it doesn't feature any RGB LED lighting. The MSI MEG Z690 Unify represents...
20 by Gavin Bonshor on 1/18/2022CES 2022: ASRock Unveils Z690 Aqua and Z690 Aqua OC Motherboards
At CES 2022, ASRock has announced two premium and limited edition Z690 motherboards. The ASRock Z690 Aqua and Z690 Aqua OC motherboards both boast impressive specifications, including a custom...
1 by Gavin Bonshor on 1/6/2022Intel Alder Lake DDR5 Memory Scaling Analysis With G.Skill Trident Z5
One of the most agonizing elements of Intel's launch of its latest 12th generation Alder Lake desktop processors is its support of both DDR5 and DDR4 memory. Motherboards are...
82 by Gavin Bonshor on 12/23/2021The Intel Z690 Motherboard Overview (DDR4): Over 30+ New Models
To support the launch of Intel's latest 12th generation 'Alder Lake' processors, Intel has also pulled the trigger on its latest Z690 motherboard chipset. Using a new LGA1700 socket...
42 by Gavin Bonshor on 11/24/2021The Intel Z690 Motherboard Overview (DDR5): Over 50+ New Models
To support the launch of Intel's latest 12th generation 'Alder Lake' processors, Intel has also pulled the trigger on its latest Z690 motherboard chipset. Using a new LGA1700 socket...
126 by Gavin Bonshor on 11/9/2021Intel 12th Gen Core Alder Lake for Desktops: Top SKUs Only, Coming November 4th
Over the past few months, Intel has been drip-feeding information about its next-generation processor family. Alder Lake, commercially known as Intel’s 12th Generation Core architecture, is officially being announced...
395 by Dr. Ian Cutress on 10/27/2021