The Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Elite Duo X is a newly released ATX motherboard designed for Intel’s LGA1851 platform, specifically targeting users who want to build a system with the latest Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus processors. Priced just below $280 (with a UK price of £280 and an Australian price of around AUD 400), it is positioned as a budget-friendly mid-range board that offers a compelling set of high-end features. Its core philosophy is to provide a “full-blooded” Z890 experience at a price point that is only slightly higher than a B860 board.
The board’s most distinctive feature is its memory layout. It employs a “DUO X” dual-DIMM architecture, which uses only two DDR5 slots instead of the traditional four. This design is intended to improve signal integrity and enable higher memory overclocking, with support for speeds exceeding DDR5-10000 MT/s. The board is also one of the first to support the new CQDIMM standard, a type of memory module that allows for high capacities (up to 256GB) and speeds of up to DDR5-10266 MT/s. While this future-proofing is impressive, the high cost of CQDIMM modules currently makes them a niche enthusiast product.
For storage, the Z890 Aorus Elite Duo X is exceptionally well-equipped, featuring a total of five M.2 slots. One of these slots supports the ultra-fast PCIe 5.0 standard, while the other four are PCIe 4.0. The board also includes four SATA 6Gb/s ports, providing ample options for high-speed NVMe drives and traditional storage devices. Expansion slots consist of one full-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots (running at x4).
Power delivery is handled by a robust 16+1+2 phase Twin Digital VRM design, which uses 60A DrMOS components. This configuration is more than capable of handling high-end processors, with some sources noting it can sustain a CPU load of up to 310W without issue. The board also features a comprehensive cooling solution, including large VRM heatsinks, a full-coverage PCB thermal plate, and substantial M.2 heatsinks.
Connectivity options are modern and plentiful. The rear I/O panel includes a full-speed USB4 Type-C port (40 Gbps), 5GbE LAN, and an Intel Wi-Fi 7 module. Additional rear ports include multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 1 Type-A ports, as well as USB 2.0 ports. The board also features a Realtek ALC1220 audio codec with WIMA capacitors. For ease of use, Gigabyte has included several DIY-friendly features such as tool-less M.2 and PCIe latches, a WIFI EZ-Plug, and onboard power, reset, and clear CMOS buttons.
A key performance feature is Gigabyte’s “Ultra Turbo Mode,” a one-click BIOS setting that optimizes the processor and memory for enhanced performance. In testing, this mode delivered a 10-15% uplift in application performance and a 5-8% improvement in gaming performance. The board also includes a 512 Mbit (64 MB) BIOS chip, which provides ample space for future firmware updates and pre-installed drivers.
In summary, the Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Elite Duo X is a feature-rich motherboard that offers excellent value for its price. It combines a strong power delivery system, extensive storage options, modern connectivity, and a unique memory architecture designed for high performance and overclocking. While the advanced CQDIMM memory support may be out of reach for most users due to cost, the board remains a solid and future-proof foundation for an Intel Core Ultra 200S series build.
Source: TechPowerUp