GIGABYTE Pulled a Clever Move With the New Z890: Ready for Unreleased CPUs, but There's a Catch

GIGABYTE has expanded its LGA 1851 motherboard lineup with two new models based on the Intel Z890 logic. We're talking about the Z890 Aorus Elite WiFi7 Plus and the Z890 Eagle WiFi7 Plus, which are tailored for processors that haven't been officially unveiled yet (the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and Core Ultra 7 270K Plus) from the refreshed Arrow Lake-S series.

The boards come with firmware that's already compatible with the upcoming models and include a proprietary Ultra Turbo Mode. This feature automatically adjusts the frequency and voltage on unlocked multiplier processors (K and KF models), working on top of Intel's standard boost. When you look at the specs, one compromise stands out that the manufacturer made to keep the price in check. Both boards have ditched the pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports—which have become pretty standard for a flagship Z890 chipset—and instead, GIGABYTE has fitted a single USB4 connector with 40 Gbps bandwidth.

The Z890 Aorus Elite WiFi7 Plus features a 19-phase power delivery system (16+1+2) with 60-amp DrMOS. For wired connectivity, it relies on a 5-gigabit Realtek controller, while the Intel BE200NGW wireless module handles Wi-Fi 7 on the 320 MHz band and Bluetooth 5.4. The Z890 Eagle WiFi7 Plus is a bit more modest: 17 power phases (14+1+2) and a 2.5-gigabit Realtek network controller. The Wi-Fi 7 module here is also a simpler Intel BE202 model with a 160 MHz band.

Otherwise, both boards use the Realtek ALC1220 audio codec with WIMA capacitors and offer a set of buttons on the rear I/O panel for system management without opening the case: power, reset, CMOS clear, and BIOS update via USB.

The expected price for these newcomers is around $250, with exact release dates still under wraps—expect them to arrive closer to the new processors' launch.

In your opinion, is cutting out a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports to maintain the price point in this range justified, or should this port selection be a given for boards on a flagship Z890 chipset? Let us know in the comments.