Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Elite Duo X Motherboard Review: CQDIMM support with Arrow Lake Refresh
The Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Elite Duo X is a mid-range motherboard priced at $279.99, offering strong connectivity and support for Intel's latest Arrow Lake Refresh processors. It features CQDIMM support for high-capacity, high-speed memory configurations up to 256GB and DDR5-8000, appealing to users needing dense RAM setups. Despite competition, it stands out with five M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7, and one-click overclocking via Ultra Turbo Mode.
- ▪The Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Elite Duo X supports Intel Core Ultra 270K Plus and 250K Plus processors with native Arrow Lake Refresh compatibility.
- ▪It enables CQDIMM support for up to 256GB RAM using two 128GB modules and speeds up to DDR5-8000, reducing memory controller stress.
- ▪The board includes five M.2 sockets, Wi-Fi 7, 5 GbE, and DIY-friendly features like PCIe EZ-Latch Plus for easy GPU removal.
- ▪Gigabyte's Ultra Turbo Mode offers up to 40% performance gains in specific scenarios on supported CPUs via one-click overclocking.
- ▪The motherboard uses a last-generation flagship audio codec and has only one rear Type-C port, which are noted drawbacks.
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Tom's Hardware Verdict The Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Elite Duo X is a well-rounded mid-range board with strong connectivity and CQDIMM support for those few who need the increased density and speed it provides – and it's a solid value under $280. The board faces stiff competition, but is a smart choice for Core Ultra-based refresh builds. $279.99 at Newegg Check Amazon Pros +CQDIMM support (2x sticks for 256GB) to 8000 MT/s +Fast memory support 10266+ MT/s (OC) +5x M.2 sockets +Ultra Turbo Modes Cons -Last-gen (flagship) audio codec -Only one Type-C port on rear I/O Best picks for you RAM Benchmark Hierarchy 2025: DDR5, DDR4 for AMD, Intel CPUs Best Motherboards 2026 for Gaming, by Socket and Chipset The Best CPU for Gaming in 2026 Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend…
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