The Intel Z690 Motherboard Overview (DDR4): Over 30+ New Models
by Gavin Bonshor on November 24, 2021 2:00 PM ESTMSI Pro Z690-P (DDR4)
As it stands, the MSI Pro Z690-P is the entry-level model for users looking to utilize Intel Alder Lake's power, but for a much lower price than some other Z690 models on the market. Due to this, the MSI Pro Z690-P DDR4 has a modest feature set and aesthetic, with small power delivery heatsinks, a combined rear panel cover and VRM heatsink, and a small chipset heatsink. The design follows a primarily black color theme, with a grey and black printed PCB.
Dominating the relatively bare PCB, the MSI Pro Z690-P DDR4 has one full-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, with one full-length PCIe 3.0 x4 slot, and three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. Storage options are an obvious sacrifice on this model compared to other Z690 boards, with two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, four SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays, as well as one M.2 2230 Key-E slot for users looking to add a wireless CNVi. Located in the top right-hand corner are four memory slots, with support for DDR4-5200 and a combined capacity of up to 128 GB.
Despite the entry-level status of the Z690-P DDR4, it does include one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C port which is good to see, as well as four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Users looking to utilize Intel's integrated graphics can use one of two video outputs consisting of one HDMI 1.4b and one DisplayPort 1.4 output. For networking, MSI is using one Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5 GbE controller, with five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output providing plenty of audio options.
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ikjadoon - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
Gigabyte has done a better job this time around with mini-ITX DDR4. $290 for a very well-rounded board—shame HiCookie lied so blatantly in all their 8 GHz marketing.ASRock mini-ITX: people still use type-A ports. 5x ports only?!
Windows 11, DDR5 availability & perf-price, and hybrid quirks make ADL a much better 2022 purchase for me. DDR4 price-perf + availability are nice, but not enough to overcome Panos’ major missteps on his first (and hopefully last) Windows launch.
DigitalFreak - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
Why does anyone pay attention to these "extreme overclockers"? He hit (or didn't in this case) 8Ghz. Big deal. You can't actually do anything with the CPU at that speed aside from run an e-peen benchmark.ikjadoon - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
Nobody paid attention until.... Gigabyte plastered his faked validations all over their Z690 marketing material. Nobody cares what any "overclocker" does these days and that's why they got jobs with motherboard vendors: the only people that can still sell a motherboard for $$$ with exaggerated hardware.https://www.techradar.com/news/no-gigabyte-didnt-s...
0ldman79 - Tuesday, December 14, 2021 - link
5 ports is a bad idea but type-A?Yeah, like 99% of USB accessories use type-A. That is still the *primary* interface for USB devices.
StormyParis - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
That last page is very useful, thank you. Wish I had a table to sum up the info ;-pFordGT550 - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
I can't find the Z690 Aorus Pro DDR4 in stock anywhere.bug77 - Friday, November 26, 2021 - link
I don't think it's available yet. Notice there's no price listed for it either (yeah, I've got my eyes on the same board).HLuna52180 - Friday, November 26, 2021 - link
Agreed! This is the model mobo that I want. It best fits my needs yet it's currently only available in Australia. Hope they make it into the states. I have all the other parts on order or with me already to make my Alder Lake build. Frustrating!MatarM0 - Saturday, November 27, 2021 - link
i see it in stock but it seems like it cant run any memory with 1.42v or higher depending on what newegg reviewer said and some others in the internet so hopefully they can fix it and it will be a good dealmeacupla - Wednesday, November 24, 2021 - link
I can understand mobo makers not wanting to allocate too many resources into the dead end DDR4 platform, but these lineups seem excessively weak to me.Like, really? there's not a single Z690 DDR4 mobo with thunderbolt?
And then with Z690 DDR5 mobos, there's way too much overlap in features and functionalities.