Not a specialist in motherboards...
Not a specialist in motherboards...
Hey everyone, I'm planning a switch to an i9-13900K and comparing two motherboards: Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE and Asus ROG STRIX Z790-E. I'm not a pro, but I remember building in 2018 when these prices were more reasonable compared to the CPU cost. Do the differences in power consumption, efficiency, or other features really make a big impact on value? Or should I go with the Gigabyte option just because it's cheaper?
Recently I've developed a stronger preference for Gigabyte due to their improved header placement, pricing, and feature offerings compared to Asus. Asus began declining around the Intel 6th generation, after initially excelling with their ROG series and Strix lineup never really resonating with me. It's becoming clearer that the recent models in those lines come with a higher price tag for the branding they claim. The ongoing issues Asus has faced continue the pattern of problems seen over the past few years. Their current board options are often around $300 at most, which feels like a modest offering.
In reality, modern motherboards are mostly similar unless they're budget options. They often provide faster memory speeds, different audio chips, and BIOS updates, plus possibly more overclocking potential if the board has extra power connectors. Overall, they tend to be quite alike. I've tested many boards and found most very comparable.
It varies based on your needs. The main variations lie in fan headers and rear I/O, both of which can be upgraded, though having them fully optimized is preferable. Asus tends to limit the best options to their premium lines, while expecting lower-end buyers to sacrifice key features for brand recognition. My preference for Asus boards began with the LGA 2011 X79 chipset because they offered innovative solutions, such as micro ATX HEDT boards without trade-offs. Asus hasn't pushed much beyond their z97 models except for the dimm.2 or sodimm.2 enhancements (which are fine), but they restrict advanced features on their top-tier products, which most users don’t require.