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Gigabyte Z790 S DDR4 Motherboard DDR4 Socket LGA 1700 Mainboard Desktop Intel Z790 Support Intel 14th Gen Core I9 I7 I5 CPU

  1. Z790 S DDR4 is the most budget-oriented DDR4 option with:

    • Basic 1G LAN (vs 2.5G on others)

    • Minimal heatsink design

    • Lowest price point

  2. AORUS ELITE DDR4 stands out with:

    • Best VRM (16+1+1)

    • WiFi 6 option

    • Premium audio (ALC1220)

  3. GAMING X DDR4 offers:

    • Balanced price/performance

    • RGB support

    • Mid-range features

  4. UD DDR4 provides:

    • Core Z790 features

    • No-frills approach

    • Better LAN than S model

Recommendations:

  • Best DDR4 Performance: AORUS ELITE DDR4

  • Value Gaming: GAMING X DDR4

  • Budget Builds: UD DDR4

  • Absolute Lowest Cost: S DDR4

Gigabyte Z790 S DDR4 Motherboard DDR4 Socket LGA 1700 Mainboard Desktop Intel Z790 Support Intel 14th Gen Core I9 I7 I5 CPU

Here’s a detailed comparison table for GIGABYTE’s DDR4 Z790 motherboards, focusing on the Z790 S DDR4 series:

GIGABYTE Z790 DDR4 Motherboard Comparison

Feature Z790 AORUS ELITE DDR4 Z790 GAMING X DDR4 Z790 UD DDR4 Z790 S DDR4
Form Factor ATX ATX ATX ATX
Target Users Enthusiasts Mainstream gamers Budget builders Budget DDR4 builds
VRM Design 16+1+1 Phase (60A) 14+1+1 Phase (50A) 12+1+1 Phase (50A) 10+1+1 Phase (50A)
Memory Support DDR4-5333+(OC) DDR4-5333+(OC) DDR4-5333+(OC) DDR4-5333+(OC)
PCIe Slots 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 + 1x PCIe 4.0 x4 Same as Elite 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 Same as UD
M.2 Slots 4x (1x Gen5 + 3x Gen4) 3x (1x Gen5 + 2x Gen4) 2x (1x Gen5 + 1x Gen4) 2x (1x Gen5 + 1x Gen4)
Networking 2.5G LAN + WiFi 6 2.5G LAN 2.5G LAN 1G LAN
Audio ALC1220 ALC897 ALC897 ALC897
Cooling Extended heatsinks Basic heatsinks Basic heatsinks Minimal heatsinks
RGB Lighting ARGB Fusion 12V RGB No RGB No RGB
USB Ports (Rear I/O) 1x USB-C 20G, 8x USB-A 1x USB-C 10G, 6x USB-A 1x USB-C 5G, 4x USB-A 1x USB-C 5G, 4x USB-A
SATA Ports 6x 4x 4x 4x
Price Segment 199−229 169−199 149−169
  1. Cost-Effective Z790 Platform

    • Most affordable way to get Intel Z790 chipset benefits

    • Perfect for budget-conscious builders reusing DDR4 RAM

  2. Reliable Power Delivery

    • 10+1+1 phase VRM design (50A power stages)

    • Handles up to Core i7 processors at stock speeds

    • Basic heatsink solution for essential cooling

  3. Memory Compatibility

    • Supports DDR4-5333+ (OC)

    • Optimized for existing DDR4 memory kits

    • 4 DIMM slots for up to 128GB capacity

  4. Storage Options

    • 2x M.2 slots (1x PCIe 5.0 + 1x PCIe 4.0)

    • 4x SATA III ports for additional storage

  5. Essential Connectivity

    • 1G LAN (Realtek) for basic networking

    • USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Gbps) + 4x USB-A ports

    • Standard audio with ALC897 codec

Ideal For:

  • Budget gaming PCs

  • Office/workstation builds

  • Users transitioning to LGA1700 while keeping DDR4

  • Secondary systems where cost matters most

Compromises:

  • No WiFi (wired Ethernet only)

  • Basic 1G LAN instead of 2.5G

  • Minimal VRM cooling

  • No RGB lighting

Price Range: 129−149 (making it one of the most affordable Z790 boards)

Why Choose This Board?
The Z790 S DDR4 delivers the core benefits of Intel’s Z790 platform – including PCIe 5.0 support and CPU overclocking capability – while maintaining compatibility with existing DDR4 memory. It’s the perfect solution for builders who want modern platform features without the cost of upgrading to DDR5.

Best Paired With:

  • Intel Core i5-13600K/KF or i7-13700

  • Existing DDR4-3200/3600 memory kits

  • Mid-range GPUs like RTX 4060 or RX 7600

  • Budget air coolers