I have become a fan of GIGABYTE motherboards in recent years, and its latest offering for the Z890 platform, the GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 PLUS, feels like a solid, if understated, release. GIGABYTE has done a great job here, refining a board that tries to cover the right bases without drifting into excess, and I think that is fitting for the latest Intel chips. For people looking to spec out their system with a sensible mid-range ATX option that offers strong connectivity, solid power delivery and a feature set aimed at builders who want current-generation Intel support without paying for a halo model, this is that board.
The Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 PLUS uses the LGA1851 socket, and as the name suggests, the Z890 chipset, so it is designed for Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors. It is an ATX model at 305 x 244 mm, which gives it enough room for a full-sized build without becoming awkward to fit in a standard case. GIGABYTE pairs that platform support with a 16+1+2 twin digital power design, using 60A DrMOS stages for the VRM section. In practice, that gives the board enough headroom for high-end Intel CPUs, while staying within the expected range for this class.
The Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 PLUS has four DDR5 slots and supports XMP profiles, with the motherboard listing support up to DDR5-9466 MT/s. That is more than enough for enthusiasts who want to tune memory performance, while still keeping the platform flexible for simpler builds. The layout is straightforward and familiar, which helps this board feel less intimidating than some of the more aggressively styled premium models. Honestly, in the memory crisis the world is currently in, it may be hard to find RAM that can push this board as much as the specs may suggest, but it is great to see it have the features, so when market conditions change, you are ready to hit the ground running.
The GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 PLUS offers four M.2 slots in total, with one PCIe 5.0 x4 slot and three PCIe 4.0 x4 slots, plus four SATA 6 Gbps ports and RAID support across both M.2 and SATA storage. This layout gives the board enough room for a well-equipped gaming or workstation build, with three full-length PCIe slots and no lane sharing to complicate a typical setup. Also, as we love to see on a board in this price range, the primary x16 slot is reinforced and includes GIGABYTE’s EZ-Latch Plus release mechanism, which makes removing a large graphics card easier when a bulky cooler is in the way.
Connectivity is what made me excited to dive into this review of the GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 PLUS, and it is where the board justifies its price. On the rear I/O, GIGABYTE includes a USB4 Type-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode, a DisplayPort output, one 5 GbE LAN port and Wi-Fi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4. Looking at the back of the board, you will find 10 USB ports, with only one of them being Type-C, with it also featuring 5 GbE and Wi-Fi 7, great to see for anyone wanting to futureproof their next build, especially for a board in this price range. GIGABYTE also leans on its easy-install features here, including the Wi-Fi EZ-Plug antenna design and rear-mounted power, reset, Clear CMOS and Q-Flash Plus buttons.
Thermals appear to be handled well overall on the Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 PLUS, something we have come to expect from GIGABYTE. The company uses VRM Thermal Armor Advanced and M.2 Thermal Guard to help manage heat, and the board’s power delivery section is built with enough mass and coverage to stay composed under load. That matters with Intel’s newer chips, which can draw plenty of power when pushed. The board does not seem designed for extreme overclocking heroics, but it appears prepared for long gaming sessions, productivity work and general high-performance use.
“Connectivity is what made me excited to dive into this review of the GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 PLUS, and it is where the board justifies its price.”
Audio is decent rather than exciting, delivering good, though not great, results for the most part. The board uses the Realtek ALC1220 codec and WIMA capacitors, a familiar combination for a board in this price range. That should be perfectly fine for most users, especially those using a headset or external speakers, but it is not the kind of feature that will attract audio enthusiasts on its own. It is a reminder that this board is trying to balance value and capability rather than chase every possible premium touch.
Honestly, having spent some time with this board, the GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 PLUS feels like a solid, well-rounded motherboard with only a few weak spots, and at $269.99, you are getting a solid board for the money. The only real drawbacks are not deal-breakers, but they are worth noting, especially if you are looking for a board to stay with your build for years to come.
As I mentioned, the audio hardware is not especially ambitious, and the single rear USB4 Type-C port may feel limiting for users who want more high-speed external connections, especially in 2026, when almost everything uses USB-C. Even so, those issues are balanced by a board that otherwise covers the fundamentals very well and delivers a solid overall package.
The GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 PLUS motherboard supports Intel’s latest desktop platform, offers fast networking, includes plenty of storage expansion and adds enough builder-friendly features to make assembly easier, all while avoiding the excess seen from competing brands. Instead, it focuses on giving users the right mix of performance, convenience and modern features in a package that feels sensible. It is not the most exciting Z890 option on paper, but the GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 PLUS is one of the more convincing practical choices, doing exactly what it needs to do.
- Intel Socket LGA 1851: Ready to support Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) Processors.
- Enhanced Power Solution: 16+1+2 Digital VRM Design with premium chokes and capacitors for steady power delivery.
