A few weeks ago, Intel announced its anticipated new processors for PCs. While not representing a completely new architectural generation, these CPUs, named Core Ultra 250K Plus and 270K Plus, offer a performance boost over their predecessors. Coinciding with their recent launch, GIGABYTE has promptly unveiled dedicated motherboards for them: the Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi7 Plus and Z890 Eagle WiFi 7 Plus.
Intel traditionally releases new processor generations annually for both desktop and laptop segments. Frequently, these updates are “refreshes” that only provide marginal frequency improvements. However, in the laptop sphere, the arrival of Panther Lake surprised with a significant 60% improvement in graphics and a 10-15% gain in CPU performance. For desktop processors, the situation is different; the new Intel Core 200K, though similar to the Core 200S, fortunately go beyond a simple frequency increase, incorporating a higher number of E-Cores.
GIGABYTE Launches Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi7 Plus and Eagle WiFi7 Plus Motherboards for Intel Core Ultra 200K Plus
Initially, three CPU models were expected, but Intel has ultimately listed only the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus. The 250K Plus features 18 cores (6 P-Cores and 12 E-Cores) and reaches up to 5.3 GHz, with a TDP of 159W in Turbo mode. The 270K Plus, on the other hand, offers 24 cores (8 P-Cores and 16 E-Cores) at 5.5 GHz and a TDP of 250W in Turbo mode, representing 4 additional E-Cores in both models. Regarding the new motherboards designed for these Arrow Lake-S architecture processors, the GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi7 Plus stands out with a robust 16+1+2 phase 60A DrMOS VRM.
This board supports up to 256 GB of RAM with overclocking at 9466+ MT/s. It includes a USB 4 Type-C port that also supports DisplayPort video output, capable of reaching 4K at 144 Hz when using a DisplayPort 2.1 compatible cable and device through Intel’s integrated graphics. For network connectivity, it offers 5 GBe LAN and an integrated Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200NGW module with Bluetooth 5.4. The main PCIe x16 slot for the graphics card is PCIe 5.0, complemented by two additional PCIe x16 slots operating at PCIe 4.0 x4 speed. The board also features four M.2 slots, of which only one is PCIe 5.0 due to bandwidth limitations.
Both Motherboards Share USB4 Type-C, Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4, and Four M.2 Slots
Regarding USB connectivity, in addition to the external USB 4 Type-C, the board features an internal USB 3.2-C Gen 2, two USB 3.2 Gen 2, five USB 3.2 Gen 1, and eight USB 2.0 (combining rear panel and internal headers). The GIGABYTE Z890 Eagle WiFi7 Plus is similar in many aspects but presents slightly lower specifications. For example, its VRM is 14+1+2 phases, and its wired network connection is 2.5 GbE LAN, in contrast to the 5 GbE of the AORUS Elite. However, it shares many key features.
Thus, the Eagle WiFi7 Plus also incorporates a pre-installed WiFi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 module (specifically an Intel BE202NGVW-M), the same Realtek ALC1220 HDA audio codec, and WIMA capacitors. It also includes the 40 Gbps USB-C port, as neither of these Z890 boards features two Thunderbolt ports like some other models. These motherboards are expected to retail for approximately $250.
