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Gigabyte Z790 S DDR4 specifications and in-depth review

Gigabyte Z790 S DDR4

Manufacturer: Gigabyte

The Gigabyte Z790 S DDR4 is an ATX form factor motherboard built around the Z790 chipset and fitted with a single LGA 1700 CPU socket, making it compatible with Intel's 12th and 13th generation desktop processors. It carries a three-year warranty and supports overclocking out of the box, with RGB lighting included. The board does not feature integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so wireless connectivity depends on a separate add-in card. Four DDR4 memory slots allow for up to 128GB of RAM across two channels, with standard speeds up to 3200 MHz and overclocked profiles reaching up to 5333 MHz.

Storage connectivity is handled by three M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 ports, with full support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations. The expansion slot layout includes one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and two PCIe x1 slots, with no PCIe 5.0 x16 option available. Rear I/O ports include one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and five USB 2.0 ports, along with HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort output, one RJ45 Ethernet port, and six 3.5 mm audio connectors supporting a 7.1-channel audio configuration. Additional connectivity is available through internal headers, including two USB 3.2 Gen 1 and four USB 2.0 expansion connectors, six fan headers, and a TPM connector. There are no USB Type-C ports on the rear panel.

Pros
  • Three M.2 sockets provide ample high-speed NVMe storage options without consuming SATA ports unnecessarily
  • RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support gives builders meaningful flexibility in configuring storage for performance, redundancy, or both
  • Overclocked RAM speeds up to 5333 MHz offer headroom for memory tuning beyond the standard 3200 MHz ceiling
  • Four DDR4 slots across two channels support up to 128GB of RAM, accommodating substantial memory configurations
  • Six fan headers allow for thorough cooling management across the system without relying on splitters
  • The board carries a 3-year warranty, which is a reasonable coverage period for a platform component
Cons
  • No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is built in, requiring a separate add-in card or adapter for wireless connectivity
  • There are no USB Type-C ports on the rear panel at any speed, which limits compatibility with newer peripherals and accessories
  • Only one PCIe x16 slot is available and it runs at PCIe 4.0, with no PCIe 5.0 x16 option for forward-looking storage or GPU bandwidth
  • The absence of a dual BIOS means there is no automatic fallback if a BIOS update goes wrong
  • No easy CMOS reset mechanism is provided, which can complicate BIOS recovery after a failed overclock
Who is this for?

The Gigabyte Z790 S DDR4 is well-suited to builders assembling a capable desktop system on the LGA 1700 platform who want solid storage and memory expandability without needing wireless connectivity built in. The three M.2 sockets combined with four SATA 3 ports make it a practical choice for users who want multiple fast storage devices, while support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 makes it relevant for those who need basic redundancy or performance array configurations. The overclocking support and DDR4 memory speeds up to 5333 MHz cater to enthusiasts looking to extract more performance from their memory kit, and the six fan headers give system builders enough control points for a well-managed thermal setup.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who need wireless connectivity out of the box will find the complete absence of built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth a genuine inconvenience, as an additional card or adapter becomes a necessity rather than an option. Those planning to use modern high-speed USB Type-C peripherals or devices at the rear panel will be hindered by the lack of any rear USB Type-C ports, which limits compatibility with an increasing range of accessories. The board is also not the right fit for builders anticipating a move to PCIe 5.0 x16 devices, since only a single PCIe 4.0 x16 slot is available, and anyone who wants dual BIOS protection for safer firmware updates will need to look elsewhere.

General info:

CPU socket LGA 1700
chipset Z790
form factor ATX
supports Wi-Fi ✕
Has Bluetooth ✕
HDMI version HDMI 2.1
Easy to overclock ✓
has RGB lighting ✓
Easy to reset BIOS ✕
Has dual BIOS ✕
CPU sockets 1
Has integrated graphics ✕
warranty period 3 years
height 244 mm
width 305 mm
Has integrated CPU ✕

The Gigabyte Z790 S DDR4 is an ATX form factor motherboard built on the Z790 chipset with a single LGA 1700 CPU socket, measuring 305 x 244 mm. It supports overclocking and includes RGB lighting, but does not feature a dual BIOS, an easy CMOS reset mechanism, integrated graphics, an integrated CPU, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. HDMI 2.1 is available for display output, and the board carries a 3-year warranty.

Memory:

maximum memory amount 128GB
RAM speed (max) 3200 MHz
overclocked RAM speed 5333 MHz
memory slots 4
DDR memory version 4
memory channels 2
Supports ECC memory ✕

The board provides four DDR4 memory slots across two channels, supporting up to 128GB of RAM in total. Standard operation runs at up to 3200 MHz, while overclocked profiles can push memory speeds up to 5333 MHz. ECC memory is not supported.

Ports:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) 1
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A) 2
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C) 0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C) 0
USB 2.0 ports 5
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports 0
USB 4 40Gbps ports 0
USB 4 20Gbps ports 0
Thunderbolt 4 ports 0
Thunderbolt 3 ports 0
has an HDMI output ✓
DisplayPort outputs 1
RJ45 ports 1
Has USB Type-C ✕
eSATA ports 0
DVI outputs 0
has a VGA connector ✕
PS/2 ports 0

The rear I/O panel includes a total of eight USB ports: one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and five USB 2.0 ports. There are no USB Type-C ports of any kind on the rear panel, and higher-speed options such as USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, USB 4, Thunderbolt 3, and Thunderbolt 4 are all absent. Display output is covered by one HDMI and one DisplayPort, with no DVI or VGA connectors present. A single RJ45 Ethernet port handles wired networking, and there are no eSATA or PS/2 ports.

Connectors:

USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion) 2
USB 2.0 ports (through expansion) 4
SATA 3 connectors 4
fan headers 6
USB 3.0 ports (through expansion) 2
M.2 sockets 3
Has TPM connector ✓
U.2 sockets 0
Has mSATA connector ✕
SATA 2 connectors 0

Internal connectivity includes three M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors for storage, with no SATA 2, mSATA, or U.2 sockets present. USB expansion headers cover two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two additional USB 3.0 ports, and four USB 2.0 ports for front-panel or bracket use. The board also provides six fan headers for cooling management and includes a TPM connector for hardware security module support.

Expansion slots:

PCIe 4.0 x16 slots 1
PCIe 5.0 x16 slots 0
PCIe 3.0 x16 slots 0
PCIe x1 slots 2
PCI slots 0
PCIe 2.0 x16 slots 0
PCIe x4 slots 0
PCIe x8 slots 0

The board offers a total of three expansion slots: one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot for a primary graphics card or high-bandwidth add-in card, and two PCIe x1 slots for smaller expansion cards. There are no PCIe 5.0 x16, PCIe 3.0 x16, PCIe 2.0 x16, PCIe x4, PCIe x8, or legacy PCI slots available.

Audio:

audio channels 7.1
Has S/PDIF Out port ✕
audio connectors 6

The board supports 7.1-channel audio output through six 3.5 mm audio connectors on the rear panel. There is no S/PDIF output port available.

Storage:

Supports RAID 1 ✓
Supports RAID 10 (1+0) ✓
Supports RAID 5 ✓
Supports RAID 0 ✓
Supports RAID 0+1 ✕

The board supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations for flexible storage array setups, whether the priority is performance, redundancy, or a combination of both. RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The Gigabyte Z790 S DDR4 is a straightforward ATX motherboard that covers the fundamentals of the LGA 1700 platform with a clear focus on storage flexibility and memory headroom. Its three M.2 sockets, broad RAID support, and DDR4 overclocking up to 5333 MHz make it a competent foundation for desktop builds where expandability and tuning potential matter. The trade-offs are real — no built-in wireless, no rear USB Type-C, no dual BIOS, and a single PCIe 4.0 x16 slot — and builders who need any of those features will need to plan around them. For those whose requirements align with what it offers, though, the Z790 S DDR4 is a well-specified board that handles its intended workload without unnecessary compromise.