Ultra-Cool, All-In-One Monoblock Design For The 16-Phase VRM & Core™ i9 Processors
Taipei, Taiwan, December 19th, 2018 – GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, takes extreme performance and style to the next level with its new, limited-edition Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE motherboard. With the highest VRM phase count of any Z390 motherboard, the motherboard pairs a 16-power phase, fully digital IR power design with an advanced thermal solution for optimized overclocking performance on 8-core Intel® Core™ i9 9900K processors. Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE integrates a state-of-the-art, All-In-One Monoblock for extreme cooling of the CPU, VRM, PCH, and M.2 SSDs, while showcasing absolutely stunning aesthetics with its acrylic casing and vibrant, digital RGB with embedded dual-lighting effects. Gaming ready, Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE retains all of the high-end features of the Z390 AORUS XTREME such as HI-FI audio, feature-rich I/O, dual Type-C™ ThunderBolt™ 3 connectors, AQUANTIA LAN, and more while adding enhanced power/thermal management to deliver extreme performance and cooling.
The all-new 8-core Intel® Core™ i9-9900K processor is built on 14nm architecture and designed for LGA 1151 sockets. Current GIGABYTE Z/B/H 300 series motherboards have the best compatibility with the new processors and have been optimized to unlock their performance especially when overclocking. Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE adopts a 16-power phase, full digital power design and solid pin power connectors for efficient and precise power delivery so that excess heat doesn’t degrade CPU performance. The automatic phase current balance design not only balances the loading on each phase more effectively but also reduces the operating frequency of the VRM controller, minimizing power consumption and heat generation from the power supply module for better power efficiency and system durability. GIGABYTE exclusive 2X Copper PCB provides sufficient power trace paths between essential components, allowing for greater handling compared to normal power loads. In addition, the design also removes excess heat from the CPU power delivery area generated from the increased power loading while overclocking.
Taking it a step further from finned VRM heatsinks on high-end motherboards, Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE uses an extended monoblock design for extra heat dissipation not only within the VRM but also the processor, chipset, and even M.2 SSDs for more comprehensive cooling compared to standard fans or other types of liquid cooling. Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE adds a LAIRD Thermal Pad thickened to 1.5mm to increase the contact between the VRM and the monoblock, further bolstering heat dissipation and mitigating overheating resulting from task heavy workloads. As a failsafe, Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE has built-in liquid leakage detection so the protective mechanism will be activated immediately if the system detects any liquid coolants on the monoblock to prevent leakages from affecting system performance and components. Furthermore, the backplate on the GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE dissipates heat from the backside PCB components and transfers it to the heatsinks while also providing extra rigidity and sturdiness for added durability. Plate bending and the annoyance of clipping fingers from sharper components on the backside is also prevented with this backplate design.
The board’s I/O shield not only adds extra style points but also provides solid protection for the USB 3.1 Gen2, Ethernet ports, audio jacks, and expansion ports. Power and BIOS (Clear CMOS) buttons are included for convenience and straightforward troubleshooting. Cable management is also a breeze with the Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE’s 24-pin right-angled solid-pin power connectors. The right-angled power connectors allow for easier installation as the power cables can be hidden more easily and their positioning doesn’t impede airflow to the board. Metal shielding on the power connectors gives them extra durability to prevent the wear and tear from inserting and removing cables repeatedly.
Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE comes with OC Touch to facilitate overclocking of the Intel® Core™ i9-9900K for users. With OC Touch, users can make incremental adjustments of 1 MHz or 0.1 MHz to their BLCK frequencies and the adjustments can be applied without rebooting the system regardless of whether the user is at the BIOS screen, using DOS or Windows®. Optimizing PC performance and finding the highest frequency for their processors has never been easier for users. The exclusive OC button can load overclock configuration presets so that less experienced overclockers can overclock at certain ranges. The OC-Touch function also helps users figure out the best overclocking settings for their processors. The built-in voltage measurement module keeps the user informed on the voltage of each component, making overclocking more convenient for users.
Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE has 3 sets of built-in PCIe slots with 2-Way SLI and 3-Way CrossFire multi-graphical configuration support so gamers will be able to indulge in excellent 3D performance and rendering from their high-end graphics cards. Ultra-Durable PCIe armor adds extra rigidity to the PCIe slots so they can hold the heavier, dual-width graphics cards without bending. The solid pin PEG slot serves as a source of auxiliary power to the PCIe slots for a more sufficient and stable power supply. Additionally, the Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE’s 3 sets of PCIe Gen3 x4 slots, SATA and M.2 slots are all cooled by the monoblock which offers plenty of cooling benefits for users building RAID 0/1 or RAID 5 arrays for enhanced data performance and integrity as well as helping users avoid thermal throttling on their high-speed NVMe M.2 SSDs.
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE provides users with built-in AQUANTIA 10 Gigabit Ethernet and Intel® Gigabit Ethernet but also offers the benefits of blazing fast WIFI with the gigabit barrier surpassing Intel ® CNVi 802.11ac 160MHz 2×2 WIFI. With twice the signal strength compared to traditional antenna designs, the all new 4dBi ultra high peak gain antenna also supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz WIFI frequencies for added versatility. Smart Antenna technology and its magnetic base plus dual antenna design allows users to install the device on magnetic surfaces so they can search for WIFI signals at different angles. Users will be able to make full use of the impressive flexibility for network connectivity that the motherboard offers.
Built for performance and offering high-speed connectivity, GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE also has two sets of built-in USB Type-C™ Thunderbolt™ interface, which support native USB 3.1 Gen 2 specifications and deliver 40 Gbps data transmission speed. Users can daisy chain 6 devices + 1 display on a single connection, for high-speed data transfer and high-definition resolution. Professional grade audio is back with Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE. Using a ALC1220-VB high-SNR audio codec with ESS SABRE DAC and studio grade audio capacitors, the board offers users with unbelievable sound quality. Left and right side channel audio lines are processed separately and the inclusion of TI Burr-Brown high quality audio OP AMPs with signal-enhanced design cleans up the audio for more clear and immersive audio. Whether gaming, enjoying multimedia, or even streaming, users will notice the difference between the audio from a regular audio system and the high-fidelity audio of a HI-FI sound system.
Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE brings back the fan favorite RGB Fusion while adding new features to this ever-evolving lighting technology. Equipped with multiple onboard digital LEDs, RGB Fusion technology also supports external LED lighting strips for users to deck out their systems with even more lighting options. The board features a LED lighting zone that highlights the side and posterior of the motherboard for a more subdued and refined RGB touch. The digital RGB on the monoblock offers embedded dual-lighting effects, illuminating the waterways between the different cooling zones on the board for an ultra-cool look and can be further customized by the user. RGB Fusion App allows users to control the lighting schemes and patterns as well as sync them with their flashy peripherals so they can infuse their own style on their personalized system. Additionally, AORUS RGB Fan Commander is included which allows users to control the lighting patterns and fan speeds of external devices. With support for up to 8 fan devices, 8 digital lighting strips, and 8 sets of RGB LEDs, users can enjoy RGB Fusion at its full potential.
GIGABYTE exclusive Smart Fan 5 Intelligent Fan Control paired with Fan Stop technology is perfect for liquid cooling setups. The advanced cooling technology lowers temperatures across the board and reduces unwanted fan noise. Saving energy and reducing unwanted fan noise, Smart Fan 5 giving users that perfect balance between quiet and cool. Smart Fan 5 intelligent fan control monitors GPU temperatures for users to keep track of in-game to prevent GPU overheating. Gamers will be able to game at their best with their graphics cards kept cool and running smoothly.
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE offers a diverse range of features through the implementation of the aforementioned technologies. With GIGABYTE Ultra-Durable Technology components, all-solid capacitors, and all digital power designs with intelligent fan control design, these motherboards are both energy-saving and environmental friendly while offering the performance and durability users have come to expect from the AORUS brand. For more information, please visit the official AORUS website:
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About GIGABYTE Upgrade Your Life
GIGABYTE, a global leading brand in the IT industry, offers a broad product portfolio including Motherboards, Graphics Cards, PC Components, PC Peripherals, Laptops, Desktop PCs, Network Communications, Servers and Mobile Phones. GIGABYTE also demonstrates the pinnacle of its hardware excellence in AORUS, in which it provides a full spectrum of innovative gaming products that deliver the ultimate performance and exemplify PC’s capability of bringing gamers unprecedented delights. Since its founding in 1986, GIGABYTE has taken the lead in the world’s motherboard and graphics card innovations and been internationally recognized by National Quality Award, Taiwan Excellence Award, Asia Info Tech 100, and as a Taiwan Top 20 Global Brand. With the idea to “Upgrade Your Life”, GIGABYTE creates innovative digital solutions that completely satisfy consumer needs and desires. Please visit www.gigabyte.com for more information.
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