Gigabyte Z690M Ds3H DDR4 Motherboard

Gigabyte Z690M Ds3H DDR4 Motherboard

Build a powerful yet cost-effective Intel system with the Z690M DS3H DDR4 motherboard from Gigabyte. Designed for Intel® Core™ 14th, 13th, and 12th Generation processors (LGA1700), this micro-ATX board utilizes the capable Intel® Z690 chipset while retaining support for widely available DDR4 memory. It offers key features like a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for fast SSDs, and speedy 2.5Gb Ethernet, making it a solid choice for gamers and builders looking to leverage existing DDR4 RAM or build a value-oriented Z690 system.

Discover Z690 Features with DDR4: Z690M DS3H DDR4

The Gigabyte Z690M DS3H DDR4 allows you to pair modern Intel processors with affordable and readily available DDR4 memory, supporting speeds up to 5333MHz (OC) and capacities up to 128GB via its four DIMM slots. The primary PCIe slot provides Gen 4.0 x16 bandwidth for current graphics cards. Storage options are robust, featuring two M.2 connectors supporting fast PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSDs, alongside four traditional SATA 6Gb/s ports. Intel® Optane™ Memory is also supported for system acceleration.

Connectivity includes a fast Realtek 2.5GbE LAN port for high-speed wired networking. The rear I/O panel offers essential USB ports, including a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Type-C® port, multiple USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and legacy PS/2 support. Multiple display outputs (DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA) allow for versatile monitor configurations using integrated graphics. The board features Realtek 7.1 channel audio and includes headers for RGB Fusion lighting customization (Addressable LED & RGB). A convenient Q-Flash Plus button enables easy BIOS updates without needing a CPU installed – ideal for ensuring compatibility with the latest processors. Explore compatible Intel Core processors or check DDR4 memory options. Find full details on the official Gigabyte Z690M DS3H DDR4 product page.

Specifications

• Model: Z690M DS3H DDR4 (rev. 1.0)
• Part Number: Z690M DS3H
• EAN: 889523031049
• Focus Keyphrase: Z690M DS3H DDR4
• Socket: Intel® Socket LGA1700
• Chipset: Intel® Z690 Express Chipset
• Form Factor: Micro ATX (24.4cm x 24.4cm)
• CPU Support: Intel® Core™ 14th/13th/12th Gen, Pentium® Gold, Celeron®
• Memory: 4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, DDR4 5333+(OC) MHz, XMP
• PCIe Slots: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 2x PCIe 3.0 x1
• Storage: 2x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4/x2, 4x SATA 6Gb/s, RAID 0/1/5/10 (SATA)
• Networking: 1x Realtek® 2.5GbE LAN
• Wireless: None onboard
• USB Rear: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C, 10G), 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A, 5G), 2x USB 2.0 (Type-A)
• USB Front: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Hdr (2 ports, 5G), 2x USB 2.0 Hdrs (4 ports)
• Audio: Realtek® 7.1 HD Audio CODEC
• Features: Q-Flash Plus, RGB Fusion 2.0 (ARGB & RGB Headers), Smart Fan 6, 2.5Gb LAN

Z690M DS3H DDR4: Q&A

Target Audience

PC builders and users looking for a reliable and feature-rich micro-ATX motherboard for Intel 12th, 13th, or 14th Gen processors, who prefer to utilize existing DDR4 memory or seek a more budget-friendly build compared to DDR5 platforms. Suitable for mainstream gaming and productivity tasks.

Key Reasons to Choose

The Z690M DS3H DDR4 provides access to the features of the Intel Z690 chipset, such as dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots and overclocking potential, while leveraging the cost-effectiveness and wide availability of DDR4 memory. The inclusion of 2.5Gb Ethernet and a Q-Flash Plus button adds significant value at its likely price point.

What are the Pros?

• Supports Intel® Core™ 14th, 13th & 12th Gen CPUs.
• Utilizes affordable and widely available DDR4 memory (up to 5333+ OC).
• Dual M.2 slots with PCIe 4.0 support for fast NVMe SSDs.
• Includes fast Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet.
• Rear USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Gbps) port.
• Multiple display outputs (DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA).
• Q-Flash Plus allows BIOS updates without a CPU.
• RGB Fusion 2.0 headers for customizable lighting.

What are the Cons?

• Uses DDR4 memory, not the newer DDR5 standard.
• Primary PCIe x16 slot is Gen 4.0, not Gen 5.0.
• Limited number of rear USB ports compared to some boards.
• No integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
• Does not include a front panel USB Type-C header.
• Basic Realtek audio codec.

Verdict

The Gigabyte Z690M DS3H DDR4 offers a practical and feature-rich solution for building powerful Intel-based systems without demanding the latest DDR5 memory. It successfully integrates key Z690 features like dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots and 2.5Gb LAN into a cost-effective micro-ATX package that supports multiple generations of Intel Core processors. For users prioritizing value and DDR4 compatibility, the Z690M DS3H DDR4 is a solid and reliable motherboard choice.