The Gigabyte Z890 Eagle WiFi 7 is a feature-packed motherboard designed for users looking to build a powerful and modern Intel-based system. It offers a strong balance of performance, connectivity, and user-friendly features, making it a great option for gamers and PC enthusiasts. With support for the latest Intel Core Ultra processors, it delivers the foundation needed for a high-performance build.
Aesthetically, the Z890 Eagle WiFi 7 follows a sleek and understated design, featuring a black and grey colour scheme with integrated heatsinks for a clean, refined look. The board also incorporates built-in RGB lighting, adding a touch of customisation for users who enjoy personalising their setup. The “EAGLE” branding is subtly illuminated within the I/O shield, enhancing its visual appeal.
Beyond its looks, this motherboard is built to deliver strong performance and reliability. It supports advanced memory configurations, high-speed storage, and next-generation networking features. With its well-rounded design and modern connectivity options, the Z890 Eagle WiFi 7 is well-suited for both gaming and productivity-focused builds.
Design and Functionality
Gigabyte has crafted the Z890 Eagle WiFi 7 with a refined black and grey aesthetic, giving it a modern and professional appearance. The integrated I/O shield enhances both visual appeal and practicality, ensuring a seamless installation process. Heatsinks cover key components, including the VRMs and M.2 slots, helping to maintain thermal efficiency during demanding workloads.
The board features full heatsink coverage across its four M.2 drive slots, providing passive cooling to maintain optimal performance. The large chipset heatsink adds to the board’s efficient thermal management, ensuring system stability even under heavy loads. Gigabyte has also included an illuminated “GAME ON” motif along the edge, adding a stylish touch for those who appreciate subtle RGB accents.
For expansion, the motherboard includes a reinforced PCIe 5.0 x16 slot designed to support high-end graphics cards. Gigabyte’s “PCIe UD Slot X” design strengthens the slot, reducing the risk of damage when handling heavier GPUs. This slot also incorporates an inner rubber lining to help prevent scratches on the graphics card’s PCB during installation and removal.
User convenience is a key focus, with Gigabyte integrating features that simplify the building and upgrading process. The PCIe EZ-Latch Plus mechanism makes it easier to remove a graphics card, reducing the effort required when making hardware changes. Additionally, the board’s M.2 EZ-Latch Click system allows for quick and tool-free M.2 drive installation.
Connectivity is another strong point, with the board offering multiple USB headers for front panel connections. It includes a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C header near the RAM slots, alongside a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A header along the edge. The bottom of the board provides additional USB 2.0 headers, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of peripherals and accessories.
Cooling options are well-covered, with six fan headers distributed across the motherboard. These include dedicated CPU and pump headers for liquid cooling setups, ensuring flexibility for custom cooling solutions. With its thoughtful design and practical features, the Z890 Eagle WiFi 7 provides a user-friendly experience for builders of all skill levels.
Key Features
The Z890 Eagle WiFi 7 is built with a robust 14+1+2-phase digital VRM solution, ensuring stable power delivery for high-performance processors. With power stages rated at 60A, this configuration supports overclocking and sustained workloads without compromising reliability. This design makes it an excellent choice for users looking to push their system to its limits.
Memory support is equally impressive, with four DDR5 slots allowing for a maximum of 256GB of RAM. The board supports high-speed DDR5 memory up to 8800MHz when overclocked, providing ample bandwidth for gaming, content creation, and professional workloads. Additionally, it includes compatibility with Clocked Unbuffered DIMMs (CUDIMMs), enhancing signal stability for even higher frequencies.
Storage flexibility is a highlight, with four M.2 slots providing ultra-fast NVMe SSD support. One of these slots operates on PCIe 5.0 x4, offering cutting-edge speeds for next-generation storage devices. The remaining three M.2 slots run on PCIe 4.0 x4, ensuring rapid data transfer rates while maintaining compatibility with existing SSDs.
For additional storage needs, the motherboard features four SATA III ports, all positioned at right angles to aid with cable management. This layout keeps wiring neat, making installation easier and improving overall airflow within the case. Whether using traditional hard drives or SATA-based SSDs, the board provides ample storage expansion.
Networking capabilities are future-proofed, featuring a 2.5GbE LAN port powered by Realtek’s RTL8125D controller. Wireless connectivity is equally strong, with built-in WiFi 7 supporting the latest standards. Depending on the motherboard revision, users receive either a MediaTek MT7925B22M or a Realtek RTL8922AE WiFi module, both offering stable and high-speed wireless networking.
USB connectivity is extensive, with a USB4 Type-C port enabling high-speed data transfers and DisplayPort Alternate Mode support. The rear I/O also includes multiple USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 ports, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of peripherals. These options cater to both modern and legacy devices, providing a well-rounded selection of ports.
Audio performance is handled by the Realtek ALC897 codec, delivering reliable sound output for general use. While it may not be a high-end audio solution, it provides clear and immersive audio for gaming, media playback, and communication. Users who require premium sound quality can still connect external DACs or dedicated sound cards for enhanced audio performance.
Additional convenience features include the “EZ-Debug Zone,” which houses power, reset, and Q-Flash Plus buttons for simplified troubleshooting and BIOS updates. Status LEDs help diagnose boot issues, providing visual feedback for easier system debugging. These small but impactful features make the board more user-friendly, particularly for DIY builders and enthusiasts.
Specifications
CPU
- Socket: LGA1851
- Processor Support: Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors
- L3 Cache: Varies with CPU
Chipset
- Intel® Z890 Express Chipset
Memory
- Supported Memory Types: DDR5
- Supported Speeds:
- Overclocked (O.C.): 9200 / 9066 / 8933 / 8800 / 8600 / 8400 / 8266 / 8200 / 8000 / 7950 / 7900 / 7800 / 7600 / 7400 / 7200 / 7000 / 6800 / 6600
- Standard: 6400 / 6200 / 6000 / 5800 / 5600 MT/s
- DIMM Slots: 4 x DDR5
- Max Capacity: 256GB (64GB per DIMM)
- Architecture: Dual-channel
- Module Support:
- ECC Un-buffered DIMM 1Rx8/2Rx8 (operates in non-ECC mode)
- Non-ECC Un-buffered DIMM 1Rx8/2Rx8/1Rx16
- Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
- CUDIMM
Onboard Graphics
- Integrated Graphics: Intel® HD Graphics
- Display Outputs:
- USB4 Type-C: Supports USB4 & DisplayPort, max resolution 3840×2160 @ 144Hz (DisplayPort 2.1)
- DisplayPort: Max resolution 3840×2160 @ 144Hz (DisplayPort 2.1)
Audio
- Codec: Realtek® High Definition Audio
- Channels: 2/4/5.1/7.1
Networking
- LAN: Realtek® 2.5GbE (Supports 2.5 Gbps / 1 Gbps / 100 Mbps)
- Wi-Fi & Bluetooth:
- PCB rev. 1.0: MediaTek Wi-Fi 7 MT7925
- PCB rev. 1.1: Realtek Wi-Fi 7 RTL8922AE
- Wireless Support: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be (2.4/5/6 GHz)
- Bluetooth: 5.4
- Wi-Fi 7 Standard: 160MHz
Expansion Slots
- CPU Slots:
- 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 (PCIEX16) (For GPU or NVMe SSD only)
- Chipset Slots:
- 2 x PCIe 4.0 x4 (PCIEX4_1 / PCIEX4_2)
Storage
- CPU-Connected Storage:
- M.2 (PCIe 5.0 x4/x2, Type 25110/22110/2580/2280) (M2A_CPU)
- M.2 (PCIe 4.0 x4/x2, Type 22110/2280) (M2B_CPU)
- Chipset-Connected Storage:
- M.2 (PCIe 4.0 x4/x2, Type 22110/2280) (M2Q_SB)
- M.2 (PCIe 4.0 x4/x2, SATA + PCIe, Type 22110/2280) (M2M_SB)
- 4 x SATA 6Gb/s Ports
- RAID Support: RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 for NVMe & SATA
USB Ports
- CPU:
- 1 x USB4 Type-C (Back Panel)
- Chipset:
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (Internal Header)
- 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (Red, Back Panel)
- 5 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (3 Back, 2 Internal Header)
- USB 2.0 (Chipset + Hubs):
- 8 x USB 2.0 (4 Back, 4 Internal Header)
Internal Connectors
- Power:
- 1 x 24-pin ATX
- 2 x 8-pin ATX 12V
- Cooling:
- 1 x CPU Fan Header
- 1 x CPU Fan/Water Pump Header
- 3 x System Fan Headers
- 1 x System Fan/Water Pump Header
- RGB:
- 3 x Addressable RGB Gen2 Headers
- 1 x RGB LED Strip Header
- Storage & I/O:
- 4 x M.2 Connectors
- 4 x SATA 6Gb/s Ports
- 1 x Front Panel Header
- 1 x Front Panel Audio Header
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Header
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Header
- 2 x USB 2.0 Headers
- Other:
- 2 x Thunderbolt 5 Add-in Card Connectors (Gigabyte only)
- 1 x TPM Header (For GC-TPM2.0 Modules)
- Buttons: Power, Q-Flash Plus, Reset
- Jumpers: Reset, Clear CMOS
Back Panel I/O
- USB Ports:
- 1 x USB4 Type-C (Supports DisplayPort)
- 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (Red)
- 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1
- 4 x USB 2.0
- Display: 1 x DisplayPort (Actual support varies by CPU)
- Network: 1 x RJ-45 (2.5GbE)
- Wireless: 2 x Antenna Connectors (2T2R)
- Audio: 3 x Audio Jacks
I/O Controller
- Chipset: iTE® I/O Controller
- Monitoring:
- Voltage, Temperature, Fan Speed, Water Cooling Flow
- Fan Fail Warning & Fan Speed Control (Dependent on installed fan/pump)
BIOS
- Storage: 1 x 256Mbit Flash
- Firmware: AMI UEFI BIOS
- Supported Standards: PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.7, WfM 2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 5.0
Unique Features
- Gigabyte Control Center (GCC) (Features vary by model)
- Q-Flash & Q-Flash Plus
- Smart Backup
Bundled Software
- Norton® Internet Security (OEM)
- LAN Bandwidth Management Software
Operating System Support
- Windows 11 64-bit
Experience Using the Product and Performance
The Gigabyte Z890 Eagle WiFi 7 delivers a smooth and efficient experience from the moment it is installed. Its pre-installed I/O shield makes assembly easier, and the EZ-Latch mechanisms for PCIe and M.2 slots simplify hardware upgrades. Whether installing a GPU or an SSD, the tool-free design ensures a hassle-free process.
During testing, the motherboard handled high-performance Intel Core Ultra processors without issue. Its 14+1+2-phase VRM configuration provided stable power delivery, allowing for consistent performance even under heavy workloads. Overclocking was also well-supported, with temperatures remaining within an optimal range thanks to the large heatsinks.
Memory performance was equally impressive, with the board successfully running DDR5 modules at their rated speeds. XMP profiles were applied seamlessly, and the inclusion of Clocked Unbuffered DIMMs (CUDIMMs) provided improved stability at higher frequencies. This ensures a smooth experience for both gamers and professional users.
Storage speeds were excellent, with the PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot delivering extremely fast read and write speeds. The three additional PCIe 4.0 x4 slots provided strong performance for secondary drives, making it easy to build a high-speed storage setup. SATA III ports also worked reliably, offering solid performance for traditional storage devices.
Connectivity was a standout, with the combination of 2.5GbE LAN and WiFi 7 ensuring fast and stable networking. Wired connections provided low-latency performance ideal for gaming and streaming, while the WiFi module delivered strong wireless speeds. The board’s Bluetooth 5.4 support also allowed for seamless connectivity with peripherals.
USB support was diverse, with the USB4 Type-C port enabling high-speed data transfers and display output. The rear I/O layout was well-organised, providing a mix of USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 ports for different peripherals. Front-panel connectivity was also convenient, with well-placed headers making cable management straightforward.
Gaming performance was strong, with the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot providing stable operation for high-end GPUs. The reinforced slot design helped support heavier graphics cards, ensuring durability over time. Features like PCIe EZ-Latch Plus made it easy to swap or upgrade GPUs without difficulty.
The Realtek ALC897 audio codec delivered clear and balanced sound, suitable for general use and gaming. While audiophiles may prefer an external DAC or dedicated sound card, the onboard solution provided a satisfactory experience for most users. Surround sound functionality also worked well for immersive gaming.
Cooling efficiency was another highlight, with six fan headers providing plenty of options for air and liquid cooling. The placement of CPU, system, and pump headers allowed for flexible cooling configurations. Combined with Gigabyte’s thermal armor and heatsinks, the board maintained stable temperatures even under heavy loads.
The Z890 Eagle WiFi 7 delivered a reliable and user-friendly experience, combining modern features with strong performance. Whether used for gaming, content creation, or general computing, it provided the stability and speed expected from a high-quality motherboard.
Conclusion
The Gigabyte Z890 Eagle WiFi 7 is a well-rounded motherboard that delivers strong performance, modern connectivity, and thoughtful design. With its support for Intel’s latest processors, high-speed DDR5 memory, and PCIe 5.0 for both graphics and storage, it provides a solid foundation for a high-performance PC build. Whether for gaming or productivity, it offers the features needed to keep up with demanding workloads.
Gigabyte has also ensured that the board is user-friendly, incorporating practical design choices such as tool-free PCIe and M.2 installation. The integrated I/O shield and well-placed headers contribute to an easy building experience, making it a great option for both beginners and experienced PC builders. Its robust cooling system and well-designed VRMs further enhance stability, ensuring reliable performance even under heavy loads.
Networking and connectivity are also standout aspects, with 2.5GbE LAN and WiFi 7 providing fast and stable internet access. The inclusion of a USB4 Type-C port adds to its versatility, allowing for high-speed data transfers and external display support. Combined with its extensive selection of USB ports, it ensures compatibility with a wide range of devices and peripherals.
The Z890 Eagle WiFi 7 is a strong contender in the mid-to-high-end motherboard market. With its balance of performance, features, and ease of use, it caters well to gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts alike. For those seeking a reliable and feature-rich motherboard to build a powerful system, this is an excellent choice.
