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Z690 Classified Featured
Yesterday, EVGA introduced the Z690 Classified. Designed to support Intel’s latest 12th generation Core series processors, the always overbuilt motherboard includes a 19-phase VRM, dual 2.5 GbE NICs and EVGA’s unique style on this EATX SKU. You’ll find several USB ports on the rear IO including two 20 Gbps Type-C ports among a slew of other features. You can find this board at a wallet-emptying $629.99. You can read more information on this board at the EVGA website.
EVGA Z690 Classified
Introducing the EVGA Z690 CLASSIFIED – The latest addition to EVGA’s most-respected line of motherboards. This motherboard fully supports the latest 12th Gen Intel® Core™ Series Processors and takes full advantage of PCIe Gen5 and PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe SSDs. The EVGA Z690 CLASSIFIED provides unbeatable power, performance and stability via a 19-phase VRM and 10-layer PCB. Moreover, this board supports up to 128GB of DDR5 memory, 2x 2.5Gbps NIC + Wi-Fi 6E / BT 5.2, 7.1 HD audio, and multiple USB options. The EVGA Z690 CLASSIFIED is designed for nothing less than the ultimate gaming experience.
Joe started writing around 2010 for Overclockers.com covering the latest news and reviews that include video cards, motherboards, storage and processors. In 2018, he went ‘pro’ writing for Anandtech.com covering news and motherboards. Eventually, he landed at Tom’s Hardware where he wrote news, covered graphic card reviews, and currently writes motherboard reviews. If you can’t find him benchmarking and gathering data, Joe can be found working on his website (Overclockers.com), supporting his two kids in athletics, hanging out with his wife catching up on Game of Thrones, watching sports (Go Browns/Guardians/Cavs/Buckeyes!), or playing PUBG on PC.
There’s more Mini-ITX goodness in store today thanks to EVGA’s Z87 Stinger. EVGA jumped on the enthusiast Mini-ITX bandwagon last generation with the Z77 Stinger, and they’re riding that wagon into the next generation. They are also touting a brand new UEFI BIOS with their Z87 lineup, which should top off their new motherboards nicely. I’ll quit rambling, and let’s get into the good stuff…
I was pretty surprised when I received the info that EVGA is offering a DDR4 memory kit for review. Somehow I missed the fact that EVGA had entered the DRAM market some time ago and has already presented DDR3 and
Shooting on over to a suite at the Bellagio, we found our friends at EVGA. They had several new items to discuss including the new DG-7 case, ICX cooler for the 1060/1070/1080, their updated power supply line (B3/G3 so far), and new, expandable AIO lineup.
Highest ASUS, ASRock, MSI or Gigabyte mobos cost even more. ASUS has 3 or even 4 more expensive ones. I'm not saying it's cheap but they are adjusting prices to the competition.
I only wonder what with availability out of the NA. Z490 and Z590 Dark/Classifieds were impossible to get in the EU and X299 Dark appeared in stores as a sale/promo a long time after the premiere. We can again see the next chipset out before these mobos will be in stores.
At this price, I wouldn't care less if I couldn't find it in the store. While I love the look and the feature set of the Classified, it's effectively priced out of my league. It's not that I couldn't afford it, it's that I won't.
If I knew I will keep it for ~3 years then probably I would spend that money on a very good mobo. However, EVGA doesn't have so great history, and let's say not all their mobos were perfect. There was already news about Z790 on the way so we can expect the same story as with Z590 which lost additional support not long after the premiere.
Btw. ASUS Z690 Hero costs more in many stores and somehow it sells ;) When people show manufacturers that they can pay so much then why not raise prices? The same story as with graphics cards but at least EVGA has the lowest prices (in their store).
I'd buy a Hero because of the proven track record and ASUS reliability over this. It's not like any of us will get the chance to buy it. I'm eVGA Elite and still didn't get a chance to buy the Z590 when it was released even with the 24 hour Elite buying period.
Hero used to be mid-shelf gaming series. Somehow, ASUS made it high-end and bumped prices to the roof. Also, Z690 Hero has design flaws. If I had to pick something then I would faster get MSI Z690 Unify which is cheaper and simply better. Gigabyte Z690 Master is significantly cheaper than both of them and I actually bought it 2 months ago. It was about $270 cheaper than Hero ... and after 7 BIOS updates, it works fine :D
Hero was bumped up when they started releasing all the ROG boards and sadly the TUF was bumped down. Personally I haven't seen a reason to go past the ROG-E because it has done great with a reasonable price three times now. It only took 2 BIOS updates to function right lol.
+1 on the Z690 Master over the Hero and Unify... if only on price.
The Hero was bumped up the product stack because of all the ROG Strix [insert letter here]-Gaming boards they've come up with. TUF, back in the day, was more high-end, now, it's budget and not TUF at all.
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