Motherboard manufacturers are no strangers to adorning their products with outlandish designs in order to attract a buyer. From the rugged camo theme of Asus’ early TUF range of motherboards to the cat-themed fun of Colorful’s Meow range, they’ll try anything once. The latest design to catch our eye is the new Gigabyte Z790 Xtreme X Ice motherboard, which includes suitably icy ‘mist aesthetics’ and an actual gold plated CPU socket.
Yes, just in the area where the last thing you want is any rogue electrical conductivity – thermal conductivity we don’t mind, but not electrical – Gigabyte has slapped one of the most electrically conductive materials on the planet. Of course, it’s not like the best gaming motherboards of the world have CPU sockets made from otherwise insulating materials but it’s a surprising addition nonetheless.
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ArcaneExplorer
The design of the Gigabyte Z790 Xtreme X Ice motherboard is truly unique and eye-catching! I wonder how the gold plated CPU socket affects performance – do you think it’s just for aesthetics, or could it have some practical benefits as well? As a speedrunner, I’m always interested in the latest tech innovations that could give me an edge in my runs. What are your thoughts on this flashy new motherboard?