The Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX is the objective winner of this comparison, securing more victories across the evaluated specifications. Its most significant advantage over the competition is its capacity for storage connectivity, offering 200% more SATA ports. While the Gigabyte B850I AORUS PRO does hold a lead in memory performance, the superior port density makes the Z790 AORUS ELITE AX the more versatile option for users requiring extensive drive support.

Users who prioritize high-capacity storage configurations should choose the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX for its substantial advantage in SATA connectivity. Conversely, the Gigabyte B850I AORUS PRO is the better selection for those who specifically require the 8% improvement in maximum memory speed. Selecting between these two motherboards depends entirely on whether your build demands a higher volume of internal drives or the specific memory frequency capabilities offered by the alternative.