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Benchmark Results
Our standard benchmarks and power tests are performed using the CPU’s stock frequencies (including any default boost/turbo) with all power-saving features at default. We set optimized defaults in the BIOS, then set the memory by enabling the XMP profile. If there are boosts enabled by the BIOS by default, it runs like that. The Windows power scheme is set to Balanced (default) for this baseline testing, so the PC idles appropriately.
Synthetic Benchmarks and Real World Applications
Synthetics offer a valuable method for evaluating a board's performance, as identical settings are expected to yield similar results. Turbo boost wattage and advanced memory timings are areas where motherboard manufacturers can still optimize for stability or performance, though, and these settings can impact specific testing scenarios. We’ve also combined our previous ‘timed’ benchmark applications into this section.
Performance on the Elite Wifi7 Plus was solid compared to the other two boards we’ve tested. It trades punches with the Duo X more than the Asus Prime does, but no board is a slouch in testing so far. Be it encoding, rendering, or any other function, it performed as expected in this set of tests.
3D Games and 3DMark
Starting with the launch of the Arrow Lake refresh chips, we’ve updated our game tests. We’re keeping the F1 racing game but have upgraded to F1 25. We’ll continue with the ever-popular and aesthetically pleasing Cyberpunk 2077. We run both games at 1920x1080 resolution using the Ultra preset (details listed in the table above). Both games are set to use DLSS.
The goal with these settings is to determine if there are differences in performance at the most commonly used (and CPU/system-bound) resolution with settings most people use or strive for (Ultra). We expect the difference between boards in these tests to be minor, with most falling within the margin of error. We’ve also added a minimum FPS metric, which can affect your gameplay and immersion.
As we’ve seen historically, the 3DMark test results are all jammed together, with a 1% difference (read: margin of error) between the fastest and slowest boards, including the Elite Wifi7 Plus. In our games testing, F1 2025 averaged 203 frames per second and ranks in the middle of all results. The minimums in this title were higher than the Duo X (96 frames) and matched the faster Asus Prime (102 frames). The Cyberpunk results were also solid, matching the other Gigabyte board, with 151 frames per second average and just ahead of the Asus. Nothing to worry about with gaming, either!
Overclocking
Over the past few CPU generations, overclocking headroom has been shrinking on both sides of the fence, while out-of-the-box performance has increased. For overclockers, this means there’s less fun to have. For the average consumer, you’re getting the most out of the processor without manual tweaking. Today’s motherboards are more robust than ever, and an overwhelming majority support power-hungry flagship-class processors, so we know the hardware can handle them.
There are multiple ways to extract even more performance from these processors: manually adjust the settings or use some of the fancy AI overclocking board partners have been touting. Results will vary and depend on the CPU's cooling and quality. In other words, your mileage may vary. Considering the above, we’re not overclocking the CPU for these review articles. However, we will try out our different memory kits to ensure they meet the specifications.
The new Arrow Lake refresh CPUs have a maximum in-spec speed up to DDR5-7200. Anything above that would be considered overclocking for the IMC. However, the base kit we use for testing and benchmarking is the Kingston Fury Renegade 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-7600 CL38, so it is overclocked. The second set of RAM we use to further stress the IMC is the G.Skill Trident Z5 CK 32GB DDR5-8200 CL40 kit. With the board’s specs listing a limit of 9,666 MT/s, we run well below that, and expect our two kits and the 270K Plus to pass testing. As you can see from the image above, we didn’t have any issue running the G.Skill DDR5-8200 kit, as expected.
Power Consumption / VRM Temperatures
We used AIDA64’s System Stability Test with Stress CPU, FPU, cache, and Memory enabled for power testing, using the processor's peak power consumption value. The wattage reading is obtained from the wall via a Kill-A-Watt meter, capturing the entire PC (excluding the monitor). The only variable that changes is the motherboard; all other parts remain the same. We have moved to using only the stock power use/VRM temperature charts, as this section aims to ensure the power delivery can handle flagship-class processors.
Stress testing with our flagship-class 270K Plus and the Kingston DDR5-7600 kit at stock settings, the system peaked at 337W and idled at 63W—the lowest so far among the boards we've tested.
VRM temperatures weren’t a concern with the 270K Plus and this board. Throughout the 30-minute test, the system (excluding the monitor) used an average of 243W, and temperatures peaked at 64 degrees Celsius on our hottest sensor (#3 that sits under the top array of MOSFETs) and 51 degrees on the other two. The top sensor ran hot, but is still well within specifications. If you’re overclocking flagship-class (read: high-power) processors, make sure your case has good airflow. But chances are, CPU temperature will limit you before the board/VRMs get in the way.
Bottom Line
Gigabyte’s Z890 Aorus Elite WiFi 7 Plus is a worthwhile option in the low-cost Z890 space. From the native Arrow Lake refresh support to fast networking, there’s plenty to like on this sub-$270 motherboard. For the money, it offers plenty of storage options, including four SATA ports and four M.2 sockets, power delivery capable of handling flagship-class processors, and a solid (albeit last-generation) audio solution. It also performed well, trading punches with our other boards.
That said, whether it's existing or refreshed, there’s a lot of competition at that $269.99 price point. For $259.99, MSI’s Z890 Tomahawk Wi-Fi is a viable option, though it lacks integrated RGB lighting. The ASRock Z890 Nova Wifi ($269.99) offers more robust power delivery, a better audio solution, and more USB ports on the rear I/O (including two 40 Gbps ports), but it has only one PCIe slot for expansion, unlike the others. Last but not least, Asus’ ROG Strix Z890-H Gaming Wifi ($286.99) is now in the ballpark of the others. Like the Z890 Nova, it offers more robust power delivery and fast networking, and is arguably the best-looking out of this similarly priced group of motherboards. Among these, the ASRock stands out with its specs, making it the most handsomely equipped of the bunch.
Still, the Aorus Elite WiFi 7 Plus is a well-rounded motherboard for your Arrow Lake-based Intel processor. For under $270, it’s a fair price for a new (refreshed) LGA1851 motherboard and downright reasonable when you consider RAM, storage, and video card pricing these days. While this board didn’t make our best motherboard list, the Elite Wifi7 Plus should be on your shortlist for an inexpensive way into the latest Intel Core Ultra platform.
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